US embassy cable - 04ROME2309

C O N F I D E N T I A L  ROME 002309 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/15/2014 
TAGS: PREL, IZ, IR, IT, MEPP, EUN 
SUBJECT: ITALY SUPPORTS US VIEWS ON GAERC AND COUNCIL AGENDA 
 
REF: A) STATE 125932 B) VIENNA 510 C) BRUSSELS 2456 
 
Classified By: ACTING POLITICAL MINISTER-COUNSELOR GARY ROBBINS. 
REASON:1.4 (B) (D) 
 
1. (C) Summary:  MFA officials briefed poloffs on positions 
Italy will take during GAERC and Council meetings during the 
week of June 14.   European Neighborhood Policy debate will 
continue at both GAERC and Council meetings.  The unanimous 
UNSC approval of the new Iraq resolution has prepared the 
ground for ministers and heads of government to have 
productive discussions on the way forward, and Italy supports 
the EU's targets for political and economic stability in its 
medium-term Iraq strategy; the Council will also highlight 
the UN's central role.  Italy generally prefers an open 
dialogue with Iran on nuclear and other issues.  Italy wants 
the US, as leader of the Quartet, to move the  Road Map 
forward, but collaborate with its partners before presenting 
any initiatives.  Sudan discussions will focus on ensuring 
that the UN system delivers aid to Darfur using a coordinated 
approach, making clear to the Sudanese government that it 
must comply fully with its commitments rather than continuing 
with piecemeal concessions.  END SUMMARY 
 
European Neighborhood Policy (ENP) 
--------------------------------- 
2. (C) MFA EU Institutional Affairs Director Michele Quarone 
told Poloff on June 10 that the ENP strategy paper had been 
officially presented to Member States and that debate 
continues on some details.  The strategy paper refers to the 
adoption of action plans with a life of 4-5 years and with a 
mid-term review after 2 years.  He said that Italy was 
content with ENP developments.  He underlined, however, that 
the process was not a "shortcut" to membership, a notion 
mistakenly held by Ukraine and Moldova among other partner 
states; it represents a tool for development assistance for 
eastern European countries.  Quarone said that, in a nod to 
Moscow's concerns, Russia would now be treated outside the 
ENP, in a "strategic partnership" with the EU, which 
recognizes its longer and more robust relationship with 
Brussels.  Some Neighborhood Funds could be used for projects 
in Russia, he added. Quarone was hopeful that ENP 
documentation could be approved by the European Council and 
jointly signed by the partner states in July. 
 
Iraq 
---- 
3. (C) MFA Director for EU Common Foreign and Security Policy 
Luigi Mattiolo said that, given the unanimous UNSC approval 
of the new Iraq resolution, he expects EU foreign ministers 
and heads of government to have a productive discussion about 
the way forward in Iraq.  The EU will target political and 
economic stability in its medium-term Iraq strategy; the 
Council will also highlight the UN's central role.  He said 
that EU member states are optimistic about new relations with 
Iraq and hopes the EU will augment its diplomatic and 
development assistance personnel on the ground as soon as 
possible after the June 30 handover.  Ministers will also 
discuss preparations and EU financial contributions for 
elections.  Iraqi debt reduction is not on the agenda for the 
GAERC sessions.  Mattiolo underlined that most debt 
restructuring or forgiveness decisions will be made on a 
bilateral basis. 
 
Iran ) Carrots prevailing over sticks at the GAERC 
--------------------------------------------- ----- 
4. (C) Poloff delivered points on Iran to MFA Office Director 
for Arms Control Giovanni Iannuzzi.  Iannuzzi said that there 
would be little substantive discussion of the IAEA BOG at the 
GAERC since the main focus is on Vienna.  The EU-3 submitted 
their draft BOG resolution (ref b) to other EU member states 
on June 8.  Iannuzzi described it as fairly balanced, drawing 
heavily on El Baradei,s report -- nearly to the extent, as 
he put it, of  "plagiarism."  The EU-3 reportedly asked each 
member state to respond "bilaterally."  Italy would like to 
see more effective language added to provide a timeframe for 
the on-going discussions with Iran.  If Iran wants the BOG to 
"leave it in peace" and resume a normal role in the IAEA, it 
needs to immediately comply with the BOG's report.  Italy 
agrees that Iran must be completely transparent with respect 
to its nuclear program, including P-2 and other activities. 
Iannuzzi noted that, according to recent Reuters and AP 
reports, even Khatami understands that the BOG cannot yet 
close the book on Iran and will discuss it again in 
September. 
 
