Cable Viewer

Currently released so far... 5529 / 251,287

### Articles

Brazil Sri Lanka United Kingdom Sweden Editorial United States Latin America Egypt Yemen Jordan

### Browse latest releases

2010/11 2010/12 2011/01 2011/02 2011/03
2010/11/28 2010/11/29 2010/11/30
2010/12/01 2010/12/02 2010/12/03 2010/12/04 2010/12/05 2010/12/06 2010/12/07 2010/12/08 2010/12/09 2010/12/10 2010/12/11 2010/12/12 2010/12/13 2010/12/14 2010/12/15 2010/12/16 2010/12/17 2010/12/18 2010/12/19 2010/12/20 2010/12/21 2010/12/22 2010/12/23 2010/12/24 2010/12/25 2010/12/26 2010/12/27 2010/12/28 2010/12/29 2010/12/30
2011/01/01 2011/01/02 2011/01/04 2011/01/05 2011/01/07 2011/01/09 2011/01/10 2011/01/11 2011/01/12 2011/01/13 2011/01/14 2011/01/15 2011/01/16 2011/01/17 2011/01/18 2011/01/19 2011/01/20 2011/01/21 2011/01/22 2011/01/23 2011/01/24 2011/01/25 2011/01/26 2011/01/27 2011/01/28 2011/01/29 2011/01/30 2011/01/31
2011/02/01 2011/02/02 2011/02/03 2011/02/04 2011/02/05 2011/02/06 2011/02/07 2011/02/08 2011/02/09 2011/02/10 2011/02/11 2011/02/12 2011/02/13 2011/02/14 2011/02/15 2011/02/16 2011/02/17 2011/02/18 2011/02/19 2011/02/20 2011/02/21 2011/02/22 2011/02/23 2011/02/24 2011/02/25 2011/02/26 2011/02/27 2011/02/28
2011/03/01 2011/03/02 2011/03/03 2011/03/04 2011/03/05 2011/03/06 2011/03/07 2011/03/08 2011/03/09 2011/03/10 2011/03/11 2011/03/13 2011/03/14 2011/03/15

### Browse by creation date

66 72 73 75 79 86 88 89 90 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10
1966/12
1972/02 1972/08
1973/04
1975/03
1979/08
1986/05
1988/01
1989/12
1990/01 1990/07 1990/08 1990/10
2000/06 2000/09 2000/11
2001/02 2001/03 2001/07 2001/10
2002/02 2002/03 2002/11
2003/03 2003/04 2003/05 2003/06 2003/07 2003/08 2003/09 2003/10 2003/11 2003/12
2004/01 2004/02 2004/03 2004/04 2004/05 2004/06 2004/07 2004/08 2004/09 2004/10 2004/11 2004/12
2005/01 2005/02 2005/03 2005/04 2005/05 2005/06 2005/07 2005/08 2005/09 2005/10 2005/11 2005/12
2006/01 2006/02 2006/03 2006/04 2006/05 2006/06 2006/07 2006/08 2006/09 2006/10 2006/11 2006/12
2007/01 2007/02 2007/03 2007/04 2007/05 2007/06 2007/07 2007/08 2007/09 2007/10 2007/11 2007/12
2008/01 2008/02 2008/03 2008/04 2008/05 2008/06 2008/07 2008/08 2008/09 2008/10 2008/11 2008/12
2009/01 2009/02 2009/03 2009/04 2009/05 2009/06 2009/07 2009/08 2009/09 2009/10 2009/11 2009/12
2010/01 2010/02

