US embassy cable - 05ROME917

C O N F I D E N T I A L  ROME 000917 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/17/2010 
TAGS: PHUM, PREL, IT, UNHRC-1 
SUBJECT: UNCHR 61: ITALIAN RESPONSES 
 
REF: STATE 42847 
 
Classified By: Political Minister Counselor Tom Countryman for reasons 
1.4(b)(d). 
 
1.  (C)  Laborcouns met 3/17 with Carlo Campanile, Director 
of the MFA's Human Rights Office, to deliver reftel points. 
Italy remains supportive of almost all U.S. positions on 
pending UNCHR resolutions but will continue to work primarily 
within the EU framework.  Specific Italian concerns include 
passage of resolutions on technical assistance and 
cooperation on Somalia and public information on human 
rights; both passed by consensus last year, and Italy hopes 
the U.S. will support them again this session. 
 
2.  (C)  No-action motions/country specific resolutions: 
Campanile said that Italy shares our concerns with no-action 
motions and has voted consistently against them.   Italy 
continues to strongly support country specific resolutions. 
 
3.  (C)  Democracy caucus activities:  Italy agrees that a 
democracy caucus would advance our mutual goals and increase 
the visibility of the issue.  It will support Romania's 
democracy resolution, and Campanile hoped the elections 
resolution could be used to support the electoral process in 
both Iraq and Afghanistan. 
 
4.  (C)  Death penalty:  Until 1977, Italy had the lead in 
managing this resolution and, for domestic political reasons, 
will continue to work to increase the number of co-sponsors 
for a measure to end capital punishment.  However, they agree 
that only one resolution is necessary. 
 
5 (C).  Cuba:  Italy received the text of this resolution two 
days ago and has not yet formed a position.  Camanile 
reiterated that Italy shares the U.S. concern about 
violations of human rights in Cuba, especially detention of 
political prisoners.  However, he indicated that Italy would 
work through the EU Presidency to find a common position 
acceptable across the board.  Laborcouns requested an update 
as soon as Italy made a decision on the resolution. 
 
6. (C)  Belarus:  This is an EU resolution, and Italy will 
cosponsor it.  In fact, Campanile said that Italy was a bit 
disappointed that the U.S. did not again take the lead in 
sponsoring the resolution alone. 
 
7.  (C)  DPRK:  Italy will support the U.S. resolution. 
 
8.  (C)  Religious Intolerance/Anti-Semitism:  Italy strongly 
supports both resolutions, and Campanile noted that the text 
of the 2004 Third Committee resolution against anti-Semitism 
was stronger than that cited in the 2003 CHR resolution. 
Italy, through the EU Presidency, was pushing for inclusion 
of the stronger 2004 language. 
 
9.  (C)  Israel/Arab-Israeli Conflict:  Campanile reiterated 
that Italian and U.S. views on the peace process remain very 
close.  Italy hopes for language that will reflect the 
positive aspects of recent developments and is working with 
other EU states to urge that they consider the text on its 
merits and avoid inflammatory language.  Italy does not want 
to see the same old language as was used last year.  They are 
also concerned that the Palestinian initiative to introduce 
its own text, which Italy has not yet seen, will make passage 
of a balanced resolution very difficult. 
 
10. (C)  China:  Italy is waiting to see the U.S. text. 
Campanile repeated that Italy opposes no-action motions like 
those habitually used by China. 
 
11.  (C)  Sudan:  Italy remains very concerned about 
conditions in Darfur and will be carefully scrutinizing the 
text of the African states' resolution.  They want the 
resolution to reflect the seriousness of the human rights 
situation and doubt the African text will do the job.  If it 
does not meet Italian standards, they may veto it.  The EU 
may also table its own resolution, an action which Camanile 
fears will set up a political battle that the EU will lose. 
 
12.  (C)  Campanile does not expect EU resolutions on 
Zimbabwe or Chechnya, as past efforts have been unsuccessful 
and the EU is now pursuing different avenues to promote human 
rights with these two countries.  Italy will support a 
resolution on Nepal. 
E 
 
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	2005ROME00917 - Classification: CONFIDENTIAL