US embassy cable - 04ROME1898

C O N F I D E N T I A L  ROME 001898 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
DEPT FOR EUR/ERA, S/WCI 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/17/2014 
TAGS: PREL, MARR, IT, EUN, ICC, MEPP 
SUBJECT: SUBJECT: ITALY SUPPORTS US VIEWS ON GAERC AGENDA; 
FMS MAY DISCUSS ICC 
 
REF: STATE 104199 
 
Classified By: POL MINISTER COUNSELOR TOM COUNTRYMAN.  REASON: 1.5 (B)( 
D) 
 
ESDP 
---- 
 
1. (C)  MFA Director for EU Common Foreign and Security 
Policy Luigi Mattiolo told Poloff on May 12 that as the May 
17 GAERC would be the first in which Ministers of Defense 
from all 25 Member States would participate, discussion of 
ESDP issues would likely generate lively debate, and 
conclusions indicative of the direction EU common security 
arrangements will take over the next few months.  Mattiolo 
expected that the conclusions would include deployment goals 
for EU rapid response units.  He expected initial units to be 
ready in 2005, and complete deployment capabilities by 2007. 
 
2.  (C)  Mattiolo also expects that the FMs will prepare 
documents on the European Armaments Agency for consideration 
by the June European Council.  Among the issues FMs will 
discuss is whether QMV would apply to Agency decisions, and 
cooperation with third party, particularly Non-EU NATO, 
countries.  He said that Italy prefers a small "institutional 
profile" for the Agency. 
 
3.  (C)  According to Mattiolo, there is emerging EU 
consensus for an EU military planning capability using 
existing structures and a small cell within SHAPE. The scope 
of EU planning would be strategic, not operational, in nature. 
 
Western Balkans 
--------------- 
4. (C) EU Institutional Affairs Director Michelle Quarone, 
and Balkans Affairs Director Andrea Orizio told poloff that 
the specific reftel points on Croatian ICTY would not be 
covered at the May 17 GAERC.  However, Italy fully concurs 
that Zagreb must accelerate compliance with its commitments 
to the ICTY and return of refugees and displaced persons. 
Croatia's further integration with transatlantic institutions 
is conditional on such cooperation, they said. 
 
5. (C) Quarone mentioned that CFSP High Representative Patten 
would address the FM's on the situation in Kosovo, 
substituting for SRSG Holkeri, who had been hospitalized for 
symptoms of fatigue in Strasbourg on May 13.  Orizio said the 
FM's would also do a "stocktaking" of the Stabilization and 
Association Process for all Balkan countries. 
 
European Neighborhood Policy/Russia 
---------------------------- 
 
6. (C) Quarone said that the ENP strategy paper had been 
approved on May 12, not enough lead-time for a full 
discussion at the GAERC.  Italy's view on the ENP concept was 
that it was a good tool for overall development assistance 
for eastern European countries.  It must be underlined, 
however that the process was not a "shortcut" to membership, 
a notion mistakenly held by Ukraine and Moldova.  Under the 
ENP, Russia would enjoy a "special partnership" with the EU 
given its longer and more robust relationship with Brussels. 
Mattiolo said that it was unlikely Transnistria would make 
the busy GAERC agenda, but that Italy fully agreed with USG 
views that Moscow must do more to comply with its OSCE 
Istanbul commitments.  He said the EU would definitely 
underscore its concern with Putin at the May 21 Russia-EU 
Summit. 
 
Cyprus/Turkey 
------------ 
 
7. (C) Quarone said that despite our shared disappointment 
with the referendum results, the US and EU must continue to 
support overall development in Cyprus.  Accordingly, the EU 
will distribute as planned 249 million Euros, largely for aid 
north of the Green Line.  FM's will likely recognize Ankara's 
measured response to the referendum results, which can only 
help Turkey's chances for an accession date at the December 
Council, averred Quarone. 
 
ICC 
--- 
 
 
8. (C) Mattiolo has heard rumors that discussion of UN 
Resolution 1487 (which states the ICC does not have 
jurisdiction over UN peacekeeping missions), while not on the 
formal agenda, may be a subject for discussion over lunch by 
the FMs and MODs.  The upcoming vote in the UN to extend the 
resolution may be a vehicle for some countries to "send a 
message" on Iraq prison torture, even though 1487 does not 
apply to the current mission in Iraq.  Italy is in favor of 
1487 rollover, and will be "monitoring carefully" the 
opinions of its EU partners.  Mattiolo promised poloff an 
assessment of the GAERC discussion following FM Frattini's 
return from Brussels. 
 
MEPP 
---- 
 
9. (C) According to Luca Ferrari, MFA Office Director for the 
Eastern Mediterranean, FMs will endorse the conclusions of 
the May 4 Quartet at the GAERC.  There are on ongoing 
discussions on the European Strategic Partnership for the 
Mediterranean and Middle East, but he did not believe they 
would be covered at the GAERC. 
 
EU-Latin America and Caribbean Summit 
------------------------------------- 
 
10. (C) Andrea Sama', European Integration officer for 
EU-Latin American affairs, told us that the following would 
be discussed at the GAERC in preparation for the EU-LAC 
Summit which will be held in Guadalajara May 28: 
 
- Objectives and goals for the Summit; 
 
- Opening of negotiations for association agreements with 
Andean region countries and Central Am region countries. 
 
11. (C) Sama' stated that the EU is ready and willing to get 
these agreements up and running but that specifics regarding 
certain conditions and timing need to be finalized.  For 
example, the EU must decide whether to wait until the DOHA 
round is finished before completing the agreements; certain 
regional integration issues also remain to be agreed. 
 
12. Sama' said that FMs would discuss social cohesion (which 
aims to ensure greater social participation in political and 
economic activity through social and fiscal policies), but no 
new funds or specific projects are currently being 
considered.  He added that there may be mention of best 
practices, know-how and training exchanges but all under the 
current funding for Latin American development. 
 
EU-Mercosur 
----------- 
 
13. (C) Sama' said that Mercosur would be discussed but will 
not be a priority issue at the GAERC.  He reported that the 
last EU-Mercosur negotiations were held May 7 and 8 and that 
there will be another negotiating session at the ministerial 
level on May 27 in Guadalajara, one day prior to the LAC 
Summit.  The goal is to iron out details in order  to make 
some concrete announcements at the Summit.  Sama' estimates 
that the negotiations should be successfully completed by 
fall 2004. 
 
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 2004ROME01898 - Classification: CONFIDENTIAL