US embassy cable - 03ROME1414

S E C R E T ROME 001414 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/12/2015 
TAGS: EAID, ETTC, PREL, SY, IT, EUN 
SUBJECT: ASSISTANCE FOR SYRIAN PORT DEVELOPMENT: ITALY 
WELCOMES ADDITIONAL INFORMATION 
 
REF: A. STATE 68977 
     B. 02 ROME 3718 

CLASSIFIED BY: ECONOMIC COUNSELOR KAREN MILLIKEN, 
REASONS 1.5 (B) AND (D) 
 
(S) ECONOFF MET WITH MFA IRAQ DESK OFFICER FEDERICA FERRARI 
BRAVO ON APRIL 2 TO DISCUSS CONTINUING U.S. OPPOSITION TO ANY 
ASSISTANCE BY THE EUROPEAN INVESTMENT BANK IN THE PROJECT TO 
UPGRADE THE SYRIAN PORT OF TARTUS.  AFTER EXPRESSING U.S. 
APPRECIATION FOR THE EC'S DECISION TO SUSPEND FORWARD 
MOVEMENT OF THE EIB-APPROVED LOAN, ECONOFF NOTED THAT SEVERAL 
EU MEMBER STATES HAD INDICATED A WISH FOR ADDITIONAL 
INFORMATION REGARDING THE TRANSSHIPMENT OF ILLICIT 
MILITARY-RELATED AND DUAL-USE GOODS TO IRAQ THROUGH TARTUS. 
FERRARI, WHO HAD BEEN BRIEFED BY PERSIAN GULF AFFAIRS OFFICE 
DIRECTOR LUIGI MACOTTA PRIOR TO OUR VISIT (MACOTTA HAD 
RECEIVED OUR DEMARCHE IN JULY 2002 REGARDING THE SAME PROJECT 
- REF B), SAID SHE WAS NOT AWARE OF ANY GOI CONCERNS ABOUT 
JUSTIFYING THE CONTINUED SUSPENSION OF THE PROJECT.  SHE 
NEVERTHELESS WELCOMED THE INFORMATION WE PROVIDED -- AFTER 
TAKING EXTENSIVE NOTES, SHE TOLD US SHE WOULD SHARE THIS 
INFORMATION WITH OTHER RELEVANT OFFICES IN THE MFA, INCLUDING 
THE BUREAU THAT OVERSEES ITALY'S EU AFFAIRS. 
SEMBLER 
 
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	2003ROME01414 - Classification: SECRET