

Currently released so far... 12404 / 251,287
Browse latest releases
2010/12/01
2010/12/02
2010/12/03
2010/12/04
2010/12/05
2010/12/06
2010/12/07
2010/12/08
2010/12/09
2010/12/10
2010/12/11
2010/12/12
2010/12/13
2010/12/14
2010/12/15
2010/12/16
2010/12/17
2010/12/18
2010/12/19
2010/12/20
2010/12/21
2010/12/22
2010/12/23
2010/12/24
2010/12/25
2010/12/26
2010/12/27
2010/12/28
2010/12/29
2010/12/30
2011/01/01
2011/01/02
2011/01/04
2011/01/05
2011/01/07
2011/01/09
2011/01/10
2011/01/11
2011/01/12
2011/01/13
2011/01/14
2011/01/15
2011/01/16
2011/01/17
2011/01/18
2011/01/19
2011/01/20
2011/01/21
2011/01/22
2011/01/23
2011/01/24
2011/01/25
2011/01/26
2011/01/27
2011/01/28
2011/01/29
2011/01/30
2011/01/31
2011/02/01
2011/02/02
2011/02/03
2011/02/04
2011/02/05
2011/02/06
2011/02/07
2011/02/08
2011/02/09
2011/02/10
2011/02/11
2011/02/12
2011/02/13
2011/02/14
2011/02/15
2011/02/16
2011/02/17
2011/02/18
2011/02/19
2011/02/20
2011/02/21
2011/02/22
2011/02/23
2011/02/24
2011/02/25
2011/02/26
2011/02/27
2011/02/28
2011/03/01
2011/03/02
2011/03/03
2011/03/04
2011/03/05
2011/03/06
2011/03/07
2011/03/08
2011/03/09
2011/03/10
2011/03/11
2011/03/13
2011/03/14
2011/03/15
2011/03/16
2011/03/17
2011/03/18
2011/03/19
2011/03/20
2011/03/21
2011/03/22
2011/03/23
2011/03/24
2011/03/25
2011/03/26
2011/03/27
2011/03/28
2011/03/29
2011/03/30
2011/03/31
2011/04/01
2011/04/02
2011/04/03
2011/04/04
2011/04/05
2011/04/06
2011/04/07
2011/04/08
2011/04/09
2011/04/10
2011/04/11
2011/04/12
2011/04/13
2011/04/14
2011/04/15
2011/04/16
2011/04/17
2011/04/18
2011/04/19
2011/04/20
2011/04/21
2011/04/22
2011/04/23
2011/04/24
2011/04/25
2011/04/26
2011/04/27
2011/04/28
2011/04/29
2011/04/30
Browse by creation date
Browse by origin
Embassy Athens
Embassy Asuncion
Embassy Astana
Embassy Asmara
Embassy Ashgabat
Embassy Apia
Embassy Ankara
Embassy Amman
Embassy Algiers
Embassy Addis Ababa
Embassy Accra
Embassy Abuja
Embassy Abu Dhabi
Embassy Abidjan
Consulate Auckland
Consulate Amsterdam
Consulate Adana
American Institute Taiwan, Taipei
Embassy Bujumbura
Embassy Buenos Aires
Embassy Budapest
Embassy Bucharest
Embassy Brussels
Embassy Bridgetown
Embassy Bratislava
Embassy Brasilia
Embassy Bogota
Embassy Bishkek
Embassy Bern
Embassy Berlin
Embassy Belmopan
Embassy Belgrade
Embassy Beirut
Embassy Beijing
Embassy Banjul
Embassy Bangkok
Embassy Bandar Seri Begawan
Embassy Bamako
Embassy Baku
Embassy Baghdad
