AUSTRIAN RESPONSE: URGING SUPPORT FOR LEBANON AT

UNCLAS VIENNA 000077 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/AGS, EB/IFD/ODF (EWAECHTER) AND NEA/ELA (KALLEN) E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ECON EFIN EAID AU LE SUBJECT: AUSTRIAN RESPONSE: URGING SUPPORT FOR LEBANON AT JANUARY 25 PARIS DONORS' CONFERENCE REF: STATE 2781 ¶1. On January 11, Acting Econ/Pol Counselor met with Helfried Carl, Deputy Director in the MFA's Near East and Africa Division, to encourage high-level Austrian participation at the January 25 Paris III conference and to urge Austrian financial support for Lebanon. Carl stressed that the GoA shared the USG political and economic objectives to stabilize Lebanon's political situation and to support economic development. Carl noted that, with the swearing in of a new Austrian Government on January 11, the GoA could now decide on its delegation in the coming days. The Chancellery had received French President Chirac's invitation, but Carl speculated that either Foreign Minister Ursula Plassnik or Finance Minister Wilhelm Molterer would represent Austria. Carl promised to contact us as soon as the Austrian delegation is firm. McCaw