US embassy cable - 04ROME3927

C O N F I D E N T I A L ROME 003927 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
PM FOR DAS SUCHAN, JCS FOR BG REMINGTON 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/08/2014 
TAGS: PREL, PHUM, PARM, IT, EUN 
SUBJECT: EU GAERC - ITALY CONFIRMS MINISTERS WILL ENDORSE 
DECISION TO LIFT LIBYA ARMS EMBARGO; WILL DISCUSS US 
CONCERNS OVER CHINA ARMS EMBARGO 
 
REF: STATE 214023 
 
Classified By: POL MINISTER COUNSELOR TOM COUNTRYMAN.  REASON:1.5 (B)(D 
) 
 
Libya 
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1. (C)  MFA Director for EU CFSP Luigi Mattiolo confirmed to 
poloff that EU Ministers would endorse the COREPER decision 
to lift completely the ban on arms exports to Libya at the 
October 11 GAERC.  Mattiolo underlined that this would not 
mean a rush of sales of lethal weapons to Tripoli.  There 
will be a period of some weeks between the endorsement and 
formal removal of the embargo, during which the Commission 
will prepare documentation for Member State approval.  He 
also stressed that even after the embargo is lifted, States 
would be constrained in the types and quantities of weapons 
sales to Libya by the EU Code of Conduct. Mattiolo noted that 
Italy itself has some of the strictest legislation in the EU 
relating to arms exports, and, given Libya's proximity, it is 
certainly in Italy's interests to monitor closely the types 
of weapons purchased by the regime in Tripoli. 
 
China 
----- 
 
2. (C) According to Mattiolo, PM DAS Suchan and JCS BG 
Remington "left quite an impression" in the wake of their 
visits this week to certain EU capitals, including Rome, to 
explain US concerns over lifting the EU's China arms embargo. 
 Mattiolo said that those concerns, among other issues, will 
be discussed by Ministers at the GAERC, but "there is no 
rush, and no way the Ministers will decide on October 11" to 
lift the embargo.  Mattiolo repeated the position he used 
with Suchan and Remington: Italy supports, but is not out in 
front pushing for, lifting the embargo, and US concerns on 
strategic issues would be satisfied by the Code of Conduct. 
According to Mattiolo, Italy will push for a review of the 
code, and to include the US in discussions on how it can be 
modified to more effectively prevent delivery to China of 
weapons systems that could put US or EU troops at risk. 
Note: We will report details of Suchan/Remington's Rome 
meetings septel.  Subsequent to the visit, Embassy Office of 
Defense Cooperation chief was contacted by the dip advisor to 
the Ministry of Productive Activities with an offer to 
consult on the Code of Conduct.  Poloff will seek more detail 
on the advisor's agenda for the meeting and seek Department's 
guidance before proceeding. 
 
Sudan 
----- 
3. (C)  Mattiolo reported that he has been working with the 
MOD Chief of Staff to identify an Italian officer to join the 
British, German (EU Staff), Swedish, French and American 
military advisors at the African Union's planning cell in 
Addis Ababa.  Ministers may also discuss deployment of an EU 
police training team to the region. 
 
 
SEMBLER 
 
 
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	2004ROME03927 - Classification: CONFIDENTIAL