Consulate Barcelona
Embassy Copenhagen
Embassy Conakry
Embassy Colombo
Embassy Chisinau
Embassy Caracas
Embassy Canberra
Embassy Cairo
Consulate Curacao
Consulate Ciudad Juarez
Consulate Chennai
Consulate Casablanca
Consulate Cape Town
Consulate Calgary
Embassy Dushanbe
Embassy Dublin
Embassy Doha
Embassy Djibouti
Embassy Dili
Embassy Dhaka
Embassy Dar Es Salaam
Embassy Damascus
Embassy Dakar
Consulate Dubai
Embassy Helsinki
Embassy Harare
Embassy Hanoi
Consulate Ho Chi Minh City
Consulate Hermosillo
Consulate Hamilton
Consulate Hamburg
Consulate Halifax
Embassy Kyiv
Embassy Kuwait
Embassy Kuala Lumpur
Embassy Kinshasa
Embassy Kingston
Embassy Kigali
Embassy Khartoum
Embassy Kathmandu
Embassy Kampala
Embassy Kabul
Consulate Kolkata
Embassy Luxembourg
Embassy Luanda
Embassy London
Embassy Ljubljana
Embassy Lisbon
Embassy Lima
Embassy Lilongwe
Embassy La Paz
Consulate Lahore
Consulate Lagos
Mission USOSCE
Mission USNATO
Mission UNESCO
Embassy Muscat
Embassy Moscow
Embassy Montevideo
Embassy Monrovia
Embassy Minsk
Embassy Mexico
Embassy Mbabane
Embassy Maputo
Embassy Manila
Embassy Manama
Embassy Managua
Embassy Malabo
Embassy Madrid
Consulate Munich
Consulate Mumbai
Consulate Montreal
Consulate Monterrey
Consulate Milan
Consulate Melbourne
Embassy Nicosia
Embassy New Delhi
Embassy Ndjamena
Embassy Nassau
Embassy Nairobi
Consulate Naples
Consulate Naha
Embassy Pristina
Embassy Pretoria
Embassy Prague
Embassy Port Of Spain
Embassy Port Louis
Embassy Port Au Prince
Embassy Phnom Penh
Embassy Paris
Embassy Paramaribo
Embassy Panama
Consulate Peshawar
REO Basrah
Embassy Rome
Embassy Riyadh
Embassy Riga
Embassy Reykjavik
Embassy Rangoon
Embassy Rabat
Consulate Rio De Janeiro
Consulate Recife
Secretary of State
Embassy Suva
Embassy Stockholm
Embassy Sofia
Embassy Skopje
Embassy Singapore
Embassy Seoul
Embassy Sarajevo
Embassy Santo Domingo
Embassy Santiago
Embassy Sanaa
Embassy San Salvador
Embassy San Jose
Consulate Strasbourg
Consulate St Petersburg
Consulate Shenyang
Consulate Shanghai
Consulate Sao Paulo
Embassy Tunis
Embassy Tripoli
Embassy Tokyo
Embassy The Hague
Embassy Tel Aviv
Embassy Tehran
Embassy Tegucigalpa
Embassy Tbilisi
Embassy Tashkent
Embassy Tallinn
Consulate Toronto
Consulate Tijuana
USUN New York
USEU Brussels
US Office Almaty
US Mission Geneva
US Interests Section Havana
US Delegation, Secretary
UNVIE
Embassy Ulaanbaatar
Embassy Vilnius
Embassy Vienna
