AUSTRIAN RESPONSE TO CHALLENGE TO DONORS TO FIGHT

UNCLAS VIENNA 002005

SIPDIS

STATE FOR EUR/AGS - VIKMANIS-KELLER

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAID PGOV EAGR PREL XA AU
SUBJECT: AUSTRIAN RESPONSE TO CHALLENGE TO DONORS TO FIGHT
HUNBER AND ADDRESS HUMANITARIAN NEEDS IN AFRICA

REF: STATE 108008


1. Ambassador delivered reftel demarche on June 15 to
Johannes Kyrle, the Austrian Foreign Ministry's Secretary
General (Deputy Secretary equivalent). The Ambassador
pointed out the initiative of the President and Prime
Minister Blair in pledging significant funds to address
African humanitarian emergencies, in addition to what the
U.S. and UK had already committed. The Ambassador also
stressed the challenge to the recipient countries to create
an enabling environment for economic growth.


2. Kyrle said that on May 23, Austria had announced a
doubling of its aid commitment. Most of this went to Africa,
he added. From 0.2% of GDP, Austria's aid levels for this
year would now amount to 0.46% of GDP. Austria intended to
raise this level to 0.51% of GDP by 2009, and would strive to
reach the Monterrey goal of 0.7% of GDP. Kyrle was very
supportive of the effort to get recipient countries to take
the steps necessary to avoid assistance needs in the future.
He said a real improvement in standards of living would have
an impact on reducing sources of terrorism, as well.


3. In a June 13 meeting, A/DCM had presented reftel points
to Irene Freudenschuss-Reichl, the Director General of the
Austrian Foreign Ministry's Department for Development
Cooperation. Freudenschuss-Reichl said the Foreign Ministry
had established an account to permit rapid re-programming and
disbursement of funds to respond to disasters and other
emergencies. This had been a "lesson learned" from Austria's
response to the Tsunami disaster at the beginning of the year.


2.
Brown