ID:246008
    Date:2010-01-28 14:27:00
    Origin:10STATE8676
    Source:Secretary of State
    Classification:SECRET//NOFORN
    Dunno:10MOSCOW1273 10ROME1409 10ROME948 10ROME97
    Destination:VZCZCXYZ0003
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHC #8676 0281434
ZNY SSSSS ZZH
R 281427Z JAN 10
FM SECSTATE WASHDC
TO RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW 6960
RUEHRO/AMEMBASSY ROME 3925

    
S E C R E T STATE 008676 
 
NOFORN 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/28/2035 
TAGS: PINR, EINV, ENRG, ETRD, PGOV, PREL, IT, RS 
SUBJECT: (C)  REQUEST FOR INFORMATION ON ITALY-RUSSIA 
RELATIONS (C-RE9-02730) 
 
REF: A. ROME 000097 
     B. ROME 000948 
     C. ROME 001409 
     D. MOSCOW 001273 
 
Classified By: ELISSA G. PITTERLE, DIRECTOR, INR/OPS 
 
 1.  (C)  WASHINGTON ANALYSTS GREATLY APPRECIATE THE 
EXCELLENT REFS ON ITALIAN-RUSSIAN RELATIONS AND WOULD 
APPRECIATE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON THIS TOPIC, AS 
POST'S TIME AND RESOURCES PERMIT. BECAUSE ITALY IS ONE OF 
RUSSIA'S STRATEGIC PARTNERS IN EUROPE, THERE IS SIGNIFICANT 
POLICYMAKER INTEREST IN ITALY'S POLICIES TOWARDS RUSSIA AND 
THE FACTORS DRIVING THOSE POLICIES. ANY INFORMATION REGARDING 
THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN HIGH-LEVEL OFFICIALS, PARTICULARLY 
THOSE BETWEEN ITALIAN PRIME MINISTER SILVIO BERLUSCONI AND 
RUSSIAN PRIME MINSTER VLADIMIR PUTIN OR RUSSIAN PRESIDENT 
DIMITRY MEDVEDEV, AND ITALIAN FOREIGN POLICY TOWARDS RUSSIA 
WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. 
 
2.  (C)  THERE IS ALSO CONTINUED POLICYMAKER INTEREST IN THE 
ITALIAN GOVERNMENT'S ECONOMIC RELATIONSHIP WITH RUSSIA, 
PARTICULARLY IN THE ENERGY SECTOR. ITALY IS AT THE FOREFRONT 
OF EUROPEAN ENERGY AND CONTINUES TO ENGAGE IN BUSINESS DEALS 
WITH GAZPROM, THE RUSSIAN ENERGY GIANT. ENI, ITALY'S 
PARTIALLY STATE-OWNED ENERGY CONGLOMERATE, IS GAZPROM'S 
LARGEST PARTNER IN ITS EFFORTS TO STREAMLINE THE SOUTH STREAM 
PIPELINE, AND WE ARE VERY INTERESTED IN HOW THE TWO COMPANIES 
ARE OPERATING TOGETHER. U.S. POLICYMAKERS ALSO REMAIN 
INTERESTED IN ITALY'S MOVEMENT TOWARDS ENERGY DIVERSIFICATION 
AND THE RESTART OF ITS NUCLEAR PROGRAM. ANALYSTS WELCOME ANY 
AVAILABLE INFORMATION ON THESE TOPICS, AS TIME AND RESOURCES 
PERMIT. 
 
A.  (U)  FOREIGN AND ECONOMIC POLICY: 
 
1)  (C)  PLEASE PROVIDE ANY INFORMATION ON THE PERSONAL 
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN RUSSIAN PM VLADIMIR PUTIN AND ITALIAN PM 
SILVIO BERLUSCONI. WHAT PERSONAL INVESTMENTS, IF ANY, DO THEY 
HAVE THAT MIGHT DRIVE THEIR FOREIGN OR ECONOMIC POLICIES? 
 
2)  (C)  WHAT FACTORS ARE DRIVING ITALY'S FOREIGN POLICY WITH 
RUSSIA? 
 
3)  (C)  HOW DO ITALIAN LEADERS VIEW U.S. FOREIGN POLICY 
TOWARDS RUSSIA. HAVE ITALIAN POLITICAL OR BUSINESS LEADERS 
INFLUENCED RUSSIAN POLICY AGAINST U.S. INTERESTS, AND IF SO, 
HOW? 
 
B.  (U)  ENERGY POLICY: 
 
1)  (C)  WHAT ARE ITALIAN GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS' AND ENI 
OFFICIALS' VIEWS ON ITALY'S ENERGY RELATIONSHIP WITH RUSSIA 
AND THE SOUTH STREAM PROJECT? WHERE DOES ITALIAN ENERGY 
POLICY CONVERGE WITH RUSSIAN ENERGY POLICY, ESPECIALLY 
REGARDING LIBYA AND THE BALKANS? 
 
2)  (C)  PLEASE PROVIDE ANY INFORMATION ON THE RELATIONSHIP 
BETWEEN ENI EXECUTIVES, INCLUDING CEO SCARONI, AND ITALIAN 
GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS, ESPECIALLY PM BERLUSCONI AND THE 
MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS. 
 
3)  (C)  PLEASE PROVIDE EXAMPLES, IF POSSIBLE, OF ANY 
INSTANCES WHERE THE ITALIAN GOVERNMENT MADE DECISIONS TO 
BENEFIT ITALIAN BUSINESS OR COMMERCIAL INTERESTS AT THE 
EXPENSE OF POLITICAL CONCERNS ABOUT ENERGY POLICY. 
 
3.  (U)  PLEASE CITE C-RE9-02730 IN THE SUBJECT LINE OF 
REPORTING IN RESPONSE TO THE ABOVE QUESTIONS. 
CLINTON