US embassy cable - 04ROME2912

C O N F I D E N T I A L  ROME 002912 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/27/2014 
TAGS: IT, IZ, MARR, MOPS, OPDC, PREL, IRAQI FREEDOM 
SUBJECT: ITALIAN SUGGESTIONS ON COALITION STATEMENT ON 
TERRORISM 
 
REF: A. STATE 161899 
     B. RUGGIERO-COUNTRYMAN E-MAIL 27 JULY 
 
Classified By: POLITICAL MINISTER-COUNSELOR THOMAS COUNTRYMAN, REASON 1 
.4 (A) (D) 
 
1. (C) Embassy Rome delivered ref A message and draft 
statement July 27 to MFA officials Deputy PolDir Bisogniero 
and Director-General (A/S equivalent) for Middle East Sessa. 
Because both officials were occupied with the current Italian 
Chiefs of Mission conference, they conferred and delivered 
their response through the Director of the Gulf Affairs 
office, Luigi Maccotta.  Italy was fully on board with the 
substance of the message, but Maccotta raised several 
questions about the method of issuing the statement and about 
the exact words to be used. 
 
-- Was the USG confident that the message would have a 
deterrent effect on terrorists in Iraq?  Was it an equal or 
higher objective to show solidarity with Bulgaria? 
-- Could the focus on "the coalition" in the statement 
actually undermine our common effort to expand the 
international community's participation in Iraq?  Maccotta 
noted that since the passage of UNSCR 1546, we had focused on 
the international community's mandated responsbility in Iraq, 
as in the G-8 summit statement. 
-- The statement ought to recognize also the contributions 
made and risks run by states (and their citizens) that are 
not part of the military coalition.  Recent kidnappings have 
in fact targetted citizens of non-coalition countries.  For 
example, the fourth tick refers to endangering "all coalition 
members."  It would be more inclusive and accurate to refer 
to the threat of "all members of the international community 
working to assist the Iraqi people" or something similar. 
-- Finally, Maccotta asked if the USG would issue the 
statement first and await endorsement from coalition 
countries?  Or were we instead asking for clearance on a 
specific text before issuing? 
 
2. (C) Following receipt of ref B, POL MC called on Maccotta 
to tell him that the USG was seeking clearance from coalition 
members before issuing the statement.  We were open to 
suggestions both on the exact text and on the method of 
issuing the statement.  For example, we could insert language 
that emphasized the international community and its mandate 
under the UN resolution rather than emphasizing the 
multinational military coalition.  Maccotta appreciated this 
reply, particularly our flexibility on exact language, and 
undertook to provide Italian approval of the concept as well 
as suggested changes, if any, not later than OOB July 28. 
 
3. (C) Embassy also emphasized to Maccotta (and to Francesco 
Trupiano, diplomatic adviser to Minister of Defense Martino, 
our interest in unifying the coalition response to hostage 
taking and rescue operations.  Both took the point on board 
without comment. 
 
 
4. Minimize considered 
 
Visit Rome's Classified Website: 
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/rome/index.cf m 
 
SEMBLER 
 
 
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	2004ROME02912 - Classification: CONFIDENTIAL