US embassy cable - 04ROME1656

C O N F I D E N T I A L ROME 001656 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
DEPT FOR NEA 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/26/2014 
TAGS: KPAL, IS, IT, PRELS, UNGA 
SUBJECT: ITALIANS OPPOSE UNGA RESOLUTION ON UN PALESTINIAN 
OBSERVER MISSION STATUS 
 
REF: STATE 92528 
 
CLASSIFIED BY: POL M/C TOM COUNTRYMAN FOR REASONS 1.5 (B) AND (D). 
 
1. (C) SUMMARY. ITALY OPPOSES EVEN PAYING LIP-SERVICE TO THE 
UN PALESTINIAN OBSERVER'S RESOLUTION REGARDING MISSION STATUS 
AND IS WORKING TO CONVINCE ITS EU PARTNERS NOT EVEN TO 
NEGOTIATE WITH THE PALESTINIANS.  IT WILL BE DIFFICULT TO 
HOLD A COMMON EU POSITION, HOWEVER, AND THE ITALIANS 
RECOMMEND THAT THE US FOCUS ITS LOBBYING EFFORTS ON IRELAND. 
END SUMMARY. 
 
2. (C) POL M/C DELIVERED REFTEL DEMARCHE TO MFA OFFICE 
DIRECTOR FOR THE EASTER MEDITERRANEAN LUCA FERRARI.  FERRARI 
SAID THAT THE PALESTINIAN RESOLUTION EXPANDING ITS 
CREDENTIALS CLAIM AT THE UNITED NATIONS WAS "RIDICULOUS AND 
WITHOUT ANY LEGAL BASIS."  WITHIN THE EU GROUP AT THE UN, THE 
MFA HAS ALREADY INSTRUCTED THE ITALIAN DELEGATION TO OPPOSE 
EVEN NEGOTIATING WITH THE PALESTINIANS.  ITALY IS TRYING TO 
CONVINCE ITS EU PARTNERS TO REFRAIN FROM EVEN DISCUSSING THE 
RESOLUTION WITH THE PALESTINIANS, AND INSTEAD TO VOTE AGAINST 
IT.  HE ACKNOWLEDGED, HOWEVER, THAT IT WILL BE DIFFICULT TO 
HOLD A COMMON EU LINE EVEN AGAINST ENGAGEMENT. 
 
3. (C) ON THE LEGAL SIDE, FERRARI SAID THAT IT WAS RIDICULOUS 
FOR THE PALESTINIAN OBSERVER TO BE PRESENTING THIS RESOLUTION 
SINCE HE REPRESENTS THE PLO -- A POLITICAL MOVEMENT THAT HAS 
NO GOVERNING AUTHORITY OVER THE TERRITORIES -- AND NOT THE 
PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY.  FERRARI FURTHER COMMENTED THAT IT 
WOULD BE MORE LOGICAL FOR THE OBSERVER TO TRY TO CHANGE HIS 
OWN STATUS RATHER THAN TRY TO LAY CLAIM TO TERRITORY THAT THE 
PLO DOESN'T GOVERN. 
 
4. (C) ITALY WILL WARN ITS EU COLLEAGUES THAT SHOWING ANY 
SYMPATHY FOR THE PALESTINIAN POSITION WOULD OPEN A PANDORA'S 
BOX OF DOZENS OF CASES OF REPRESENTATION OF CONTESTED 
TERRITORY WORLDWIDE.  (FERRARI CITED CHECHNYA AND ISLANDS 
DISPUTED BY RUSSIA AND JAPAN).  THE UN, IT ARGUES, HAS NOT 
INSERTED ITSELF IN THESE ISSUES IN THE PAST AND SHOULD NOT 
BEGIN NOW. 
 
5. (C) FERRARI URGED THE US TO FOCUS ITS LOBBYING ON IRELAND, 
AS HOLDER OF THE EU PRESIDENCY AND THEREFORE KEY 
DECISION-MAKER ON WHETHER TO NEGOTIATE WITH THE PALESTINIAN 
DELEGATION.  DUBLIN, HE OPINED, WAS INCLINED TO FAVOR 
NEGOTIATIONS.  HE ALSO URGED THE US TO FOCUS ON THE LEGAL 
ISSUES, SINCE MANY EU MEMBERS WILL NOT FIND PERSUASIVE AT 
THIS TIME A US ARGUMENT THAT THE RESOLUTION PREJUDGES FINAL 
STATUS. 
 
VISIT ROME'S CLASSIFIED WEBSITE: 
HTTP://WWW.STATE.SGOV.GOV/P/EUR/ROME/INDEX.CF M 
 
SEMBLER 
 
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2004ROME01656 - Classification: CONFIDENTIAL