US embassy cable - 02ROME3934

C O N F I D E N T I A L ROME 003934 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/07/2007 
TAGS: AORC, PREL, PHUM, ECON, PARM, EFIN, AORC, PREL, PHUM, ECON, PARM, EFIN, IT, UNGA, UN, ITUNGA, UN 
SUBJECT: 57TH UNGA:  ITALY SHARES U.S. GOALS 
 
REF: A. SECSTATE 150044 
     B. ROME 3849 
     C. ROME 3796 
     D. SECSTATE 146035 
 
CLASSIFIED BY: A/DCM TOM COUNTRYMAN FOR REASONS 1.5 (B) AND (D) 
 
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                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
PAGE 02        ROME  03934  01 OF 02  091331Z 
SUMMARY 
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1.    (C) IN A MEETING WITH THE MFA'S ACTING OFFICE DIRECTOR 
FOR UN AFFAIRS, MARIO BALDI, POLOFF CONVEYED MESSAGES ON U.S. 
GOALS FOR THE 57TH UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY (UNGA) (REF D) AND ON 
THE CANDIDACY OF RUTH WEDGWOOD FOR THE UN HUMAN RIGHTS 
COMMITTEE (REF A).  BALDI STATED THAT THE GOI SHARED USG 
GOALS FOR THE SESSION, EXCEPT THAT ON THE MIDDLE EAST WE HAD 
DIVERGENT MEANS FOR ACCOMPLISHING THOSE GOALS.  THE GOI 
ADVOCATES AN INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE TO END THE CONFLICT IN 
THE MIDDLE EAST, USING AFGHANISTAN AS A MODEL.  HE EXPLAINED 
THE DILEMMA THE GOI FACED AS A RESULT OF THE U.S. POSITION ON 
THE INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT AND ARTICLE 98 BUT PROMISED 
THAT ITALY WOULD ADVOCATE FLEXIBILITY AS THE EU DEVELOPS A 
COMMON POSITION.  THE GOI REQUESTED USG SUPPORT FOR ITS 
FUTURE BIDS FOR THE UN COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS (UNCHR) AND 
THE UN SECURITY COUNCIL.  ITALY WANTS TO INCREASE HUMAN 
RIGHTS PROTECTION AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AROUND THE WORLD 
AS A MEANS OF FIGHTING TERRORISM.  END SUMMARY. 
 
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"JOIN THE INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT" 
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2.    (C) POLOFF MET WITH MARIO BALDI, MFA ACTING OFFICE 
DIRECTOR FOR UN AFFAIRS, ON AUGUST 7 TO TRANSMIT MESSAGES ON 
U.S. GOALS FOR THE 57TH UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY (REF D) AND THE 
CANDIDACY OF RUTH WEDGWOOD FOR THE UN HUMAN RIGHTS COMMITTEE 
(REF A).  BALDI GLANCED AT THE UNGA TALKING POINTS, SAID THAT 
THE GOI SHARED OUR GOALS, SMILED, AND SAID, "NOW WHEN ARE YOU 
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PAGE 03        ROME  03934  01 OF 02  091331Z 
GOING TO SIGN THE ROME ACCORD (FOUNDING STATUTE OF THE 
INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT)?"  HE CITED THREE RECENT 
HIGH-LEVEL MEETINGS BETWEEN GOI AND USG OFFICIALS ON THE 
SUBJECT (REFS B AND C), THE PLAN TO DEVELOP A COMMON EU 
POSITION ON ARTICLE 98 AGREEMENTS IN SEPTEMBER, AND -- AS THE 
BIRTHPLACE OF ITS FOUNDING STATUTE -- ITALY'S SPECIAL 
COMMITMENT TO THE ICC.  ITALY WAS IN THE DIFFICULT POSITION 
OF TRYING BOTH TO ACCOMMODATE THE U.S. REQUEST FOR AN ARTICLE 
98 AGREEMENT AND TO PURSUE ITS OWN INTERESTS.  HE ASKED FOR 
CONFIRMATION, WHICH POLOFF PROVIDED, THAT ONLY ROMANIA AND 
ISRAEL HAVE YET CONCLUDED SUCH AGREEMENTS.  HE PROMISED THAT 
ITALY WOULD WORK FOR A PRAGMATIC SOLUTION IN BRUSSELS BUT 
SAID IT WAS "VERY IMPORTANT THAT THE UNITED STATES NOT IMPEDE 
OTHER COUNTRIES FROM RATIFYING." 
 