5. (C) Iannuzzi stressed the need, &in the spirit of 
 
Vienna" to continue the dialogue between the BOG and the 
rest of the IAEA in an effort to reach consensus.  At the 
GAERC, he said, Italy generally prefers a minimalist, rather 
than tough, approach on Iran because of the desire to 
maintain an open dialogue on the nuclear and other issues. 
For example, the EU-Iran dialogue on human rights will resume 
June 14-15 (ref c) after months of  &postponements8 caused 
by Iran,s displeasure with European support last November 
for a UN human rights resolution.  However, he said, the EU 
is fully aware that it can not move forward on other issues 
with Iran until the nuclear issue is resolved. 
 
BMENA 
----- 
6. (C) Poloff delivered points on the Middle East and Broader 
Middle East and North Africa Initiative to MFA Office 
Director for the Eastern Mediterranean Luca Ferrari.  Ferrari 
said Italy completely supports the BMENA and the draft US-UK 
text at the G-8 Summit.  Though acknowledging that the EU 
drafted US-EU statement on the Broader Middle East was 
disappointing, Ferrari said his office has not pushed the 
Irish EU Presidency on this issue.  The Italian DG for the 
Middle East and Mediterranean, along with its counterparts in 
other EU states, had submitted its input to the Irish 
Presidency, but had not fought for any changes as long as the 
text remained innocuous.  He explained that, after six months 
at the helm of the EU Presidency, Italy prefers to take a 
back seat to the Irish.  Unfortunately, the Irish Presidency 
has turned out to be rather weak, especially after the 
Spanish elections.  Where before the Irish perceived a 
critical mass of conservative like-minded countries 
(including Italy) on issues like the Middle East, Zapatero,s 
election has quelled Dublin,s eagerness to court these 
members in an effort to pursue a strong EU policy, he said. 
 
7. (C) Another problem, he added, was that the Irish 
submitted their first draft too far in advance, giving 
&every second secretary8 in every capital the opportunity 
to add his two cents.  Italy,s strategy during its 
Presidency was to limit the discussion of draft statements, 
which made Italy a stronger and more effective at the EU 
helm.  Now, he admitted, Italy is experiencing a bit of EU 
fatigue and wants to avoid horse trading, although he agreed 
that the end result was disappointing.  The US-EU Summit, he 
added, coming at a time of major changes in the EU, is 
relatively unimportant, particularly in comparison with 
recent major events such as President Bush's visit to Rome, 
the G-8 summit, and the Istanbul Summit. 
 
Middle East ) Looking to the US for Leadership 
--------------------------------------------- - 
8. (C) On the Middle East Peace Process, Ferrari urged the 
US, the de facto leader of the Quartet, to move the Road Map 
forward, but stressed the need to collaborate with its 
partners before presenting any initiatives.  Poloff asked 
about recent discussions by EU High Representative Solana and 
by EU Quartet representative, Marc Otte, with the Egyptians. 
Ferrari said nothing special resulted from either set of 
discussions.  Otte will play a collaborative but not 
propositional role in the Quartet, preferring to keep a low 
profile, since he is an EU bureaucrat rather than a political 
animal, and hails from a relatively unimportant EU member 
(Belgium). 
 
9. (C) Ferrari said Italy is in favor of NATO involvement in 
Gaza once the conditions are right, but the optimal solution 
would be for an extension of the MFO,s mandate.  He warned 
that we must not let Hamas take control in Gaza.  Arafat, he 
commented, currently is playing a more collaborative role in 
an effort to increase his freedom of movement. 
 
SUDAN 
----- 
10. (C) Stafano Dejak, East Africa Office Director, told 
poloff that Sudan discussion at the GAERC and Council will 
focus on ensuring that the UN system delivers aid to Darfur 
using a coordinated approach, making clear to the Sudanese 
government that it must comply fully with its commitments 
rather than continuing with piecemeal concessions.  Dejak 
stressed that timing is essential - the window of opportunity 
to provide needed humanitarian aid is closing rapidly.  Dejak 
said that Italy will provide funding for the peace observer 
mission and will also deploy a military observer. Italy may 
also provide funds for a Human Rights observer mission. 
 
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 2004ROME02309 - Classification: CONFIDENTIAL