US embassy cable - 05ROME1981

C O N F I D E N T I A L ROME 001981 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/09/2015 
TAGS: IT, PREL, CM, IR, EUN 
SUBJECT: ITALIAN VIEWS ON JUNE 13 GAERC AGENDA; ITALY WILL 
SUPPORT HARD-LINE ON CUBA 
 
REF: A) STATE 105235 B) STATE 102505 
 
Classified By: POLITICAL MINISTER-COUNSELOR TOM COUNTRYMAN. 
REASON:1.4 (B)(D) 
 
Constitution 
------------ 
 
1. (C)  MFA Director for EU CFSP Luigi Mattiolo told Poloff 
that since this is the first GAERC after the French and Dutch 
"no" on the Constitution, FMs will discuss, over dinner 
Sunday evening June 12, alternatives on the way forward for 
ratification and the implications of freezing the process for 
EU initiatives across the board, from enlargement to ongoing 
negotiations on the EU's financial perspective for 2007-2013 
to efforts to create a true Common Foreign and Security 
Policy.  The way ahead should be more clear after the final 
Council meeting of the Luxembourg Presidency on June 16. 
Mattiolo's personal view is that the ratification process 
should go forward as planned, with a reevaluation of options 
in November of 2006 if 4/5 of member states have ratified, as 
stipulated in the current treaty draft. He is hopeful that 
the "flexibility" in PM Blair's statement on UK's 
ratification process will allow Blair, at the next Council of 
Ministers meeting, to announce that the referendum will go 
forward for a vote sometime before the November 06 deadline. 
 
Balkans 
------- 
 
2. (C)  Mattiolo indicated that Ministers would focus on 
Bosnia during the Balkans session of the GAERC, specifically 
the 16 priority areas identified in the EC feasibility study. 
 In addition ministers will address progress on OHR Ashdown's 
programs on police reform.  Mattiolo said that the Italian 
position will be to highlight the positive general trends in 
civil society institutions, but note that more progress is 
needed on political and economic reforms for further Bosnian 
integration into trans-Atlantic institutions.  Italy will 
also contribute to a positive assessment of the EUFOR mission 
(Operation Althea) 
 
3. (C) Mattiolo said that Ministers would also discuss 
briefly Kosovo.  Italy will underline the need to designate 
clear guidelines and benchmarks as discussions on standards, 
and eventually status, proceed. 
 
Cuba 
---- 
 
4. (C)  Mattiolo said that it was important for the EU to 
find common ground on a "tough" position regarding the human 
rights situation in Cuba.  Italy was already discussing the 
issue with its EU partners in the COLAT, and would support a 
"reaffirmation" in the GAERC conclusions of the June 2003 
restrictive measures. Italy believes it is important for the 
EU to underline with Havana that its common position is still 
in force, and to reiterate that it wants to see progress on 
specific human rights areas, such as release of political 
prisoners, before enhanced engagement with the regime can 
take place.  Italy will also support including in the 
conclusions a condemnation of restrictive measures against 
local and foreign media, and visits of European lawmakers to 
Cuba.  MFA Director for Central America and the Caribbean 
Paolo Miraglia expressed appreciation for points and 
suggestions ref b, and confirmed that Italy is looking for 
ways to encourage some of its more reluctant EU partners to 
take a harder line on Cuba. He promised to review our 
specific suggestions and incorporate our recommendations into 
ongoing discussions in Brussels. 
 
SEMBLER 
 
 
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 2005ROME01981 - Classification: CONFIDENTIAL