3.  (C) COMMENT:  IN AN AUGUST 1 CONVERSATION, A/POLCOUNS HAD 
ASSURED BALDI THAT WE SOUGHT ONLY TO PROTECT OUR INTERESTS 
WITHIN THE PARAMETERS ALLOWED BY THE ROME TREATY AND NOT TO 
CONVINCE OTHERS NOT TO SIGN.  WHILE BALDI'S COMMENTS 
REGARDING THE ICC REFLECT THE GOI'S INSTITUTIONAL REACTION, 
IT IS LIKELY THAT HE IS NOT FULLY INFORMED ABOUT EMBASSY 
DISCUSSIONS WITH HIGH-LEVEL OFFICIALS AT THE MFA AND PM'S 
OFFICE.  THE FINAL DECISION AS TO ITALY'S SIGNING OF AN 
ARTICLE 98 ACCORD WILL BE MADE AT THE HIGHEST POLITICAL 
LEVELS OF THE GOI.  IT IS CLEAR, HOWEVER, THAT DISCUSSION IS 
TAKING PLACE THROUGHOUT THE BUREAUCRACY.  END COMMENT. 
 
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SAME GOALS; DIFFERENT MEANS ON MIDDLE EAST 
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PAGE 04        ROME  03934  01 OF 02  091331Z 
4.  (C) "WE SHARE THE SAME GOALS BUT DON'T ALWAYS AGREE ON 
MEANS," BALDI SAID, CITING ISRAEL/PALESTINE AND IRAQ AS 
EXAMPLES.  HE ASSERTED THAT THE LATEST UNGA RESOLUTION ON THE 
MIDDLE EAST WAS BALANCED, BECAUSE IT DEPLORED BOTH SIDES' 
FAILINGS.  WHEN QUESTIONED ON THIS POINT, HE ASSERTED THAT 
THE RESOLUTION CRITICIZED THE "PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY'S USE OF 
CIVILIANS AS HUMAN SHIELDS" AS WELL AS "ISRAEL'S EXCESSIVE 
USE OF FORCE" (SIC).  ON IRAQ, HE ASKED WHAT THE LEGAL 
JUSTIFICATION FOR USE OF FORCE WOULD BE AND OPINED THAT A UN 
SECURITY COUNCIL RESOLUTION WOULD BE UNOBTAINABLE.  TOLD THAT 
NO PLANS HAVE BEEN MADE AND THAT THE PRESIDENT WOULD CONSULT 
WITH ALLIES LIKE ITALY IN THE EVENT OF ANY BEING MADE, HE 
REPLIED, "WE HOPE SO." 
 
5.  (C) DRAWING ON THE EXAMPLE OF THE INTERNATIONAL 
CONFERENCE THAT CREATED THE INTERIM GOVERNMENT IN 
AFGHANISTAN, BALDI SUGGESTED A "BONN CONFERENCE" ON THE 
MIDDLE EAST THAT WOULD INCLUDE EVERYONE WITH A ROLE TO PLAY 
IN RESOLVING THE CONFLICT.  THIS CONFERENCE WOULD COVER 
SECURITY, JUSTICE, LAND, AND DEVELOPMENT.  IT WOULD EMPHASIZE 
THAT THERE IS NO CLASH OF CIVILIZATIONS (I.E., BETWEEN THE 
MUSLIM WORLD AND THE WEST) BUT ONLY A CLSH BETWEEN THOSE WHO 
WANT PEACE AND THOSE WHO WAT ONLY DESTRUCTION.  BALDI NOTED 
 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
                           CONFIDENTIAL     PTQ1668 
 
PAGE 01        ROME  03934  02 OF 02  091332Z 
ACTION IO-00 
 
INFO  LOG-00   NP-00    ACQ-00   CIAE-00  COME-00  INL-00   DODE-00 
      DOTE-00  SRPP-00  DS-00    EB-00    EUR-00   FAAE-00  VC-00 
      TEDE-00  INR-00   LAB-01   VCE-00   AC-01    DCP-01   NRRC-00 
      NSAE-00  OES-01   OIC-02   PM-00    ACE-00   TRSE-00  EPAE-00 
      SSD-00   PMB-00   DSCC-00  DRL-02   NFAT-00  SAS-00     /008W 
                  ------------------D70ACE  091332Z /38 
R 091326Z AUG 02 
FM AMEMBASSY ROME 
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 5356 
INFO EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE 
USEU BRUSSELS 2785 
USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 
 
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 02 OF 02 ROME 003934 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/07/2007 
TAGS: UNGA, AORC, PREL, PHUM, ECON, PARM, EFIN, UN, IT 
SUBJECT: 57TH UNGA:  ITALY SHARES U.S. GOALS 
 
THAT ITALY'S HISTORY INCLUDES PLENTY OF EXAMPLES OF DIALOGUE 
ACROSS CIVILIZATIONS.  (NOTE:  THE GOI HAS MADE CLEAR 
ELSEWHERE THAT IT WOULD BE WILLING, EVEN EXPECTS, TO HOST A 
MIDDLE EAST PEACE CONFERENCE.  END NOTE.) 
 
