IRAQ - ITALY REQUESTS HELP TO DISBURSE SOFT LOANS

UNCLAS ROME 004169 SIPDIS SENSITIVE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EAID EFIN PHUM PK PREL IT IZ IRAQI FREEDOM AVIATION FAA SUBJECT: IRAQ - ITALY REQUESTS HELP TO DISBURSE SOFT LOANS TO IRAQ REF: A. MCKERNAN-O'HARA EMAIL ¶B. ROME 04052 ¶1. This is an action request. Please see Para 4 below. ¶2. (SBU) Federika Ferrari Bravo, MFA Coordinator for Economic Assistance to Iraq, asked December 6 for U.S. help to complete an Italy-Iraq loan agreement to permit Italy to disburse a five million euro soft loan to reestablish the Iraqi meteorological system, essential for running Iraq's airports. Italy cannot disburse the loan until the Iraqi Ministry of Finance signs the already-drafted agreement. ¶3. (U) Although Italy's own efforts to date have not led to a signed agreement, Ferrari Bravo said she would again ask Italy's Embassy in Baghdad to press Iraq's Finance Ministry, but would appreciate our also raising the matter with the Ministry. The point of contact at Italy's Embassy in Baghdad is Mainarndo Bernadelli, Deputy Chief of Mission. ¶4. (SBU) Comment and Action Requested. We would like to be responsive to Ferrari Bravo's request, which she directed to Deputy Senior Coordinator for Iraq Robert Deutch (reftel B) during his courtesy call on her. We would appreciate guidance on what we might tell Ferrari Bravo. End comment and action requested. SPOGLI