Cablegate: Tfiz01: Italy Echoing Our Message On Iraqi War

This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

UNCLAS ROME 001387

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL KJUS KAWC IZ IT IRAQI FREEDOM
SUBJECT: TFIZ01: ITALY ECHOING OUR MESSAGE ON IRAQI WAR
CRIMES

REF: SECSTATE 81638

1. (SBU) ON MARCH 31, POL MC DELIVERED REFTEL POINTS TO
CLAUDIO BISOGNERO, THE MFA'S DEPUTY POLITICAL DIRECTOR. ON
APRIL 1, ECON MC DELIVERED REFTEL POINTS TO ANTONIO BADINI
AND LUIGI MACCOTTA, THE MFA'S DIRECTOR GENERAL FOR MIDDLE
EASTERN AFFAIRS AND THE MFA'S OFFICE DIRECTOR FOR IRAQ,
RESPECTIVELY, AND URGED THEM TO HAVE SENIOR GOI OFFICIALS
SPEAK PUBLICLY AGAINST THE IRAQI REGIME'S ATROCITIES. BADINI
WELCOMED OUR REQUEST AND SAID HE AND BISOGNERO WOULD ASK FM
FRATTINI TO MENTION IRAQI WAR CRIMES IN THE SPEECH HE IS
SCHEDULED TO GIVE APRIL 2 TO THE PARLIAMENT'S JOINT FOREIGN
AFFAIRS/DEFENSE COMMITTEES ABOUT HUMANITARIAN AID TO IRAQ.
BISOGNERO CALLED EMBASSY LATER ON APRIL 1 TO CONFIRM THAT
THESE SENTENCES HAD BEEN ADDED TO FRATTINI'S APRIL 2 SPEECH.

2. (SBU) BADINI SAID HE WOULD ENCOURAGE SENIOR GOI TO SPEAK
PUBLICLY ABOUT IRAQI WAR CRIMES AT OTHER OPPORTUNITIES IN
ORDER TO EDUCATE ITALIAN PUBLIC OPINION AND SHOW THAT THE
STABILIZATION PHASE IN POST-CONFLICT IRAQ, A PRIORITY OF THE
ITALIAN TASK FORCE ON IRAQ'S RECONSTRUCTION, WILL BE CRUCIAL
IN PREVENTING SIMILAR CRIMES.
SEMBLER

NNNN
2003ROME01387 - Classification: UNCLASSIFIED

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