Cable Viewer

Currently released so far... 12532 / 251,287

### Browse latest releases

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

### Browse by creation date

66 72 73 75 79 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 96 97 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10
1966/12
1972/02 1972/08
1973/04
1975/03
1979/08
1985/03 1985/06
1986/05
1987/06
1988/01
1989/12
1990/01 1990/07 1990/08 1990/10
1991/05
1992/01 1992/06 1992/12
1993/10
1996/11
1997/12
2000/05 2000/06 2000/09 2000/11
2001/02 2001/03 2001/06 2001/07 2001/09 2001/10 2001/11
2002/01 2002/02 2002/03 2002/04 2002/07 2002/08 2002/09 2002/11
2003/01 2003/02 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 Apia Embassy Ankara Embassy Amman Embassy Algiers Embassy Addis Ababa Embassy Accra Embassy Abuja Embassy Abu Dhabi Embassy Abidjan Consulate Auckland Consulate Amsterdam Consulate Adana 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 Belmopan 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 Ciudad Juarez Consulate Chennai Consulate Casablanca Consulate Cape Town Consulate Calgary
Embassy Dushanbe Embassy Dublin Embassy Doha Embassy Djibouti Embassy Dili Embassy Dhaka Embassy Dar Es Salaam Embassy Damascus Embassy Dakar Consulate Dubai
Embassy Freetown Consulate Fukuoka
Embassy Guatemala Embassy Gaborone Consulate Guayaquil Consulate Guadalajara
Embassy Helsinki Embassy Harare Embassy Hanoi Consulate Ho Chi Minh City Consulate Hermosillo Consulate Hamilton Consulate Hamburg Consulate Halifax
Iran RPO Dubai Embassy Islamabad Consulate Istanbul
Embassy Jakarta Consulate Jerusalem Consulate Jeddah
Embassy Kyiv Embassy Kuwait Embassy Kuala Lumpur Embassy Kinshasa Embassy Kingston Embassy Kigali Embassy Khartoum Embassy Kathmandu Embassy Kampala Embassy Kabul Consulate Kolkata
Embassy Luxembourg Embassy Luanda Embassy London Embassy Ljubljana Embassy Lisbon Embassy Lima Embassy Lilongwe Embassy La Paz Consulate Lahore Consulate Lagos
Mission USOSCE Mission USNATO Mission UNESCO Embassy Muscat Embassy Moscow Embassy Montevideo Embassy Monrovia Embassy Minsk Embassy Mexico Embassy Mbabane Embassy Maputo Embassy Manila Embassy Manama Embassy Managua Embassy Malabo Embassy Madrid Consulate Munich Consulate Mumbai Consulate Montreal Consulate Monterrey Consulate Milan Consulate Melbourne
Embassy Nicosia Embassy Niamey Embassy New Delhi Embassy Ndjamena Embassy Nassau Embassy Nairobi Consulate Naples Consulate Naha
Embassy Ouagadougou Embassy Ottawa Embassy Oslo
Embassy Pristina Embassy Pretoria Embassy Prague Embassy Port Of Spain Embassy Port Louis Embassy Port Au Prince Embassy Phnom Penh Embassy Paris Embassy Paramaribo Embassy Panama Consulate Peshawar
Embassy Quito Consulate Quebec
