US embassy cable - 03ROME4724

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IRAQ RECONSTRUCTION: ROME A POSITIVE STOPOVER FOR THE DELEGATION ROADSHOW

Identifier: 03ROME4724
Wikileaks: View 03ROME4724 at Wikileaks.org
Origin: Embassy Rome
Created: 2003-10-15 17:01:00
Classification: UNCLASSIFIED
Tags: EAID ECON EFIN PREL IZ IT
Redacted: This cable was not redacted by Wikileaks.
This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

UNCLAS ROME 004724 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
STATE PLEASE PASS EB/EPPD FOR ELIZA KOCH, EUR/WE 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: EAID, ECON, EFIN, PREL, IZ, IT 
SUBJECT: IRAQ RECONSTRUCTION: ROME A POSITIVE STOPOVER FOR 
THE DELEGATION ROADSHOW 
 
REF: A. ROME 4586 
B. ROME 4665 
 
1.  THE FIVE-MEMBER OFFICIAL DELEGATION FROM IRAQ, HEADED BY 
AMBASSADOR MAREK BELKA, STOPPED IN ROME OCTOBER 9 FOR LESS 
THAN 24 HOURS.  THE DELEGATION FIRST MET WITH THE DIRECTOR OF 
THE MFA IRAQ TASK FORCE RICARDO SESSA ALONE, THEN WITH THE 
TASK FORCE -- WHICH INCLUDES INTERAGENCY AND PRIVATE SECTOR 
REPRESENTATIVES -- ON IRAQ'S PRESENT ECONOMIC, POLITICAL AND 
SECURITY SITUATION (REF A).  FINALLY, SESSA HOSTED A DINNER 
IN HONOR OF THE DELEGATION, WHICH PROVIDED OPPORTUNITIES FOR 
THE DELEGATION TO NETWORK WITH ADDITIONAL PRIVATE SECTOR, GOI 
AND U.S. EMBASSY REPRESENTATIVES. 
 
2.  THE DELEGATES ALL REPORTED BEING WELL-RECEIVED BY THEIR 
ITALIAN HOSTS, WHO, THE IRAQIS SAID, SHOWED GENUINE INTEREST 
IN IRAQ RECONSTRUCTION.  THEY NOTED THAT THE ITALIANS SEEMED 
PARTICULARLY INTERESTED IN THE OIL AND INFRASTRUCTURE 
SECTORS, BUT NEITHER SIDE GOT INTO SPECIFICS OF PROJECTED 
DONATIONS AT THE MADRID CONFERENCE.  THE DINNER INCLUDED SOME 
THIRTY GUESTS, AMONG WHOM WERE REPRESENTATIVES FROM 
FINMECANICA (AN ITALIAN MULTINATIONAL HIGH-TECH MANUFACTURING 
COMPANY) AND ALITALIA.  THE IRAQIS DESCRIBED THEM AS THE MOST 
ENTHUSIASTIC PARTICIPANTS AT THE EVENT.  TELECOM ITALIA IS 
REPORTEDLY ALSO INTERESTED IN BIDDING ON FIXED-LINE 
TELECOMMUNICATIONS INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS IN IRAQ, WHICH 
HELPS EXPLAIN THE COMPANY'S INCLUSION AMONG ITALY'S POTENTIAL 
MADRID PRIVATE SECTOR PARTICIPANTS (REF B). 

3.  WHILE IT OPTED FOR A RELATIVELY LOW-KEY VISIT, THE MFA 
ISSUED A PRESS STATEMENT OCTOBER 9 WHICH HIGHLIGHTED THE 
SPECIAL MEETING OF THE IRAQ TASK FORCE TO CONSIDER RECENT 
ECONOMIC REFORM MEASURES IN IRAQ AND TO REVIEW OPPORTUNITIES 
FOR ITALIAN FIRMS TO PARTICIPATE IN IRAQI RECONSTRUCTION 
PROJECTS. 
SEMBLER 
 
NNNN 
2003ROME04724 - Classification: UNCLASSIFIED 


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