US embassy cable - 05ROME1734

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Identifier:	05ROME1734
Wikileaks:	View 05ROME1734 at Wikileaks.org
Origin:	Embassy Rome
Created:	2005-05-19 15:04:00
Classification:	CONFIDENTIAL
Tags:	CH PREL MARR MOPS IT EUN
Redacted:	This cable was not redacted by Wikileaks.

C O N F I D E N T I A L ROME 001734 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/20/2015 
TAGS: CH, PREL, MARR, MOPS, IT, EUN 
SUBJECT: ITALIAN VIEWS ON MAY 23 GAERC AGENDA 
 
REF: STATE 90085 
 
Classified By: Political Minister-Counselor Tom Countryman.  Reason: 1. 
4 (b)(d) 
 
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ESDP 
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1. (C) MFA Director for EU CFSP told Poloff that the GAERC 
would begin with a Monday morning  EU defense ministers 
meeting to discuss an ESDP progress report.  He described the 
draft he had seen as "non-controversial," with a dozen or so 
chapters devoted to assessments of rapid response 
capabilities, battlegroup creation, and SOFAs for EU force 
deployment.  Italy was participating actively in the portion 
devoted to evaluation of operation Althea (Bosnia), 
particularly language to incorporate carabinieri/gendarmes 
into a unified military chain of command.    Mattiolo said 
that neither Defense Ministers nor Foreign Ministers had 
discussion of Berlin-plus or NATO interoperability on their 
agendas. 
 
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Balkans 
------- 
 
2. (C) Ministers will discuss utilizing the Stabilization and 
Association Agreement as a means to encourage reform and 
progress Bosnia.  Mattiolo confirmed that the conclusions 
would include conditional language underlining that Bosnia's 
further integration with transatlantic institutions is 
dependent on enhanced ICTY cooperation. 
 
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Sudan 
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3. (C) Although not an EU mission, MOD Martino will confirm 
that Italy is prepared to deploy 220 troops to the UN flagged 
"Operation Nile" in Sudan.  The GAERC conclusions will call 
for enhanced EU/NATO/AU coordination and will identify 
specific areas for "burden sharing."  Ministers will note the 
importance of the EU being more "forward leaning" regarding 
financial assistance to the AU; specifically, conclusions 
will call for finalizing the nature and amounts of 
contributions by the end of May. 
 
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China Arms Embargo 
------------------ 
 
4. (C)  According to Mattiolo neither Defense nor Foreign 
Ministers have the embargo on their agendas.  Referring to 
our points (reftel) Mattiolo cautioned against giving too 
much weight to Luxembourg Foreign Minister Asselborn's 
statement that a lift of the embargo is still possible before 
the end of the Luxembourg presidency.  Mattiolo claimed that 
momentum among member states was moving away from, rather 
than towards, lifting any time soon. 
 
SEMBLER 
 
 
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 2005ROME01734 - Classification: CONFIDENTIAL