US embassy cable - 05ROME3796

C O N F I D E N T I A L ROME 003796 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/16/2015 
TAGS: MARR, PREL, KPKO, HA, IT, EUN 
SUBJECT: ITALY SEES NO POSSIBILITY TO DEPLOY EGF FOR 
HAITIAN ELECTIONS 
 
REF: STATE 206172 
 
Classified By: Political Minister-Counselor David D. Pearce, reasons 1. 
4 (b) and (d). 
 
1. (C) Poloffs delivered ref demarche to MFA Central America 
and the Caribbean Office Director Paolo Miraglia and to Major 
Fabio Cairo, who handles European Gendarme Force policy for 
Carabinieri HQ Rome.  Poloffs urged consideration of early 
European Gendarmerie Force (EGF) deployment, but both 
Miraglia and Cairo said it would be impossible to deploy the 
EGF in time for the Haitian elections in December.  The MFA 
reported that the EGF was not yet at full, or even 
intermediate, operational capability, making a mission on 
such short notice impracticable.  Miraglia also noted that 
the high-level interministerial committee of the EU, CIMIN, 
has not yet determined under what circumstances the EGF will 
be deployed.  Cairo asserted the same points, noting that EGF 
would not be operational until, at the earliest, spring 2006. 
 
2. (C) In a separate conversation, Carabinieri Major Cairo 
confirmed that EGF, whose command is located at Vicenza, is 
still in the process of organizing itself and not yet 
operational.  In June 2005, EGF undertook its first command 
and planning exercise. A more extensive follow-on exercise 
will take place in late spring 2006.  EGF will assess whether 
it has reached operational status upon completion of that 
exercise. 
SPOGLI