SWISS RESPONSE TO DEMARCHE SEEKING DONOR SUPPORT

UNCLAS BERN 000330

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

PASS TO AF/E (M.WALSH),AF/E (P.FIERST),AND EUR/CE
(Y.SAINT-ANDRE)

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PTER KPKO PGOV EAID SO SZ
SUBJECT: SWISS RESPONSE TO DEMARCHE SEEKING DONOR SUPPORT
FOR THE SOMALIA TFG FOLLOWING AGREEMENT WITH PWC

REF: SECSTATE 79853


1. (SBU) Poloff delivered reftel demarche on August 7 to Anja
Zobrist-Rentenaar, Regional Coordinator for Southern Africa
at the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA),
and Jenny Piaget, Deputy Regional Coordinator. Piaget
responded that Swiss government funding for Somalia is solely
tied to humanitarian support. She said that Switzerland has
not pledged money for security, and does not plan to do so.
Piaget added that the GoS would like to support humanitarian
programs in Somalia more actively and directly, but that the
situation on the ground precludes the Swiss from doing so.


2. (SBU) Zobrist-Rentenaar and Piaget underlined that
Switzerland has substantially increased its humanitarian aid
to Somalia, going from CHF 2 million (approx. USD 1.9
million) two years ago to a current level of CHF 8 million
(approx. USD 7.5 million) in annual funding. Piaget added
that the GoS has allocated CHF 200,000 (approx. USD 187,000)
for peace promotion in Somalia through the United Nations
Political Office for Somalia (UNPOS).
CARTER