US embassy cable - 03ROME490

C O N F I D E N T I A L ROME 000490 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/06/2013 
TAGS: EU, IT, PREL, EUN 
SUBJECT: ITALY/MEPP: A READ OUT OF THE EU JANUARY COMEP 
MEETING 
 
REF: SECSTATE 04154 
 
CLASSIFIED BY: POL MINISTER-COUNSELOR THOMAS COUNTRYMAN FOR REASONS 1.5 
(B) AND (D) 
 
1. (C) SUMMARY: DURING THE JANUARY MEETING OF THE EU 
COMMITTEE ON THE MIDDLE EAST PEACE PROCESS (COMEP) IN 
BRUSSELS, THE WORKING GROUPS DISCUSSED THE QUARTET'S ROADMAP 
AND FUTURE  MONITORING MECHANISM, AND THE GREEK PRESIDENCY 
DISTRIBUTED TO THE INDIVIDUAL EU STATES OUR NON-PAPER ON THE 
OPERATIONAL ACTIVITIES OF PALESTINIAN REJECTIONIST GROUPS IN 
DAMASCUS (REFTEL.)  END SUMMARY. 
 
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ROADMAP: MIXED FEELINGS 
----------------------- 
 
2. (C) NEA WATCHER MET LUCA FRATINI, THE MFA'S DEPUTY OFFICER 
DIRECTOR FOR THE ARAB MED COUNTRIES TO GET A READ-OUT OF THE 
EU COMEP JANUARY MEETING IN BRUSSELS.  FRATINI, WHO ATTENDED 
THE MEETING AS THE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE GOI, SAID THAT THE 
EUROPEANS EXPRESSED THEIR DISAPPOINTMENT THAT THE ROADMAP WAS 
NOT PUBLISHED ON DEC. 20.  NONETHELESS, THE MERE FACT THAT 
THE QUARTET MEETING TOOK PLACE ON DEC. 20 WAS PERCEIVED AS A 
SUCCESS AND SO WAS THE PERSONAL SUPPORT THAT PRESIDENT BUSH 
IS GIVING THE QUARTET AND THE ROADMAP DESPITE HIS 
PREOCCUPATIONS WITH IRAQ, SAID FRATINI. 
 
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MONITORING MECHANISM 
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3. (C) AT THE COMEP MEETING, FRATINI EXPRESSED HIS 
GOVERNMENT'S WISH TO SEE A SMALL AND EFFICIENT MONITORING 
MECHANISM  WITH A COORDINATION COMMITTEE COMPOSED OF EACH OF 
THE FOUR QUARTET MEMBERS PLUS A REPRESENTATIVE OF EACH OF THE 
FOUR SPECIALIZED GROUPS (POLITICAL, ECONOMIC, SECURITY, AND 
PALESTINIAN REFORM.)  FRATINI NOTED THAT THE CURRENT STAFFING 
PATTERN OF THE SPECIALIZED GROUPS IS UNSATISFACTORY.  THE 
COMEP AGREED TO ADDRESS IN FUTURE MEETINGS INCREASING THE 
LEVEL OF EU CONTRIBUTION TO THE SPECIALIZED GROUPS. 
 
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PALESTINIAN REJECTIONIST GROUPS IN DAMASCUS 
------------------------------------------- 
 
4. (C) THE GREEK PRESIDENCY CIRCULATED OUR NON-PAPER ON THE 
OPERATIONAL ACTIVITIES OF PALESTINIAN REJECTIONIST GROUPS IN 
DAMASCUS (REFTEL.)  AMB. ANTONIO BADINI, THE MFA'S DG FOR 
MIDDLE EASTERN AFFAIRS, WILL RAISE REFTEL CONCERNS WITH 
SYRIAN FM AL-SHARAA DURING HIS OFFICIAL VISIT TO SYRIA FEB 
8-11, SAID FRATINI. 
SEMBLER 
 

 2003ROME00490 - Classification: CONFIDENTIAL