This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

C O N F I D E N T I A L ROME 000071 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/07/2016 
TAGS: PGOV PREL EAID AF IT AFGHANISTAN
SUBJECT: AFGHANISTAN ASSISTANCE: ITALIAN ENVOY SUGGESTS 
U.S. PUSH FINI FOR MORE 
 
REF: A) ROME 27 B) 05 STATE 226670 C) ROME 28 
 
Classified By: Political Minister-Counselor David D. Pearce, Reasons 1. 
4 (b) and (d). 
 
1.(C) Summary.  Italian Special Envoy for Afghanistan Anna 
della Croce January 5 said Italy would deliver on assistance 
already pledged for Afghanistan but there was virtually no 
prospect of additional funds absent an unusual direct 
intervention by the FM.  The January 24 visit to Washington 
by FM Gianfranco Fini could therefore be timely, coming just 
a week before the London Conference.  On justice sector 
issues, Della Croce observed that Afghan President Karzai had 
not mentioned judicial reform in his recent speech to 
parliament so she hoped he would in his London remarks. End 
Summary. 
 
¶2. (C) Pol M/C and Polmiloff called on della Croce to follow 
up Charge,s January 3 discussion of Italian assistance to 
Afghanistan (Ref A).  Pol M/C noted that aid to Afghanistan 
was a strategic investment in regional stability and in our 
common interest.  It was important for all donor nations to 
follow through on existing pledges and consider further 
contributions at the London Conference. 
 
¶3.  (C) Della Croce said military and economic assistance to 
Afghanistan remained a high priority for Italy.   She felt 
this bilateral commitment would not change if the center-left 
won national elections in April.  The Italian envoy said 
that, despite a 28 percent overall cut in Italy's FY 2006 
foreign economic assistance budget (Ref C), Italy would 
follow through on its Berlin pledge of 145 million euros over 
three years through 2006. But, given this budget situation, 
absent an unusual direct intervention by the FM it was 
virtually certain that Italy would not be in a position to 
pledge any 
additional funds for FY 2006 at the upcoming Afghanistan 
Compact conference. 
 
¶4. (C) Della Croce suggested that the FM's January 24 visit 
to Washington was therefore timely, coming just a week before 
the London meeting.  She herself supported an additional 
contribution, but assistance funds were very limited. 
Further, she explained, Fini, as DPM, sees himself as above 
the inter-ministerial fray over money; consequently, the MFA 
lacks a first-string advocate with MinFin Giulio Tremonti in 
the interagency scramble for money.  Della Croce said the 
MFA's briefing papers for Fini's visit would stress the 
importance of Afghanistan.  Pol M/C said this was certainly 
the case; the US intended to send a high-level delegation to 
the meeting and was sure to make a substantial contribution 
itself.  Della Croce cautioned that Fini could still duck 
behind the budget numbers, but in her view only high-level 
USG intervention could shake any additional Italian money 
loose. 
 
¶5. (C) Italy will continue its commitment to Afghan justice 
sector reconstruction in the post-Bonn era, della Croce said. 
 Della Croce expressed regret at Afghan President Hamid 
Karzai's relative public silence on the subject.  He did not 
mention judicial reform in his inaugural address, and it will 
be a negative signal if Karzai, in his London conference 
address, fails to speak out on the issue as he has in other 
areas, like counter-narcotics.  Della Croce speculated that 
the president's silence on judicial reform may reflect 
political ties to some figures who might prefer not to see 
vigorous pursuit of such issues as transitional justice. 
 
¶6.  (C) Comment:  Della Croce clearly feels that Fini sees 
himself much more as a deputy prime minister presiding over 
the government as a whole than as a minister who needs to 
lock horns with other ministers over resources.  She wants to 
see more money for Afghanistan, but feels it won't be there 
without an outside push.  End Comment. 
 
SPOGLI