Embassy Vatican
Embassy Valletta
Consulate Vladivostok
Consulate Vancouver
Browse by tag
ASEC
AE
AF
AM
AR
AJ
AU
AORC
AG
AEMR
AMGT
APER
AGMT
AL
AFIN
AO
AMED
ADCO
AS
ABUD
ABLD
ASUP
ASECKFRDCVISKIRFPHUMSMIGEG
APECO
AID
AND
AMBASSADOR
AN
ARM
AY
AODE
AMG
ASCH
AMCHAMS
ARF
APCS
APEC
ASEAN
AGAO
ANET
ADPM
ACOA
ACABQ
AORL
AFFAIRS
ATRN
ACS
AFSI
AFSN
ADANA
ASIG
AA
AX
AUC
AC
AECL
AADP
AGRICULTURE
AMEX
ACAO
ACBAQ
AQ
AORG
ADM
AINF
AIT
ASEX
AGR
AROC
ATFN
AFGHANISTAN
AFU
AER
ALOW
AZ
AVERY
BA
BY
BU
BR
BE
BL
BO
BK
BM
BILAT
BH
BEXP
BF
BTIO
BC
BBSR
BMGT
BTIU
BG
BWC
BB
BD
BX
BP
BRUSSELS
BN
BIDEN
BT
CW
CH
CF
CD
CV
CVIS
CM
CE
CA
CJAN
CLINTON
CIA
CU
CASC
CI
CO
CACM
CDB
CN
CMGT
CS
CG
CBW
CIS
CR
CONDOLEEZZA
CPAS
CAN
CWC
CY
COUNTER
CDG
CL
CT
CIC
CIDA
CSW
CHR
CB
CODEL
COUNTERTERRORISM
CTR
COM
CICTE
CFED
CJUS
CKGR
CBSA
CEUDA
CARSON
CONS
CITEL
CLMT
CROS
CITT
CAC
CVR
CDC
CAPC
COPUOS
CBC
CBE
CARICOM
COE
COUNTRY
CLEARANCE
CACS
CTM
CNARC
ECON
EFIN
ETRD
EUN
EFIS
EG
ETTC
EZ
EPET
EAID
EAGR
ENRG
ECUN
EU
ELAB
ECPS
EAIR
EINV
ELTN
EWWT
EIND
EMIN
EI
ECIN
ENVR
ELECTIONS
EINVEFIN
EN
ES
ER
EC
EUC
EINT
EINVETC
ENGR
ET
EK
ENIV
ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS
ECONOMY
EAP
EFTA
EUR
EUMEM
EXIM
ERD
ENERG
EUREM
ESA
ERNG
EXTERNAL
EPA
EINVECONSENVCSJA
ECONOMICS
ELN
EINN
EFINECONCS
ENNP
EEPET
ETRDEINVTINTCS
ENVI
ETRO
ESENV
ECINECONCS
ECONOMIC
EAIDS
EDU
ETRA
ETRN
EFIM
EIAR
ETRC
EAIG
EXBS
EURN
ECIP
EREL
ECA
ENGY
ECONCS
ECONEFIN
ETC
ETRDECONWTOCS
EUNCH
EINDETRD
IR
IZ
IS
IAEA
INRB
IRAJ
IQ
IN
IT
IMO
INTERPOL
ICAO
IO
IC
ITALY
ITALIAN
IRAQI
ICTY
ID
IPR
IWC
ILC
INTELSAT
IL
IBRD
IMF
IA
IRC
ICRC
ILO
ITU
ITRA
IV
IDA
IAHRC
ICJ
ISRAELI
IRS
INMARSAT
ISRAEL
ISLAMISTS
INDO
IZPREL
ITPHUM
ITPGOV
ITF
IBET
IEFIN
INR
IACI
INTERNAL
IDP
IGAD
IEA
ICTR
IIP
INRA
INRO
IF
KJUS
KSCA
KNNP
KU
KCOR
KCRM
KDEM
KTFN
KHLS
KPAL
KWBG
KACT
KGHG
KPAO
KTIA
KIRF
KWMN
KS
KG
KZ
KN
KMDR
KISL
KSPR
KHIV
KPRP
KAWK
KR
KUNR
KDRG
KCIP
KGCC
KTIP
KSUM
KPKO
KVIR
KAWC
KPIN
KGIC
KRAD
KIPR
KOLY
KCFE
KMCA
KE
KV
KICC
KNPP
KBCT
KSEP
KFRD
KFLU
KVPR
KOCI
KBIO
KSTH
KMPI
KCRS
KOMC
KTBT
KPLS
KIRC
KREL
KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG
KFLO
KBTS
KSTC
KTDB
KFSC
KX
KFTFN
KNEI
KIDE
KREC
KMRS
KICA
KPAONZ
KCGC
KSAF
KRGY
KCMR
KRVC
KVRP
KSEO
KCOM
KAID
KTEX
KNUC
KNAR
KNUP
KNNPMNUC
KLIG
KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG
KCRCM
KHDP
KGIT
KNSD
KOMS
KWMM
KPAI
KHSA
KTLA
KO
KMFO
KRCM
KCSY
KSAC
KTRD
KPWR
KID
KWNM
KRIM
KPOA
KCHG
KOM
KSCI
