VZCZCXRO2646
PP RUEHFL RUEHNP
DE RUEHRO #0571 0811543
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 221543Z MAR 07
FM AMEMBASSY ROME
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7471
INFO RUEHLB/AMEMBASSY BEIRUT PRIORITY 0277
RUEHRL/AMEMBASSY BERLIN PRIORITY 1739
RUEHDM/AMEMBASSY DAMASCUS PRIORITY 0649
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON PRIORITY 1358
RUEHMD/AMEMBASSY MADRID PRIORITY 1799
RUEHFL/AMCONSUL FLORENCE PRIORITY 2262
RUEHMIL/AMCONSUL MILAN PRIORITY 8489
RUEHNP/AMCONSUL NAPLES PRIORITY 2409
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 0727

C O N F I D E N T I A L ROME 000571 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/23/2007 
TAGS: PARM PREL PTER UNSC LBAR IR IT
SUBJECT: ITALY IN FAVOR OF LEBANON CONTACT GROUP 
 
REF: SECSTATE 36202 
 
Classified By: Acting POL M/C Jonathan Cohen for reasons 1.4 b and d 
 
¶1.  (C) Poloff delivered reftel points to MFA Near East 
Office Director Luciano Pezzotti March 22.  Pezzotti 
appreciated the follow-up to NEA DAS Danin's February 23 
visit and his suggestion to increase intelligence sharing 
through diplomatic channels and agreed that evidence of 
continued weapons smuggling into Lebanon was disturbing.  On 
additional UNSC action to enforce the arms embargo, Pezzotti 
said Italy is supportive in principle but suggests the matter 
first be discussed at the working level, perhaps in the 
proposed contact group.  Pezzotti noted Italy supports 
creation of a contact group as evidenced by FM D'Alema's 
statements to Secretary Rice in their March 19 meeting. 
Pezzotti said D'Alema had cautioned against bringing 
intelligence on Syrian arms smuggling directly to the UNSC 
before the involved parties have agreed on the appropriate 
next steps. 
 
¶2.  (C) Pezzotti asked at what level we envisage the Lebanon 
contact group meet, where we think the group meeting, at what 
venue, in what time frame, and with what countries.  Poloff 
shared that we were currently talking to France, Italy, 
Germany and the UK and that we would like to see a meeting at 
the "working level" soon.  Pezzotti shared that the next 
informal meeting of the "EU quint" (France, Germany, Italy, 
Spain , UK) Mid-East DG's was scheduled for March 23 in Paris. 
SPOGLI