REO Basrah Embassy Rome Embassy Riyadh Embassy Riga Embassy Reykjavik Embassy Rangoon Embassy Rabat Consulate Rio De Janeiro Consulate Recife
Secretary of State Embassy Suva 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 St Petersburg Consulate Shenyang Consulate Shanghai Consulate Sapporo 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 Consulate Toronto Consulate Tijuana
USUN New York USEU Brussels US Office Almaty US Mission Geneva US Interests Section Havana US Delegation, Secretary UNVIE Embassy Ulaanbaatar
Embassy Vilnius Embassy Vienna Embassy Vatican Embassy Valletta Consulate Vladivostok Consulate Vancouver
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
ASEC AF AR ARF AG AORC APER AS AU AJ AM ABLD APCS AID APECO AMGT AFFAIRS AMED AFIN ADANA AEMR AE ADCO AA AECL AADP ACAO ANET AY APEC AORG ASEAN ABUD AINF AFSI AFSN AGR AROC AO AODE AL ACABQ AGMT AORL AX AMEX ATRN ADM AFGHANISTAN AZ ASUP AND ARM AQ ATFN AMBASSADOR ACBAQ ADPM AC ASIG ASCH AGAO ACOA AUC ASEX AIT AMCHAMS AER AVERY AGRICULTURE AMG AFU AN ALOW ASECKFRDCVISKIRFPHUMSMIGEG ACS
BA BR BU BK BEXP BO BL BM BC BT BRUSSELS BX BIDEN BTIO BG BE BD BY BBSR BB BP BN BILAT BF BH BTIU BWC BMGT
CO CH CA CS CE CASC CU CI CDG CVIS CG CWC CIDA CM CICTE CMGT COUNTER CPAS COUNTRY CJAN CBW CBSA CEUDA CD CAC CODEL CW CBE CHR CT CDC CFED COM CIS CR CKGR CVR CIA CLINTON CY COUNTERTERRORISM CITEL CLEARANCE COE CN CARICOM CB CONDOLEEZZA CACS CSW CIC CITT CONS COPUOS CL CARSON CACM CDB CROS CLMT CTR CJUS CF CTM CAN CAPC CV CBC CNARC
DR DA DK DJ DHS DPRK DEPT DEA DISENGAGEMENT DE DOMESTIC DOD DOE DS DTRA DEFENSE DO DAO DCM DEAX
ETTC EFIN ECON EAIR EG EINV ETRD ENRG EC EFIS EAGR EUN EAID ELAB ER EPET EMIN EU ECPS EN EWWT ELN EIND ELTN EINT ECA EPA ENGR ETRC EXTERNAL ELECTIONS EZ ECIN EI ENVI ETRO ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS ETRN ET EK ES EINVEFIN ERD EUR ETC ENVR EAP ENIV ECONOMY EINN EFTA ECONOMIC EXBS ECUN ENGY ECONOMICS EIAR EINDETRD EREL EUC ESENV ECONEFIN EURN EDU ETRDEINVTINTCS ECIP ENERG EFIM EAIDS EAIG ECONCS EEPET ESA EXIM ENNP ECINECONCS EFINECONCS EUREM ETRDECONWTOCS EUNCH EINVETC EINVECONSENVCSJA EUMEM ETRA ERNG
FI FR FTA FARC FJ FTAA FAC FOREIGN FBI FAO FAS FM FINR FREEDOM FOR FINANCE FOI FMLN FDA FO FISO
GV GG GM GH GOV GOI GL GT GY GAERC GA GF GR GE GZ GAZA GANGS GCC GTIP GERARD GLOBAL GTMO
HR HA HO HU HUMAN HK HILLARY HI HURI HSTC HYMPSK HUMOR HEBRON
IR IC IN IAEA IT IBRD IS ITU ILO IZ ID ICRC IPR ISRAELI IIP ICAO IMO INMARSAT IWC INTERNAL IV INDO ITPHUM ITPGOV ITALIAN IO IBET INR ICJ ICTY IRS IA INTERPOL IRAQI IEA INRB IL IMF ITRA ISLAMISTS ITALY IQ IAHRC IZPREL IRAJ IDP ILC IRC IACI IDA ITF IF ISRAEL ICTR IGAD INRA INRO IEFIN INTELSAT
JA JUS JO JM JP JOSEPH JAMES JOHNNIE JOHN
