US embassy cable - 04ROME4375

C O N F I D E N T I A L ROME 004375 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
DEPT FOR EUR/WE, EUR/SE AND EUR/ERA 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/16/2014 
TAGS: PREL, TU, IT, EUN 
SUBJECT: ITALY'S SUPPORT FOR TURKEY'S EU ACCESSION REMAINS 
STRONG AND UNCONDITIONAL - GREECE/CYPRUS AND FRANCE ARE 
MAIN ROADBLOCKS TO EARLY DATE 
 
REF: STATE 240286 
 
Classified By: POL MINISTER COUNSELOR TOM COUNTRYMAN.  REASON: 1.5 (b)( 
d) 
 
1 (C)  MFA Turkey/Cyprus Office Director Renato Ricci 
reiterated to poloff Italy's strong support for a December 17 
EU Council decision specifying an unconditional and early 
date to begin Turkish accession negotiations.  While there is 
an internal government and popular debate within Italy on 
Turkey's suitability to join the EU, the government's 
position is firm.  Ricci noted especially the right wing 
coalition partner Lega Nord (Northern League) opposition, but 
predicted "the Prime Minister will stand his ground" on 
Turkey. (Comment: There is nothing to suggest that DPM Fini, 
if appointed FM as expected, would seek to weaken this 
stance.)  Pol Min was also informed that, in an effort to 
help Turkey's image with the EU population in general, the 
Italian think tank Institute for Foreign Affairs (IAI) will 
sponsor a series of seminars bringing together Turkish and 
European policy makers.  The first of these will be on 
November 24 in Rome. 
 
2. (C) Ricci predicted the two major stumbling blocks between 
now and December 17 will be Greece/Cyprus and France.  "The 
key to Nicosia is Athens," Ricci said.  EU members must 
insist that Athens uses its overwhelming influence with the 
government in Nicosia to do the right thing on December 17. 
Ricci worried that France was a harder and more complicated 
issue.  The internal government debate in Paris and strong 
popular opinion was pointing towards, at best, an agreement 
to Turkish accession with strong conditions and long lead 
time for beginning negotiations.  At worst, Ricci warned, 
Nicosia could join on French coattails to delay outright the 
decision on accession.  "This would be a disaster for 
relations between Ankara and the West." 
 
3. (C) In response to Poloff's offer of US help, Ricci said 
that Washington's most valuable contribution would be to use 
its good relations with Turkey to keep Ankara calm in the 
run-up to the Council meeting.  "No accidental overflights, 
no inflammatory statements."  Ricci said that Ankara should 
keep a low profile and allow its friends, including Italy, to 
fight its battles in Brussels.  Ricci understood that 
US-Greek relations, particularly after recognition of 
"Macedonia," were not as close, but he suggested that the US 
should use whatever influence it had with Athens to dissuade 
officials from teaming with any Cypriot effort to derail 
Turkish accession.  As for France, Ricci opined that any US 
intervention or attempt to persuade would likely backfire. 
Whatever the US decides to do, Ricci concluded, it should be 
"focused and quiet." 
 
 
SEMBLER 
 
 
NNNN 
 2004ROME04375 - Classification: CONFIDENTIAL