UNWRA EMERGENCY APPEAL -- ITALY STRAPPED FOR FUNDS

C O N F I D E N T I A L ROME 000639 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/19/2014 TAGS: KPAL PREL IT UNWRA SUBJECT: UNWRA EMERGENCY APPEAL -- ITALY STRAPPED FOR FUNDS REF: STATE 29074 CLASSIFIED BY: ACTING POL M/C GARY ROBBINS FOR REASONS 1.5 (B) AND (D). ¶1. (C) POL M/C DELIVERED REFTEL DEMARCHE TO MFA OFFICE DIRECTOR FOR THE EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN LUCA FERRARI. FERRARI WAS NOT OPTIMISTIC THAT THE ITALIAN GOVERNMENT COULD COME UP WITH MORE FUNDS TO SUPPORT THE UNWRA, GIVEN THAT IT IS ALREADY STRAPPED TRYING TO SUPPORT NUMEROUS MISSIONS ABROAD, INCLUDING IRAQ. COMMENT. ON FEBRUARY 18 THE ITALIAN SENATE APPROVED APPROXIMATELY USD SEVEN HUNDRED MILLION TO EXTEND ALL OF ITALY'S PEACEKEEPING AND HUMANITARIAN MISSIONS ABROAD THROUGH JUNE 30, 2004 (SEPTEL). END COMMENT. ¶2. (C) POLOFF ALSO DELIVERED THE DEMARCHE TO CARLO CAMPANILE IN THE MFA'S UN/HUMAN RIGHTS OFFICE. CAMPANILE THANKED POLOFF FOR THE INFORMATION BUT SAID HIS OFFICE HAD NO INFORMATION ON FUNDING FOR UNWRA, ADDING, "YOUR COFFER IS BIGGER THAN OURS!" SKODON NNNN 2004ROME00639 - Classification: CONFIDENTIAL