US embassy cable - 04ROME1814

C O N F I D E N T I A L ROME 001814 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
DEPT FOR NEA 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/09/2014 
TAGS: KPAL, IS, IT, PRELS, UNGA 
SUBJECT: PALESTINIAN UNGA RESOLUTION:  ITALY DID ALL IT 
COULD TO OPPOSE 
 
REF: A. USUN 1061 
 
B. ROME 1757 
 
CLASSIFIED BY: POL M/C TOM COUNTRYMAN FOR REASONS 1.5 (B) AND (D). 
 
1. (C) MFA OFFICE DIRECTOR FOR THE EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN LUCA 
FERRARI TOLD POL M/C ON MAY 6 THAT ITALY HAD DONE EVERYTHING 
POSSIBLE TO CONVINCE OTHER EU MEMBERS TO OPPOSE THE 
PALESTINIAN RESOLUTION IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.  ACCORDING TO 
FERRARI, THE ITALIAN UN PERMREP PUBLICLY DENOUNCED THE 
RESOLUTION PRIOR TO THE VOTE, AND WAS SUBSEQUENTLY BERATED BY 
OTHER EU MEMBERS IN NEW YORK FOR AIRING ITS VIEWS ON AN ISSUE 
THAT WAS STILL UNDER DEBATE IN THE EU COMMITTEE.  FERRARI WAS 
UPSET THAT THE UK AND GERMAN REPRESENTATIVES REMAINED SILENT 
WHILE THE OTHER MEMBERS "DUMPED ALL OVER" ITALY.  GERMANY AND 
THE UK, HE SAID, AGREED TO VOTE IN FAVOR AFTER THE UK 
SUBMITTED AMENDMENTS THAT WERE PRESENTED BY IRELAND AND 
ACCEPTED BY THE PALESTINIAN DELEGATION.  IN THE END, AFTER 
DELAYING A GA VOTE TO SEEK FM FRATTINI'S APPROVAL, ITALY 
VOTED WITH THE EU IN FAVOR OF THE RESOLUTION, BUT ONLY 
BECAUSE THE AMENDMENTS LEFT IT WITH NO PRACTICAL EFFECTS ON 
THE PALESTINIAN OBSERVER'S STATUS.  FERRARI WAS ANXIOUS TO 
LET THE USG KNOW THAT ITALY REMAINED OPPOSED TO THE 
RESOLUTION FOR REASONS CITED IN REF B AND HAD TRIED ITS BEST 
TO SUPPORT THE US POSITION. 
 
VISIT ROME'S CLASSIFIED WEBSITE: 
HTTP://WWW.STATE.SGOV.GOV/P/EUR/ROME/INDEX.CF M 

SEMBLER 
 
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2004ROME01814 - Classification: CONFIDENTIAL