US embassy cable - 05ROME3591

C O N F I D E N T I A L ROME 003591 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT. FOR PM AND L 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/21/2015 
TAGS: PREL, MOPS, MARR, IT, NATO, U.S FORCES IN ITALY 
SUBJECT: ITALY: CHOD CALLS SIGONELLA TA "ABSOLUTE 
NECESSITY" TO CONTINUING U.S. OPERATIONS ON BASES IN ITALY 
 
REF: ROME 2179 
 
Classified By: DCM Anna Borg. Reasons 1.4 b and d. 
 
1. (C) In an October 19 meeting with visiting Deputy 
Assistant Secretary of Defense Daniel Fata, Italian Chief of 
Defense ADM Di Paola said that concluding the Sigonella 
Technical Arrangement in the near future was "an absolute 
necessity."  Di Paola said that, if there were to be a change 
of government in Italy following next April's elections, 
without a signed Sig TA it would become impossible 
politically for the U.S. to continue operating with the 
relatively free hand that we now have on Italian bases.  Di 
Paola emphasized that the Sig TA was needed as a framework to 
show that the U.S. understands that its forces are operating 
on Italian territory, respect Italian sovereignty, and are on 
Italian bases because this is mutually beneficial to our 
countries, as friends and Allies.  To underscore his point, 
Di Paola alluded to Sicilian novelist Guiseppe Lampedusa, 
saying "something has to change" (i.e., the Sig TA must get 
signed) "in order for nothing to change" (i.e., U.S. 
operations on Italian bases continue unfettered). 
 
2. (C) As Post urged in Reftel, to preserve our excellent 
mil-mil relationship and to ensure continuing unfettered 
operations for U.S. forces on bases in Italy, we should do 
everything we can to get the Sig TA approved for signature 
before the next U.S.-Italy Joint Military Commission (JMC) 
meeting, scheduled for Nov. 16-17.  The Italian Defense 
General Staff will require several days to staff the Sig TA 
for Italian approval for signature.  Therefore, we strongly 
urge that final approval be given by the U.S. within the next 
few weeks, and at least a week in advance of the November 
JMC. 
 
3. (U) DASD Fata has cleared this message. 
SPOGLI