US embassy cable - 03ROME1205

S E C R E T ROME 001205 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
STATE FOR INR AND EUR/WE 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/21/2013 
TAGS: PREL, PGOV, IT, IRAQI FREEDOM 
SUBJECT: TFIZO1: ITALY TO EXPEL IRAQI DIPLOMATS 
 
REF: A. ROME 1173 
     B. STATE 72921 
 
CLASSIFIED BY: DEPUTY CHIEF OF MISSION EMIL SKODON, REASONS 1.5 (B) AND 
     (D) 
 
1. (S) IN A CONVERSATION LATE ON MARCH 21, ANTONIO BADINI, 
DIRECTOR-GENERAL FOR THE MIDDLE EAST AT THE ITALIAN MFA, TOLD 
POLMC THAT ITALY HAD AGREED TO THE EXPULSION OF IRAQI 
DIPLOMATS FROM THE BILATERAL INTERESTS SECION.  THEY HAD BEEN 
TOLD TO SUSPEND OPERATIONS AND DEPART ROME NOT LATER THAN 
SUNDAY, MARCH 23.  BADINI IMPLIED, BUT DID NOT DIRECTLY 
CONFIRM, THAT THE EXPULSIONS WOULD BE AS FORECAST BY THE 
MINISTER'S OFFICE REF A: I.E., TO INCLUDE ALL OFFICIALS IN 
THE INTERESTS SECTION, EXCEPT FOR THE CHARGE D'AFFAIRES. 
 
2. (U) IN A STATEMENT TO THE PRESS AT ABOUT THE SAME HOUR, AS 
HE WAS RETURNING FROM BRUSSELS, FM FRATTINI SAID THAT ITALY 
WOULD RESPOND POSITIVELY TO THE US REQUEST FOR EXPULSION OF 
IRAQI DIPLOMATS.  ACCORDING TO THE PRESS REPORT, THE US HAD 
NOT/NOT REQUESTED THE EXPULSION OF THE HEAD OF THE INTERESTS 
SECTION.  EMBASSY IS RESPONDING TO PRESS INQUIRIES ABOUT HIS 
STATEMENT BY CONFIRMING THAT THE USG REQUESTED OF MANY 
COUNTRIES, INCLUDING ITALY, THE SUSPENSION OF OPERATIONS OF 
IRAQI DIPLOMATIC ESTABLISHMENTS; WELCOMING POSITIVE STEPS 
ITALY WAS TAKING IN RESPONSE; AND REFERRING BACK TO THE GOI 
FOR CONFIRMATION OF EXACT STEPS. 
 
3. (C) EMBASSY WILL ATTEMPT OVER THE WEEKEND (ONCE FRATTINI'S 
STAFF HAS RETURNED TO ROME) TO VERIFY WHETHER OR NOT THE 
CHARGE IS INCLUDED IN THE EXPULSION ORDER. 
SEMBLER 
 
NNNN 
	2003ROME01205 - Classification: SECRET