KCRM KJUS KWMN KISL KIRF KDEM KTFN KTIP KFRD KPRV KCOR KNNP KAWC KUNR KGHG KV KIPR KFLU KSTH KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KSUM KTIA KTDB KPAO KMPI KZ KMIG KBCT KSCA KN KPKO KPAL KIDE KOMC KS KOLY KU KWBG KPAONZ KNUC KHLS KMDR KE KNNPMNUC KSTC KWAC KERG KACT KSCI KHDP KDRG KVPR KICC KPRP KBIO KFLO KCFE KCIP KTLA KTEX KSEP KHIV KCSY KTRD KID KGIC KRVC KNAR KSPR KMRS KNPP KJUST KMCA KPWR KG KTER KRCM KIRC KR KSEO KNEI KTBT KCFC KSAF KSAC KCHG KAWK KGCC KPLS KREL KMFO KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KFTFN KVRP KBTR KCOM KO KLIG KDEMAF KRAD KOCI KAID KNSD KGIT KFSC KWMM KPAI KICA KHUM KREC KRIM KSEC KCMR KPIN KESS KDEV KCGC KOM KRGY KPOA KBTS KHSA KMOC KCRS KVIR KX KWWMN KPAK KWNM KWMNCS KRFD KDDG KIFR KFIN KOMS KCRCM KNUP
LE LY LI LG LH LTTE LU LO LAB LOG LA LT LABOR
MARR MU MOPS MNUC MO MASS MCAP MX MY MZ MUCN MTCRE MIL ML MEDIA MPOS MA MP MERCOSUR MG MR MI MD MK MOPPS MASC MTS MLS MILI MAR MEPN MAPP MTCR MEPI MEETINGS MW MAS MRCRE MT MCC MIK MAPS MARAD MDC MQADHAFI MTRE MV MEPP MILITARY MASSMNUC MC
NZ NL NATO NO NI NU NS NASA NAFTA NP NDP NIPP NPT NG NEW NE NSF NZUS NR NH NA NSG NC NRR NATIONAL NT NGO NSC NPA NV NK NAR NORAD NSSP NATOPREL NW NPG NSFO
OVIP OPDC OTRA OREP OAS OPRC OPIC OECD OPCW OFDP OIIP OEXC ODIP OSCE OBSP OSCI OIE OTR OMIG OSAC OFFICIALS ON OFDA OES OVP OCII OHUM OPAD OIC OCS
PREL PGOV PHUM PINR PTER PARM PREF PK PINS PMIL PA PE PHSA PM PROP PALESTINIAN PBTS PARMS POL PO PROG PL PAK POLITICS PBIO PTBS POLICY PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA PBT PTERE PRGOV PORG PP PS PGOF PKFK PSOE PEPR PPA PINT PMAR PRELP PREFA PINF PNG PFOR PUNE PDOV PGOVLO PAO PHUMBA PSEPC PCUL PNAT PREO PLN PNR POLINT PRL PGOC POGOV PU PF PY PGOVE PG PCI PINL POV PAHO PGGV PHALANAGE PARTY PHUS PDEM PECON PROV PAS PHUMPREL PGIV PRAM PHUH PSA PHUMPGOV PEL PSI PAIGH POLITICAL PARTIES POSTS
QA
RU RS RP REACTION REPORT RIGHTS RO RCMP RW RM REGION RSP RF RICE RFE RUPREL ROOD RIGHTSPOLMIL ROBERT RELATIONS RSO
SNAR SOCI SZ SENV SU SA SCUL SP SMIG SW SO SY SL SENVKGHG SR SF SYRIA SI SWE SARS SC SAN SN STEINBERG SG ST SPCE SIPDIS SYR SNARIZ SNARN SSA SHI SK SPCVIS SOFA SEVN SIPRS SNARCS SAARC SHUM SANC SEN SH SCRS
TRGY TBIO TU TS TSPA TSPL TT TPHY TK TI TERRORISM TH TIP TC TZ TNGD TW THPY TL TV TX TO TRSY TINT TN TURKEY TBID TD TF TFIN TP TAGS TR
UV UK UNGA US UY USTR UNSC UN UNHRC UP UG USUN UNEP UNESCO USPS UZ USEU UNCHR USAID UNMIK UNHCR UE UNVIE UAE UNO USOAS UNODC UNCHS UNFICYP UNIDROIT UNDESCO UNCHC UNDP UNAUS UNPUOS UNC UNCND UNICEF UNCSD UNDC USNC
VT VE VZ VTPREL VI VM VN VTIZ VAT VC VTEG
WTO WTRO WS WTRQ WI WZ WHO WWARD WBG WB WHA WITH WMD WIPO WMO WFP WHTI WEU WA
XG XT XZ XM XR XA XY XX XF XL XW XV XB XU XS XH XK XD XI XC XE XQ XTAG
YM YI YE YMCS
ZR ZB ZI ZU ZJ ZEALAND ZK ZF ZP ZN ZL ZA ZANU ZO ZOELLICK

