G8 SHERPA MASSOLO ON PAKISTAN IDPS, FOOD SECURITY,

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ROME 000681 SIPDIS NSC FOR JOHN HENNESSEY-NILAND E FOR AMY WESTLING OES/EGC FOR BARBARA DE ROSA-JOYNT AND WENDELA MOORE SCA/P FOR MARY BETH GOODMAN AND TARA FOLEY EEB/TPP/MTAA/ABT FOR JANET SPECK, GARY CLEMENTS AND DON MORTON IO/T FOR MATTHEW GOLDSTEIN E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/17/2019 TAGS: PGOV PREL SENV KGHG EAID PHUM EAGR PK IAEA IT, G8 SUBJECT: G8 SHERPA MASSOLO ON PAKISTAN IDPS, FOOD SECURITY, MEF AND IAEA ELECTIONS REF: A. STATE 58282 ¶B. STATE 58996 ¶C. STATE 59852 ¶D. STATE 60289 ¶E. ROME 623 Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Elizabeth Dibble for Reasons 1.4 (B) a nd (D) ¶1. (C) Charge delivered reftel demarches to Italian MFA Secretary General (and G8 Sherpa) Giampiero Massolo on June ¶12. Ambassador Massolo said that Italy would do its best within the constraints of its limited development assistance budget to assist Pakistani IDPs and to respond to the U.S. appeal to G8 members to strengthen food security by committing to increase agricultural development assistance at the G8 Summit in L'Aquila (Refs A and B). Italy shares the U.S. goal of a robust Leaders' Communique at the Major Economies Forum on Energy and Climate (MEF) at L'Aquila, but recommends that G8 Leaders start thinking of a way to use the G8 Summit itself as a "face-saving event" if the emerging economies continue to block progress on the Communique at Mexico City (Ref C). He also noted Italy's desire to have PM Berlusconi "say a few words" as host of the MEF and hoped that President Obama, as chair of the MEF event, would be amenable to this. Finally, Massolo agreed to lobby IAEA Board Members in support of Amano's candidacy for the Director General position (Ref D). Pakistani IDPs - - - - - - - - ¶2. (SBU) On aid to Pakistani IDPs (Ref A),Ambassador Massolo said Italy supports Pakistan's efforts to confront extremists and provide aid to those displaced by the conflict. Italy will do its best under difficult budget circumstances to respond to the UN's revised appeal in May for USD 543 million for Pakistan's over two million internally displaced persons. (Note: As reported in Ref E, Italy has pledged Euro 760,000 in emergency aid and "in-kind" humanitarian supplies; however, a more robust response is being hindered by the Berlusconi government's decision to cut its 2009 development assistance budget by as much as 66 per cent over that of ¶2008. End Note). Food Security - - - - - - - ¶3. (SBU) Massolo said that Italy supports the U.S. initiative to launch a G8 commitment at L'Aquila to strengthen food security by increasing agricultural development assistance by USD 15 billion over three years (Ref B),but again noted that Italy's meager development budget and the dire global economic situation would pose a challenge to the GOI as it seeks to free up funds for an appropriate commitment. Major Economies Forum - - - - - - - - - - - ¶4. (SBU) Turning to the Major Economies Forum (Ref B), Massolo said Italy shares our concerns and is pushing for a strong Leaders' Communique at the L'Aquila meeting. China in particular needs to be brought on board, and the process needs to be conducted in such a way as to avoid "exposing a divide within the G8." Massolo agreed that in setting ROME 00000681 002 OF 002 benchmarks for progress at this MEF we should not "put the bar lower than Toyako," but cautioned that G8 leaders may need to consider using the rest of the G8 Summit itself as a "face saving event" if emerging economies continue to block a strong MEF Communique. He also noted PM Berlusconi's desire to "say a few words" at the opening of the MEF session in his capacity as G8 and MEF host, and hoped that President Obama, as Chair of the event, would be amenable to this. IAEA Elections - - - - - - - - ¶5. (C) Massolo confirmed the Italian offer to lobby IAEA board members in favor of Ambassador Amano's candidacy and said he would look into our request to focus lobbying efforts on Germany, India, Ireland, Romania, and the UK. Post will follow up at the working level and report septel on the results of Italian efforts as they become available. DIBBLE