US embassy cable - 04ROME1707

C O N F I D E N T I A L  ROME 001707 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/30/2014 
TAGS: PREL, IS, GZ, IT, MEPP 
SUBJECT: ITALY SEEKS ACTIVE QUARTET ROLE IN GAZA 
 
REF: ROME 1506 
 
Classified By: A/DCM WILLIAM HAUGH, REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D). 
 
1.  (C)  SUMMARY:  Italy would like to see a "substantial" 
statement emerge from the May 4 meeting of Quartet foreign 
ministers and would like the Quartet to assume a more active 
role.  The Italian MFA is circulating a non-paper (text in 
para 5) calling for more robust Quartet and EU activity to 
support reconstruction in Gaza, which will require more than 
just "handing over the money," but also a ground presence. 
As an EU country with "strong interests in the stability of 
the Mediterranean," Italy hopes that its input will be 
reflected in the conclusions of the upcoming Quartet meeting. 
 END SUMMARY. 
 
2. (SBU)  Italian MFA East Mediterranean Office Director Luca 
Ferrari called in representatives of the U.S., Irish (as EU 
Presidency country) and Russian embassies to receive a 
non-paper with Italy's suggestions for the May 4 meeting of 
Quartet Ministers.  Ferrari explained that while Italy will 
not be present at the Quartet, it nonetheless retains a 
strong interest in the stability of the Mediterranean. 
Foreign Minister Frattini asked the MFA to develop an Italian 
position for the meeting.   This demarche, Ferrari said, 
should be considered a personal message from Frattini to 
Secretary Powell, in the U.S. case.  Ferrari said the 
 
SIPDIS 
demarche would also be delivered in Washington, Dublin, and 
Moscow, and to the UN's Pendergrast and Solana in Brussels. 
 
3.  (C)  Ferrari presented a detailed introduction to the 
points, underscoring the importance of the Middle East Peace 
Process (MEPP) and Italy's commitment to the Principles 
adopted by EU Ministers at Tullamore.  He reiterated Italy's 
belief that Sharon's plan for withdrawal from Gaza, and the 
President's openings on behalf of that plan, offered a new, 
and likely the only, hope for the Roadmap and resumption of 
negotiations.  He emphasized the importance of Israel's 
following through on its commitment and shared the Italian 
government's concern that a rejection by Likud of Sharon's 
plan would have serious negative repercussions.  Italy has 
made this clear to its Israeli friends, Ferrari said. 
 
4.  (C)  Ferrari called for more active Quartet and EU 
involvement in future negotiations, saying the Quartet should 
be prepared to contribute in political, security and economic 
roles.  The Quartet cannot be simply a "notary public" 
undersigning other agreements, and the EU will not be content 
just to hand over economic assistance without a broader role. 
 To ensure this, the Quartet should establish some kind of 
on-the-ground mechanism, some "antennae" in Gaza, such as the 
"facilitators" of the EU Special Envoy to the West Bank.  To 
enable all this to happen, the Quartet needs to determine 
concretely what needs to be done in Gaza and how to 
accomplish it.  It is in regional and broader security 
interests of all participants to see Gaza succeed.  Italy 
sees a renewed need for the concept of a Reconstruction 
(Marshall) Plan for the area. 
 
5.  (C)  BEGIN TEXT, ITALIAN NON-PAPER: 
 
NON-PAPER 
 
--  Italy is fully committed to the principles recalled by 
the EU Ministers in Tullamore on April 17 last. 
 
--  We therefore reaffirm our commitment to a negotiated 
Two-State solution agreed between the Parties which would 
result in a viable, contiguous, sovereign and independent 
Palestinian State existing side by side in peace with an 
Israel living within recognized and secure borders and our 
belief that the Road Map represents the only route to achieve 
such an outcome.  We also recall the principle that Final 
Status issues, such as borders, refugees and Jerusalem, are a 
matter for negotiation and agreement between the Parties. 
 
--  In this framework, Italy welcomes the prospect of an 
Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza Strip and some settlements 
in the West Bank as a significant step towards the resumption 
of the implementation of the Road Map.  The withdrawal of 
Israeli military forces and of Israeli settlers from relevant 
parts of the Occupied Territories will give to the 
Palestinian Authority and to the Palestinian people an 
important opportunity to move forward in the economic, social 
and political reconstruction of those territories. 
 