### 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 09ROME355, ITALY READY TO HELP ON GUANTANAMO BAY DETAINEES

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. #09ROME355.

Reference ID | Created | Released | Classification | Origin
--- | --- | --- | --- | ---
09ROME355 | 2009-03-26 17:12 | 2011-04-27 11:00 | CONFIDENTIAL | Embassy Rome

`

    VZCZCXYZ0000
    OO RUEHWEB

    DE RUEHRO #0355/01 0851712
    ZNY CCCCC ZZH
    O 261712Z MAR 09
    FM AMEMBASSY ROME
    TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 1833
    INFO RUEHZG/NATO EU COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
    RUEHSW/AMEMBASSY BERN PRIORITY 1431
    RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS PRIORITY 4774

` `

    C O N F I D E N T I A L ROME 000355

    SIPDIS

    E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/26/2014
    TAGS: PGOV PREL PTER PHUM MOPS KISL IT

    SUBJECT: ITALY READY TO HELP ON GUANTANAMO BAY DETAINEES

    Classified By: CDA Elizabeth L. Dibble for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).

    Summary
    --------

    ¶1. (C) Italian Foreign Minister Frattini confirmed to S/WCI
    Ambassador Williamson March 24 that Italy is ready to help
    the United States resolve the issue of Guantanamo detainees
    through resettlement in Italy and advocacy for the U.S.
    effort within the EU. Frattini advised that there is
    opposition to resettlement by a number of European states due
    to security concerns that resettled detainees could take
    advantage of the borderless zone created by the Schengen
    Agreement. Citing his experience as a former EU Commissioner
    for Justice and Home Affairs, Frattini said these concerns
    are valid and must be addressed at a national level and by
    the EU. He said the EU framework agreement on the subject
    would need to reassure the whole that resettlement in
    selected European states would not adversely affect
    collective European security. At the national level,
    Frattini said that Italy would need to enact a law providing
    legal status for the detainees and restricting their
    movements outside of Italy, and assured Williamson that such
    a law could be adopted on a timely basis. He speculated that
    other European states that agree to accept detainees would
    need to take similar steps tailored to their respective
    national laws and regulations. Frattini expressed concern
    that the European Commissioners and EU Council officials
    charged with handling this matter lack a vision for winning
    support, and urged the United States to engage in a public
    awareness campaign in Europe, cautioning that the upcoming
    European Parliamentary elections could adversely affect
    consideration of the matter. He also said that U.S.
    agreement to resettle some detainees in America would be
    necessary to secure European agreement to accept detainees in
    Europe. On the specific issue of Italian agreement to accept
    two Tunisian detainees in U.S. custody subject to an
    outstanding arrest warrant for terrorism in Milan, a senior
    Justice Ministry official agreed to review alternatives to
    extradition. Frattini made clear Italy is on board. The
    next step will be translating Italian political support into
    concrete action at the national level.

