US embassy cable - 05ROME3765

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ROME 003765 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/14/2015 
TAGS: PREL, PGOV, SO, SU, IT, HUMAN RIGHTS 
SUBJECT: ITALY ON SUDAN AND SOMALIA 
 
REF: STATE 205787 
 
Classified By: Political Minister-Counselor David D. Pearce, reasons 1. 
4 (b) and (d). 
 
1. (C) Summary.  Italian MFA U/S Mantica will travel to Sudan 
November 16-21, making stops in Khartoum, Darfur, and Juba. 
Implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) 
will be at the top of the agenda.  Italy is pleased with its 
seat on the Sudanese Assessment and Evaluation Commission 
(AEC), which it views as recognition for its close 
involvement in the peace process.  In Somalia, MFA believes 
PM Gedi is the only one in the Transitional Federal 
Institutions (TFI) who has shown "a commitment to solve 
Somalia's problems." Italy feels the "time has come to be 
more vocal in appreciating Gedi's initiative" and the MFA 
believes the EU may release a statement to that effect soon. 
Italy will ask Gedi to continue in his efforts when he meets 
with FM Fini in Rome November 15.  MFA officials expressed 
concern that Somalia was becoming more and more 
fundamentalist, and  a significant radicalizing factor has 
been aid, especially in the education sector, from Muslim 
NGOs. End Summary. 
 
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Sudan: A Seat on the AEC Recognition for Involvement 
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2. (U) Poloff had introductory meetings with MFA Office 
Director for East Africa Fabrizio Pignatelli and MFA Somalia 
Office Director Giancarlo Izzo November 10 to discuss Italian 
involvement in the Horn of Africa. 
 
3. (C) Prior to the meeting, Pignatelli had expressed 
confusion over the U.S. decision to renew sanctions against 
Sudan, pointing to what Italy had viewed as conciliatory 
moves coming recently from Washington.  Poloff responded that 
we needed to see results in Sudan, including progress on the 
implementation of the CPA, a solution to the Darfur crisis, 
and greater respect for human rights before the United States 
would consider a policy change.  We would continue to work 
closely with all parties in support of these goals. 
 
4. (C) Italy viewed the recent formation of the AEC as a very 
positive step, according to Pignatelli, who stressed the 
importance of the AEC for success in implementing the CPA. 
He noted that Italy was pleased to have contributed to the 
formation of the committee through the joint U.S.-EU 
demarche.  Italy has followed closely all of the peace 
process negotiations, Pignatelli said, and the Sudanese 
government had recognized the significant Italian involvement 
in negotiations by allotting Italy a seat on the AEC. 
Pignatelli noted this move came in spite of the fact that 
Italy was not one of the main assistance donors. 
 
5. (C) Poloff presented Pignatelli a copy of U/S Zoellick's 
November 9 speech outlining U.S. policy in Sudan (reftel) and 
noted the main points of the speech.  Pignatelli responded 
that the United States and Italy share common interests in 
the region, including continued implementation of the CPA and 
a need to see progress on the Darfur talks.  Pignatelli 
expressed a desire to coordinate closely with U.S. efforts, 
especially on the most critical initiatives relating to the 
CPA and Darfur. 
 
6. (C) Italian MFA U/S Mantica will travel to Sudan November 
16-21, making stops in Khartoum, Darfur (to observe Italian 
humanitarian assistance operations), and Juba. 
Implementation of the CPA will be at the top of the agenda 
when he meets with President Al-Bashir, First Vice President 
Kiir, Vice President Taha, and Foreign Minister Ismail. 
 
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Somalia: "We have to start to take sides" 
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7. (C)  Italy is supporting TFI PM Gedi, according to Izzo, 
"because it's the only thing on the table."  From the Italian 
point of view, Gedi is the only one in the TFI who has shown 
"a commitment to solve Somalia's problems."  He cited the 
recent meeting with members of parliament as an example of 
Gedi's initiative.  Izzo reported that the EU is coming 
around to this point of view and increasingly speaking out in 
support of Gedi.  He noted that, while the United States 
seems not to want to take sides, "lots of other European 
countries are starting to believe Gedi is the man to 
support."  Izzo stated that the "time has come to be more 
vocal in appreciating Gedi's initiative" and he believed the 
EU would release a statement to that effect soon.  "We have 
to start to take sides" was his assessment. 
 
8. (C) Izzo said the Mogadishu-based ministers have not taken 
any initiative and "just say 'no'" to every proposal.  The 
peace process has already taken too long, and, given the two 
assassination attempts on Gedi, the GOI feels it is wrong to 
wait any longer.  Observing that the parliament was important 
to the building of a new state, Izzo criticized Speaker of 
Parliament Hassan for failing to use his prerogative to have 
the parliament meet somewhere--anywhere.  Although Gedi's 
efforts have not produced significant results, Izzo stated 
that "we'll invite him to try again" when he meets with FM 
Fini November 15.  He predicted that Gedi's response would 
probably be that he needs more time to erode Hassan's power. 
 
9. (C) Izzo expressed concern that Somalia was becoming more 
and more fundamentalist.  Most aid, especially in the 
education sector, comes from Muslim NGOs.  Koranic schools 
are slowly converting Somalia's more traditional Islam into 
fundamentalism.  The population turns to radical NGOs for 
basic needs like education and medicine because there is no 
other choice. 
 
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Comment 
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10. (C) U/S Mantica's visit reflects Italy's continued 
commitment to the Sudan peace process and strong interest in 
stability in the Horn of Africa.  Rome shares our policy 
approach on Sudan and is keen to coordinate with U.S. 
efforts.  On Somalia, the MFA made a pitch for supporting 
Gedi more, indicating that it would be pressing to garner 
support within the EU for the Somali PM. 
SPOGLI