C O N F I D E N T I A L ROME 000372

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/30/2007
TAGS: PHUM PREF PREL IO IT WFP
SUBJECT: IRAQ HUMANITARIAN CONTINGENCY PLANNING

REF: A. SECSTATE 22216


B. ROME 5742
CONFIDENTIAL

PAGE 02 ROME 00372 301937Z

CLASSIFIED BY: ECMIN SCOTT KILNER FOR REASONS 1.5 (B) AND (D).


1. (C) EMBASSY DELIVERED REFPOINTS TO ATTILIO IANNUCCI, THE
MFA'S DEPUTY DIRECTOR GENERAL FOR DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE.
IANNUCCI SHARED THAT THE GOI WAS "THINKING ALONG THE SAME
LINES" AS THE USG ON PLANNING HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE IN THE
EVENT OF A WAR WITH IRAQ. IANNUCCI SAID THAT ITALY IS
ALREADY WORKING CLOSELY WITH THE IOM, ICRC AND WFP.
FURTHERMORE, THE GOI IS PREPARED "TO TAKE DECISIONS WITHIN
HOURS" AS TO WHAT SPECIFIC CONTINGENCIES WOULD REQUIRE
ITALIAN EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE AND THROUGH WHICH INTERNATIONAL
ORGANIZATIONS SUCH ASSISTANCE SHOULD BE DELIVERED. IANNUCCI
WAS NOT ABLE TO QUANTIFY THE GOI'S COMMITMENT, BUT DREW A
PARALLEL TO AFGHANISTAN, WHERE ITALY, AFTER INITIALLY
STEPPING UP TO THE PLATE AT THE TOKYO DONOR'S CONFERENCE,
WOUND UP EXCEEDING ITS PLEDGE OF EUROS 47.3 MILLION FOR THE
YEAR (REF B).
SKODON

CONFIDENTIAL

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2003ROME00372 - Classification: CONFIDENTIAL