US embassy cable - 04ROME3136

C O N F I D E N T I A L ROME 003136 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
"NOTE BY CIB: PROCESS AS IS PER S/ES-O: JASON DONOVAN 
 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/12/2014 
TAGS: OPDC, PHUM, PREL, IT, UNSC 
SUBJECT: ITALIAN VIEWS ON UNSC REFORM, WEOG ROTATION FOR 
CHR MEMBERSHIP, COMMUNITY OF DEMOCRACIES 
 
REF: A. STATE 172297 
     B. ROME 2745 
     C. STATE 163634 
 
Classified By: A/DCM Tom Countryman for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). 
 
1. (C) Summary.  Italy appreciates the Ref C enunciation of 
USG views on UN Security Council reform, which it views as a 
matter of vital national interest, and fully agrees that 
effectiveness be the standard by which reform is judged. 
Italy also will support the USG goal (Ref A) of reaching 
agreement on WEOG rotation in the UN Commission on Human 
Rights (CHR) this year, according to MFA officials. End 
summary. 
 
2. (C) A/DCM delivered ref A  letter to MFA Acting DG for 
Multilateral Political Affairs Claudio Bisogniero on August 
13.  Although admitting that the issue of CHR membership 
was not currently on Italy's radar, Bisogniero said Rome has 
always been very supportive of the initiative to develop a 
WEOG rotation, noting that Italy (at US request) withdrew its 
candidacy two years ago to allow the US to re-gain a seat. 
Bisogniero said Italy would be in touch with other 
like-minded countries (such as Iceland, Canada, and the 
Netherlands) to develop support for a rotating WEOG 
membership in UNCHR. 
 
3. (C) Turning to the Committee on Democracy (CD), Bisogniero 
said FM Frattini had written to the members of the Convening 
Group suggesting a meeting in Washington in early September 
regarding CD enlargement.  Italy has actively participated in 
the Convening Group as an invited guest for the past year. 
Of the two proposals put forward by the Committee chair -- to 
enlarge the Convening Group either by two or by six -- Italy 
favors the latter.  This option would provide an additional 
seat for each region, for a total of 16 seats, and Italy 
would definitely like to hold one of the new  European seats. 
 Bisogniero said he would fax a copy of Frattini's letter to 
the Embassy, which Post will forward to EUR/WE. 
 
4. (C) On UNSC Reform, A/DCM drew from Ref C points, 
emphasizing that the US is listening mode, waiting with 
interest for the results of the Eminent Persons Panel, and 
that it will play a constructive role in follow-up 
discussions, with UNSC effectiveness being our key concern. 
Bisogniero agreed with the standard set in Ref C that any 
UNSC reform proposal should be judged on its effectiveness. 
Thanking the US for presenting this standard, Bisogniero said 
that to  obtain effective multilateralism, the focus should 
be on creating 
a rapid decision-making process -- a process that enlarging 
the UNSC would only complicate.  Russia, he opined, has no 
interest in sharing the "eminent" position it holds in the 
UNSC with Germany, despite public comments to the contrary. 
He commented that the Spanish position is very close to 
Italy's. 
 
5. (C) Citing an August 12 front-page article in 
top-circulation Corriere della Sera by Chamber of Deputies 
President Casini, Bisogniero noted that the debate over UNSC 
is heating up in the Italian press.  (Note.  UNSC reform was 
also discussed at the July 27 meeting of Italian Ambassadors, 
where President Ciampi called for an EU seat on the UNSC. 
End note). UNSC reform, Bisogniero concluded, has enormous 
implications domestically because it reflects Italy's 
importance in the international arena.  Bisogniero was 
anxious to keep in close touch with  Washington on this 
issue. 
 
Visit Rome's Classified Website: 
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/rome/index.cf m 
 
SEMBLER 
 
 
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	2004ROME03136 - Classification: CONFIDENTIAL