US embassy cable - 05ROME781

S E C R E T  ROME 000781 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
DEPT. FOR S, D, P, NEA AND EUR; 
OSD FOR DEPSECDEF WOLFOWITZ AND USDP FEITH; 
CENTCOM FOR GEN. ABIZAID; 
BAGHDAD FOR AMB. NEGROPONTE AND GEN. CASEY 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/07/2015 
TAGS: PREL, MOPS, IT, IZ, IRAQI FREEDOM 
SUBJECT: IRAQ/ITALY: ACCIDENTAL KILLING IN BAGHDAD, 
BERLUSCONI PROPOSES JOINT COMMISSION, AGREES TO JOINT 
INVESTIGATION 
 
REF: A. ROME 757 (NOTAL) 
B. ROME 751 (NOTAL) 
C. BAGHDAD 1005 
D. BAGHDAD 965 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Mel Sembler, reasons 1.4 b and d. 
 
1. (S) SUMMARY: In the last 24 hours PM Berlusconi has 
pressed hard for the establishment of some mechanism to show 
that Italy was an active participant in the investigation 
into the killing of Italian intel officer Nicola Calipari by 
US forces near Baghdad, which he could use to calm criticism 
of the USG and his government when he appears before 
Parliament on March 9.  On March 7, Berlusconi proposed to 
the Ambassador that the US and Italy establish a joint 
commission to draw appropriate conclusions from the 
investigation underway.  On March 8, Ambassador conveyed an 
invitation to the Government of Italy to participate in the 
investigation being launched by MNF-I, noting that while we 
were not offering a joint commission at this time, we were 
offering full participation and access to information in the 
MNF-I investigation in a spirit of cooperation and 
transparency.  Berlusconi accepted the invitation and 
released a press statement (at para 9) announcing Italian 
participation later that afternoon.  He will follow up his 
announcement with a presentation to the Italian Senate on 
March 9. End Summary. 
 
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Italy Proposes Joint Commission 
------------------------------- 
 
2. (S) The evening of March 7, the day of Italian agent 
Nicola Calipari's funeral, PM Berlusconi asked Amb. Sembler 
(accompanied by DCM, POL-MC, Pol-MilCouns) to meet with him 
at Palazzo Chigi.  The PM was joined by U/S Letta, FM Fini, 
SISMI chief Pollari and others. 
 
3. (S) Letta proposed that the US and Italy announce that 
they would establish a joint commission to assess the March 4 
Baghdad incident which resulted in the death of SISMI officer 
Calipari.  This would be a signal to the public that both 
sides were committed to searching for the truth and would put 
an end to the anti-US polemics being fostered by the Italian 
opposition.  Berlusconi implored us to get approval quickly 
so he could announced it when he appears before the Senate on 
Wednesday, March 9 to discuss the incident.  From a political 
point of view, he said, this would be the best way to defuse 
public anger and to prevent political exploitation of the 
incident.  The important qualities would be that it be joint, 
official and transparent.  We must be able to announce that 
we are finding the truth together in our traditional spirit 
of friendship and cooperation, Letta said. 
 
4. (S) Amb. Sembler noted that he had on Sunday recommended a 
similar approach in messages to both Washington and Baghdad. 
We explained (based on Ref D) that a formal request had 
already initiated an investigation by MNF.  This fact-finding 
investigation would include Italian input.  It did not 
necessarily preclude the kind of joint commission that Letta 
had described. Berlusconi asked Amb. Sembler to convey this 
proposal to President Bush and the Ambassador agreed to do 
so. 
 
5. (S) On the way out, Berlusconi took the Ambassador aside 
to say that this is an important political request from his 
government to the USG.  This was a tragic event, an accident, 
but that we had to find the right way to avoid negative 
political consequences so that we could continue our 
important partnership in Iraq without hindrance.  It did not 
matter to him whether the joint commission was led by 
military, or intelligence officers, or a combination.  If 
military, he said he would probably appoint Gen. Tricarico 
(now ITAF Chief of Staff) to head the Italian side.  The 
details of mandate and composition were also not as 
important, he said, as being able to announce this week that 
there would be a joint commission.  The details could be 
worked out later. 
 
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US Offers Participation in Investigation 
---------------------------------------- 
 
6. (S) At mid-day March 8, we learned from Ref C that MNF-I 
would be issuing a press release at 1630 Rome time noting 
that Italian officials had been invited to participate in the 
investigation to be led by BG Vangjel.  The idea of a joint 
commission had not yet been approved in Washington. 
Ambassador was able to get a meeting with Letta at 1600, 
again accompanied by DCM and Pol-MilCouns. 
 
7. (S) Ambassador shared with Letta Ref C press release text, 
noting that while we were not offering a joint commission, we 
were doing what had been done initially in the case of the 
Cavalese Cable Car investigation in 1998 and inviting Italian 
participation into the military investigation.  Ambassador 
told Letta that Italy would have full access and be a full 
participant, and that it would be up to the Italian 
government to decide who would represent Italy in the 
investigation.  Details of Italian participation could be 
worked out later.  Letta said this was an acceptable idea and 
immediately phoned PM Berlusconi, who also expressed his 
acceptance of the invitation. 
 
8. (S) Berlusconi requested that news of the Italian 
participation in the investigation be released simultaneously 
with his appearance in Parliament the next day.  The 
Ambassador explained that, unfortunately, the news was about 
to be released by MNF-I and could not be pulled back at this 
late moment.  Berlusconi was concerned that the announcement 
would be made so quickly in Baghdad and had his staff draft a 
press statement (text at para 9) that was released at approx. 
1645 local, to be nearly simultaneous with the release in 
Baghdad.  Letta also phoned FM Fini, DefMin Martino and Intel 
Director Pollari while the Ambassador was in the room, all of 
whom the Ambassador spoke with on the phone.  All were 
grateful and thought this to be an acceptable response to 
their request for something joint, official and transparent 
to be announced by Berlusconi in Parliament on Wednesday. 
None returned to the idea of a joint commission.  Berlusconi 
will repeat the agreement to have Italian participation in 
the investigation before the Senate March 9. 
 
9. (U) Begin text of Italian Press Release (unofficial 
Embassy translation): 
 
The Government of the USA agreed to the request of PM Silvio 
Berlusconi for Italian representatives to participate in the 
investigation that MNF-I plans to launch to ascertain the 
facts and the responsibilities in connection with the tragic 
death of Dr. Nicola Calipari.  This notification was 
communicated in Rome to Prime Ministry Undersecretary Gianni 
Letta by American Ambassador Mel Sembler and in Washington to 
Italian Ambassador Sergio Vento.  PM Berlusconi expressed the 
satisfaction of the Italian government with this 
investigation that will be led by General Vangjel and that 
will be completed in the shortest time possible 
(three-to-four weeks maximum). 
End Text. 
 
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COMMENT 
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10. (S) Berlusconi's request for a joint commission fell by 
the wayside when we invited Italian participation in the 
MNF-I investigation.  We cannot guarantee that he won't 
return to this idea at some point, but believe we have met 
his immediate political need for something to bring before 
Parliament on Wednesday that shows full US-Italian 
cooperation on an equal basis in the investigation.  End 
Comment. 
 
11. (U) Minimize considered. 
 
SEMBLER 
 
 
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 2005ROME00781 - Classification: SECRET