    Presidential Priority
    ---------------------

    ¶2. (C) Williamson met March 24 with Foreign Minister
    Frattini and separately with Sergio Barbiera and Marco
    Peronaci, respectively the deputy chief of staff and
    diplomatic advisor to Justice Minister Alfano, to pursue
    Italian agreement to resettle detainees from the Guantanamo
    Bay facility, including two Tunisians in U.S. custody subject
    to an Italian arrest warrant, and to solicit Italian support
    for U.S. efforts to negotiate an EU framework agreement on
    the matter. Charge d'Affaires Liz Dibble joined the meeting
    with Frattini. Justice Department attach Don Ashley, A/DCM
    Barbara Leaf, S/WCI staffer Shaun Coughlin, and RSI officer
    Molly Phee participated in the meeting at Justice.

    ¶3. (C) Williamson explained that on his second day in office
    President Obama issued three Executive Orders related to the
    Guantanamo Bay facility, signaling the high priority he
    attaches to resolving the matter. Among other directives,
    the Orders called for the closure of the facility within one
    year, and established an interagency review process under the
    authority of the Attorney General to conduct ""fresh
    assessments"" of the files of the 241 detainees currently held
    in Guantanamo. Williamson noted the significance in the
    shift of authority for detainee status decisions from the
    Defense Department to the Justice Department.

    ¶4. (C) He explained that the review process will result in a
    final recommendation for each detainee and described three
    possible courses of action: prosecution in the United
    States; transfer to country of origin; or resettlement in
    third countries. Williamson estimated that some 50-60
    detainees cannot be transferred home because of reasonable
    fear of torture. The United States is seeking European
    assistance in resettling this latter category of persons.
    Williamson added that, in general, this population of
    detainees is considered to be at the ""lower end of the threat
    scale"" and consequently the United States would not ask
    European governments to prosecute or detain them. He noted
    that while the USG believed the risks associated with these
    individuals are very low, the United States could offer no
    absolute guarantees about their conduct. The nationalities
    of this category of detainees include Uighers, Uzbeks,
    Egyptians, Tunisians, Libyans, Syrians and others. He
    reported that 520 detainees had previously been transferred;
    all but 15 were returned to their home countries, including
    Saudi Arabia, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Algeria. He added
    that approximately 20 with European citizenship or legal
    residence status had been transferred to Spain, France,
    Germany and the UK.

    Two Tracks: Bilateral and EU
    -----------------------------

    ¶5. (C) Williamson reported that the United States is in an
    advanced state of discussions about detainee resettlement
    with Lithuania, Ireland, Portugal, and Switzerland. We are
    also engaged in serious discussions with several other states
    (including Spain, Belgium, Norway and Sweden). Concurrent
    with these bilateral discussions, we are working on a
    separate but complementary track with the EU Commission in
    pursuit of a framework agreement that would allow individual
    states to conclude bilateral agreements with the United
    States. Williamson relayed that the Czech presidency agrees
    the framework agreement should create a ""permissive EU
    environment which allows member states to work out bilateral
    agreements with the U.S. to accept detainees."" Given the
    one-year deadline for closure of the Guantanamo Bay facility,
    the United States hopes to conclude the framework agreement
    during the Czech presidency to avoid delay when the
    presidency rotates. Williamson said the U.S. was
    simultaneously pursuing bilateral
    negotiations with a number of governments, and that several
    have decided to accept detainees, but will not implement
    those decisions until an EU agreement is in place.

    Request for Italian Support
    ---------------------------

    ¶6. (C) Williamson emphasized the importance to the United
    States of Italian support for the resettlement effort given
    Italy's size and role in the EU. Referring to last month's
    telephone conversation between President Obama and Prime
    Minister Berlusconi, during which the Prime Minister
    expressed Italy's willingness to be helpful, Williamson asked
    for three types of Italian support. First, the United States
    seeks Italian agreement to accept additional Guantanamo
    detainees who need to be resettled in third countries.
    Second, the United States seeks Italian support within the EU
    for a framework agreement. Third, the United States seeks
    Italian agreement to accept two Tunisian detainees (one held
    at Guantanamo and one in Afghanistan) subject to outstanding
    arrest warrants for terrorism in Milan. Williamson conveyed
    U.S. willingness to be as helpful as possible in providing
    Italy with the information it needed to make a positive
    decision to accept detainees, including access to relevant
    documents and interviews with detainees. In response,
    Justice Official Barbiera requested a list of potential
    detainees to facilitate GOI review.

