UN FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION (FAO)

UNCLAS VIENNA 000963 SIPDIS STATE FOR IO/EDA ROME FOR USUN-ROME USDA FOR FAS/ICD REICH AND HUGHES E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EAGR KUNR AORC AU FAO SUBJECT: UN FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION (FAO) DEMARCHE: AUSTRIAN RESPONSE REF: STATE 25999 THIS MESSAGE IS SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED - PLEASE PROTECT ACCORDINGLY. NOT FOR INTERNET DISTRIBUTION. ¶1. Post conveyed reftel demarche on the independent external evaluation of the FAO to Walter Lichem, Head of the international organizations office in the FMA and to Hedwig Woegerbauer, GoA official responsible for FAO issues in the Ministry of Agriculture. ¶2. In a follow-up, Lichem told us that the GoA supports the FAO's external evaluation, but had no information about whether the GoA would provide a voluntary contribution. Lichem noted that, as the lead ministry on FAO issues, the MoA will ultimately decide if the GoA will contribute or not. BROWN