US embassy cable - 04ROME1649

C O N F I D E N T I A L  ROME 001649 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
E FOR ANNE PENCE; ALSO FOR EB/PAPD 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/29/2008 
TAGS: ETRD, PINR, PREL, IT, KPRP 
SUBJECT: C-RE4-00182: G8 SUMMIT AGENDA ISSUES - ITALIAN 
VIEWS 
 
REF: A. SECSTATE 68033 
 
     B. ROME 00902 
     C. ROME 00662 
     D. US NATO 218 
     E. ROME 00568 
     F. ROME 00537 
     G. 03 ROME 5664 
     H. 03 ROME 3926 
 
Classified By: Minister-Counselor for Economic Affairs 
Scott Kilner for reasons 1.5 (b,d) 
 
1. (U) The Political, Economic, Consular and Science sections 
have provided the following responses to ref a request for 
Italian views on G8 Summit Agenda proposals. 
 
GREATER MIDDLE EAST INITIATIVE (GME) 
------------------------------------ 
 
2. (C) The Italians have been very supportive of the GME 
initiative (ref c), helping to promote it in their dialogue 
with Arab counterparts (ref b).  Their attitude toward the 
NATO portion of the initiative (Istanbul Cooperation 
Initiative - ICI), while generally also supportive, is 
tempered by concerns that it would come at the expense of 
NATO,s Mediterranean Dialogue, which they would like to see 
strengthened.  In FM Frattini's March 3 address to the NAC 
(ref d), he endorsed the U.S. view that the ICI and GME 
initiatives are complementary in their goals of promoting 
freedom and prosperity in the Muslim World. 
 
3. (C) The Italians have also been supportive of the Global 
Peace Operation Initiative and the portion relating to 
constabulary training, where it would like to play a leading 
role.  The Italian Government has contributed good ideas to 
both initiatives, including a joint U.S.-Italy non-paper on 
G8 action to support peace operations, and has offered to 
host a training facility in Turin or at the carabinieri 
Center of Excellence in Vicenza.   Resources remain a 
concern, as does as how the initiative fits in with similar 
discussions in the UN and EU. 
 
NONPROLIFERATION 
---------------- 
 
4. (U) Post has not received specific information about U.S. 
proposed initiatives on non-proliferation, so we can not make 
any specific comments.  For Italian views on 
non-proliferation issues writ large, see refs g and h. 
 
COUNTER-TERRORISM COOPERATION 
----------------------------- 
 
5. (SBU) We do not believe the Italian Government has 
reservations about adopting U.S.-made technology. But given 
potential competition from domestic provides, we are not 
optimistic that U.S.-technology will be purchased.  The 
Italian Government is concerned about privacy laws regarding 
interoperability of smart cards and smart chip passports, and 
has particular concerns about the information that could made 
available to other persons/governments.  Italy has a 
prototype machine-readable, biometric passport with a 
microchip containing two forms of biometric identifiers 
(facial image and digital fingerprints); it was formally 
launched December 11, 2003.  The passports will incorporate a 
chip consistent with the parameters estimated by Directive 
ISO 14443 and with the standards recommended by ICAO. 
Currently, the prototype does not have sufficient memory to 
meet ICAO standards, but it will be the time it goes into 
general production and circulation sometime in 2005. 
 
6. (U) Italian officials, under Italy's privacy laws, do not 
have the legal authority to adopt a biometric passport.  The 
Ministry of Justice and the Privacy Authority (Italy's 
regulatory agency on privacy issues) are preparing the text 
of a law that will permit the introduction of new passports 
with biometric identifiers. 
 
7. (SBU) Italy is trying to improve capacity building and 
collaboration with non-G8 countries in the counter-terrorism 
 
 
field.  During Italy's six-month EU Presidency, the GOI, in 
conjunction with the European Commission, invited officials 
from the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) to share with EU 
member states and invited governments - including the U.S. - 
information about how GCC governments track suspect money. 
Italy is interested in working further with the Gulf states 
on alternative remittance systems, including cash couriers. 
Italian officials also have worked to enhance border control 
and counter-terrorism skills of officials in the Balkans, 
especially Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, and Kosovo. 
 
TRADE PROMOTION AND THE WTO 
--------------------------- 
 
8. (U) Italian views are laid out in ref e. 
 
PROMOTING PRIVATE SECTOR GROWTH FOR DEVELOPMENT 
--------------------------------------------- -- 
 
9.  (U) Italy's overall approach to aid emphasizes private 
sector development and capacity building with a particular 
focus on the delivery of healthcare services.  The Middle 
East and Africa remain priority regions.  Italian officials 
in conversations with us have not commented on U.S. plans to 
promote growth in developing countries through index bonds, 
facilitating global remittances, or supporting small business 
development. 
 
OTHER SUMMIT ISSUES:  AFRICA, HIV-AIDS, DEBT FORGIVENESS 
--------------------------------------------- ----------- 
 
10.  (SBU) Italy has a long-standing interest, largely due to 
historical ties, in Ethiopia, Somalia and Sudan.  Italy is 
involved in the peace processes there and wishes to have 
influence in the region.  Stretched financially, politically 
and militarily as Italy is, however, there may be less of an 
effort at an overall governmental level and more interest 
from specific offices and individual officials in the Prime 
Minister's office and Ministry of Foreign Affairs in these 
issues.  Depending on USG policy for a particular 
country/region in Africa, the Italians could serve as 
influential and cooperative partners. 
 
11. (U) Debt forgiveness has significant support among 
Italian citizens and political leaders. Italian officials 
have focused primarily on debt forgiveness as the instrument 
for growth, or at least, a means to improve the 
credit-worthiness of developing countries.  Italy's 
assistance budget is perennially under-funded, and most 
assistance funding has been targeted for multilateral 
programs.  Debt forgiveness is seen as a way, politically as 
well as economically, to make up for some of this funding 
shortfall. 
 
12. (SBU) The Italians will likely react positively to G-8 
summit ideas on HIV/AIDS, while looking carefully at resource 
needs.  The GOI has supported U.S. initiatives on HIV/AIDS to 
date.  Moreover, the Italian Ministry of Health considers 
HIV/AIDS a major focus of bilateral research efforts with the 
U.S., as well as a key target of Italian cooperation programs 
in developing countries in Africa.  Health Minister Sirchia 
recently wrote to the Embassy about the President's HIV-AIDS 
initiative.  He wrote, "I was pleased to see the recent 
information regarding the initiative approved recently by the 
U.S. Congress, regarding President Bush's new Strategic Plan 
for fighting AIDS.  I also noted with great pleasure the 
financing entity for the implementation of the Plan, which 
will be added to the funding of the Global Fund, an 
initiative in which our country is strongly involved at the 
side of the United States." 
 
Visit Rome's Classified Website: 
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/rome/index.cf m 
 
SEMBLER 
 
 
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 2004ROME01649 - Classification: CONFIDENTIAL