AUSTRIAN INTERIM RESPONSE: INTERNATIONAL

UNCLAS VIENNA 003011

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR OES/IHA, EUR/PGI AND EUR/AGS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAGR EAID ECON KSCA PREL SOCI TBIO AU EUN
SUBJECT: AUSTRIAN INTERIM RESPONSE: INTERNATIONAL
PARTNERSHIP ON AVIAN AND PANDEMIC INFLUENZA

REF: STATE 164134


1. On September 8, DCM delivered reftel talking points on
the International Partnership on Avian and Pandemic Influenza
(IPAPI) to Clemens Auer, the Minister of Health's Chief of
Staff. Auer thanked the USG for promoting increased
cooperation on avian and pandemic influenza. Auer said
Austria agreed with the message in the Statement of Core
Principles. However, he added that Austria would prefer that
the EU, which has already done considerable coordination on
the issue, represent all the Member States in the IPAPI. He
strongly recommended that the USG work closely with the
Commission on this initiative. Auer promised to raise the
issue with Health Minister Maria Rauch-Kallat and to
coordinate with the MFA on a response to the USG initiative.


2. In a September 7 discussion with Pol Unit Chief, Helmut
Boeck, the MFA's Acting Assistant-Secretary for International
Organizations, also welcomed the initiative. However, Boeck
requested more details regarding the proposed announcement of
the partnership at the UNGA, especially concerning the
appropriate political level for such an announcement.
Brown