AFGHANISTAN: ITALY PLEDGES ADDITIONAL MILLION

C O N F I D E N T I A L ROME 002625 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/05/2015 TAGS: PREL EAID AF IT UNDP AFGHANISTAN SUBJECT: AFGHANISTAN: ITALY PLEDGES ADDITIONAL MILLION EUROS FOR ELECTIONS REF: STATE 143648 Classified By: Acting Political Counselor Candace Putnam for Reasons 1. 4 (B & D) ¶1. (C) Italy will provide an extra 1,000,000 euros to the UN for Afghanistan's National Assembly elections, scheduled for September 18. Italian Special Envoy on Afghanistan Anna della Croce told polmiloff that DPM/FM Gianfranco Fini pledged the extra million euros to Afghan President Karzai on August 4, when Fini was in Kabul for a ceremony marking Italy's assumption of ISAF command. According to della Croce. these additional funds represent a second round of Italian contributions, coming on top of 3,000,000 euros already committed by Italy to UNDP. According to della Croce, this brings Italy's total financial support for Afghan National Assembly elections to 4,000,000 euros. BORG NNNN 2005ROME02625 - Classification: CONFIDENTIAL