KFIN
KMOC
KESS
KWAC
KMIG
KSEC
KIFR
KDEMAF
KPRV
KBTR
KERG
KTER
KDDG
KPAK
KRFD
KHUM
KDEV
KCFC
KWWMN
KWMNCS
KJUST
MARR
MOPS
MU
MTCRE
MNUC
MY
MASS
MCAP
MOPPS
MAR
MPOS
MO
ML
MR
MASC
MX
MD
MP
MA
MTRE
MIL
MCC
MZ
MK
MDC
MRCRE
MAPS
MV
MI
MEPN
MAPP
MEETINGS
MAS
MTS
MLS
MILI
MTCR
MG
MC
MARAD
MIK
MILITARY
MEDIA
MEPI
MUCN
MEPP
MT
MERCOSUR
MW
MASSMNUC
MQADHAFI
NZ
NATO
NG
NI
NO
NATIONAL
NU
NPT
NIPP
NL
NPG
NS
NA
NGO
NP
NSG
NDP
NAFTA
NR
NC
NH
NE
NSF
NPA
NK
NSSP
NRR
NATOPREL
NSC
NT
NW
NORAD
NEW
NV
NSFO
NAR
NASA
NZUS
OTRA
OVIP
OPRC
OPDC
OSCE
OAS
ODIP
OIIP
OFDP
OVP
OREP
OFFICIALS
OSAC
OEXC
OPCW
OIE
OIC
OFDA
OSCI
OPIC
OBSP
OECD
ON
OCII
OHUM
OES
OCS
OMIG
OPAD
OTR
PGOV
PREL
PHUM
PINR
PTER
PSOE
PINS
PARM
PK
PBTS
PEPR
PM
POLITICAL
PARTIES
PREF
PBIO
PROP
PA
PSI
PINT
PO
PKFK
PL
PAK
PE
POLITICS
PINL
POL
PHSA
PU
PF
POV
PFOR
PHALANAGE
PARTY
PARMS
PRGOV
PNAT
POLINT
PRAM
PMAR
PG
PAO
PROG
PRELP
PPA
PCUL
PSEPC
PSA
PREO
PAHO
PGIV
PREFA
PALESTINIAN
PAIGH
POSTS
PTBS
PGOVLO
PORG
PGOVE
PLN
PINF
PAS
PUNE
POLICY
PDEM
PDOV
PCI
PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA
PBT
PHUMPGOV
PMIL
PNG
PP
PS
PHUH
PECON
POGOV
PY
PHUMPREL
PHUS
PRL
PGOC
PNR
PGGV
PROV
PTERE
PGOF
PHUMBA
PEL
RS
RU
RW
REGION
RP
RICE
ROBERT
RSP
RUPREL
RM
RO
RCMP
RSO
RELATIONS
REACTION
REPORT
RIGHTS
ROOD
RF
RFE
RIGHTSPOLMIL
SP
SA
SY
SF
SYR
SENV
SCUL
SOCI
SNAR
SO
SU
SG
STEINBERG
SHUM
SW
SMIG
SR
SZ
SIPRS
SI
SAARC
SPCE
SARS
SN
SYRIA
SANC
SL
SCRS
SC
SENVKGHG
SAN
SNARCS
SHI
SWE
SNARIZ
SIPDIS
SEN
SNARN
SPCVIS
SEVN
SSA
SH
SOFA
SK
ST
TPHY
TU
TRGY
TI
TX
TS
TW
TC
TFIN
TD
TSPA
TH
TT
TIP
TBIO
TSPL
TZ
TERRORISM
TRSY
TN
THPY
TINT
TF
TL
TV
TK
TO
TP
TURKEY
TNGD
TBID
TAGS
TR
UP
US
UNSC
UK
UZ
UE
UNESCO
UV
UNGA
UN
UNMIK
UNO
UY
UAE
UNEP
UG
UNHCR
UNHRC
USUN
UNAUS
USTR
USNC
USOAS
UNCHR
UNCSD
UNDP
USEU
USPS
UNDC
UNDESCO
UNCHC
UNFICYP
UNC
UNODC
UNPUOS
UNCND
UNICEF
UNCHS
UNVIE
USAID
UNIDROIT
Browse by classification
Community resources
courage is contagious
Viewing cable 09ROME159, SCENESETTER FOR SPEAKER PELOSI'S FEBRUARY 13-22
If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs
Understanding cables
Every cable message consists of three parts:
- The top box shows each cables unique reference number, when and by whom it originally was sent, and what its initial classification was.
- The middle box contains the header information that is associated with the cable. It includes information about the receiver(s) as well as a general subject.
