US embassy cable - 05ROME3146

S E C R E T ROME 003146 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
NOFORN 
 
STATE: NP/ECNP, NP/CBM, EUR/PRA 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/19/2015 
TAGS: ENRG, ETRD, ETTC, FR, IN, IR, IT, KNNP, KSCA, MNUC, NL, PARM, PREL, TRGY, TSPA, MTCR 
SUBJECT: ITALY: TOUR D'HORIZON ON EXPORT CONTROL ISSUES 
REGARDING INDIA, NORTH KOREA, AND IRAN 
 
REF: A. ROME 3089 
     B. STATE 166864 
     C. STATE 164496 
     D. STATE 163225 
     E. STATE 160777 
 
Classified By: A/ECMIN KATHLEEN M. REDDY FOR REASONS 1.4 (b) AND (d) 
 
INTRODUCTION AND SUMMARY 
------------------------- 
 
1.  (S) On September 14, 2005, A/ECMIN and Econoff called on 
Enrico Padula, MFA Non-proliferation Officer, to present 
demarches on India (refs A, B, and D), North Korea (ref E), 
and Iran, (ref C). 
 
INDIA 
----- 
 
2. (S)  A/ECMIN reviewed ref B and D points on the U.S. 
intent to work toward full international civil nuclear energy 
cooperation with India and our desire to permit such 
cooperation within a Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) context. 
Padula thought the initiative would be a lead issue at the 
October NSG meeting in Vienna.  He is currently preparing a 
paper on this issue for GOI consideration and thought the 
challenge would be rectifying the U.S. position with NSG 
guidelines.  A/ECMIN stressed that the overall U.S. approach 
was to bring India into the NSG fold, thereby subjecting 
India to the guidelines, regulations, and controls of the NSG 
regime.  A/ECMIN offered to return to address any questions 
Padula might have in preparation for the October meeting. 
 
3.  (S)  Separately, the Ambassador raised this Presidential 
initiative with Foreign Minister Fini September 15 (ref A). 
Fini was not briefed on the issue, but his Chef de Cabinet 
(Giampiero Massolo) said the MFA would review the points and 
respond as soon as possible. 
 
North Korea 
----------- 
 
4.  (S) Padula said that the head of the Italian delegation 
to the Madrid MTCR Plenary and MFA Director General Carlo 
Tripepi had received the U.S.-circulated proposal on North 
Korea (ref E).  Padula could not say what position Tripepi 
would take on the U.S. proposal in Madrid. 
 
Iran 
---- 
 
5. (S) A/ECMIN reviewed U.S. concerns regarding Iran's 
attempting to procure unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)/cruise 
missile propulsion components from a Dutch firm and that 
firm's attempt to procure technology from an Italian firm 
(Zanzottera Technologies SRL).  She said the USG hoped Italy 
could use this information to prevent Iran from acquiring 
sensitive technology from that firm. 
 
6.  (S) Padula thought that even if the components were not 
listed as either military or dual-use, the GOI could use the 
catch-all clause to stop such sales.  He said he would 
investigate any such possible procurement attempts and inform 
us of his findings. 
 
SPOGLI 
 
 
NNNN 
	2005ROME03146 - Classification: SECRET