US embassy cable - 02ROME1769

C O N F I D E N T I A L ROME 001769 
 
SIPDIS 
 
FOR DRL A/S LORNE CRANER FROM DCM WILLIAM POPE 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/09/2012 
TAGS: PHUM, PREL, IT, US, UNHRC-1 
SUBJECT: UNCHR: ITALIANS EXPECT INCREASED U.S. EFFORT TO 
CONSULT 
 
REF: A. POPE/CRANER E-MAILS 
 
     B. ROME 1556 
 
CLASSIFIED BY: DCM WILLIAM POPE.  REASON 1.5 (B), (D). 
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1.  (C) MFA POLITICAL DIRECTOR GIANCARLO ARAGONA IS SCHEDULED 
TO MEET YOU 4/11, AFTER ARRIVING IN WASHINGTON 4/10. 
ARAGONA'S ROLE WAS INSTRUMENTAL, IF NOT DECISIVE, IN THE 
GOI'S DECISION TO POSTPONE ITS UNCHR CANDIDACY AND THEREBY 
MAKE WAY FOR THE U.S. TO RETURN TO THE COMMISSION IN 2003. 
ALTHOUGH NO "DEAL MAKING" WAS INVOLVED, IT'S FAIR TO SAY THE 
ITALIANS EXPECT SOMETHING MORE FROM THIS GESTURE THAN AN 
ABSTRACT EXPRESSION OF USG APPRECIATION AND GRATITUDE. 
 
2.  (C) A THEME WE FREQUENTLY HEAR IN ROME IS THAT THE USG 
DOES NOT TREAT ITALY ON A PAR WITH CERTAIN EU PARTNERS (E.G., 
U.K., GERMANY, FRANCE).  THE ITALIANS WOULD LIKE TO BE (AND 
TO BE SEEN TO BE) CONSULTED ON MAJOR ISSUES BEFOREHAND.  SUCH 
CONSULTATION WOULD NOT NECESSARILY CHANGE ITALIAN VIEWS.  AS 
IS THE CASE IN OTHER INTERNATIONAL FORA, ITALIAN VIEWS ON 
MATTERS BEFORE THE COMMISSION TEND TO BE STRAITJACKETED BY 
THE "EU CONSENSUS."  HOWEVER, AS NOTED REF B, THE GOI UNDER 
PRIME MINISTER SILVIO BERLUSCONI CONSIDERS THE ASSERTION OF 
NATIONAL INTERESTS WITHIN EU FORUMS TO BE AS LEGITIMATE FOR 
ITALY AS IT IS FOR COUNTRIES SUCH AS GERMANY AND FRANCE. 
 
3.  (C) UNDER THESE CIRCUMSTANCES, ADVANCE CONSULTATION 
PRESENTS US CONSIDERABLE ADVANTAGES.  WITH THE SHARP 
EXCEPTION OF THE DEATH PENALTY, WHICH ARAGONA IS LIKELY TO 
RAISE, GOI VIEWS ON MATTERS BEFORE THE UNCHR TEND TO BE 
PARALLEL OR, AT LEAST, SYMPATHETIC TO OURS.  WE STAND TO GAIN 
FROM AN INVIGORATED GOI VOICE IN EU COUNCILS THAT HAS ALREADY 
HEARD AND TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT USG VIEWS.  AND THERE ALSO WILL 
BE OCCASIONS WHEN GOI ADVICE CAN HELP SHAPE FOR THE BETTER 
OUR APPROACH TO THE EU AND COMMISSION MEMBERS AT LARGE. 
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 2002ROME01769 - Classification: CONFIDENTIAL