US embassy cable - 05ROME886

C O N F I D E N T I A L ROME 000886 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
DEPT. FOR S, D, P, NEA AND EUR; 
OSD FOR SECDEF, DEPSECDEF WOLFOWITZ AND USDP FEITH; 
NSC FOR DAN FRIED; 
CENTCOM FOR GEN. ABIZAID; 
BAGHDAD FOR AMB. NEGROPONTE AND GEN. CASEY 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/15/2015 
TAGS: PREL, MOPS, IT, IZ, IRAQI FREEDOM, AFGHANISTAN 
SUBJECT: IRAQ/ITALY: BERLUSCONI SAYS ITALY TO BEGIN 
REDUCING TROOP PRESENCE IN SEPTEMBER - DEFMIN REASSURES 
AMBASSADOR THAT IN REALITY NO CHANGES PLANNED 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Mel Sembler, reasons 1.4 b and d. 
 
1. (C) On March 15, PM Berlusconi said in a TV interview that 
Italy would begin reducing its troop presence in Iraq in 
September, conditions permitting.  He did not refer to any 
Italian draw-down in his presentations to the Senate last 
week and his statement caught Italian officials off-guard. 
DefMin Martino called Amb. Sembler the morning of March 16 at 
the request of PM Berlusconi.  Martino said Berlusconi had 
asked him to "assure our American friends that nothing has 
changed."  The PM's words, according to Martino, were "just 
conjecture" on how the situation will develop.  Italy intends 
to stay in Iraq until the situation stabilizes. 
 
2. (C) Martino added his own comment that the PM's statement 
was aimed at making an impact on Italian public opinion in 
anticipation of Italy's April 3-4 regional elections.  When 
Amb. Sembler asked Martino if he intended to speak to the 
Secretary of Defense about the PM's remarks, Martino replied 
 
SIPDIS 
that he expected SecDef would be calling him. 
 
3. (C) Comment: In Embassy's view, yesterday's USG statements 
from the White House, the Department of State, and the 
Pentagon were right on the mark, emphasizing the important 
role Italy has played in Iraq and the PM's commitment to 
consult with allies and to only take action based on the 
situation on the ground.  Embassy will send more detailed 
analysis of Berlusconi's statements later today. End Comment 
 
4. (U) Baghdad minimize considered. 
 
SEMBLER 
 
 
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	2005ROME00886 - Classification: CONFIDENTIAL