Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09ROME339
2009-03-20 16:25:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Rome
Cable title:  

ITALY SUPPORTS PAKISTAN DONORS CONFERENCE,

Tags:  EAID ECON EFIN IBRD IMF PK IT 
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INFO RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD PRIORITY 0920
RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL PRIORITY 0466
RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO PRIORITY 1988
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UNCLAS ROME 000339 

SIPDIS

SCA/PB FOR MARY BETH GOODMAN AND TARA FOLEY

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAID ECON EFIN IBRD IMF PK IT
SUBJECT: ITALY SUPPORTS PAKISTAN DONORS CONFERENCE,
UNDECIDED ON PLEDGE

REF: A. STATE 24367

B. ROME 316

UNCLAS ROME 000339

SIPDIS

SCA/PB FOR MARY BETH GOODMAN AND TARA FOLEY

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAID ECON EFIN IBRD IMF PK IT
SUBJECT: ITALY SUPPORTS PAKISTAN DONORS CONFERENCE,
UNDECIDED ON PLEDGE

REF: A. STATE 24367

B. ROME 316


1. Sensitive but Unclassified. Please protect accordingly.


2. (SBU) Poloff delivered Reftel demarche to Italian MFA
South Asia Office Director Domenico Bellato on March 18.
Bellato said that Special Envoy for Afghanistan and Pakistan
Massimo Iannucci would attend the Pakistan Donors Conference
in Tokyo on April 17, and did not rule out the possibility
that FM Frattini might attend as well, given the importance
Italy attaches to the issue as the host of the June 26-27 G8
Conference on Afghanistan and Pakistan in Trieste. Bellato
noted that ministerial level participation is more likely to
be achieved if Secretary Clinton attends the conference.


3. (SBU) Italy has not yet arrived at a pledge total, but
recognizes the urgency of the situation in Pakistan and will
make a commitment that is "significant" provided the IMF and
the donor community continue to assess that Pakistan is
meeting its IMF program benchmarks. (Note: The Berlusconi
government has had difficulty reconciling its leadership role
on Afghanistan and Pakistan in the G8 with its decision last
year to cut development spending by up to 60 percent. Italy
hopes to provide between 30 and 40 million Euros in soft
loans for Pakistani provinces along the Afghan border by this
June (Ref B)). Bellato said that Italy will continue to use
its leverage as G8 President to urge other G8 members to make
significant pledges.


4. (SBU) Bellato said Italy has not yet identified a target
area for its pledge but is actively involved in ongoing
discussions in Brussels concerning EC assistance to Pakistan.
One area of possible Italian emphasis is reform and capacity
building in the Pakistani customs service and border
authorities. Bellato observed that if Pakistan presents a
credible strategy for directing donor assistance, it could
provide the basis for an articulated donor monitoring
mechanism, less invasive than the Joint Coordination and
Monitoring Board for Afghanistan, but designed to ensure
close coordination between the donor community and the
Pakistani government.

DIBBLE