US embassy cable - 04ROME1853

UNCLAS  ROME 001853 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
THE HAGUE FOR CWC DEL 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PARM, PREL, IT, CWC 
SUBJECT: CWC: ITALIAN POSITION ON RABTA CONVERSION, CW 
DESTRUCTION ASSISTANCE TO ALBANIA 
 
REF: A. SECSTATE 96555 
 
     B. ROME 1459 
 
SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSFIED.  PLEASE PROTECT ACCORDINGLY.  NOT 
FOR INTERNET DISTRIBUTION. 
 
1. (SBU) Summary.  Italy now agrees with the U.S. that 
partitioning the Rabta CW production facility to facilitate 
conversion is not feasible.  It also is in sync on using a 
technical change to the CWC to ensure that Libya--and other 
states in the future--can convert CWPFs to legitimate uses. 
Italy, however, is concerned that the language proposed in 
ref A may be overly complicated and could prolong approval of 
Libya'S conversion request by the Conference of States 
Parties (CSP).  The head of Italy's CWC National Authority 
believes that an effort should be made to craft a simpler 
solution.  He looks forward to engaging in London with the 
U.S. and U.K. on May 13.  End Summary. 
 
Looking for a Simple Solution on Rabta 
-------------------------------------- 
 
2. (SBU) Polmiloff on May 7 delivered ref A points to MFA 
Counselor Giovanni Iannuzzi, who heads Italy's National CWC 
Authority.  General Tracci, an MoD CW expert assigned to 
Iannuzzi's office, participated in the meeting.  Iannuzzi led 
off by acknowledging that, after further analysis, Italy 
agrees with the U.S. that partitioning the Rabta CWPF into 
"clean", "dirty", and "grey" sections is not feasible. 
Iannuzzi now understood that the grey area which would need 
to be converted was extensive.  He wanted the U.S. to 
understand that the idea to partition Rabta was not Italy's, 
but one that had come to the MFA's attention via discussions 
with the OPCW Technical Secretariat. 
 
3.  (SBU) Iannuzzi said he also agreed that seeking a 
technical change to Verification Annex, Part V, para 72 is 
the right way to proceed, but Italy is still concerned that 
the approval process could be lengthy (ref B).  Supported by 
Tracci, he argued in favor of a "light touch" to minimize 
complications in trying to convince the CSP to accept a 
change.  Iannuzzi said it seemed that the language the U.S. 
was proposing to adjust para 72 could be seen as 
contradicting elements of para 66 (specifically, according to 
Iannuzzi, the clause allowing a State Party four years to 
submit a conversion request from the date the Convention 
enters into force for the particular state).  Any technical 
change will have to square this circle, he suggested. 
 
4.  (SBU) Italy is concerned that the more complicated 
conversion becomes, the more likely Pharmachem (the 
Milan-based company interested in producing pharmaceuticals 
at Rabta) will look to construction in Libya of an entirely 
new plant--free from CWC-imposed conditionality--as an 
alternative.  Iannuzzi, as he had in ref B discussion, again 
suggested that adding the language "for it" to the end of 
para 72 would be an elegant fix (Note: as ref A explains, 
this would have the effect of giving a country six years to 
submit a conversion request from the time it becomes a State 
Party to the CWC. End Note).  Polmiloff emphasized ref A 
point that this approach would potentially, and 
unnecessarily, delay completion of conversion at Rabta and at 
other similar facilities outside of Libya in the future. 
Iannuzzi, bending a little, allowed that that a "shorter 
limit" could indeed make sense. 
 
5.  (SBU) Tracci raised the issue of Russian "violations" of 
para 72 as a possible sticking point.  He claimed there were 
nine separate cases where Russia had not completed conversion 
within the six-year period set forth in the paragraph, i.e. 
by April 29, 2003.  Offering Libya a way out of the 
strictures of para 72 might provoke Russia into seeking a 
technical adjustment to put its situation on a more solid 
legal footing, Tracci speculated.  This possibility required 
careful consideration in thinking about how to craft a 
technical change. 
 
6.  (SBU) Polmiloff stressed to Iannuzzi that the U.S. 
believed the sequencing outlined in ref A was realistic.  We 
would, however, need Italy's support to keep to the 
timetable.  Iannuzzi said he was open to exploring all 
options, but wants to make sure that those states interested 
in helping Libya with its conversion request don't get 
tripped up by adopting an approach that is overly 
 
 
complicated.  He looked forward to the May 13 U.S.-U.K.-Italy 
meeting in London as an opportunity to move forward. 
 
Libyan Visit to Italy 
--------------------- 
 
7.  (SBU)  Iannuzzi informed polmiloff that a delegation led 
by the new head of Libya's National Authority visited Italy 
from May 3-5.  In addition to discussions in Rome on the CWC 
and Rabta, the delegation visited Italy's CW destruction 
facility in Civitavecchia (on the coast about 40 kilometers 
north of Rome).  The Libyans also received briefings from 
Italian companies involved in the CW destruction business 
whose main destruction method is the use of peroxide. 
Iannuzzi said the Libyans had told him they would have a CW 
destruction plan ready for consideration by the OPCW in the 
month of May. 
 
CW Destruction Assistance to Albania 
------------------------------------ 
 
8.  (SBU) Polmiloff used the meeting on Rabta to seek 
clarification on possible Italian CW assistance to Albania. 
Iannuzzi said the MFA had received approval from the MoD to 
offer Albanian officials technical training courses. 
However, Albania has informed Italy that only when a CW 
destruction needs assessment is completed will it be able to 
engage on assistance.  Iannuzzi stressed that no discussion 
of financial aid to Albania has taken place to date. 
 
 
Visit Rome's Classified Website: 
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/rome/index.cf m 
 
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 2004ROME01853 - Classification: UNCLASSIFIED