    FM Confirms Italian Support
    but Highlights Security Concerns
    --------------------------------

    ¶7. (C) Frattini assured Williamson of Italy's willingness to
    help the United States resolve this matter. Italy will agree
    to accept detainees and will support the U.S. effort in
    Brussels, but the Foreign Minister counseled that more work
    must be done with the EU and at the national level.
    Recalling his participation in the January 26 GAERC meeting
    that discussed the issue, Frattini reported his sense that
    there is a lot of opposition to resettling Guantanamo
    detainees in Europe. Citing the expansion of the borderless
    zone authorized by the Schengen Agreement, several states had
    expressed security concerns about the potential for unlimited
    movement of resettled detainees. Frattini agreed that the
    security concerns of Interior Ministers are valid and must be
    addressed. Therefore, he argued that the framework
    agreement, while providing for bilateral agreements with the
    United States, must also reassure other European states that
    resettlement will not adversely affect their security.

    ¶8. (C) Drawing on his background as a former EU Commissioner
    for Justice and Home Affairs, Frattini further speculated
    that most states that agree to resettlement will need to take
    national action to define the legal status of the detainees
    as refugees, residents or citizens. This special status
    should also entail restriction of their movements. Other
    matters that need to be addressed at a national level include
    surveillance, witness protection programs, and funding for
    these security-related activities. Frattini said that Italy
    had enacted such a law to handle resettlement of Palestinians
    associated with the 2002 siege at the Church of the Nativity,
    and asserted that Italy would need similar legislation to
    cover resettlement of Guantanamo detainees. Frattini
    explained his view that -- absent national action to
    implement restrictions on movement -- the Schengen Agreement
    would permit the detainees to move throughout the borderless
    zone. As an example, he said a former detainee resettled in
    Italy could get in a car and drive to Slovenia, a state that
    opposes resettlement. The result would be that Frattini
    would have to respond to a call of complaint from his
    Slovenian counterpart. These situations must be avoided.
    When Williamson expressed concern that a Parliamentary
    process could complicate and delay consideration of the
    matter, Frattini reassured him that Italy could employ a
    Presidential decree in a timely fashion.

    ¶9. (C) Frattini opined that the EU officials who met March
    16 in Washington with Attorney General Holder and Deputy
    Secretary Steinberg - Commissioner for Justice and Home
    Affairs Jacques Barrot, CT coordinator Gilles di Kerchove,
    and Czech Interior Minister Ivan Langer -- lacked a mandate
    to negotiate the matter and a vision on how to move forward.
    Drawing on his past experience as EU negotiator with the
    United States over PNR, Frattini criticized Barrot for
    failing to consult with the European Parliament, which he
    expects will desire to play a role, including adopting a
    resolution endorsing an EU approach to resettlement.
    Williamson reminded Frattini that the European Parliament had
    already adopted a resolution encouraging states to contribute
    to resolution of the matter.

    ¶10. (C) Frattini also recommended that the United States
    work with its European partners on an ""awareness raising
    exercise,"" warning this issue could run afoul of the
    campaign for the European Parliamentary elections in June.
    He suggested that the United States tap the European concern
    about the importance of human rights in the struggle against
    terrorism to win public support for European action on
    resettlement. Finally, he stressed that the issue of
    resettlement must be decided on the ""basis of solidarity.""
    (Comment: By solidarity, Frattini meant that to win support
    for European resettlement, the United States must also
    resettle detainees. End Comment.)

