(C) KUDOS AND FOLLOW-UP QUESTIONS ON ITALIAN

C O N F I D E N T I A L STATE 130971 NOFORN SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/24/2034 TAGS: PINR MARR NATO PGOV PREL AL BK IT KV SUBJECT: (C) KUDOS AND FOLLOW-UP QUESTIONS ON ITALIAN POLICY IN THE WESTERN BALKANS (C) (C-RE9-02453) REF: A. ROME 000341 ¶B. ROME 000877 ¶C. ROME 001275 ¶D. SARAJEVO 001241 Classified By: ELISSA G. PITTERLE, DIRECTOR, INR/OPS. REASON: 1.4(C). ¶1. (C/NF) WASHINGTON ANALYSTS APPRECIATED REFS ON ITALY'S POLICY TOWARDS THE BALKANS. WE ARE CLOSELY MONITORING DEVELOPMENTS RELATED TO THE GRADUAL DRAWDOWN OF ITALIAN FORCES IN THE BALKANS AND ARE ASSESSING ITALY'S CONTINUED COMMITMENT AND POLITICAL POLICY IN THE BALKANS, IN THE EVENT OF A PULL-OUT OF US TROOPS FROM THE REGION. THIS ISSUE IS OF GREAT CONCERN TO POLICYMAKERS, AND ANALYSTS WOULD APPRECIATE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION ON ITALY'S CONTINUED COMMITMENT AND POLITICAL POLICY IN THE BALKANS, AS TIME AND RESOURCES PERMIT. ¶A. (C/REL TO USA, FVEY) WHAT IS ITALY'S POLITICAL POSITION IN THE BALKANS, PRIMARILY IN ALBANIA, BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA, AND KOSOVO? ¶B. (C/REL TO USA, FVEY) IF ITALY DECREASES ITS TROOP SIZE, WHAT TYPE OF AN INTERNATIONAL ROLE WILL IT PLAY IN POLICIES AFFECTING ALBANIA, KOSOVO, AND BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA? ¶C. (C/REL TO USA, FVEY) HOW DOES THE NORTHERN LEAGUE'S VIEW ON DOMESTIC POLICY AFFECT THE COUNTRY'S MISSIONS ABROAD? ¶D. (C/REL TO USA, FVEY) WHAT ARE ITALY'S COMMERCIAL INVESTMENTS IN THE BALKANS AND DOES IT PLAN TO INCREASE OR DECREASE ITS INVESTMENTS ONCE ITS TROOPS LEAVE? ¶E. (C/REL TO USA, FVEY) WHAT IS ITALY'S OBJECTIVE(S) IN SUPPORTING SEVERAL BALKAN COUNTRIES TO RECEIVE NATO AND EU MEMBERSHIP? ¶2. (U) PLEASE CITE C-RE9-02453 IN THE SUBJECT LINE OF REPORTING IN RESPONSE TO THE ABOVE QUESTIONS. CLINTON