### Browse by origin

A B C D F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z
Embassy Athens Embassy Asuncion Embassy Astana Embassy Asmara Embassy Ashgabat Embassy Ankara Embassy Amman Embassy Algiers Embassy Addis Ababa Embassy Accra Embassy Abuja Embassy Abu Dhabi Embassy Abidjan Consulate Amsterdam American Institute Taiwan, Taipei
Embassy Bujumbura Embassy Buenos Aires Embassy Budapest Embassy Bucharest Embassy Brussels Embassy Bridgetown Embassy Bratislava Embassy Brasilia Embassy Bogota Embassy Bishkek Embassy Bern Embassy Berlin Embassy Belgrade Embassy Beirut Embassy Beijing Embassy Banjul Embassy Bangkok Embassy Bandar Seri Begawan Embassy Bamako Embassy Baku Embassy Baghdad Consulate Barcelona
Embassy Copenhagen Embassy Conakry Embassy Colombo Embassy Chisinau Embassy Caracas Embassy Canberra Embassy Cairo Consulate Curacao Consulate Casablanca Consulate Cape Town
Embassy Dushanbe Embassy Dublin Embassy Doha Embassy Djibouti Embassy Dhaka Embassy Dar Es Salaam Embassy Damascus Embassy Dakar Consulate Dubai
Embassy Freetown
Embassy Guatemala Embassy Gaborone Consulate Guadalajara
Embassy Helsinki Embassy Harare Embassy Hanoi Consulate Hermosillo Consulate Hamburg
Iran RPO Dubai Embassy Islamabad Consulate Istanbul
Embassy Jakarta Consulate Jerusalem Consulate Jeddah
Embassy Kyiv Embassy Kuwait Embassy Kuala Lumpur Embassy Kinshasa Embassy Kigali Embassy Khartoum Embassy Kathmandu Embassy Kampala Embassy Kabul
Embassy Luxembourg Embassy Luanda Embassy London Embassy Ljubljana Embassy Lisbon Embassy Lima Embassy Lilongwe Embassy La Paz Consulate Lagos
Mission USNATO Embassy Muscat Embassy Moscow Embassy Montevideo Embassy Monrovia Embassy Minsk Embassy Mexico Embassy Mbabane Embassy Maputo Embassy Manama Embassy Managua Embassy Malabo Embassy Madrid Consulate Munich Consulate Montreal Consulate Monterrey Consulate Milan
Embassy New Delhi Embassy Nassau Embassy Nairobi Consulate Naples
Embassy Ouagadougou Embassy Ottawa Embassy Oslo
Embassy Pristina Embassy Pretoria Embassy Prague Embassy Port Au Prince Embassy Phnom Penh Embassy Paris Embassy Paramaribo Embassy Panama Consulate Peshawar
Embassy Quito
REO Basrah Embassy Rome Embassy Riyadh Embassy Riga Embassy Reykjavik Embassy Rangoon Embassy Rabat Consulate Rio De Janeiro Consulate Recife
Secretary of State Embassy Stockholm Embassy Sofia Embassy Skopje Embassy Singapore Embassy Seoul Embassy Sarajevo Embassy Santo Domingo Embassy Santiago Embassy Sanaa Embassy San Salvador Embassy San Jose Consulate Strasbourg Consulate Shenyang Consulate Shanghai Consulate Sao Paulo
Embassy Tunis Embassy Tripoli Embassy Tokyo Embassy The Hague Embassy Tel Aviv Embassy Tehran Embassy Tegucigalpa Embassy Tbilisi Embassy Tashkent Embassy Tallinn
USUN New York USEU Brussels US Mission Geneva US Interests Section Havana US Delegation, Secretary UNVIE Embassy Ulaanbaatar
Embassy Vilnius Embassy Vienna Embassy Vatican Consulate Vladivostok
Embassy Windhoek Embassy Wellington Embassy Warsaw
Embassy Yerevan Embassy Yaounde
Embassy Zagreb

