ITALY CONFIRMS INTEREST IN GAZA ARMS INTERDICTION

C O N F I D E N T I A L ROME 000078

SIPDIS

P STAFF FOR CONSTANTINOS NICOLAIDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/23/2019
TAGS: PREL MARR MOPS NATO KPAL IS IR EG IT
SUBJECT: ITALY CONFIRMS INTEREST IN GAZA ARMS INTERDICTION
EFFORT, PREFERABLY WITH UN BACKING

REF: A. STATE 4900

B. ROME DAILY REPORT 1/21-1/22/09

C. ROME 42

Classified By: Political Minister-Counselor Barbara A. Leaf for Reasons
1.4 (B) and (D)


1. (C) Summary: GOI Officials confirmed to Embassy Rome on
January 22 Italy's interest in participating in a
multilateral effort to interdict the flow of arms to Gaza,
but voiced uncertainty about the legal basis for the various
mechanisms being considered. PM Berlusconi, FM Frattini and
MOD La Russa have all made statements over the past several
days indicating an Italian willingness to help reactivate and
expand EU Border Assistance Mission Rafah (EUBAM Rafah) with
the deployment of additional Carabinieri, provide naval
assets to patrol the Gaza coastline, and otherwise assist in
Egyptian and Israeli efforts to prevent the resumption of the
arms flow to Gaza. The Italian Defense General Staff
currently regards Combined Task Force 150 as the best venue
for Italian participation in any eventual maritime
interdiction effort. All of the efforts under consideration,
however, depend upon the security situation on the ground and
the development of a strong legal framework, preferably with
the aid of a new UN Security Council Resolution. The GOI
looks forward to participating in future workshops on the
U.S.-sponsored effort organized by Denmark. End Summary.


2. (C) We raised reftel demarche with Italian MFA
Political-Military Director Massimo Marotti and MFA Levant
and Egypt Deputy Office Director Daniele Bosio on January 22.
Marotti, who had participated in the first meeting in New
York of the Contact Group on Somali Piracy, confirmed that
Italy is interested in participating in the multilateral
effort to interdict the flow of arms to Gaza. He noted that
FM Frattini, who had just returned from a three-day visit to
Israel and Egypt, had offered to contribute Italian naval
assets to help patrol Gaza's coastline to prevent smuggling
of arms to Hamas and had committed to providing up to 20
Carabinieri to help strengthen and expand EUBAM Rafah
(possibly to include other border crossings) if and when
conditions allow for EUBAM Rafah to be re-deployed. Bosio
stressed that Frattini's commitment presupposes having a
legitimate partner to work with on the Gaza side of the
border, i.e. not Hamas. Italy would be willing to extend
EUBAM's scope to cover commercial trade in addition to
transit of people. The GOI is ready to send Carabinieri
trainers to help equip, train and mentor Egyptian border
police.


3. (C) Separately, Italian Defense General Staff J3 Major
General Preziosa told the DATT on January 20 that Italy is
contemplating a force of 12-20 Carabinieri for EUBAM Rafah
and views Combined Task Force 150 as the best venue for
Italian participation in any eventual maritime interdiction
effort. He also said that elements the Italian Army's
Sassari Brigade are on standby to deploy if needed.


4. (C) Marotti stressed that all of the various efforts being
contemplated by the GOI and the U.S. would benefit from a
stronger legal basis, preferably a UN Security Council
Resolution. Operation Active Endeavor, for instance, lacks
specific authorities with regard to the Gaza situation and
its mandate to board ships is not adequate to the task.
EUBAM Rafah's mandate from the European Council is limited as
well. Bosio, on the other hand, did not raise the lack of a
UNSCR as an obstacle to moving forward.
SPOGLI