ITALY LIKELY TO OFFER SOME ASSISTANCE TO AMISOM,

C O N F I D E N T I A L ROME 000253 SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR AF/RSA COL. MIKE SKARDON E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/04/2019 TAGS: PREL KPKO SO IT SUBJECT: ITALY LIKELY TO OFFER SOME ASSISTANCE TO AMISOM, REQUESTS DETAILS ON USG AID REF: STATE 17205 Classified By: Poloff Gabriel Escobar for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (U) This message contains an action request. See para 4. ¶2. (C) Poloff delivered reftel demarche to MFA Somalia Coordinator Giovanni Polizzi March 3, requesting Italian support for the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) and for security forces loyal to the Somali Transitional Federal Government (TFG). Polizzi, who had recently returned from the meeting of the International Contact Group on Somalia (ICG) in Brussels, said Italy had spoken in favor of increased donor support for AMISOM and the TFG security forces at the ICG. Polizzi pointed out that Italy remains one of Somalia's largest donors after the USG and the EU Commission. While he could not immediately offer a response to our approach, he believed it was likely that Italy would offer 2009 support for AMISOM. (Note: Italian law currently prohibits direct assistance to Somalia, so Italian aid is funneled through the AU, UNDP, or other institutions. End Note.) ¶3. (C) Although Italy has provided support for the civilian component of the TFG police force in the past, Polizzi said assistance for military components would be complicated. He inquired about U.S. assistance plans, and poloff said the USG would provide at least $67 million in FY 2009 for AMISOM and Somalia security sector reform. Polizzi asked for details about the breakdown of these funds, and in particular the mechanism the USG used to deliver assistance to the Somali security forces. ¶4. (U) Action Request: Post requests Department's assistance in responding to Polizzi's inquiries in para 3. DIBBLE