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


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2005ROME02625 - Classification: CONFIDENTIAL