### Browse by tag

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
AF AJ AU AG AE ASEC AS AM AR AMGT AORC AFIN APER ABUD ATRN AL AEMR ACOA AO AX AMED ADCO AODE AFFAIRS AC ASIG ABLD AA AFU ASUP AROC ATFN AVERY APCS AER ASECKFRDCVISKIRFPHUMSMIGEG AEC APECO AGMT
BE BR BA BL BEXP BTIO BM BK BRUSSELS BX BU BO BH BIDEN BY BG BF BB BC BBSR BMGT BTIU BILAT
CH CA CD CV CVIS CMGT CO CI CU CASC CBW CLINTON CE CJAN CIA CG CF CN CS CAN COUNTER CDG CIS CM CONDOLEEZZA COE CR CY CTM COUNTRY CLEARANCE CPAS CWC CT CKGR CB CACS COM CJUS CARSON CL CODEL COUNTERTERRORISM CACM CDB
DR DA DHS DOE DEA DK DJ DISENGAGEMENT DS DTRA DOD DEAX
ECON EFIN ELAB EU ETRD ENRG EPET EG EAGR EAID ETTC EINV EIND EUN EAIR ER ECIN ECPS EFIS EI EINT EZ EMIN ET EC ECONEFIN ENVR ES ECA ELN EN EFTA EWWT ELTN EXTERNAL EINVETC ENIV EINN ENGR EUR ESA ENERG EK ENGY ETRO ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS ETRDEINVTINTCS ESENV ENVI ELECTIONS ECUN EINVEFIN ECIP EINDETRD EUC EREL
FR FINR FAO FTAA FREEDOM FI FARC FBI FJ FMLN
GA GG GM GV GH GE GT GR GTIP GOI GCC GAZA GZ GANGS GTMO
HU HR HILLARY HA HUMAN HO HYMPSK HURI HK HSTC
IR IS IZ INTERPOL IPR IN IT INRB IAEA IRAJ INRA INRO IO IC ID IIP ITPHUM IV IWC IQ ICTY ISRAELI IRAQI ICRC ICAO IMO IF ILC IEFIN INTELSAT IL IA IBRD IMF INR IRC ITALY ITALIAN
JO JA JOSEPH JP JOHNNIE JUS JAMES
KCOR KN KS KDEM KNNP KSPR KPAL KJUS KFRD KCRM KTIP KZ KPAO KTFN KIPR KPKO KSCA KISL KNUC KMDR KGHG KPLS KE KOLY KWBG KUNR KDRG KAWK KIRF KIRC KU KBIO KHLS KG KACT KGIC KRAD KCOM KMCA KV KHDP KVPR KDEV KWMN KMPI KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KOMC KTLA KCFC KTIA KHIV KPRP KAWC KCIP KCFE KOCI KTDB KMRS KLIG KBCT KICC KGIT KSTC KPAK KNEI KSEP KPOA KFLU KNUP KNNPMNUC KO KTER KSUM KHUM KRFD KBTR KDDG KWWMN KFLO KSAF KBTS KPRV KNPP KNAR KWMM KERG KFIN KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KTBT KCRS KRVC KSTH KREL KNSD KTEX KPAI KHSA KWAC KR KPWR KMIG KSEC KIFR KDEMAF KGCC KPIN
LE LH LY LU LG LI LO LOG LT
MARR MO MOPS MASS MNUC ML MR MZ MCAP MPOS MOPPS MTCRE MX MTCR MAPP MU MY MA MG MASC MCC MEPP MK MTRE MP MIL MDC MAR MEPI MRCRE MI MT MQADHAFI MD MAPS MUCN MASSMNUC MERCOSUR MC
NG NATO NL NI NU NIPP NO NPT NE NS NAR NZ NPG NK NSG NA NT NASA NGO NP NSF NATIONAL
ODIP OIIP OREP OVIP OEXC OPRC OFDP OPDC OECD OTRA OSCE OAS OPIC OPCW OSCI OIE OIC OTR OVP OFFICIALS OSAC
PREL PGOV PTER PINR PSOE PHUM PBTS PARM PK PREF PINS PL PHSA PE PKFK PO PGOF PROP PA PARMS PORG PM PMIL PTERE POL PF PALESTINIAN PY PGGV PNR POV PAK PAO PFOR PHALANAGE PARTY PRGOV PNAT PROV PEL PINF PGOVE POLINT PRL PRAM PMAR PGOVLO PHUMBA PHUS PHUMPREL PG POLITICS PEPR PSI PINT PU POLITICAL PARTIES PBIO PECON POGOV PINL
QA
RW RS RU RP RO RIGHTS RICE ROBERT RF RFE REGION
SP SOCI SENV SNAR SL SW SY SG SU SA SMIG SCUL SO SF SR SZ SN SHUM SYR ST SANC SC SAN SIPRS SK SH SI SNARCS STEINBERG
TU TS TBIO TH TX TRGY TSPA TC TI TIP TR TT TW TERRORISM TO TFIN TD TSPL TZ TPHY TK TNGD TINT TRSY TP
UV US UK UP UN UNSC UNGA USEU UG USUN UY UZ UNO UNMIK UNESCO UE UAE UNEP USTR UNHCR UNDP UNHRC USAID UNCHS UNAUS UNCHC
VT VE VZ VM VTPREL VN
WTRO WA WI WZ WMO WTRQ WHO WWARD WB WBG WEU WHA WTO
XA XF XT XM XY XG XC XH XK XL XZ XW XR XD XE XS
YM YI YE
ZB ZI ZP ZK ZF ZANU ZOELLICK ZR ZU ZA ZO ZJ

