AUSTRIAN RESPONSE: US PROPOSAL FOR GLOBAL EARLY

UNCLAS VIENNA 000140 SIPDIS SENSITIVE FOR OES/EGC SYOFFE AND EUR/AGS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EAID KSCA SENV AU UNESCO SUBJECT: AUSTRIAN RESPONSE: US PROPOSAL FOR GLOBAL EARLY WARNING SYSTEM REF: STATE 8943 ¶1. (U) On January 14, post delivered reftel talking points and paper to Franz Hoerlberger, Unit Chief for Humanitarian Aid in the MFA's Development Assistance Section. Hoerlberger, who will attend the January 18-22 World Conference on Disaster Reduction in Kobe, welcomed the USG proposal. He said Austria strongly believed that the international community should utilize existing organizations to establish an early warning system. Austria, according to Hoerlberger, supported the establishment of an early warning system that would encompass preparedness and response to technological disasters, as well as natural disasters. ¶2. (SBU) Hoerlberger criticized the Chinese proposal for relying too much on a global approach, rather than emphasizing regional cooperation and commitment to financing as a first step. Brown