DEMARCHE TO AUSTRIA: NATO SUPPORT TO PAKISTAN

C O N F I D E N T I A L VIENNA 003427 SIPDIS STATE FOR EUR/RPM AND EUR/AGS - VIKMANIS-KELLER E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/21/2015 TAGS: ASEC EAID MASS PGOV PREF PREL PK AU AMEMR NATO SUBJECT: DEMARCHE TO AUSTRIA: NATO SUPPORT TO PAKISTAN EARTHQUAKE RELIEF REF: STATE 194572 Classified By: Economic-Political Counselor Gregory E. Phillips,. Reas ons: 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (U) EconPolCouns delivered reftel demarche on October 21 to Thomas Hajnoczi, the Austrian MFA's assistant secretary level Director for Political Military Affairs. ¶2. (C) Hajnoczi said Austria had reached the limits of its capabilities in deploying 60 troops from the elite NBC unit to the earthquake region in Pakistan. The unit is providing water purification support. Deployment was with a leased Ilyushin transport. In addition to the troop deployment, the Austrians have provided in-kind assistance (primarily blankets and tarpaulins). Austria has also provided some 2 million Euros for disaster assistance in Pakistan. ¶3. (SBU) Hajnoczi said the Austrian government was able to extend the deployment to Pakistan. Parliament had originally authorized a one-month stay, but the troops will now be in the disaster region for at least six weeks, with a possibility of further extensions. van Voorst