ITALIAN VICE FOREIGN MINISTER SUPPORTS ROADS AND

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KABUL 002956 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR SCA/FO, S/CT, SCA/A, CENTCOM FOR POLAD, CG CFC-A, CG CJTF-76 TREASURY FOR APARAMESWARAN, ABAUKOL STATE PLEASE PASS USAID FOR AID/ANE, AID/DCHA/DG REL NATO/ISAF, AUS, NZ E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/26/2016 TAGS: PGOV PREL PINR KDEM AF SUBJECT: ITALIAN VICE FOREIGN MINISTER SUPPORTS ROADS AND CUSTOMS TRAINERS Classified By: AMBASSADOR RONALD NEUMANN FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D) ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: In a 30-minute meeting with the Ambassador June 23, The Italian Vice Minister Vernetti focused attention primarily on roads and customs trainers. The Italians continue to work on expanding the customs training programs out of Herat in order to increase GOA revenue. The Italians have also secured funding for 50 percent of the Kabul-Bamiyan Road and are considering the idea of cooperating with the Spanish on the Herat-Badghis Road. The Vice Minister also briefly mentioned that the present debate in the Italian parliament does not warrant concern. On the margins, Italian Ambassador Ettore Sequi said he recognized the friction surrounding Amb. Brunetti (who is leading the Italian effort on justice reform in Afghanistan) and they are working to find a solution. VMFA is aware of the problem also. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (U) The Italian Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs met with Ambassador Neumann on June 23, to discuss his views on the way forward and the role Italy will play. Italy is seriously looking to expand its customs programs outside of Herat, specifically through the Guardiate Finance. Presently there are 10-11 people scheduled to begin training customs officers at the RTC in Herat. Amb. Neumann supported this idea emphasizing that customs training is critical to increasing the government's income. The Italians also mentioned the possibility of additional Carabinieri trainers as possible. ¶3. (U) There seems to be a strong interest in working with Spain that should be nurtured and encouraged. The Vice Minister expressed specific interest in collaborating on the last component of the ring road between Herat and Badghis. He also suggested that the Embassy work on points for an upcoming meeting between the Spanish and Italian Prime Ministers. So far the Spanish have constructed 57 km of high quality dirt road. ¶4. (U) Italy has secured funding for fifty percent of the Kabul-Bamiyan road and asked about other potential donors. Amb. Neumann suggested cooperation with the Japanese as most of our road funds are already committed. Vernetti expressed great interest in the possibility of teaming up with Spain to finance and build the last link of the ring road from Herat to Qal-i-Now. Amb. Neumann strongly encouraged this. ¶5. (C) When asked, Amb. Neumann stressed the positive elements of the Italian Justice Program and suggested that we work more closely on the proposed revision of the criminal code and on prioritizing laws to be passed. In private, Ambassador Sequi and the VMFA touched lightly on the friction surrounding Amb. Brunetti, the Italian rule of law program head. Ambassador Neumann confirmed that there are problems based on personality, a fact that appeared to be well known already to the VMFA. There seems to be a movement towards transferring her. ¶6. (C) Vice Minister Vernetti did not see the current political debate over the PRTs and Italian troops in Afghanistan as a problem. Many in the Italian government oppose troop increases, but even the most critical do not support a withdrawal. Use of their PRT as a mechanism for development cooperation has also failed in their eyes and they hope to reassess their current operations to make better use of their KABUL 00002956 002 OF 002 resources. NEUMANN