VZCZCXYZ0000
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHRO #0618/01 1491024
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 291024Z MAY 09
FM AMEMBASSY ROME
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 2151

UNCLAS ROME 000618 
 
 
SENSITIVE, SIPDIS 
 
STATE PLEASE PASS TO DORIS HAYWOOD, EEB/TRA/OTP, AND 
JEFFERY FREDERICK, PM/ISO 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ASEC IT KHLS KOMC MARR PARM PHSA PREL EWWI
SUBJECT: ITALIAN DEMARCHE RESPONSE ON SRMS/SECURITY TEAMS 
ABOARD MERCHANT VESSELS 
 
REF: STATE 45331 
 
¶1. (SBU) Post delivered the demarche on Arms/Security Teams 
aboard Merchant Vessels to Massimo Marotti, the NATO director 
at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.  Below are the answers 
provided by Mr. Marotti.  He stressed, however, that this 
information should be considered to be preliminary and not 
definitive.  For a definitive response, Marotti said he would 
need to gather people from a number of GOI agencies to study 
the issue, and that to do this he would need an official USG 
request in writing. Please notify Post if additional 
information is necessary. 
The point of contact at post for this issue is Allyson Algeo, 
algeoa@state.gov. 
 
¶2. (SBU) Question 1.  If a vessel were to employ an armed 
security team on board to prevent pirate attacks, or if the 
crew were to have arms, would there be any restrictions or 
special procedures for a vessel entering or departing the 
port with weapons onboard? 
 
Response:  There would definitely be restrictions and special 
procedures.  Absent a general, overarching agreement this 
would have to be handled/approved on a case-by-case basis. 
For example, there are circumstances under which regulations 
allow cruise ships to have armed personnel aboard, but this 
is governed by regulations.  In addition, the arms must 
remain on the ship.  An unregulated armed presence would not 
be permitted. 
 
¶3. (SBU)  Question 2.  If a vessel armed security team or 
vessel crew members were to enter the country with weapons 
via air carrier or other transportation mode in order to 
board an outbound ship, would there be any restrictions or 
special procedures? 
 
Response:  There would certainly be special procedures, and 
these would depend on many facts -- the size of the team, the 
type of weapons, the country in which the transportation 
originated, the licensing of the team. Marotti said he would 
need more specific parameters to give more information.  The 
answer to this question could also differ depending on the 
area of the country in which the team was traveling and the 
mode of transport. 
 
¶4. (SBU) Question 3. Are the answers to questions (1) and (2) 
different if the security team is governmental or private? 
What if the armed personnel are vessel crew members? 
 
Response:  Liability issues would likely differ if the team 
were governmental or private. 
 
¶5. (SBU) Question 4.  Do your answers to these questions vary 
on whether the government security team is military or 
civilian? 
 
Response:  The Ministry of Defense would likely have a say in 
the matter if the team were military, and then the "presence 
ceiling" could come into play.  It would likely be easier 
with a civilian law enforcement or security team, rather than 
a military team.  Procedures could also differ if the team 
needed to overnight in country, rather than proceed from one 
mode of transport to another. 
 
¶6. (SBU)  Question 5.  What about anyone (pirate suspects) 
detained by such crews or armed security teams in territorial 
waters?  What would national law dictate regarding 
disposition of said persons? 
 
Response:  Mr. Marotti believes there are already Interpol 
rules and other regulations governing the transport/transit 
of detainees that would be used in this situation, though he 
is not certain of the specifics.  The local authorities would 
also likely have to be notified and be given assurances that 
the detainee was being held according to the standards of 
Italian prisons, that the level of care was adequate, that 
there was a provision for medical care, etc. 
 
It is also possible that local judges would have the power to 
investigate the situation to ensure there was no danger to 
public health or safety, to ensure no human rights were 
violated and that there was no human trafficking. 
 
¶7. (SBU) Question 6.  Which agencies within your government 
are responsible for such issues? 
 
Response:  The Ministry of the Interior, the Ministry of 
Justice, the Ministry of Defense, Port Authorities, the 
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, possibly the Coast Guard, 
Prefects (officials appointed by the central government to 
 
the provinces and having responsibility for public safety), 
as well as other provincial or local authorities might all 
have some level of jurisdiction. 
 
¶8. (SBU) Finally, given all of the variables and complicating 
factors, Marotti said that a government-to-government 
agreement specifically regarding this situation might be 
necessary. 
DIBBLE