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| Identifier: | 02ROME66 |
|---|---|
| Wikileaks: | View 02ROME66 at Wikileaks.org |
| Origin: | Embassy Rome |
| Created: | 2002-01-04 18:08:00 |
| Classification: | CONFIDENTIAL |
| Tags: | KPKO PREL MARR IT IS LE SY UN |
| Redacted: | This cable was not redacted by Wikileaks. |
This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available. PAGE 02 ROME 00066 041810Z USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L ROME 000066
SIPDIS
FOR IO/PHO AND NEA/ARN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/02/2012
TAGS: KPKO, PREL, MARR, IT, IS, LE, SY, UN
SUBJECT: UNIFIL MANDATE RENEWAL NOTICE: ITALIAN VIEWS
REF: 01 STATE 216231
CLASSIFIED BY: DCM WILLIAM P. POPE
1. (C) SUMMARY. THE GOI WILL VIEW WITH GREAT INTEREST, AND
SOME CONCERN, PRECISE PLANS FOR RESTRUCTURING/DOWNSIZING OF
UNIFIL. THIS STEMS IN LARGE PART FROM TODAY'S HEIGHTENED
TENSIONS IN THE REGION, BUT IS ALSO LINKED TO ITALY'S GENERAL
PREFERENCE FOR EMPLOYING MULTILATERAL PEACEKEEPING FORCES.
ABOVE ALL, THE GOI WISHES TO BE A PLAYER IN THE REGION WHILE
MAINTAINING A SPECIAL RELATIONSHIP WITH THE USG. EARLY AND
CLOSE CONSULTATION WITH ITALY WILL BE THE KEY FACTOR IN
SECURING SUPPORT FOR US VIEWS ON UNIFIL. END SUMMARY.
2. (C) REFTEL SEEKS POST'S OPINION OF LIKELY ITALIAN VIEWS ON
UNIFIL DOWNSIZING. WHILE ITALY IS AWARE OF UNIFIL'S
SHORTCOMINGS -- AND WILL THEREFORE LIKELY BACK CONTINUED
RESTRUCTURING -- IT WOULD PROBABLY VIEW WITH CONCERN ANY
CHANGES THAT MIGHT/MIGHT LEAD TO GREATER INSTABILITY.
ACCORDINGLY, THE PRECISE NATURE OF THE RESTRUCTURING WILL BE
KEY, AS WILL ADDRESSING ITS LIKELY IMPACT ON THE SITUATION ON
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 03 ROME 00066 041810Z
THE GROUND.
3. (C) EVEN IF PRESENT TENSIONS IN THE MIDDLE EAST WERE TO
EASE, HOWEVER, ITALY'S GENERALLY FAVORABLE ATTITUDE TOWARD
MULTILATERAL PEACEKEEPING MISSIONS WOULD BE A FACTOR. SO
WOULD THE GOI'S DESIRE TO EXERT INFLUENCE IN THE MIDDLE EAST
AND PM BERLUSCONI'S COMMITMENT TO MAINTAINING WHAT HE VIEWS
AS A SPECIAL RELATIONSHIP WITH WASHINGTON.
4. (C) IN SUM, SECURING AND MAINTAINING ITALIAN SUPPORT FOR
US VIEWS ON UNIFIL WILL TURN IN LARGE PART ON EARLY AND
FREQUENT CONSULTATIONS AT SENIOR LEVELS. SHOULD THESE FAIL
TO BEAR FRUIT, INTERVENTIONS AT THE POLITICAL LEVEL MAY BE
NECESSARY.
SEMBLER
CONFIDENTIAL
>
2002ROME00066 - Classification: CONFIDENTIAL
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