US embassy cable - 02ROME2602

C O N F I D E N T I A L ROME 002602 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/28/2012 
TAGS: PREL, MASS, SO, IT, UN 
SUBJECT: ITALY SUPPORTS SOMALI PEACE, NOT PUNTLAND 
MILITARY; THINKS ETHIOPIA'S MELES MAY BE STALLING 
DEMARCATION 
 
REF: FBIS AFP20020521000147 
 
CLASSIFIED BY: POLMINCOUNS TOM COUNTRYMAN, REASONS 1.5 (B) AND (D) 
 
1.  (C) SUMMARY:  THE MFA DENIES REF REPORT THAT ITALY HAS 
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PROMISED MILITARY AID TO PUNTLAND.  THE GOI HAS NO PLANS TO 
AID PUNTLAND BUT IS OFFERING AID FOR TRAVEL EXPENSES RELATED 
TO THE SOMALI PEACE PROCESS AND COULD EXTEND FURTHER PEACE 
PROCESS AID ON REQUEST.  THE MFA'S READOUT ON A RECENT GOI 
TRIP TO ETHIOPIA INDICATES THAT MELES IS INTERESTED IN 
DRAGGING OUT THE DEMARCATION PROCESS AS LONG AS POSSIBLE. 
END SUMMARY. 
 
2.  (C) POLOFF CONTACTED PAOLA IMPERIALE, MFA OFFICE DIRECTOR 
FOR EAST AFRICAN AFFAIRS, ON MAY 24 TO INQUIRE ABOUT REF 
REPORT OF COL. ABDULLAHI YUSUF AHMAD SAYING THAT PUNTLAND HAD 
BEEN PROMISED MILITARY ASSISTANCE BY UGANDA, ETHIOPIA, AND 
ITALY.  IMPERIALE STATED THAT THE GOI HAD NOT OFFERED ANY 
ASSISTANCE TO PUNTLAND.  AHMAD HAD WRITTEN A LETTER TO THE 
GOI REQUESTING AID FOR VARIOUS PURPOSES AND HAD NOT YET 
RECEIVED A RESPONSE.  HOWEVER, THE GOI WOULD HAVE TO REPLY IN 
THE NEGATIVE, SINCE PUNTLAND'S PRIORITIES WERE NOT COVERED BY 
THE GOI'S FOREIGN AID LAW. 
 
3.  (C) ON THE OTHER HAND, THE GOI WAS PREPARED TO SUPPORT 
THE PEACE PROCESS FINANCIALLY.  IN RESPONSE TO A REQUEST BY 
KENYA'S SPECIAL ENVOY FOR SOMALIA, THE GOI HAD DECIDED TO 
PROVIDE UP TO 100,000E FOR TRAVEL TO NAIROBI BY THE MEDIATION 
COMMITTEE OF FRONT-LINE STATES.  FURTHERMORE, THE GOI 
EXPECTED KENYA TO ASK THE IGAD PARTNERS' FORUM TO PAY FOR 
ACCOMMODATIONS FOR DELEGATES TO THE PEACE CONFERENCE, PLANNED 
FOR JULY 10 IN NAIROBI.  THE GOI WOULD CONSIDER THIS REQUEST 
FAVORABLY. 
 
4.  (C) IMPERIALE HAD JUST RETURNED FROM A TRIP TO ETHIOPIA 
WITH SENATOR RINO SERRI, THE SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE FOR THE 
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PRESIDENCY OF THE EUROPEAN UNION FOR THE ETHIOPIA-ERITREA 
CONFLICT.  THEY SPOKE WITH ETHIOPIAN PRESIDENT MELES ABOUT 
HIS 23-PAGE LETTER TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOUNDARY 
COMMISSION REQUESTING CLARIFICATIONS ON THE DECISION.  MELES 
DESCRIBED THE LETTER AS A LEGAL, NOT POLITICAL, MATTER. 
POLITICALLY, THE VERDICT WAS FINAL AND BINDING, BUT UNMEE 
SHOULD STAY UNTIL THE LAST DEMARCATION MARKER WAS PLACED. 
IMPERIALE'S VIEW WAS THAT MELES WAS TAKING THIS STANCE MOSTLY 
IN ORDER TO SPITE ERITREA, WHICH SOUGHT A SPEEDY DEMARCATION 
AND THE DEPARTURE OF UNMEE. 
POPE 
 
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 2002ROME02602 - Classification: CONFIDENTIAL