Wikileaks - CCCX

63148 5/8/2006 10:47 06ROME1359 Embassy Rome CONFIDENTIAL 06STATE63168 VZCZCXRO6842 PP RUEHFL RUEHMJ RUEHNP DE RUEHRO #1359 1281047 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 081047Z MAY 06 FM AMEMBASSY ROME TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 4672 INFO RUEHAD/AMEMBASSY ABU DHABI PRIORITY 0423 RUEHAK/AMEMBASSY ANKARA PRIORITY 3125 RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING PRIORITY 1215 RUEHWN/AMEMBASSY BRIDGETOWN PRIORITY 0041 RUEHBM/AMEMBASSY BUCHAREST PRIORITY 0578 RUEHMJ/AMEMBASSY MAJURO PRIORITY 0027 RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW PRIORITY 4268 RUEHZP/AMEMBASSY PANAMA CITY PM PRIORITY 0256 RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL PRIORITY 0476 RUEHFL/AMCONSUL FLORENCE PRIORITY 1366 RUEHMIL/AMCONSUL MILAN PRIORITY 7041 RUEHNP/AMCONSUL NAPLES PRIORITY 1442 RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS PRIORITY 4361 C O N F I D E N T I A L ROME 001359

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/04/2016 TAGS: PARM, PREL, KN, KNNP, MNUC, EWWT, PHSA, IT SUBJECT: ITALY CONSIDERING APPROACH TO NORTH KOREAN FLAGS OF CONVENIENCE

REF: A. STATE 63168

B. STATE 50422

Classified By: Political Minister Counselor David D. Pearce for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).

1. (C) Econoff and Poloff delivered Reftel A points and information on the Italian vessel using a North Korean flag to Federico Failla, MFA Office Director for the Far East, April 28, and urged the GOI to consider a law or regulation to make it illegal for Italian nationals and companies to use DPRK flags of convenience, per Reftel B.

2. (C) Failla was appreciative of the additional information provided and indicated that Italy was seriously looking at how to implement a new regulation or law to prohibit the use of DPRK flags. He noted that the GOI action would probably result in the adoption of a new a regulation. However, Failla cautioned that this might take some time to coordinate because Italy was in the process of transitioning to a new government. Note: Italy held elections April 9-10, in which the governing center-right coalition was defeated. A new prime minister has not yet been selected. It may be several weeks before the new government can begin to work. End note. SPOGLI