US embassy cable - 02ROME3672

C O N F I D E N T I A L ROME 003672 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/25/2007 
TAGS: PHUM, PREL, CU, IT, HUMAN RIGHTS 
SUBJECT: ITALY WILL GET OUT THE VOTE IN ECOSOC ON CHR CUBA 
RESOLUTION 
 
REF: SECSTATE 139472 
 
CLASSIFIED BY: A/POL P. THIEDE FOR REASONS 1.5 (B) AND (D) 
 
1.    (C) ON JULY 23, IN SEPARATE MEETINGS AT THE MFA, POLOFF 
PRESENTED REFTEL DEMARCHE TO NICOLO' GORETTI DE FLAMINI AND 
EMANUELE PIGNATELLI, RESPECTIVELY OFFICE DIRECTORS FOR 
CENTRAL AMERICA AND FOR HUMAN RIGHTS.  PIGNATELLI CONFIRMED 
THE GOI'S INTENTION TO VOTE FOR THE RESOLUTION AGAIN AND TO 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
PAGE 02        ROME  03672  251141Z 
LOBBY OTHERS TO SUPPORT IT AS WELL.  THE GOI'S LEADERSHIP 
WOULD BE IMPORTANT, PIGNATELLI IMPLIED, SINCE IT WAS 
REPRESENTING THE EU PRESIDENCY DUE TO THE ABSENCE OF DENMARK 
FROM ECOSOC. 
 
2.    (C) PIGNATELLI CONTINUED THAT THE GOI PREFERED 
"RECIPROCAL ENCOURAGEMENT" OF, NOT CONFRONTATION WITH, STATES 
WITH GOVERNANCE SHORTCOMINGS.  THE GOC HAD "MADE SOME 
IMPROVEMENTS BUT NEEDS TO GO FURTHER."  PIGNATELLI CITED 
BETTER CONDITIONS OF DETENTION AS AN EXAMPLE.  (HOWEVER, 
GORETTI AGREED WITH THE DEMARCHE THAT THE NUMBER OF POLITICAL 
PRISONERS HAS INCREASED AND RESPECT FOR HUMAN RIGHTS HAS 
DETERIORATED.) 
 
3.    (C) PIGNATELLI EXPRESSED CONCERN ABOUT PROCEDURAL 
ISSUES AT ECOSOC.  HE ASKED WHETHER THE USG WOULD CALL FOR A 
VOTE ON THE SEPARATE RESOLUTION ON RACISM.  HE HOPED THAT WE 
WOULD DO SO, STATING THAT THE GOI WAS AS CONCERNED BY THE 
RACISM RESOLUTION AS THE USG WAS BY THE CUBA ONE.  ASKED WHY 
THE GOI PREFERRED THAT WE TAKE THE LEAD ON THE RACISM 
RESOLUTION, PIGNATELLI ASSERTED THAT WE HAD CALLED FOR THE 
VOTE IN THE UNCHR, SO IT WAS ONLY LOGICAL THAT WE SHOULD DO 
SO AGAIN.  HE ALSO ASKED WHETHER THE USG WOULD CALL FOR A 
VOTE ON THE CUBA RESOLUTION, IF FOR ANY REASON PERU DID NOT 
DO SO.  POLOFF REPLIED THAT SHE HAD NO INFORMATION ON THIS 
BUT UNDERSCORED THAT THE USG WAS FULLY COMMITTED TO THE 
PASSAGE OF THE CUBA RESOLUTION. 
SEMBLER 
 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
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 2002ROME03672 - Classification: CONFIDENTIAL