### Browse by classification

CONFIDENTIAL CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN SECRET SECRET//NOFORN UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY

### Community resources

Follow us on Twitter Check our Reddit Twitter this Digg this page Contact us on IRC

courage is contagious

### Viewing cable 05ROME3585, SCENESETTER FOR PM BERLUSCONI'S OCTOBER 31 MEETING

If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs
Understanding cables
Every cable message consists of three parts:

- The top box shows each cables unique reference number, when and by whom it originally was sent, and what its initial classification was.
- The middle box contains the header information that is associated with the cable. It includes information about the receiver(s) as well as a general subject.
- The bottom box presents the body of the cable. The opening can contain a more specific subject, references to other cables (browse by origin to find them) or additional comment. This is followed by the main contents of the cable: a summary, a collection of specific topics and a comment section.

To understand the justification used for the classification of each cable, please use this WikiSource article as reference.
Discussing cables
If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol). Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #05ROME3585.

Reference ID | Created | Released | Classification | Origin
--- | --- | --- | --- | ---
05ROME3585 | 2005-10-26 10:10 | 2010-12-02 13:01 | CONFIDENTIAL | Embassy Rome

`

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

` `

    C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 ROME 003585

    SIPDIS

    E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/26/2015
    TAGS: PREL PGOV CVIS IT ITALY NATIONAL ELECTIONS ITALIAN POLITICS IRAQI FREEDOM
    SUBJECT: SCENESETTER FOR PM BERLUSCONI'S OCTOBER 31 MEETING
    WITH THE PRESIDENT

    Classified By: Ambassador Spogli, for reasons 1.4 (b)(d).

    ¶1. (C) Summary. PM Berlusconi specifically requested this
    meeting, and a spring address to a joint session of Congress,
    to bolster his prospects in Italy's April elections. Behind
    in the polls and facing his toughest campaign, Berlusconi
    will juxtapose his proactive and pro-U.S.foreign policy with
    that of his likely center-left opponent, Romano Prodi, who
    prefers to follow an EU foreign policy lead and has called
    for a timetable to withdraw Italian troops from Iraq. GOI
    officials are concerned about a potential terrorist attack,
    either during the Turin Winter Olympics or the spring
    elections.

