DEMARCHE TO AUSTRIA -- APPEAL FOR INCREASED

UNCLAS VIENNA 003542 SIPDIS SENSITIVE STATE FOR EUR/AGS - VIKMANIS-KELLER E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EAID PHUM PK PREL AU SUBJECT: DEMARCHE TO AUSTRIA -- APPEAL FOR INCREASED CONTRIBUTIONS TO PAKISTAN EARTHQUAKE RELIEF REF: A. (A) STATE 200915 ¶B. (B) VIENNA 3443 ¶C. (C) STATE 195483 ¶D. (D) VIENNA 3427 AND PREVIOUS This cable is SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED. Please treat accordingly. ¶1. (U) Charge presented ref (a) demarche on November 3 to Irene freudenschuss-Reichl, the Under Secretary-level Director of the Austrian Foreign Ministry's Development Assistance Section. ¶2. (SBU) Freudenschuss-Reichl said Austria's national contribution for earthquake relief in Pakistan totalled 1.96 million Euros (USD 2.41 million, at current exchange rates). This included an estimated cost of the deployment of the Austrian armed forces' disaster relief unit of 1.56 million Euros; a disbursement of 200,000 Euros through the Austrian Interior Ministry for aid organizations which specialize in disaster relief, such as the Red Cross; and 200,000 Euros for the reconstruction of Austrian aid projects in the disaster region. ¶3. (SBU) Freudenschuss-Reichl added that Austria had increased the number of troops in the disaster region from 60 to 70. The deployment involves the Nuclear-Biological-Chemical response team, and, in the case of the Pakistan disaster, consists of water purification units. The Austrian government had taken the decision to extend the deployment at least through December, she said. ¶4. (SBU) The Pakistani Ambassador to Austria had informed Freudenschuss-Reichl of the November 19 pledging conference. Freudenschuss-Reichl said she did not/not anticipate new national commitments at the November 19 conference beyond what Austria had already committed to the relief effort. However, the Austrian private sector had raised some 500,000 Euros so far, and was continuing to generate funds. Phillips