Cablegate: Austria: Outreach On London Conference

VZCZCXRO9502
PP RUEHIK
DE RUEHVI #0100 0271426
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 271426Z JAN 10
FM AMEMBASSY VIENNA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 4074
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL 0138

UNCLAS VIENNA 000100

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR S/SRAP (BLANC), SCA/A (GRAMAGLIA AND
COBERLY), AND EUR/CE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV ECON EFIN AF AU
SUBJECT: AUSTRIA: OUTREACH ON LONDON CONFERENCE

REF: A. SECSTATE 6355
B. VIENNA 65

1. Polchief raised reftel A points January 26 with Bruno
Bilek, MFA Deputy Director for East Asia. Bilek said MFA
Secretary General Johannes Kyrle will represent the GOA at
the London Conference. He said Kyrle will be prepared to
announce Austria's contributions to the Afghanistan mission
if an opportunity arises during the conference, but it is not
clear whether that will be the case. The GOA did not request
a speaking slot for the event.

2. Bilek noted that the GOA is preparing to send police
trainers to the EUPOL mission in Afghanistan and to provide
funding for a number of UN and OSCE-related projects (reftel
B). On January 25, the Council of Ministers designated 1
million Euros in leftover disaster relief funds for
humanitarian aid for Afghanistan (the remaining 2 million
Euros were designated for Haiti). Bilek said the GOA
supports the reintegration program and is considering the
possibility of contributing to the Peace and Reintegration
Trust Fund. It is not clear whether the leftover disaster
relief funds, which are earmarked for humanitarian
assistance, can be used for the Trust Fund. If not, the GOA
could make a contribution from other sources if funding is
available, he said.

3. The GOA is also supporting an Afghanistan Implementation
Conference to be held February 25-28 in Baden, near Vienna.
Princeton University's Liechtenstein Institute on
Self-Determination is organizing the event, which will be
designed as a follow-up to the London Conference. FM
Spindelegger is scheduled to attend.
EACHO

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