- The bottom box presents the body of the cable. The opening can contain a more specific subject, references to other cables (browse by origin to find them) or additional comment. This is followed by the main contents of the cable: a summary, a collection of specific topics and a comment section.
Discussing cables
If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol). Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #09ROME159.
Reference ID | Created | Released | Classification | Origin |
---|---|---|---|---|
09ROME159 | 2009-02-10 15:03 | 2011-04-18 11:11 | CONFIDENTIAL | Embassy Rome |
VZCZCXRO7501
OO RUEHFL RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHNP RUEHROV RUEHSR
DE RUEHRO #0159/01 0411558
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 101558Z FEB 09
FM AMEMBASSY ROME
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 1582
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHROV/AMEMBASSY VATICAN PRIORITY 0848
RUEHMIL/AMCONSUL MILAN PRIORITY 9816
RUEHFL/AMCONSUL FLORENCE PRIORITY 3435
RUEHNP/AMCONSUL NAPLES PRIORITY 3608
RHEHNSC/WHITE HOUSE NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 04 ROME 000159
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/06/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL IT
SUBJECT: SCENESETTER FOR SPEAKER PELOSI'S FEBRUARY 13-22
VISIT TO ITALY
ROME 00000159 001.2 OF 004
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires a.i. Elizabeth Dibble for reasons 1.4
(b) and (d).
¶1. (C) Madame Speaker, I would like to extend a warm welcome
from Team Italy in anticipation of your upcoming visit. Your
trip comes at a critical moment as the Berlusconi government
seeks to understand how it fits into the new Administration's
reengagement with Europe. Berlusconi's close personal ties
to President Bush and his position on the right hand side of
the political spectrum are leading some here to fear that
U.S.-Italian relations have already become cooler. Your
visit will serve to reassure the GOI that Italy still remains
within the inner circle of Allies that we rely on in the most
difficult of moments. But it is also an opportunity to
challenge them to do more in Afghanistan, moderate their
behavior as a proxy for Russian policies in Europe, be a
reliable partner on Iran and work closely with us to address
the global financial crisis which is rapidly undermining
Italy's already sclerotic economy.
