US embassy cable - 04ROME4793

S E C R E T ROME 004793 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
NOFORN 
 
DEPT FOR EUR/SCE , S/WCI, TREASURY FOR OFAC 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/17/2014 
TAGS: PREL, MOPS, EFIN, ETTC, KAWC, BK, IT, ICTY, EUN 
SUBJECT: OPERATION BALKAN VICE V - ITALY ON BOARD WITH VISA 
BAN, WILL WORK WITH EU PARTNERS ON ASSET FREEZE 
 
REF: STATE 267711 
 
Classified By:  POLMINCOUNS TOM COUNTRYMAN. REASON: 1.4 (B)(D). 
 
1. (S) MFA Balkans Office Director Andrea Orizio told Poloff 
on December 17 that Italy was "on board" with USG view that 
imposing travel entry/travel bans and freezing assets of 
PIFWC's and their material supporters are important tools for 
achieving our shared objective to stabilize the region. 
Implementing travel restrictions on the individuals named in 
reftel would pose little problem, he said, and promised to 
transmit the list to appropriate border and immigration 
authorities. 
 
2. (S) Orizio thought that procedures put in place in 
response to previous "Balkan Vice" operations should make the 
asset freeze/block portion of the request fairly 
straightforward to implement. He warned, however that a 
number of EU member states may continue to hesitate at 
freezing assets of PIFWC supporters without criminal or civil 
proceedings.  Orizio promised that Italy would do what it 
could to sway its EU partners.  He will also distribute the 
points to appropriate consular and economic offices within 
the MFA. 
 
3. (U) Post will report septel on Ministry of Finance and 
financial institution responses to reftel points. 
 
 
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 2004ROME04793 - Classification: SECRET