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