    ¶2. (C) Berlusconi will seek: (a) presidential statements of
    support on shared values; (b) support for extending in 2005
    the UN mandate on Iraq; (c) tangible progress on a plan to
    enhance Iraqi security capabilities and allow a coordinated
    drawdown of Italian forces; and (d) the President's possible
    intervention to waive or delay new passport requirements for
    continued Italian participation in the Visa Waiver Program.
    We should: (a) offer appropriate praise for Italy's foreign
    policy support without jeopardizing our relationship with
    Prodi; and (b) engage Berlusconi on Russia and Iran. End
    Summary

    Italian Elections
    -----------------

    ¶3. (C) PM Silvio Berlusconi prides himself on his warm
    relationship with the President and has carefully planned
    this meeting and a spring address to a joint session of
    Congress (he meets Speaker Hastert before going to the White
    House) to bolster his prospects in Italy's national
    elections, tentatively scheduled for April 9. Berlusconi's
    center-right coalition is down eight points in the polls,
    undermined by internal leadership spats and continued
    economic stagnation. The center-left also is plagued by
    internal disputes but former European Commission President
    Romano Prodi just won a triumphant electoral victory in the
    primaries. Pending electoral law changes may slightly
    increase the odds for the center-right, and it is too early
    to deal Berlusconi out. However, most political observers
    predict Prodi's center-left coalition will win in April.

    Iraq: Seeking a Way Forward
    ---------------------------

    ¶4. (C) We expect Berlusconi will juxtapose his proactive,
    pro-U.S. foreign policy with that of Prodi, who prefers to
    follow an EU foreign policy lead and has publicly called for
    a timetable to withdraw Italian troops from Iraq. Berlusconi
    has remained adamant that Italian troops will stay in Iraq
    until the security situation warrants, and the Iraqi
    government requests, a drawdown of Italian troops. The
    center-right has already accused Prodi of encouraging
    terrorist attacks on Italy through reckless calls for
    withdrawal. However, Italian public opinion remains
    overwhelmingly opposed to the war in Iraq and Berlusconi will
    be under increasing pressure to make public statements about
    plans to withdraw troops. He will be reassured by
    commitments of continued high-level consultations but would
    better appreciate progress in enhancing Iraqi security
    capabilities in a way that allows measured Italian drawdowns
    by April. Italy is also seeking an extension of the UN Iraq
    mandate by the end of the year; the Italian presence is
    premised on the UN mandate, and Parliament will vote in
    January on the next six-months of funding for thier troops.
    Italy also feels that the mandate extension should
    specifically reference political progress in Iraq.

    ¶5. (C) We can and will work with a Prodi-led government
    should the center-left win next year. Despite Prodi's calls
    for a withdrawal timetable, other elements of his center-left
    coalition have assured us that Italy will not make any
    dramatic Zapatero-style actions and will coordinate changes
    in troop levels with both us and the Iraqi government. Prodi
    himself has hinted at a compromise formula involving
    continued Italian involvement in Iraq for reconstruction
    initiatives.

    Strongest Ally in Continental Europe
    ------------------------------------

    ¶6. (C) Berlusconi will be seeking Presidential statements
    of support on shared values for our freedom agenda and praise
    for Italy's substantial commitment of resources overseas. In
    addition to being the third largest contributor of troops to
    MFN-I, Italy also funds reconstruction and justice projects
    in Iraq, leads ISAF, a PRT and a justice initiative in
    Afghanistan, just took over KFOR command, pledged $3 million
    to the UN Fund for Democracy, indicated it will fund the new
    Foundation for the Future, co-hosts Democracy Assistance
    Dialogue initiatives with Turkey and Yemen, and provided
    earthquake and hurricane relief for Pakistan and New Orleans.
    We want to provide appropriate praise without jeopardizing a
    potential future relationship with a center-left government.

    Budget Woes
    -----------
    ¶7. (C) High public debt, rising social welfare costs and a
    stagnant economy are limiting Berlusconi's ability to
    maneuver in the face of growing domestic economic discontent.
    Pocketbook issues will drive the campaign and be
    Berlusconi's biggest challenge, although Prodi has yet to
    offer any credible alternative economic policy. The draft
    budget now being debated by the Italian Parliament must be
    approved by the end of the year, and it appears it will
    include painful cuts in many sectors. This includes
    potentially dramatic (to about .85% of GDP) cuts in the
    defense budget and a 20% reduction in the overseas deployment
    budget that could undermined Italy's ability to sustain its
    overseas commitments.