Domestic Politics: Berlusconi in Control,
but Challenges Emerging
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
¶2. (C) After two years of a divided and ineffectual
center-left government, Italy saw Silvio Berlusconi return to
power last year. Berlusconi enjoys a broad base of power
that has allowed us to make good progress in continuing to
advance our agenda. He used his first months back in office
to deliver results on election promises, though long-term
solutions to most problems are still needed. The trash
problem in Naples is not yet permanently solved, but the
streets are cleared and troops are keeping dumps and
incinerators open. Public worries about street crime have
been addressed by a sweeping new security law. A public
finance law has overhauled the annual budget process, which
traditionally has eaten up months of Parliament's time, but
Italy's faltering economy casts doubt on whether budget
targets will be met. Berlusconi's government drafted and
passed these laws mostly without consulting the center-left
opposition, which has grown more fragmented and less
effective. Most foreign policy initiatives are directed by
Berlusconi personally without the need of any legislation.
¶3. (C) Berlusconi's honeymoon period now appears to be over
as some key initiatives have stalled and intra-coalition
squabbling has begun to erupt. Education reform was
significantly scaled back after large protests in October,
justice reform is stalled, and fiscal federalism is the
subject of infighting between the Northern League (LN) and
Berlusconi's People of Liberty (PdL) party. In the run-up to
the June 2009 European parliament elections, tensions between
PdL and LN are sure to grow as LN seeks to differentiate
itself from its larger partner. The center left remains
deeply divided, and the European elections will be a critical
moment for it to evaluate whether it needs new leadership.
Organized Crime:
Slowing Growth
and Fraying the Social Fabric
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
¶4. (C) Organized crime remains a serious and pervasive
problem throughout the country, particularly in the South.
By some estimates, organized crime accounts for nine percent
of Italy's GDP. Crime syndicates are engaged in trafficking
in drugs, arms and persons; extortion; the production and
distribution of pirated and counterfeit products (including
American movies, music and software); illegal construction;
loan sharking; and illegal dumping of toxic waste. There are
some indications that the drug and arms trade have at least
indirectly benefited terrorist groups in Colombia and Central
Asia. While there are some glimmers of hope (in Sicily,
dramatic law enforcement successes and changing public
attitudes have created severe problems for the Cosa Nostra's
traditional hold on the island), these successes have not
been replicated elsewhere. The Camorra remains deeply
entrenched in Campania, and Calabria is the base for Western
Europe's largest Mafia group, the 'Ndrangheta. There are
large swaths of territory in southern Italy where the state
is nearly completely absent and the crime syndicates control
most facets of society and the economy. These groups create
a huge drag on Italy's economic growth and its ability to
apply the rule of law. The Berlusconi government has taken a
hard line on crime, sending soldiers and more police to
patrol cities. Nonetheless, Mafia businesses have not been
interrupted. I hope you will mention, both publicly and
ROME 00000159 002.2 OF 004
privately, the importance for both Italy and the United
States of the fight against organized crime. We need both
the public and the politicians to focus on just how damaging
the mobs are to Italian society and economic well-being.
Financial Crisis: Banks OK, But Economy Suffers
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
¶5. (SBU) Because of a somewhat conservative banking sector,
Italy did not suffer the kind of financial meltdown
experienced elsewhere. Italian banks had little reason to
engage in sub-prime lending, or buy significant assets
derived from sub-prime loans overseas, given their dominance
in their own high-margin, low-risk domestic market. All the
same, they were caught in the worldwide economic downturn at
a time when earnings -- as opposed to asset quality -- were
already coming under pressure due to Italy's anemic economic
performance the previous 3 years. Italy is now fully into a
serious economic slowdown , with some economists predicting a
GDP drop of 2 percent in 2009, the largest drop since 1975,
when production shrunk by just over 2 percent. The
Berlusconi government has managed the public aspects of the
crisis fairly well, focusing initially on maintaining the
public's confidence in the banking system. Italy has
participated fully in the global coordinated response to the
crisis, taking limited measures aimed at re-starting
interbank lending and strengthening Italian banks' capital.
The government is currently considering a modest economic
stimulus package, while resisting calls for direct taxpayer
assistance to specific industries, such as autos. Italy has
a limited ability to respond to this crisis with additional
government spending because of its already very high
government debt levels (around 104% of GDP).
