VZCZCXRO3296
OO RUEHDBU RUEHFL RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHROV RUEHSR
DE RUEHRO #1842/01 2411604
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 291604Z AUG 07
FM AMEMBASSY ROME
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 8862
INFO RUEHXK/ARAB ISRAELI COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHGG/UN SECURITY COUNCIL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHFL/AMCONSUL FLORENCE PRIORITY 2592
RUEHMIL/AMCONSUL MILAN PRIORITY 8895
RUEHNP/AMCONSUL NAPLES PRIORITY 2731
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ROME 001842 
 
SIPDIS 
 
NOFORN 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/28/2017 
TAGS: PREL UNSC KV IR IS WE SY JO IT
SUBJECT: ITALY: SANNINO ON KOSOVO, IRAN, MEPP, SYRIA - 
SEEKS INCENTIVES FOR SERBS, SEES PROGRESS WITH IRAN, 
SUPPORTS ABBAS, SHARA TO VISIT ROME 
 
ROME 00001842  001.2 OF 002 
 
 
Classified By: AMBASSADOR RONALD SPOGLI, REASONS 1.4 B and D. 
 
SUMMARY 
 ------- 
 
¶1. (C/NF) In a wide-ranging conversation over breakfast 
August 29, the Ambassador discussed Kosovo, Iran, Hamas and 
Syria with the PM's Senior Diplomatic Advisor (National 
Security Advisor-Equivalent) Stefano Sannino.  Sannino agreed 
that a UNSCR on Kosovo was unlikely and suggested that the 
international community's response to a unilateral 
declaration of independence include a package of incentives 
to keep Serbia from responding negatively.  He assured the 
Ambassador that Italy would continue to apply faithfully 
sanctions against Iran, doubted that Russia would agree to 
additional Iran sanctions, and believed that the IAEA was 
making real progress.  Sannino said Italy clearly wanted to 
support Palestinian President Abbas, but above all wanted to 
avoid a permanent split among the Palestinian people.  He 
expressed concern that the debate between Fatah and Hamas was 
more heated than that between Hamas and Israel.  Sannino 
informed the Ambassador that Syrian Vice President Shara 
would visit Rome September 6.  The Ambassador cautioned that 
such a visit would send an unhelpful message to Damascus by 
welcoming a senior Syrian official to a major western capital 
without the GOS having taken actions to merit such a reward. 
End Summary. 
 
Kosovo - Hug the Serbs to Keep Them Still 
----------------------------------------- 
 
¶2. (C/NF) The Ambassador met PM Prodi's Senior Diplomatic 
Advisor Stefano Sannino over breakfast August 29.  Sannino 
agreed that no progress had been made on Kosovo in the 
dialogue between the parties and that a UNSC resolution was 
unlikely.  He said Italy was focused on all the non-status 
issues with an eye to improving the quality of life for 
minorities.  To prepare a response to the expected unilateral 
declaration of independence, Sannino suggested developing a 
strong package of incentives for Serbia, "smothering the 
Serbs with love" so Belgrade does not move negatively in 
response to a UDI.  He saw the main challenges in developing 
a common EU position coming from Hungary, Slovenia, Slovakia 
and Romania, and said he tells colleagues from those 
governments that they may not like the path being planned for 
Kosovo, but that the alternatives are worse and they should 
support the path to Kosovo's independence as the lesser of 
two evils.  When the Ambassador asked where FM D'Alema stood 
on Kosovo, Sannino replied that the FM was less firm on 
independence, but understood that ultimately the question 
needed a practical solution, and that a mechanism had to be 
found to move forward and confer legal legitimacy on the 
outcome. 
 
Iran - Moving in the Right Direction? 
------------------------------------- 
 
¶3. (C/NF) Turning to Iran, Sannino assured the Ambassador 
that Italy would continue to  faithfully apply required 
sanctions against Iran, but hoped that there would soon be a 
"freeze" on both sides (Iranian suspension of activity and UN 
suspension of sanctions).  Sannino doubted that Russia would 
agree to any additional Iran sanctions.  He said Italian 
information suggested that the Iranians had slowed down 
development of their nuclear program while the conversation 
with the IAEA was taking place, and that Italy hoped the IAEA 
would soon be able to conduct genuine inspections.  He 
thought we were close to reaching a more positive position 
with Iran on the nuclear issue.  The Ambassador noted U.S. 
concern that Iran would open just enough to get the IAEA in 
the door, but not enough to let the IAEA confirm an end to 
nuclear enrichment activity. 
 
Hamas - Support Abbas, Avoid Split Among Palestinians 
--------------------------------------------- -------- 
 
¶4. (C/NF) Sannino stressed that Italy wanted to support 
Palestinian President Abbas, that the GOI had taken pains to 
clarify PM Prodi's recent comments about dialogue with Hamas 
in such a way as to make this clear, and that Italy's actions 
would continue to demonstrate its support for Abbas. 
However, Italy wanted to help avoid the creation of a 
permanent split within the Palestinian population.  He was 
 
ROME 00001842  002.2 OF 002 
 
 
concerned that the debate between Hamas and Fatah was more 
heated than that between Hamas and Israel.  The Ambassador 
replied that the Palestinian people needed to decide what 
course to take.  The U.S. hoped they would choose Fatah as 
the moderate voice in the debate, and the one that is getting 
and will continue to get international support.  The 
challenge was to convert international support into broader 
support from the Palestinians themselves. 
 
Syria's Shara to Visit Rome Sept. 6 
----------------------------------- 
 
¶5. (C/NF) When Sannino informed the Ambassador that Syrian 
Vice President Farouk al-Shara would visit Rome September 6, 
the Ambassador forcefully said that such a visit would send 
Damascus the wrong message.  Sannino replied that Italy did 
not believe Syria was so far gone that it could not be 
brought in as a positive force.  The Ambassador reiterated 
that Syria needed to change its bad behavior before being 
rewarded with senior-level visits to important western 
capitals. Finally, Sannino said he and PM Prodi would visit 
Jordan September 1-2. 
SPOGLI