ITALY CAN NOT ASSIST IN CLEARING AFGHANISTAN'S IFI

UNCLAS ROME 000430 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ECON EFIN EAID PREL AFGHANISTAN SUBJECT: ITALY CAN NOT ASSIST IN CLEARING AFGHANISTAN'S IFI ARREARS REF: A. SECSTATE 27597 ¶B. ROME 394 THE GOI OFFICIALLY INFORMED US TODAY THAT ITALY WILL NOT BE ABLE TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL FUNDING TO HELP AFGHANISTAN CLEAR ARREARS. GIORGIO LECCESI, DIRECTOR, INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS OFFICE OF THE FINANCE MINISTRY, AND COUNSELOR ALESSANDRO GAUDIANO OF THE MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS TOLD A/ECOUN THAT A NEW LEGISLATIVE DECREE WOULD BE REQUIRED FOR AUTHORIZATION OF NEW ASSISTANCE FUNDING. APPROVAL OF SUCH A DECREE WOULD TAKE WEEKS, IF NOT MONTHS. IN DECEMBER 2002, THE GOI AUTHORIZED AND DISBURSED E3.2 MILLION TO THE WORLD BANK TO ASSIST AFGHANISTAN. ITALY'S FUNDING COMMITMENT WAS ANNOUNCED AT THE AFGHAN DONORS' CONFERENCE IN OSLO, DECEMBER 17-18. SEMBLER 2003ROME00430 - Classification: UNCLASSIFIED