Russia: Indulging Putin's Worst Impulses
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
¶6. (C) Our cooperation with Berlusconi does not extend to all
issues. Energy dependence, close personal relations between
Berlusconi and Putin, and a lack of institutional influence
on Berlusconi's crafting of Italy's Russia policy (the MFA's
entire Russia Department consists of one person and there is
no one devoted exclusively to Russia in the PM's office) have
made Italy one of Russia's most reliable partners in the EU
in pressing the Kremlin's political agenda. Italy's foreign
policy with regard to Russia is now driven almost entirely by
Berlusconi's desire to appease Putin and guarantee stable
supplies of energy. Contrary to the GOI's general positive
actions on the ground, Berlusconi personally has been
unhelpful, making zinger pronouncements undermining our
efforts to bring stability to the Balkans, build closer ties
between NATO and Georgia and Ukraine, and hold Russia
accountable for its invasion of Georgia last summer. He has
publicly announced his intention to try to broker the
relationship between President Obama and President Medvedev.
You could usefully underline to PM Berlusconi, FM Frattini
and Chamber President Fini that Italy's high-profile efforts
to champion Putin's initiatives, especially when they appear
to support archaic notions of a Russian ""sphere-of-influence""
over sovereign countries, will find no support in Washington,
and indeed, may only damage Italy's credibility.
Iran: Awaiting Promised New Direction in U.S. Policy
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
¶7. (C) Berlusconi entered office promising us more
cooperation on Iran, and has been better than his predecessor
in proffering a tough rhetorical line vis-a-vis Tehran. That
said, the GOI is still far from forceful in pushing for
Iranian compliance with the demands of the international
community, where such demands rub up against Italian
commercial interests. Italian diplomats have been obsessed
with being included in the P5-plus-1 decision-making body on
Iran sanctions, and have in the past dragged their feet on
Iran actions due to displeasure about their exclusion. GOI
officials are pleased that we now routinely consult with them
through the Quint mechanism prior to each P5-plus-1 meeting,
but you may hear complaints that Italy is still not ""fully
represented."" Nevertheless, Italy has cooperated with us on
Iran in a number of ways: it has placed Iranian banking
activity in Italy under close supervision, and has recently
cooperated on actions against Iran government shipping
operations. There is one problematic Iranian bank with ties
to the regime still open in Rome: Bank Sepah. The Italians
are watching this bank closely, but still have not formally
closed it. You might take this opportunity to encourage full
ROME 00000159 003.2 OF 004
EU implementation of UNSCR 1803 and the broadest adoption of
national measures. You will likely be pressed for insight
into the future direction of U.S. Iran policy under the new
administration.
Afghanistan: Willing to do More,
But Wary of the Price Tag
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
¶8. (C) Italy is the sixth largest contributor to ISAF with
2,600 troops and a PRT in Herat. ISAF's Regional
Command-West is under Italian command, and the Italian
military has pledged to increase the number of training teams
(OMLTs) provided for the Afghan Army to a total of seven.
Italy's Carabinieri and Financial Police help to train Afghan
Police, and Italy has agreed to send additional units to
provide security during the August 20 Afghan Presidential
Elections. FM Frattini is eager to hold an
Afghanistan-Pakistan Conference at the level of Foreign
Ministers on the margins of the G8 Foreign Ministerial
(Trieste June 26-27). While Italian interlocutors routinely
tell us that they cannot do much more in Afghanistan, we
believe they are preparing a package of small increases for
an eventual request from the Obama Administration. You can
remind Italy's leadership that the U.S. is about to almost
double its troop commitments to Afghanistan and match that
with a powerful package of civilian assistance, and encourage
the GOI to overcome budgetary and political constraints to
make significant new contributions to stabilizing
Afghanistan.
