US embassy cable - 02ROME3034

UNCLAS ROME 003034 
 
SIPDIS 
 
OSTP FOR BRETT ALEXANDER, NASA FOR JOHN SCHUMACHER, PARIS 
FOR NASA/FELDSTEIN 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
PAGE 02        ROME  03034  201519Z 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KTIA, TSPA, IT, AVIATION 
SUBJECT: ITALIAN RESPONSE OF GOVERNMENT-LEVEL CONSULTATIONS 
ON THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION PROGRAM 
 
REF: STATE 104344 
 
1.  MISSION DISCUSSED REFTEL TALKING POINTS WITH COUNSELOR 
GUICCIARDI OF THE ITALIAN MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS 
DEPARTMENT OF SCIENTIFIC COOPERATION.  ALTHOUGH GUICCIARDI 
DEMONSTRATED A GENERAL UNDERSTANDING OF THE EUROPEAN 
PARTNER'S REQUEST FOR A GOVERNMENT-LEVEL MEETING IN THE 
UNITED STATES ON THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION (ISS), HE 
CLAIMED THAT THE ISSUE IS BEING HANDLED ENTIRELY BY THE 
ITALIAN EMBASSY IN WASHINGTON.  THEREFORE, ALL INQUIRIES 
REGARDING THE TIMING OF SUCH A MEETING SHOULD BE PRESENTED TO 
THE ITALIAN EMBASSY OR TO THE GERMAN AMBASSADOR TO THE UNITED 
STATES, WHO IS ACTING AS THE COORDINATOR FOR THE MEMBERS OF 
THE EUROPEAN PARTNER GROUP.  AS A COURTESY, ESTOFFS ALSO 
BRIEFED PROFESSOR SERGIO VETRELLA, PRESIDENT OF THE ITALIAN 
SPACE AGENCY (ASI) DURING A MEETING ON JUNE 6, 2002. 
VETRELLA DECLARED HIS BELIEF THAT THE PROPOSED MEETING WOULD 
BE A "WASTE OF TIME" SINCE HE PERCEIVES THAT THE POLITICAL 
CLIMATE IN THE UNITED STATES WOULD PREVENT ANY REAL MOVEMENT 
ON THE ISSUE OF ISS FINANCING. 
SEMBLER 
 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
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 2002ROME03034 - Classification: UNCLASSIFIED