AUSTRIA UNCERTAIN ABOUT TRANSFERRING SURPLUS

C O N F I D E N T I A L VIENNA 001828 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR PM/RSAT, NEA/ELA, AND EUR/AGS E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/11/2017 TAGS: MARR MASS MOPS PGOV PREL AU LE SUBJECT: AUSTRIA UNCERTAIN ABOUT TRANSFERRING SURPLUS AMMUNITION TO LEBANESE ARMED FORCES REF: STATE 93173 Classified By: Acting Economic-Political Counselor Phillip R. Nelson for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) Acting Econ-Pol Counselor met on July 6 with Ralph Scheide, Head of the MFA's Africa and Middle East Division (A/S-equivalent) to request that Austria consider providing reftel ammunition to the Lebanese Armed Forces. Acting Econ-Pol Counselor pointed out that the latest inventory available to the embassy's ODC indicate Austria may have both 105mm tank ammunition and 155m howitzer rounds. ¶2. (C) Scheide said he was unaware of MOD stocks, but he promised to inquire. According to Scheide, Austrian law prevents exports of war material to a country in a conflict situation. He promised to query the MFA's Disarmament, Arms Control, and Non-Proliferation Department whether Lebanon fell into this category. Scheide noted that the international community has provided Lebanon with ample diplomatic support through UNSC resolutions, but it has not provided Lebanon with the means to ensure security and the disbanding of militias. ¶3. (C) Post will follow up soonest with the MOD to determine stocks and with the MFA to determine if Austrian law would allow such exports to Lebanon. McCaw