Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08VIENNA1272
2008-09-05 07:09:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Vienna
Cable title:  

GEORGIA: AUSTRIA TO SEND FIRST OF UP TO 5 OSCE MILITARY

Tags:  PREL OSCE GG AU 
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VZCZCXRO5946
RR RUEHAG RUEHDF RUEHIK RUEHLZ RUEHROV
DE RUEHVI #1272 2490709
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 050709Z SEP 08
FM AMEMBASSY VIENNA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0891
RHEFHLC/DEPT OF HOMELAND SECURITY WASHDC
INFO RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE
UNCLAS VIENNA 001272 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL OSCE GG AU

SUBJECT: GEORGIA: AUSTRIA TO SEND FIRST OF UP TO 5 OSCE MILITARY
OBSERVERS TO GEORGIA

UNCLAS VIENNA 001272

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL OSCE GG AU

SUBJECT: GEORGIA: AUSTRIA TO SEND FIRST OF UP TO 5 OSCE MILITARY
OBSERVERS TO GEORGIA


1. (u) Austria plans to send "up to five" military observers to
Georgia within the framework of the OSCE mission, Austrian officials
said in Vienna September 2. According to Defense Minister Norbert
Darabos (SPO),Austria will dispatch one military observer as soon
as possible to Georgia. Darabos noted that this was "a contribution
on the part of Austria to ensuring peace and stability in the
region." He added that those experts from the Austrian army enjoyed
"worldwide regard" and had "extensive experience." Speaking on the
same issue earlier, foreign minister Ursula Plassnik noted Austria
intended to detail "up to five military observers" to the OSCE
mission. The Austrian military observers will have no service
firearms and will be stationed in Tbilisi, a defense ministry report
noted.


2. (u) Austria has had four civil observers in the region since the
OSCE mission began in 1999. According to the foreign minister,
Austria will provide Euro 350,000 as lump sum humanitarian aid to
the region, most of it for aid to children and for mine sweeping
activities. Shortly after the outbreak of the war in Georgia,
Austrian interior minister Maria Fekter had promised Austria would
provide medical supplies and other goods through the international
Red Cross.

Girard-diCarlo