    Tunisian Detainees
    ------------------

    ¶11. (C) To date, Embassy Rome's efforts to arrange the
    transfer to Italy of two Tunisian detainees held by the
    United States (one in Guantanamo and one in Afghanistan) and
    subject to arrest warrants for terrorism in Milan have
    foundered over the mechanism of transfer. (Note: Milan
    prosecutors had approached Embassy DOJ attach to request
    assistance in arranging the transfer of the two to Italy.
    End Note.) In January, the United States proposed an
    exchange of diplomatic notes. After an initially positive
    reaction by the Justice Ministry, the Foreign Ministry became
    engaged and the Justice Ministry subsequently revised its
    position and has since argued the individuals must be
    extradited because they are not citizens of Italy.

    ¶12. (C) Williamson raised this subject in some detail in his
    meeting with senior Justice Ministry official Barbiera. In
    his talk with Barbiera, Williamson explained that none of the
    Guantanamo detainees resettled to date had been transferred
    through extradition. He reported that those detainees
    previously transferred to Spain, France, Germany and the UK
    were either citizens or legal residents. Barbiera asked if
    any of the detainees transferred to Western Europe had been
    prosecuted. Williamson said that France and Spain had
    undertaken prosecutions; Germany and the UK had not. He also
    noted that the United States had resettled eight detainees in
    Albania who had agreed to go there voluntarily, although none
    of them had ties to Albania. None of these detainees were
    prosecuted or detained. All of the transfers thus far had
    been effected through an exchange of diplomatic notes.
    Barbiera asked whether the two Tunisian detainees had
    voluntarily agreed to be transferred to Italy. Williamson
    said that in preliminary discussions with their attorneys
    they had signaled a willingness to be transferred to Italy,
    but there was no final agreement. Justice Department attach
    Ashley asked Barbiera if the GOI would agree to transfer the
    two detainees via an exchange of notes if they voluntarily
    agreed to come to Italy. Barbiera said this was an
    interesting idea but would require further legal study. He
    suggested a treaty as an option; Williamson said the United
    States would prefer to avoid the lengthy process of
    negotiating a treaty. Barbiera also asked Williamson if the
    United States would allow Italy to serve legal documents on
    the two detainees. Williamson agreed to consider the
    request. He also told Barbiera that the United States would
    not be conducting any further transfers of detainees to
    Tunisia as we have reason to believe that one detainee
    previously transferred there had been tortured.

    ¶13. (C) In conclusion, Barbiera assured Williamson the
    Justice Ministry would provide as much assistance as possible
    to resolve the matter of transfer. While this issue was not
    discussed in depth in Williamson's subsequent meeting with
    Frattini, the Foreign Minister deferred to MOJ's stance that
    Italy requires they be extradited.

    Comment
    -------

    ¶14. (C) Frattini cleared time on his schedule to meet with
    Williamson, and delivered a strong political message of
    Italian support for U.S. efforts to resolve the Guantanamo
    detainee issue. His views on actions needed at the EU and at
    a national level were couched as friendly advice. Italy will
    help, but transforming this political support into concrete
    action will require more effort. Frattini made clear that
    the security concerns of European Interior Ministers carry
    weight. This is certainly true in Italy, where the views of
    Interior Minister Maroni (a leader of the anti-immigrant
    Northern League political party) will need to be addressed.
    We believe he is correct in asserting that the government
    will not have a problem in enacting the necessary legislation
    for detainees resettled here. The specific case of the two
    Tunisian detainees subject to Italian arrest warrants remains
    problematic due to the government's request for extradition,
    but we were encouraged by the Justice Ministry's willingness
    to consider alternatives to extradition. We agree with
    Frattini that attention to public diplomacy on this matter is
    merited. Our contacts want to know why the detainees are not
    being resettled in the United States. Continued engagement
    with Frattini by senior U.S. officials will facilitate his
    advocacy for us in EU circles.

    ¶15. (U) Ambassador Williamson has cleared this cable.

    DIBBLE
    "

`