US embassy cable - 04ROME3933

C O N F I D E N T I A L  ROME 003933 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/06/2014 
TAGS: PREL, IT, IR, IZ, NATO, EUN, IRAQI FREEDOM, GLOBAL DEFENSE 
SUBJECT: IRAQ/ITALY- ITALIAN POLITICAL DIRECTOR ON PLANS 
FOR IRAQ NATO PROTECTION FORCE, IRAQ CONFERENCE, ENGAGEMENT 
WITH IRAN 
 
Classified By: POLITICAL MINISTER COUNSELOR TOM COUNTRYMAN, REASONS 1.4 
 B AND D. 
 
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Summary 
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1. (C) At their Oct. 6 meeting with Italian MFA DG Massolo, 
A/S Bloomfield and DASD Hoehn discussed Iran and Iraq, as 
well as Global Defense Posture Review (GDPR) issues (septel). 
 Massolo underscored Italy's concern with Iranian nuclear 
ambitions.  He sought details on the mix of MNF and Iraqi 
forces that would be used to bring order to restive areas of 
Iraq prior to elections, asked whether the NATO Iraq 
mission's protection force would be drawn from MNF already in 
country, and proposed establishing a steering group to help 
plan next month's international conference on Iraq and manage 
follow-up.  End Summary. 
 
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Iran - Italy Supports Engagement with Tough Messages 
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2. (C) On October 6, PM Assistant Secretary Lincoln 
Bloomfield Jr. and Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense 
Andrew Hoehn met with Italian MFA Director General for 
Multilateral and Political Affairs Giampiero Massolo to 
discuss GDPR issues (septel).  Massolo also wanted to discuss 
Iran and Iraq.  He stated that Italy was committed to 
engagement with Iran, allowing for firm messages to be passed 
on issues of concern, principally nuclear ones, but also on 
involvement in the affairs of neighboring states and on human 
rights.  He said Italy was keenly aware of the unhelpful 
undercurrents in Iranian policy and agreed with the U.S. on 
the seriousness of a potential nuclear breakout by Iran.  A/S 
Bloomfield noted that Undersecretary Bolton had the lead for 
the Department on the Iran nuclear issue, pointed out that 
the U.S. has for years held open the possibility of dialogue 
with Iran, and stressed the seriousness with which the U.S. 
views Iranian nuclear policy, human rights performance, 
meddling in the affairs of its neighbors, and support for 
terrorism.  Bloomfield pointed out that even with those 
concerns, we would be sitting at the same table as the 
Iranians at the international conference on Iraq in Egypt in 
November.  Massolo and Bloomfield agreed that the challenge 
was to be firm on Iran's bad behavior while holding out the 
prospect of Iran gaining acceptance in the future as an 
important regional state if it overcame these concerns. 
 
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Iraq - Election Prep and Right Mix of Forces 
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3. (C) Turning to Iraq, Massolo observed that preparing for 
January elections and the realization of UNSCR 1546 would 
require the return of the UN to Iraq and an effort to bring 
relative stability to areas that are now "out of control." 
He wondered what the U.S. considered the right combination of 
MNF and Iraqi forces to do so and asked if the U.S was 
committed to the current timetable.  Massolo said that the 
stronger the Iraqi ownership of actions taken, the more 
enduring their impact would be.  A/S Bloomfield briefed on 
latest developments in UN protection force commitments and 
noted that the U.S. saw two pillars for improvement of the 
situation: a political track that would defeat the aim of the 
insurgents by establishing a legitimate elected Iraqi 
government; and building sufficient capability in the 
indigenous Iraqi security sector.  He also briefed on PM 
Allawi,s statements during his U.S. visit about recent and 
current operations by MNF and Iraqi forces in key Sunni 
cities.  He noted that the U.S. was mindful of the same 
questions Massolo had posed and was thinking along the same 
lines. 
 
4. (C) On the NATO Iraq mission, Massolo said Italy was keen 
to have NATO there, had been active in the NATO debate and in 
assisting NATO planners, but was puzzled by the large size of 
the projected protection force for the NATO trainers.  He 
asked if that force would be drawn from MNF troops already in 
Iraq or if the thinking was to seek supplemental forces, a 
task he said would require huge effort.  A/S Bloomfield said 
he would check with Washington to get an answer. 
 
5. (C) Moving to the upcoming international conference on 
Iraq, Massolo said Italy wanted it to concentrate on a 
focused agenda, including support for the political calendar. 
 The public message should be about bringing stability as 
quickly as possible.  The conference should not re-open a 
legitimacy debate about the war.  Massolo proposed that an 
informal steering group, somewhat like the Contact Group for 
Kosovo, be formed to prepare the conference along such lines 
and to be responsible for any necessary follow-up.  He 
believed such a body could establish a broad pattern of 
cooperation.  Massolo added that the Iraqis must be included 
in any such effort and suggested that it meet somewhere other 
than the U.S., at the level of Ambassador or high official. 
A/S Bloomfield said he would take this proposal back to 
Washington for consideration.  He added that the Iraqis were 
looking for 
reaffirmation of international support for such key goals as 
debt relief and commitment to seeing a free Iraq succeed.  He 
said he appreciated the chance to hear Italian views and 
encouraged Massolo to continue to engage with the U.S. on 
these issues. 
 
6. (C) Massolo closed by pointing out that there was a 
gradual convergence of Italian public opinion of the right 
and left supporting Italian participation in stabilizing 
Iraq.  While not wholeheartdly shared by all, he said there 
was a growing public opinion which wanted to see Italian 
troops there, and support for the presence was increasing in 
the Italian Parliament.  There is not in Italy a pathology 
about an exit strategy, he said.  Massolo said "I can offer a 
firm andreassuring assessmnt of continued Italian 
Parliament must renew Italian troops in Decem" problem." 
 
7. (U)  this message. 
 
8. (U) Minimize considered. 
 
 
SEMBLER 
 
 
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	2004ROME03933 - Classification: CONFIDENTIAL