G8: The Ever-Growing Agenda
- - - - - - - - - - - - - -
¶9. (SBU) Italy's ambitious list of priorities for its G8
Presidency include global financial governance, energy and
climate change, Afghanistan, peacekeeping and development
(particularly in Africa), food security and
non-proliferation. Italy will host a record nine G8
Ministerials this year, culminating in the G8 Summit at La
Maddalena, Sardinia. Italy plans a greater role for the G8's
traditional Outreach session, by seeking greater involvement
from the ""Outreach Five"" (China, India, South Africa, Brazil
and Mexico) in the final Summit Declaration and by inviting
Egypt. By expanding both the scope and the participation in
the Summit, Italy runs the risk of diluting the agenda and
duplicating efforts in areas like financial governance which
are normally the purview of the G7 and G20.
Gaza: Eager to Assist
- - - - - - - - - - -
¶10. (SBU) While Italy called on Israel to take all measures
to avoid civilian casualties, it squarely laid the blame for
the recent Gaza crisis at Hamas' feet and reconfirmed that
there can only be one Palestinian state. FM Frattini has
made several recent trips to the region in an effort to
assist resolving the issue. PM Berlusconi will host both
Palestinian leader Abbas and Egyptian President Mubarak the
week before your visit. Italy fully supports the
Egyptian-led effort to create a sustainable ceasefire in
Gaza. PM Berlusconi has indicated an Italian willingness to:
-- participate in a multilateral effort to interdict the flow
of arms to Gaza;
-- help reactivate and expand EU Border Assistance Mission
Rafah with the deployment of additional resources into an
international monitoring force that would include the
participation of Egypt, Turkey and the Palestinian Authority
to stop the smuggling of weapons to Hamas;
-- provide naval assets to patrol the Gaza coastline;
-- and otherwise assist in Egyptian and Israeli efforts to
prevent the resumption of the arms flow to Gaza.
Climate Change: A Bridge Between Europe and the U.S.?
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
¶11. (SBU) On climate change, Italy sees itself, as it does on
a number of other sensitive issues, as a bridge between the
U.S. and other states. In this case, the proposed bridge is
to the rest of Europe. The Italian Environment Ministry also
has longstanding cooperation projects with China and
developing countries in the climate and clean energy area,
and strongly supports the use of ""carbon credits"" from such
projects for meeting EU targets. The Ministry leads the
U.S.-Italy climate partnership, which is focused on joint
climate research and low-carbon technology development.
ROME 00000159 004.2 OF 004
Environment Director General Dr. Corrado Clini and scientist
Dr. Antonio Navarra, who will join you in a panel discussion
of climate change, are the policy-level and technical leads
for this partnership. Dr. Clini has led Italy's climate
policy formulation for over 15 years. Two points to watch
out for: 1) Italy has offered to host a meeting of the major
economies' leaders at the G8 Summit; the Administration is
still considering the nature and timing of such a meeting.
2) The European Commission just released a ""communication""
outlining its negotiating goals for the December climate
meeting in Copenhagen, which has some problematic elements
including a call for binding commitments from all OECD
countries and up to $175 billion a year in funding for
developing countries, conditional on commitments by those
countries. It would be difficult for the USG to address this
proposal before our domestic program has taken shape.
Conclusion
- - - - - -
¶12. (C) Berlusconi's shoot-from-the-hip style and verbal
gaffes sometimes create bumps in relations between Italy and
the U.S. Nevertheless, he staunchly supports and admires the
U.S. and its people, and presides over a government that is
forward-leaning in its desire to connect with and support the
new administration as it moves forward on issues ranging from
the Middle East peace process, Iran, Afghanistan, and the
closure of Guantanamo. Despite its economic malaise, Italy
remains a close and influential partner and will continue to
be an important ally for the U.S. in NATO, the region and the
world. Italians were proud to see you become the first
Italian-American Speaker of the House. Your visit will be an
important sign of the strength and closeness of the bilateral
relationship and I am delighted that you are taking the
opportunity to visit Italy.
DIBBLE
"