VZCZCXRO5197
PP RUEHFL RUEHNP
DE RUEHRO #0487 1240531
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 040531Z MAY 09
FM AMEMBASSY ROME
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2005
RUEHMIL/AMCONSUL MILAN 0015
RUEHFL/AMCONSUL FLORENCE 3603
RUEHNP/AMCONSUL NAPLES 3793

UNCLAS ROME 000487 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/PPD; EUR/WE; ECA; ECA/P/C; R 
 
E.O. 12958:  N/A 
TAGS: KPAO SCUL PGOV PREL IT
SUBJECT:  ABRUZZO EARTHQUAKE-POSSIBLE NEXT STEPS WITH NIAF 
 
REF:  Rome 428 
 
¶1.  SUMMARY:  At the conclusion of a visit by a delegation of the 
National Italian American Foundation (NIAF), Post proposes moving 
forward in a public-private partnership with NIAF, focused on 
education, specifically on the University of Aquila, in response to 
the earthquake that struck the Abruzzo region of Italy on April 6. 
NIAF has done considerable work on fund-raising and planning 
already, and their approach complements and enhances the assets the 
USG can bring to the effort.  END SUMMARY. 
 
¶2.  Charge joined NIAF President Joe Del Raso in meetings with the 
Ministers of the Interior and of Culture, and the Prime Minister's 
Undersecretary April 29 and 30.  Del Raso also met with the Chief of 
Italian Civil Defense.  Italian interlocutors took on board the 
message that U.S. support may not take the same shape as that of 
some other countries, i.e. "adopting" one of the 44 cultural 
monuments published by the Ministry of Cultural Assets.  They 
understood that the U.S. private sector will take a leading role in 
the raising of funds, and that the USG will support this effort. 
They also welcomed NIAF's proposal to direct American support toward 
the University of Aquila. 
 
¶3.  The apparent convergence of interest suggests to us that the 
most promising way forward is a possible public-private partnership 
led by NIAF.  NIAF has already raised $400,000 in "spontaneous 
donations," which average $79.00 per contribution.  They believe a 
subsequent targeted fundraising campaign can net a far greater sum. 
As they have long considered educational exchanges one of their most 
important activities, they announced this week a program that will 
allow students from the University of Aquila to finish their studies 
at certain American universities.  (NIAF has already recruited four 
partner universities and is working with several others.)  NIAF 
President Del Raso says this "living approach" has the best chance 
of appealing to American donors.  The focus on the University of 
Aquila allows NIAF to include a portion of raised funds toward 
"bricks and mortar."  It will at least in part address what the GOI 
considers a priority for foreign support. 
 
¶4.  NIAF has heard concerns on the part of potential American 
donors, and is going to considerable lengths to make sure that none 
of the donated money will profit organized crime.  To that end, the 
delegation met with the Italian Director of National Police and the 
Minister of the Interior, and came away satisfied that this concern 
is taken seriously and being addressed with regard to reconstruction 
in Abruzzo.  The fact that NIAF's Vice Chair Louis Freeh is 
associated with the earthquake relief effort will also be a 
reassuring factor to potential American donors in this regard.  He 
is a member of an advisory committee of four individuals that NIAF 
has set up to lead their earthquake response effort.  The others are 
former A/S Pat Harrison, former Ambassador to the Vatican Jim 
Nicholson, and former Italian Ambassador Sergio Vento.  They are 
ready to work with other civil society groups, with the USG, and 
with the Italians on a coordinated American response. 
 
¶5.  The Charge's visit to Italy's Civil Defense Chief Guido 
Bertolaso on April 29, and the subsequent tour of the devastation in 
the sealed-off historic center of Aquila, provided the visiting NIAF 
delegation access that would otherwise have been difficult for them 
to attain, especially so soon after the disaster.  It was Bertolaso 
who reacted most warmly to the proposed emphasis on the University 
of Aquila, referring to its economic importance:  "If we are not 
able to keep the (27,000) students here, Aquila will die."  In the 
subsequent tour of the center of the town, we were not able to visit 
the university, and could not assess how badly damaged it is. 
 
¶6.  In conjunction with the meeting April 30 with Undersecretary 
Gianni Letta, there was a press event during which NIAF president 
Del Raso handed over a blow-up of a check for $400,000.  Charge 
spoke briefly about U.S. commitment to help Abruzzo in the aftermath 
of this tragedy, adding that the American response would be a 
long-term effort.  NIAF's last meeting was with Minister of Culture 
Sandro Bondi.  The Minister and his staff spoke about the list of 44 
monuments up for "adoption."   Del Raso, while welcoming their ideas 
and suggestions, outlined how he sees the way forward.  The 
Minister's Counselor, Mario Resca, said he plans to travel to the 
U.S. in a few weeks as part of a fundraising effort, and promised to 
coordinate his travel with NIAF. 
 
DIBBLE