UNCLAS ROME 001322
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
BRUSSELS FOR PATRICIA LERNER
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAID, PGOV, PREL, IT, AF
SUBJECT: ITALY'S INTERIM RESPONSE: NO IMMEDIATE FUNDS FOR
2009 ELECTION COSTS IN AFGHANISTAN
REF: A. SECSTATE 57541
B. ROME 71
C. ROME 28
D. ROME 27
1. This is an action request. Please see para 4.
2. EconOff delivered reftel demarche April 14 to Maria Pia
Dradi, Afghanistan Desk Officer for MFA's Office of
Development Cooperation (ODC); and PolOff delivered reftel
demarche April 18 to Anna Della Croce, MFA's Coordinator for
Afghanistan. In a follow-up meeting April 20, Dradi informed
EconOff that Della Croce and Alessandro Modiano, ODC's Office
Director for Asia, Latin America, and the Caribbean, had
discussed the election budget shortfall, and that Modiano
would have further discussions with Guiseppe Deodato, ODC's
Director General, on this issue. Dradi noted Italy provided
the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) a total of 15
million euros to date for Afghan election support. She
thanked EconOff for bringing ODC's attention to the existing
budget shortfall, as Italy had previously been unaware that
the commission lacked the necessary funds to prepare for the
2009 elections.
3. EconOff spoke again May 2 with Dradi, who said no
decision had been reached. Dradi promised she would inform
EconOff immediately, once a decision is made. COMMENT: The
delay could be a result of Italy's recent elections and the
current flurry of activity to form a new government. Italy's
final response will be conditioned by recent severe cuts in
the GOI foreign assistance budget (Reftels B, C, D). END
COMMENT.
4. ACTION REQUEST: Italy is contending with a 27 percent
decrease in its 2006 foreign assistance budget. Our
interlocutors wonder why we are requesting information on
funding so soon before the 2009 elections. Please provide
that background and the deadline by which international
donors must make a decision on funding to ensure
Afghanistan's administration of the 2009 election is not
hampered by insufficient funds. End action request.
SPOGLI