--------------------------------------------- --- 
"WE GAVE YOU THE UNCHR SEAT, NOW IT'S YOUR TURN" 
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PAGE 02        ROME  03934  02 OF 02  091332Z 
 
6.  (C) BALDI REMINDED POLOFF THAT (ALONG WITH SPAIN) THE 
GOI'S DECISION TO WITHDRAW ITS CANDIDACY FOR THE UNCHR 
PROVIDED A CLEAN SLATE FOR THE U.S. CANDIDACY.  THE GOI WANTS 
A SEAT IN 2004-06 AND "EXPECTS" OUR SUPPORT.  ITALY WILL ALSO 
RUN IN 2006 FOR THE 2007-08 PERIOD FOR THE UNSC NON-PERMANENT 
SEAT THAT IT FAILED TO WIN IN 2000 AND WOULD LIKE OUR SUPPORT 
ON THIS, AS WELL.  BY BEGINNING ITS CAMPAIGN EARLY, THE GOI 
EXPECTS TO WIN THE UNSC SEAT.  ITS GOALS WOULD BE UNSC REFORM 
AND BETTER COOPERATION BETWEEN THE UN AND EU ON POLITICAL AND 
MILITARY LEVELS.  (NOTE:  ITALY'S PROPOSAL FOR UNSC REFORM IS 
TO ADD EIGHT-TEN REGIONAL, NON-PERMANENT SEATS THAT WOULD BE 
SHARED AMONG COUNTRIES -- ESPECIALLY THOSE THAT CONTRIBUTE 
THE MOST TO UN ACTIVITIES 
+ 
]3JQ/@ 
C&{YKQ 
I_:THE 
UN HUMAN RIGHTS COMMITTEE. 
 
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GOI PRIORITIES:  DRAINING THE WATER TERRORISTS SWIM IN 
--------------------------------------------- --------- 
 
8.  (C) ASKED WHAT THE GOI'S PRIORITIES WERE FOR UNGA, BALDI 
EXPRESSED ENTHUSIASM FOR AN ACTIVIST AGENDA.  USING AN 
ITALIAN METAPHOR ABOUT CATCHING A FISH BY DRAINING THE WATER 
IT SWIMS IN, BALDI SAID THAT THE GOI PRIORITIZED HUMAN RIGHTS 
PROTECTION AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AS TOOLS FOR REDUCING 
TERRORISM.  "WE MUST FIGHT TERRORISM NOT ONLY THROUGH 
REPRESSION BUT ALSO BY FIGHTING THE SENSE OF DESPERATION. 
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INDOCTRINATION BY TERRORIST GROUPS SUCCEEDS IN AN ATMOSPHERE 
OF POVERTY, IGNORANCE, AND LACK OF HOPE FOR A BETTER FUTURE." 
 BALDI CALLED FOR MILITARY ACTION, POLITICAL RECONCILIATION, 
AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT MEASURES TO BE IMPLEMENTED TOGETHER, 
AS HAS BEEN DONE IN AFGHANISTAN. 
 
9.  (SBU) POLOFF NOTED THAT THE GOI HAS BEEN VERY SUPPORTIVE 
OF GLOBAL ANTI-TERRORISM EFFORTS.  BALDI MENTIONED THAT ITALY 
HAS APPROVED TEN OF THE TWELVE INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM 
CONVENTIONS.  HE EXPECTED PARLIAMENT TO APPROVE THE FINAL TWO 
SHORTLY AFTER REOPENING IN SEPTEMBER. 
 
10.  (SBU) LIKE THE UNITED STATES, ITALY WOULD EMPHASIZE 
GLOBAL DEVELOPMENT, THE NEW ECONOMIC PARTNERSHIP FOR AFRICAN 
DEVELOPMENT, DEBT RELIEF, AND OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE 
(ODA).  THE GOI AGREES WITH PRIORITIZING GOOD GOVERNANCE AND 
EDUCATION IN THE DEVELOPING WORLD.  IT IS COMMITTED TO 
INCREASING ITS ODA IN LINE WITH ITS EU OBLIGATIONS AND HAS 
PLACED SPECIAL EMPHASIS ON E-GOVERNMENT-RELATED ASSISTANCE. 
ITALY HAS HOSTED TWO CONFERENCES ON E-GOVERNMENT FOR THE 
DEVELOPING WORLD, THE MOST RECENT IN PALERMO IN APRIL. 
SEMBLER 
 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
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 2002ROME03934 - Classification: CONFIDENTIAL