US embassy cable - 04ROME4252

C O N F I D E N T I A L ROME 004252 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
DEPT FOR NEA 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/04/2014 
TAGS: PREL, MARR, IZ, IT, NATO, IRAQI FREEDOM 
SUBJECT: NATO/IRAQ: ITALY OPPOSED TO CAVEATS ON NATO IRAQ 
MISSION, MAY INCREASE TRAINING CONTRIBUTION 
 
REF: STATE 236268 
 
Classified By: POL M/C Tom Countryman for reasons 1.5 (b) and (d). 
 
1. (C) Summary.  Pol-Mil Officers discussed reftel demarche 
with Giovanni Brauzzi, head of the MFA's NATO office, on 
November 4.  Brauzzi said that Italy agrees with the 
principle that NATO member states should not impose national 
caveats on agreed NATO missions, but noted that in practical 
terms it would be difficult for countries who were opposed to 
sending their troops to Iraq to agree to provide personnel 
for the NATO Training Mission in Iraq (NTM-I), even under a 
NATO umbrella.  Italy may consider increasing the number of 
Italian trainers in Iraq and the size of the group to be 
trained in Italy.  End summary. 
 
2. (C) Noting that Italy had removed all of its caveats in 
the Balkans and had none in Iraq, Brauzzi acknowledged that 
the cumulative effect of national caveats placed considerable 
constraints on force commanders.  He said Italy was in "one 
hundred percent" agreement with the principle that NATO 
missions should not be constrained by national caveats.  In 
the specific case of Iraq, however, it had been difficult to 
get full NATO agreement even for a training mission due to 
several member states' reluctance to see their forces 
involved on the ground. In practical terms it would be very 
difficult to convince them to lift those caveats. 
 
3. (C) Of the specific countries that have invoked national 
caveats, Brauzzi cautioned us to tread softly with respect to 
France and Germany.  He also thought Spain would be 
problematic, but noted that Luxembourg was seeking a more 
pro-Atlantic profile and might be receptive to our arguments. 
Brauzzi also noted that the Icelandic Foreign Minister would 
be in Rome soon, which might present an opportunity for Italy 
to raise the issue.  Brauzzi will raise reftel points with 
MOD and senior MFA officials to see whether Italy can agree 
to make similar demarches with the eight countries listed. 
 
4. (C) Regarding Italy's contributions to the NTM-I, Brauzzi 
said that Italy may add a few more trainers to the 15 
currently in Iraq at the upcoming force generation 
conference.  It will not, he said, supply any personnel for 
force protection.  He also said Italy could consider 
enlarging the group of 60 Iraqi military and 20 civilian 
personnel set to receive training in Italy.  Italy probably 
will not be able to provide equipment due to legal and 
financial constraints. 
 
5. (C) Brauzzi noted that the EU is pursuing, under its 
European Security and Defense Policy (ESDP), a complementary 
initiative in Iraq in the form of a civilian mission 
targeting the rule of law and police training.  The EU is 
still debating whether this mission should occur inside or 
outside of Iraq. 
 
BAGHDAD MINIMIZE CONSIDERED 
 
 
SEMBLER 
 
 
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2004ROME04252 - Classification: CONFIDENTIAL