--  Italy recalls the five political conditions set by the EU 
Council in February: compatibility with the Road Map, step 
towards a two-State solution; no transfer of settlers from 
Gaza to the West Bank; organized and negotiated hand-over to 
the PA; Israel to facilitate the reconstruction of Gaza. 
 
--  Italy believes that the International Community, Israel 
and the Palestinian Authority share a fundamental interest in 
 
making the Gaza Strip a successful "pilot project" of a 
Palestinian efficient, democratic and peaceful 
self-government.  We are convinced that a failure in Gaza 
would signify a serious setback and that the Quartet should 
engage itself in order to make the Israeli withdrawal a first 
step toward the resumption of the Road Map.  We therefore 
believe that the European Union and all the other relevant 
international actors, and first and foremost neighboring 
countries as Egypt and Jordan, should give their contribution 
to ensure the prompt stabilization and reconstruction of Gaza. 
 
-- Italy stresses that the role of the Quartet is central. 
Italy recognizes the leading role played by the United 
States, but at the same time believes that the active 
involvement of the European Union is fundamental for the 
success of the Road Map. 
 
--  Italy believes that the conclusions of the Quartet 
Principals' meeting taking place in New York on May 4 next 
should express a clear commitment of the Quartet to play a 
political, economic and security role face to the Israeli 
withdrawal.  This commitment should also provide for a clear 
division of labors and of responsibilities among the Quartet 
members in the different sectors involved.  Italy believes 
that, for this commitment to be truly effective, the Quartet 
should envisage the presence on the field of facilitators, on 
the example of the "Informal EU Group" assisting the EU 
Special Envoy. 
 
--  In order to engage herself, the European Union will also 
need further security guarantees by the Parties: the security 
of the EU personnel needed on the ground for the 
reconstruction effort must be adequately ensured; the 
Palestinian Authority should give assurances that no attacks 
will come from Gaza after the Israeli withdrawal; Israel 
should guarantee that she will not take any action which 
could endanger the security of the EU personnel or bring 
about the destruction of facilities which are rebuilt through 
the European contribution. 
 
--  Italy stresses the interdependence existing among the 
three pillars of security, economy and good governance.  The 
European initiative, and more generally all international 
effort, will have to take into account the needs and the 
challenges arising in all these three sectors. 
 
--  As for security, Italy underlines the relevant 
contribution that could come from Jordan and, above all 
Egypt.  Their long-standing experience in the security needs 
of the Palestinian territories, their geographical, cultural 
and linguistic proximity with the Palestinian people, their 
historical commitment to a fair, lasting and comprehensive 
settlement of the Arab-Israeli conflict make these two 
countries particularly apt to give an effective contribution 
in this sector.  Italy stands ready to support Egyptian and 
Jordanian efforts in this sector and urges a similar European 
support. 
 
--  We are also convinced that immediate and effective steps 
should be taken by the Palestinian Authority in order to 
proceed with the reform and the streamlining of the security 
forces to be brought under the full control of an empowered 
Minister of Interior and prime Minister.  Italy recalls her 
engagement to support the creation and training of a 
Palestinian Court Police and considers that the European 
Union could give a significant contribution to the training 
of Palestinian civilian police.  Italy further believes that, 
on a longer term prospect, the MFO could be called to play a 
role in patrolling and controlling the border between Gaza 
and Egypt, thus allowing an Israeli withdrawal also from this 
area. 
 
--  On the economic side, Italy stresses that the 
international efforts, and above all the European efforts - 
which will be paramount, being the EU the first donor to the 
Palestinian territories - will have to be devoted to the 
immediate humanitarian and rehabilitation needs, but also to 
the reconstruction of a viable Palestinian private sector and 
to a long term economic development.  For these reasons Italy 
is committed to advocating in all the relevant multilateral 
fora, and first and foremost among the G8 Countries, the need 
for a prompt announcement of a Global Plan for the 
Reconstruction of the Palestinian Territories, the so-called 
"Marshall Plan," endorsed by the G8 in Evian. 
 
--  Regarding the reforms of the Palestinian Authorities, 
Italy recalls the renewed international engagement expressed 
by the Capitals' Meeting of the Quartet Task Force on 
Palestinian Reforms that was convened in Rome on December 11 
last.  The European Union should be ready to support an 
accelerated pace of reform in all sectors by the Palestinian 
Authority.  Italy believes, in fact, that it is no use 
rebuilding the Palestinian security apparatus if the PA's 
administrative capacities are not strengthened at the same 
 
time. 
 
END TEXT. 
 
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 2004ROME01707 - Classification: CONFIDENTIAL