Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08ROME1219
2008-09-30 16:23:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Rome
Cable title:
ITALIAN FOREIGN ASSISTANCE TO DECREASE 60% IN
how-toVZCZCXRO5076 RR RUEHAG RUEHDF RUEHIK RUEHLZ RUEHROV DE RUEHRO #1219 2741623 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 301623Z SEP 08 FM AMEMBASSY ROME TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0959 INFO RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW 4459 RUEHSI/AMEMBASSY TBILISI 0231 RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS 4666 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0918
UNCLAS ROME 001219
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR WASHELESKI IN EUR/ACE
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KCRS KMCA EAID EFIN PREL
SUBJECT: ITALIAN FOREIGN ASSISTANCE TO DECREASE 60% IN
2009, BUT 3.8M EUROS FOR GEORGIA
REF: SECSTATE 100093
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Italy's Foreign Assistance to Drop by 60% in 2009
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
UNCLAS ROME 001219
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR WASHELESKI IN EUR/ACE
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KCRS KMCA EAID EFIN PREL
SUBJECT: ITALIAN FOREIGN ASSISTANCE TO DECREASE 60% IN
2009, BUT 3.8M EUROS FOR GEORGIA
REF: SECSTATE 100093
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Italy's Foreign Assistance to Drop by 60% in 2009
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
1. (SBU) On 23 September, Counselor Massoni of the Italian
MFA told Econoff that Italy's foreign assistance in 2009 is
expected to decrease by 60% from 2008, dropping to 0.11% of
GDP. This is expected to produce, in the year of the Italy's
G8 presidency, a sharp reduction in Italy's humanitarian
initiatives. Multilateral organizations such as the UNDP,
WHO, and UNICEF will remain top priorities, while funding for
NGOs will likely be cut substantially, particularly for those
in Africa. One exception will be the Joint United Nations
program on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS),which, though multilateral,
will be cut considerably. Polio eradication will remain a
priority.
- - - - - - - - - - -
3.8m euros for Georgia
- - - - - - - - - - -
2. (SBU) According to GOI decree 147/08, Georgia-related
GOI spending will total 3.8m euros in fiscal year 2008. Of
this, the lion's share - 2.06m euros - will fund Italian
participation in the EU peacekeeping force for Georgia. An
additional 1.6m euros will fund humanitarian initiatives
identified by the international Georgia donors' conference to
be held in October. 28,000 euros were also set aside for the
participation of an Italian diplomat in the office of the
Special Representative of the EU in Georgia.
3. (SBU) Comment: EU member states are committed to
increase their foreign assistance to 0.33% of GDP for 2008,
rising to 0.51% of GDP in 2010. These latest cuts will move
Italy further away from EU targets, and may prove
embarrassing during its G8 presidency. Set against the
context of wholesale cuts in humanitarian spending, the new
Italian commitment of 3.8m euros for Georgia is significant.
End comment.
SPOGLI
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR WASHELESKI IN EUR/ACE
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KCRS KMCA EAID EFIN PREL
SUBJECT: ITALIAN FOREIGN ASSISTANCE TO DECREASE 60% IN
2009, BUT 3.8M EUROS FOR GEORGIA
REF: SECSTATE 100093
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Italy's Foreign Assistance to Drop by 60% in 2009
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
1. (SBU) On 23 September, Counselor Massoni of the Italian
MFA told Econoff that Italy's foreign assistance in 2009 is
expected to decrease by 60% from 2008, dropping to 0.11% of
GDP. This is expected to produce, in the year of the Italy's
G8 presidency, a sharp reduction in Italy's humanitarian
initiatives. Multilateral organizations such as the UNDP,
WHO, and UNICEF will remain top priorities, while funding for
NGOs will likely be cut substantially, particularly for those
in Africa. One exception will be the Joint United Nations
program on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS),which, though multilateral,
will be cut considerably. Polio eradication will remain a
priority.
- - - - - - - - - - -
3.8m euros for Georgia
- - - - - - - - - - -
2. (SBU) According to GOI decree 147/08, Georgia-related
GOI spending will total 3.8m euros in fiscal year 2008. Of
this, the lion's share - 2.06m euros - will fund Italian
participation in the EU peacekeeping force for Georgia. An
additional 1.6m euros will fund humanitarian initiatives
identified by the international Georgia donors' conference to
be held in October. 28,000 euros were also set aside for the
participation of an Italian diplomat in the office of the
Special Representative of the EU in Georgia.
3. (SBU) Comment: EU member states are committed to
increase their foreign assistance to 0.33% of GDP for 2008,
rising to 0.51% of GDP in 2010. These latest cuts will move
Italy further away from EU targets, and may prove
embarrassing during its G8 presidency. Set against the
context of wholesale cuts in humanitarian spending, the new
Italian commitment of 3.8m euros for Georgia is significant.
End comment.
SPOGLI