2006-2007 ILO BUDGET: AUSTRIAN RESPONSE

UNCLAS VIENNA 000676 SIPDIS DEPT FOR IO/S (ABRAHAMS) AND IO/T (DRISCOLL) AND GENEVA (STONECIPHER) E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: AORC ELAB AU ILO SUBJECT: 2006-2007 ILO BUDGET: AUSTRIAN RESPONSE REF: STATE 033950 ¶1. On March 3, Emboffs met with Peter Guschelbauer from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' section responsible for ILO issues, to deliver reftel points. According to Guschelbauer, Austria shares the USG view and will not advocate for such a "substantial increase" in the 2006-07 ILO budget. Austria might support a small increase in the ILO budget to cover some inflation and exchange rate adjustments, but it would not support real growth in the program budget. Guschelbauer said he conveyed USG views to Iris Dembsher, Ministry of Economy official responsible for ILO issues, who will attend the March 7-24 ILO meetings. Brown