IRAQ: ITALY TO GIVE USD TEN MILLION TO THE UN IRAQ

C O N F I D E N T I A L ROME 001277 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/31/2008 TAGS: EAID ECON PREF IZ IT IRAQI FREEDOM SUBJECT: IRAQ: ITALY TO GIVE USD TEN MILLION TO THE UN IRAQ RECONSTRUCTION FUND REF: SECSTATE 68262 CLASSIFIED BY: ACTING MINISTER COUNSELOR FOR ECONOMIC AFFAIRS KATHLEEN REDDY FOR REASONS 1.5 B,D (C) MFA IRAQ TASK FORCE DEPUTY DIRECTOR LUIGI MACCOTTA (STRICTLY PROTECT) TOLD EMBASSY OFFICERS MARCH 30 THAT FM FRATTINI HAS APPROVED A USD 10 MILLION CONTRIBUTION TO THE UN-ADMINISTERED MULTILATERAL FUND FACILITY FOR IRAQ. WHILE THE DECISION WAS TAKEN WITHIN THE PAST WEEK, MACCOTTA SAID, ITALY DOES NOT/NOT INTEND TO PUBLICLY ANNOUNCE THE CONTRIBUTION, AND WOULD PREFER THAT THE U.S. ALSO DOES THE SAME, UNTIL THE DOHA DONORS' CONFERENCE IN MAY. THE CONTRIBUTION WILL BE DRAWN AGAINST ITALY'S OVERALL MADRID PLEDGE OF 200 MILLION EURO. REFTEL INFORMATION WAS ALSO PASSED TO CARLO MONTICELLI, DIRECTOR, INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS, AT THE FINANCE MINISTRY. SEMBLER NNNN 2004ROME01277 - Classification: CONFIDENTIAL