US embassy cable - 05ROME1824

C O N F I D E N T I A L ROME 001824 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/27/2015 
TAGS: PREL, MOPS, EAID, MARR, AF, IT, NATO, AFGHANISTAN 
SUBJECT: ITALY/AFGHANISTAN:  KIDNAPPING CHILLS ASSISTANCE 
COMMUNITY, G8 REGIONAL DIALOGUE, CIVILIANS IN PRTS 
 
REF: A) STATE 91032 B) STATE 82968 C) MAY 18 
     MOELLER-BROWN-THIEDE E-MAIL 
 
Classified By: A/POLMIN PAULA THIEDE, REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D). 
 
1.  (C)  SUMMARY:  In a May 23 meeting, Italy's Special Envoy 
for Afghanistan,  Minister Anna Della Croce, worried that the 
kidnapping of the Italian CARE International worker might 
chill humanitarian efforts in Afghanistan.  Della Croce and 
Italy's G8 Sous-Sherpa told us Italy fully supports the G8 
Regional Dialogue for Afghanistan.  Della Croce also thought 
Italy could support reporting civilian staffing to NATO 
Provincial Reconstruction Teams (PRTs).  She said 
continuation of the UN Assistance Mission to Afghanistan's 
mandate in Afghanistan was crucial, inter alia for judicial 
reform efforts.  END SUMMARY. 
 
2.  (C)  Poloff met Della Croce on May 23 to discuss a range 
of issues.  Della Croce said actions to free kidnapped 
Italian CARE International worker, Clementina Cortona, were 
being handled by "other offices," but the Italian Government 
was frustrated by the lack of progress.  She said U.S. 
cooperation and support were appreciated.  Della Croce 
worried that the kidnapping would have a chilling effect on 
humanitarian efforts and could make it harder to staff the 
civilian components of PRTs.  Assistance workers used to 
complain that the overall security presence in Afghanistan 
was too much, Della Croce commented, but now they are asking 
for more security.  She reported "panic" in the NGO community 
and wondered whether Italy's Herat PRT and others would be 
able to provide enough security. 
 
3.  (C)  Poloff shared Ref A points on G8 Regional Dialogue 
with Della Croce, who was surprised by their classification. 
Noting that the UK had briefed on the proposal at the May 
12-14 conference in Wilton Park, England, Della Croce said it 
was a "very sound idea," but Italy hoped it would also be a 
realistic one.  There were many references to Pakistan and 
Iran, she noted, but what about Afghanistan's other neighbors? 
 
4.  (C)  Econoff also raised Ref A points with Italy's G-8 
Sous-Sherpa Massimo Leggeri.  Leggeri stated that the GOI was 
"very much in favor" of the proposed Afghan regional 
dialogue.  He cautioned that economic issues must be viewed 
in the context of recovering peace and security, which must 
remain the priority in Afghanistan.  Nevertheless, Leggeri 
said Italy was ready to "participate constructively" in such 
a dialogue and he predicted the issue would be discussed at 
the upcoming sherpa meeting in London. 
 
5.  (C)  Poloff also discussed with Della Croce the issue of 
reporting civilian staffing and functions to NATO PRTs (Refs 
B, C).  She shared with Della Croce the language under 
discussion at NATO, per Ref C e-mail.  Della Croce reviewed 
the language and said she saw no reason for Italy not to 
support it.  She promised to call the Italian delegation in 
Brussels.  (Comment:  We are not sure if Della Croce can give 
the final instructions on this issue.  Although it affects 
Afghanistan, it also falls under the purview of the MFA's 
NATO office.  End Comment.) 
 
6.  (C)  Della Croce said that Italy considers renewal of 
UNAMA's mandate in Afghanistan crucial, especially in terms 
of continued judicial reform efforts.  Italy is pleased with 
the framework of cooperation it is developing with the UN for 
judicial reform, but to make further progress, it is 
important that UNAMA be kept at least at its current level, 
nothing less. 
 
SEMBLER 
 
 
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	2005ROME01824 - Classification: CONFIDENTIAL