US embassy cable - 05ROME1390

C O N F I D E N T I A L ROME 001390 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/21/2015 
TAGS: PREL, KPAL, IZ, LE, ZI, CG, SU, IT, EUN 
SUBJECT: ITALIAN VIEWS ON APRIL 25 EU FOREIGN MINISTERS 
MEETING (GAERC) AGENDA 
 
REF: STATE 72185 
 
Classified By: POL Minister Counselor Tom Countryman - Reason: 1.4 (b)( 
d) 
 
 
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Iraq 
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1. (C) MFA EU CFSP Director Luigi Mattiolo told Poloff that 
during the April 25 EU 
GAERC, FMs would discuss preparations for the June US-EU 
conference on Iraq.  Italy wants to be sure Baghdad 
authorities views are also incorporated into the preparation 
phase of the conference. 
 
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MEPP 
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2. (C) Mattiolo said GAERC discussions would focus on EU 
support for Palestinian Authority reconstruction projects. 
Italy would review its bilateral assistance for Palestinian 
security and law enforcement training and the "insertion" of 
the program into an overall EU effort.  Ministers will also 
begin dialogue on a coordinated policy concerning contact 
between high level officials from EU governments with 
Hamas-associated candidates in the run-up to elections. 
 
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Lebanon 
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3. (C)  Mattiolo did not discount the possibility that 
elections could be successfully and securely completed by the 
end of May.  He noted, however, that continued "instability" 
was causing some of his EU counterparts to look more closely 
at the date and that he expected some FMs to propose 
postponement.  He said that Ministers, if there is time, 
might also discuss an enhanced monitoring mission for the 
elections. 
 
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Balkans 
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4. (C) Mattiolo said that Italy had joined consensus on an 
"Autumn" start date for the Stabilization and Association 
Process for Serbia.  Ministers would discuss the very strict 
conditions (ICC commitments, internal economic reform) under 
which the process would begin.  Ministers would also 
encourage Macedonian and Greek authorities to work harder on 
a solution to the impasse on the "Macedonia" name issue. 
 
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Sudan 
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5. (C) Mattiolo said that Italy shared US concerns expressed 
reftel over distribution of pledged assistance to Sudan.  He 
predicted that the enhanced EU on-the-ground presence in the 
region would result in more rapid disbursement of the 
remaining 20 million Euros in EU-pledged funds. 
 
SEMBLER 
 
 
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 2005ROME01390 - Classification: CONFIDENTIAL