This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
UNCLAS ROME 001410
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
OPS PLEASE PASS TO THE SECRETARY'S PARTY
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL IZ IT IRAQI FREEDOM
SUBJECT: TFIZ01: FM FRATTINI DISCUSSES IRAQ BEFORE
PARLIAMENT: "ITALY IS NON-BELLIGERENT, BUT IT IS NOT
NEUTRAL."
1. IN A SPEECH BEFORE A JOINT SESSION OF THE SENATE AND
CHAMBER OF DEPUTIES FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND DEFENSE COMMITTEES
APRIL 2, FOREIGN MINISTER FRATTINI EXPRESSED "DEEP SORROW"
FOR THE VICTIMS OF THE WAR IN IRAQ AND TOUCHED UPON FOUR
AREAS OF INTEREST THAT MAY COME UP DURING HIS MEETING WITH
THE SECRETARY IN BRUSSELS.
2. WAR CRIMES: FRATTINI TOLD THE GROUP "THERE IS DETAILED
EVIDENCE OF ATROCITIES AND WAR CRIMES COMMITTED BY THE IRAQI
REGIME IN THIS CONFLICT."
3. USA 173RD AIRBORNE BRIGADE: FRATTINI NOTED THAT AFTER
THE 173RD LEFT THE ITALIAN BASE OF CASERNE EDERLE (IN
VICENZA) FOR IRAQI KURDISTAN, IT LANDED IN AN AREA "OUTSIDE
OF SADDAM HUSSEIN'S CONTROL," AND DID NOT REACH A COMBAT ZONE
DIRECTLY. THUS THE DEPARTURE WAS ABSOLUTELY NOT/NOT CONTRARY
TO THE PRIME MINISTER'S MARCH 19 PARLIAMENTARY STATEMENTS AND
THE DECISION OF THE ITALIAN DEFENSE COUNCIL WHICH BARRED
"DIRECT ATTACK" AGAINST IRAQ FROM ITALIAN BASES. FRATTINI
TOLD THE COMMITTEES THAT THE 173RD IS PREPARING THE GROUND
FOR HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE TO THE LOCAL POPULATION AND IS
BEING PROVISIONED AND SUPPLIED FROM BASES IN GERMANY.
(COMMENT: THE GOI STUCK ITS NECK OUT TO FACILITATE THE
DEPLOYMENT OF THE 173RD, WHICH THE OPPOSITION HAS CLAIMED
VIOLATES THE DECISION OF THE DEFENSE COUNCIL AND THE LIMITS
ON ITALIAN INVOLVEMENT AGREED BETWEEN PRESIDENT CIAMPI AND PM
BERLUSCONI. END COMMENT.)
4. IRAQ RECONSTRUCTION: THE FM STATED "THE GOVERNMENT
CONFIRMS ITS INTENTIONS TO MAKE EVERY EFFORT FOR THE UN TO
RETURN TO THE CENTER OF THE IRAQ CRISIS," AND "TODAY THERE IS
THE NEED TO REASSERT THE ROLE OF THE UN AND THE EU'S
COMMITMENT IN THE RECONSTRUCTION PHASE, OR RATHER, IN THE
POLITICAL, DEMOCRATIC, ECONOMIC, AND SOCIAL CONSTRUCTION (OF
IRAQ) TO THE EXCLUSIVE ADVANTAGE OF THE IRAQI POPULATION."
5. TERRORISM: FM FRATTINI ALSO STATED THERE IS A LINK
CONNECTING AL-QAEDA TO SADDAM HUSSEIN'S REGIME, AND NOTED
THAT "WE DON'T HAVE ANY DOUBTS ON WHO IS RIGHT AND WHO IS
WRONG. ITALY IS NON-BELLIGERENT, BUT IT IS NOT NEUTRAL."
SEMBLER
NOTE: NOT PASSED TO ABOVE ADDRESSEE(S)
NNNN
2003ROME01410 - Classification: UNCLASSIFIED