TFLE01: AUSTRIA ON LEBANON -- PROTEST OVER

C O N F I D E N T I A L VIENNA 002256 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR TF-01 AND EUR/AGS - SAINT-ANDRE E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/16/2016 TAGS: PREL MARR MOPS LE AU SUBJECT: TFLE01: AUSTRIA ON LEBANON -- PROTEST OVER MISTAKEN ISREAELI ATTACK; CAUTION ON U.S. MILITARY OVERFLIGHTS Classified By: A/DCM Gregory E. Phillips. Reason: 1.4 (b) and (d). -------------- Outrage Over Killing of UN Observers -------------- ¶1. (SBU) The mistaken Israeli attack on a UN observation post in Lebanon has provoked outrage in Austria, not least because an Austrian was reported to be among the four dead. Austrian Foreign Minister Ursula Plassnik called her Israeli counterpart on July 26 to protest the attack. She also summoned Israeli Ambassador to Vienna Dan Ashbel to express Austria's concern. According to an Austrian Foreign Ministry statement, Plassnik said the attack "is completely unacceptable and cannot be justified." Unable to confirm that an Austrian was killed, Plassnik called for "full and secure access" for the UN to the posts in question. -------------- Caution on Overflights -------------- ¶2. (C) On July 26, MFA Legal Advisor Ferdinand Trauttmansdorff called A/DCM to note that there is increasing pressure on the Austrian government to declare formally that its neutrality extends to barring military overflights and transits destined for the conflict area. He said that this had arisen because one "could not exclude the possibility" that Switzerland would make such a declaration, and this would lead to calls in Austria to do the same. Trauttmansdorff said the GOA had "no intention" of making any such public declaration. Nevertheless, he said he wanted to point out that Austria's existing neutrality law already prohibited the transit of war materiel to any area of conflict, including this one. Trauttmansdorff asked that, in order to avoid any public conflict over the application of neutrality laws, the U.S. consult with Austria beforehand on any flights or transits that might raise questions. He added that the GOA would ask that there be no overflights or transits of war materiel to the region. He readily agreed that Austria would have no problem with operations supporting a peacekeeping mission under a UN mandate. -------------- Austria Announces Humanitarian Assistance -------------- ¶3. (U) On July 25, Plassnik announced that Austria would make 500,000 Euros available to international humanitarian organizations for use in Lebanon. She added that an additional 200,000 Euros would go to UN assistance efforts in the Gaza Strip. McCaw