US embassy cable - 05ROME3669

C O N F I D E N T I A L ROME 003669 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/02/2015 
TAGS: PGOV, KCRM, BL, IT, EUN 
SUBJECT: ITALY DEFERS TO EU ON ALEMAN, BOLIVIA SUPPORT GROUP 
 
REF: A. STATE 197220 
 
     B. STATE 192336 
 
Classified By: PolMil Counselor Jonathan Cohen for reason 1.4 (b) and ( 
d). 
 
1. (C) Summary.  Italy will defer to EU policies on denying 
safe haven to Jose Aleman (reftel A), and endorsing the 
Bolivia Support Group message (reftel B), according to MFA 
officials.  Italy shares U.S. concerns about the political 
developments in Nicaragua, but is encouraged by what it sees 
as the beginning of a dialogue between President Bolanos and 
FSLN leader Ortega.  Italy had no substantive objection to 
the wording of the Bolivia Support Group message. 
End Summary. 
 
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Aleman 
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2. (C) Poloff met with MFA Office Director for Central 
America and the Caribbean Paolo Miraglia October 31 to 
discuss denying safe haven to former president of Nicaragua 
Jose Aleman.  While Miraglia agreed that Aleman should 
disengage from politics and shared U.S. concerns about 
Nicaragua's political situation, the GOI is not prepared to 
take unilateral measures to deny Aleman safe haven in Italy, 
preferring to follow the EU common policy.  Miraglia welcomed 
what Italy views as recent positive developments in 
Nicaragua, including the appointment of a new vice president, 
the ratification of CAFTA, and the postponement of 
constitutional reform until after the 2007 election.  He also 
commented that Deputy Secretary Zoellick's visit to Nicaragua 
was a "push in the right direction."  Italy looks favorably 
on the increase in dialogue among key political actors in 
Managua. Miraglia said Italy would be watching to see how 
these "encouraging signals" develop in the next few weeks. 
 
3. (C) The EU Latin America Working Group will convene again 
in November (the last meeting was October 2004), but Miraglia 
was unsure if Nicaragua would be on the agenda.  He noted 
that the issue of denying safe haven was discussed last year. 
 Miraglia admitted that there was no EU plan that would 
pressure Aleman to disengage from politics. 
 
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Bolivia Support Group 
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4. (SBU) On a separate occasion, Poloff discussed the Bolivia 
Support Group message with MFA South America Desk Officer 
Piero Bernassi.  According to Bernassi, Italy was in complete 
agreement with the substance and wording of the statement. 
However, Italy sees this as an issue to be dealt with through 
the EU. 
SPOGLI