AUSTRIAN PARTICIPATION AT THE DEAD SEA IRAQ

UNCLAS VIENNA 002337 SIPDIS SENSITIVE STATE FOR EB/ODF-DE MARCELLUS AND EUR/AGS-VIKMANIS-KELLER E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL EAID ECON EFIN IZ JO AU SUBJECT: AUSTRIAN PARTICIPATION AT THE DEAD SEA IRAQ DONORS' MEETING REF: A. (A) STATE 127710 ¶B. (B) VIENNA 2327 ¶C. (C) VIENNA 2324 ¶D. (D) VIENNA 2056 ¶E. (E) VIENNA 2036 ¶F. (F) VIENNA 1886 This cable is sensitive but unclassified. Please handle accordingly. ¶1. (SBU) On July 11, we raised ref (a) points with Lydia Saadat, the head of Planning and Program Activities for Asia, the Middle East, Latin America and the Mediterranean in the Austrian Foreign Ministry's Development Cooperation section. Saadat told us that the Austrian Ambassador to Jordan would represent the GoA at the July 18-19 meeting of the International Reconstruction Trust Fund Facility for Iraq (IRFFI) at Jordan's Dead Sea Convention Center. ¶2. (SBU) Saadat reviewed Austria's assistance commitments and disbursements, and said Austria does not plan to make an additional pledge at the Dead Sea Donors' Meeting. An Austrian MFA paper stresses the following points: -- Austria's commitment to Iraq's development includes bilateral technical assistance and capacity building. -- Austria has increased its commitment in terms of technical assistance from 1.7 million Euros to 2.1 million Euros. Of this amount, Austria has disbursed 1.5 million Euros to projects. -- The sum of 10 million Euros which Austria made available for credit guarantees "is crucially connected to the further progress of the stabilisation and peace process." -- The Austrian Interior Ministry's contribution to police training is part of Austria's capacity building effort. (Ref b discusses Interior Ministry plans to extend the police training mission in Jordan to the end of 2006.) -- Debt relief is a major part of Austria's commitment to Iraqi reconstruction. Austria plans to forgive some 1.16 billion Euros in Iraqi debt. (Note: Austrian officials point out that this figure amounts to approximately 1 percent of Austria's Gross Domestic Product. End note.) -- The paper notes, "In general, the realisation and progress of projects and commitments are subjectd to political development and stability of the security situation allowing Austrian and local experts to work without excessive risk to their health and lives. The stabilisation of the security situation is the prime prerequisite for the successful implementation of Austria's assistance measures." Brown