Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08ROME1251
2008-10-10 14:06:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Rome
Cable title:
AFGHANISTAN: ITALY SUPPORTS ANA TROOP INCREASE BUT
how-toVZCZCXRO3381 PP RUEHFL RUEHNP DE RUEHRO #1251 2841406 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 101406Z OCT 08 FM AMEMBASSY ROME TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0998 INFO RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL PRIORITY 0435 RUEHMIL/AMCONSUL MILAN PRIORITY 9585 RUEHFL/AMCONSUL FLORENCE PRIORITY 3227 RUEHNP/AMCONSUL NAPLES PRIORITY 3381 RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO PRIORITY 2972 RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC PRIORITY RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE PRIORITY RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY RHMFISS/HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L ROME 001251
SIPDIS
EUR/RPM FOR RAPHAEL CARLAND, SCA/A FOR TOM REOTT
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/11/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV MARR MOPS NATO IT AF
SUBJECT: AFGHANISTAN: ITALY SUPPORTS ANA TROOP INCREASE BUT
BALKS AT EXPECTED DONOR CONTRIBUTION
REF: A. STATE 97991
B. ROME 835
C. STATE 93225
D. STATE 71479
Classified By: Political Minister-Counselor Barbara A. Leaf for Reasons
1.4 (B) and (D)
C O N F I D E N T I A L ROME 001251
SIPDIS
EUR/RPM FOR RAPHAEL CARLAND, SCA/A FOR TOM REOTT
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/11/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV MARR MOPS NATO IT AF
SUBJECT: AFGHANISTAN: ITALY SUPPORTS ANA TROOP INCREASE BUT
BALKS AT EXPECTED DONOR CONTRIBUTION
REF: A. STATE 97991
B. ROME 835
C. STATE 93225
D. STATE 71479
Classified By: Political Minister-Counselor Barbara A. Leaf for Reasons
1.4 (B) and (D)
1. (C) Poloff delivered reftel demarche to MFA Afghanistan
Envoy Sergio Mercuri and Deputy Director for Political
Military Affairs Carlo Batori on September 17 and followed up
with them on October 9. Batori said that the MFA had
circulated our request within the GOI interagency and the
initial response had not been positive. Italy was not likely
to be able to contribute USD 100 million per year over the
2010-2014 period, and he suggested that requests for large
contributions should be made to those countries that do not
have a large troop presence in Afghanistan or are in the
process of scaling back their troop presence.
2. (C) Batori reiterated GOI support for the JCMB decision to
endorse the Afghan government's goal of increasing the ANA
troop level to 134,000 (Ref B),but noted that PM Berlusconi
is making deep budget cuts in defense and foreign assistance
over the next three years and the GOI will be hard pressed to
maintain both its current aid pledge to Afghanistan (Euro 150
million from 2009-2011) and funding for its 2,350-troop ISAF
commitment and Carabinieri ANCOP police training commitment
in Afghanistan. Batori did not rule out a smaller
contribution to the ANA Trust Fund, but noted that the GOI
was already under budgetary pressure to cut its contribution
to the NATO Kosovo Trust Fund.
3. (C) Separately, MFA Director General for Asian Affairs
Massimo Iannucci told DCM on October 10 that the MFA had been
able to secure, for the first time, a 3-year multi-year GOI
commitment on Afghan aid levels but was non-committal on the
USD 100 million for the ANA.
SPOGLI
SIPDIS
EUR/RPM FOR RAPHAEL CARLAND, SCA/A FOR TOM REOTT
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/11/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV MARR MOPS NATO IT AF
SUBJECT: AFGHANISTAN: ITALY SUPPORTS ANA TROOP INCREASE BUT
BALKS AT EXPECTED DONOR CONTRIBUTION
REF: A. STATE 97991
B. ROME 835
C. STATE 93225
D. STATE 71479
Classified By: Political Minister-Counselor Barbara A. Leaf for Reasons
1.4 (B) and (D)
1. (C) Poloff delivered reftel demarche to MFA Afghanistan
Envoy Sergio Mercuri and Deputy Director for Political
Military Affairs Carlo Batori on September 17 and followed up
with them on October 9. Batori said that the MFA had
circulated our request within the GOI interagency and the
initial response had not been positive. Italy was not likely
to be able to contribute USD 100 million per year over the
2010-2014 period, and he suggested that requests for large
contributions should be made to those countries that do not
have a large troop presence in Afghanistan or are in the
process of scaling back their troop presence.
2. (C) Batori reiterated GOI support for the JCMB decision to
endorse the Afghan government's goal of increasing the ANA
troop level to 134,000 (Ref B),but noted that PM Berlusconi
is making deep budget cuts in defense and foreign assistance
over the next three years and the GOI will be hard pressed to
maintain both its current aid pledge to Afghanistan (Euro 150
million from 2009-2011) and funding for its 2,350-troop ISAF
commitment and Carabinieri ANCOP police training commitment
in Afghanistan. Batori did not rule out a smaller
contribution to the ANA Trust Fund, but noted that the GOI
was already under budgetary pressure to cut its contribution
to the NATO Kosovo Trust Fund.
3. (C) Separately, MFA Director General for Asian Affairs
Massimo Iannucci told DCM on October 10 that the MFA had been
able to secure, for the first time, a 3-year multi-year GOI
commitment on Afghan aid levels but was non-committal on the
USD 100 million for the ANA.
SPOGLI