    Terrorist Threat Looms Large
    ----------------------------

    ¶8. (C) Following the London bombings, the GOI approved a
    strong anti-terrorism law and began a crackdown of arrests
    and deportations of illegal immigrants and suspected
    terrorists. However, Italy continues to be targeted in
    fundamentalist websites, and many Italian officials expect
    Italy will be attacked in the near future. They are worried
    specifically about a potential attack during either the
    February Turin Olympics or the spring elections. We continue
    to work closely with the GOI on security preparations and
    intelligence sharing for the Olympics as well as on
    increasing readiness for possible attacks on USG facilities
    or London/Madrid scenarios.

    UN Reform/Iran/Russia/Balkans
    -----------------------------

    ¶9. (C) Berlusconi is likely to thank you for U.S. support
    in opposing the G-4 plan for UNSC reform; while Italy's
    specific concern is blocking Germany from obtaining a seat,
    they support our view that any changes to the Security
    Council should be based on a wide consensus of support within
    the UN. As Iran's largest European trading partner, Italy
    remains concerned that it has been excluded from the EU-3
    negotiations and complains that the EU-3 has not sufficiently
    consulted other EU member states. Italy shares our concern
    about proliferation and supports moving the issue to the
    UNSC. Overall, however, Italy favors engagement over
    confrontation and will be concerned about the economic losses
    associated with potential sanctions. Berlusconi and Putin
    remain good friends, and Berlusconi continues to insist he
    has delivered our messages of concern about Putin's
    increasingly anti-democratic actions. Another nudge from the
    President would strengthen our message. Italy remains fully
    engaged on the Balkans and supports a continued international
    presence in Bosnia and Kosovo until there is international
    consensus that both entities have made sufficient progress on
    democratic reforms. The candidacy of Amb. Laura Mirachian
    for the post of the High Representative in Bosnia is of key
    interest to the Italians. They have lobbied strongly for USG
    support, arguing that Italy's high military profile deserves
    an equally strong policy voice. Department and Embassy
    officers who have met with Mirachian believe she shares our
    outlook for the future of the region. While she has not
    received official USG support at this point, the USG does not
    want to be seen as opposing her candidacy, since she could
    emerge as the front-runner.

    Visa Waiver Program
    -------------------

    ¶10. (SBU) DHS has confirmed that there will be no blanket
    waiver, no official policy favoring parole, and no exceptions
    to the October 26, 2005 requirement for digitized photos in
    passports for any beneficiary of the Visa Waiver Program
    (VWP). The GOI plans to issue machine readable passports
    with digitized photographs in five Italian Prefectures: Rome,
    Milan, Naples, Palermo and Cagliari, with the possibility of
    successive extension to other Prefectures. Italians who
    obtain passports after October 26 from Prefectures other than
    these five offices, or who obtain passports from an Italian
    Consulate abroad, will require a U.S. visa. U.S. consular
    sections in Italy are working with airlines and travel
    agencies to ensure that Italian passengers caught unaware of
    the change in visa requirements are directed to the closest
    Embassy or Consulate for expeditious visa processing.

    ¶11. (C) President Ciampi, FM Fini and senior aides to PM
    Berlusconi have all raised the VWP issue with the Ambassador,
    insisting that the new requirements will be a major
    embarrassment to Berlusconi just when he is trying to use his
    U.S. connections to improve his election prospects.
    Berlusconi may ask the President to intervene to fix the
    problem, arguing that Italy is a staunch partner in the war
    on terror and is in the process of implementing previously
    announced U.S. requirements for biometric passports.
    SPOGLI

`