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

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2004ROME01277 - Classification: CONFIDENTIAL