US embassy cable - 03ROME5490

C O N F I D E N T I A L ROME 005490 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/05/2013 
TAGS: IT, PREL, EUN 
SUBJECT: ITALY'S EU PRESIDENCY: RESPONSE TO DEMARCHE ON 
GAERC AND SUMMIT MEETINGS 
 
REF: A. STATE 331930 
     B. ROME 5448 

CLASSIFIED BY: POL M/C THOMAS COUNTRYMAN FOR REASONS 1.5 (B) AND (D). 
 
1.  (SBU)  EMBOFFS DELIVERED POINTS REF A TO APPROPRIATE MFA 
INTERLOCUTORS.  THIS MESSAGE TRANSMITS RESPONSES TO BALKANS 
AND IRAQ POINTS.  REF B DESCRIBES PRESIDENCY VIEWS ON IGC 
ISSUES AND PROCESS.  MFA RECEIVED REMAINING POINTS WITHOUT 
COMMENT. 
 
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IRAQ 
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2. (C) GIAMPAOLO CANTINI, DIRECTOR OF THE GLOBAL AFFAIRS 
OFFICE AT THE MFA AND CHAIR OF THE EU CLEARINGHOUSE, 
CONFIRMED THAT ITALY SUPPORTS THE EU DESIGNATION OF KADEK AS 
THE SUCCESSOR GROUP TO THE PKK.  ALTHOUGH NO OFFICIAL 
DECISION HAS BEEN TAKEN YET, HE ASSUMES THAT THE GOI WOULD 
CONCUR WITH THE DESIGNATION OF THE KURDISTAN PEOPLES' 
CONGRESS (PHK) AS THE SUCCESSOR GROUP TO PKK/KADEK.  HE ADDED 
THAT THE EU CLEARINGHOUSE WILL MEET DECEMBER 15.  THE HAMAS 
CHARITIES AND PKK/KADEK/KDK ARE THE MAIN POINTS ON THE 
AGENDA.  THE ITALIAN PRESIDENCY IS CURRENTLY POLLING MEMBER 
STATES TO DETERMINE WHETHER ANY STATES HAVE CHANGED THEIR 
POSITIONS ON THESE GROUPS SINCE THE LAST MEETING. 
 
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BALKANS 
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3. (C) MFA BALKANS OFFICE DIRECTOR FERNANDO GENTILINI 
    CONFIRMED TO POLOFF THAT ITALY - BILATERALLY AND IN ITS 
PRESIDENCY ROLE - WAS IN FULL AGREEMENT WITH THE US ON THE 
STATE-OF-PLAY AND WAY AHEAD FOR BALKANS STABILITY AS OUTLINED 
REF A.  ITALY IS WORKING WITH ITS EU PARTNERS TO FINALIZE THE 
AGENDA AND GUEST LIST FOR THE EU-BALKANS FOREIGN MINISTER'S 
MEETING ON DECEMBER 9.  GENTILINI NOTED THAT AS OF 12-04 THE 
KOSOVO SERB DELEGATION HAD REFUSED ITS INVITATION. 
 
4. (C) GENTILINI WAS IN THE PROCESS OF DRAFTING THE BALKANS 
PORTION OF THE COUNCIL STATEMENT.  HE SAID THAT IT WOULD NOTE 
THE PROGRESS IN THE REGION OVER THE LAST SIX MONTHS, AND 
PRAISE THE EU STABILITY AND ASSOCIATION'S ROLE IN FOSTERING 
REGIONAL COOPERATION.  HOWEVER, IT WILL ALSO NOTE THAT THE 
PACE OF REFORMS IS TOO SLOW, AND CALL ON THE COUNTRIES IN THE 
REGION TO ASSUME MORE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR OWN DESTINIES. 
SEMBLER 
 
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 2003ROME05490 - Classification: CONFIDENTIAL