SUDAN CEASEFIRE: ITALY CANNOT CONTRIBUTE TO

C O N F I D E N T I A L ROME 002217 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/07/2012 TAGS: PREL MOPS SU IT UN SUBJECT: SUDAN CEASEFIRE: ITALY CANNOT CONTRIBUTE TO NON-UN ENTITY REF: A. SECSTATE 78414 ¶B. ROME 1586 CLASSIFIED BY: POLMINCOUNS TOM COUNTRYMAN FOR REASONS 1.5(B) AND (D) CONFIDENTIAL PAGE 02 ROME 02217 071445Z ¶1. (C) POLOFF MET WITH PAOLA IMPERIALE, MFA OFFICE DIRECTOR FOR EAST AFRICAN AFFAIRS, ON MAY 2 AT THE MFA. IMPERIALE HAD REQUESTED THE MEETING BECAUSE SHE DID NOT WANT TO DISCUSS BY TELEPHONE THE GOI'S ISSUES WITH FUNDING THE INTERNATIONAL MONITORING UNIT FOR THE NUBA MOUNTAINS CEASE-FIRE. ¶2. (C) AT THE PRESENT TIME, IMPERIALE SAID, THE GOI IS UNABLE TO CONTRIBUTE FINANCIALLY TO THE IMU. SHE HAD MADE EVERY EFFORT TO SECURE FUNDS, BUT THE AUDITING BOARD (GAO EQUIVALENT) HAD CALLED IT IMPOSSIBLE. APPARENTLY, ITALIAN LAW DOES NOT ALLOW FUNDS FOR PEACEKEEPING TO BE DISBURSED EXCEPT TO AN ORGAN OF THE UNITED NATIONS. ¶3. (C) IMPERIALE HAD DISCUSSED THIS PROBLEM WITH GEN. WILHELMSEN AT THE IGAD PARTNERS' FORUM MEETINGS IN ROME APRIL 11-12. HE SAID THAT GERMANY FACED A SIMILAR CONSTRAINT. THEY DISCUSSED THE POSSIBILITY OF UNDP'S SETTING UP A FUND TO RECEIVE THE MONIES. ¶4. (C) WILHELMSEN HAD REQUESTED THAT THE GOI PROVIDE A POLICEMAN FOR THE MISSION. IMPERIALE HAD PURSUED THIS AND IS WAITING FOR THE CHIEF OF POLICE'S RESPONSE. THE FUNDING PROHIBITION DOES NOT APPLY TO PERSONNEL. ¶5. (C) IMPERIALE WAS UNABLE TO QUANTIFY THE SUPPORT THAT THE GOI MIGHT PROVIDE IF A UN FUND WERE ESTABLISHED BUT INDICATED A WILLINGNESS TO PRODUCE AN ESTIMATE. POLOFF WILL FOLLOW UP. SEMBLER CONFIDENTIAL PAGE 03 ROME 02217 071445Z CONFIDENTIAL > 2002ROME02217 - Classification: CONFIDENTIAL