Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09CANBERRA1047
2009-11-27 03:04:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Canberra
Cable title:
G8 L'AQUILA SUMMIT FOOD SECURITY: AUSTRALIA
how-toVZCZCXRO1203 PP RUEHPT DE RUEHBY #1047 3310304 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 270304Z NOV 09 FM AMEMBASSY CANBERRA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2353 INFO RUEHLGB/AMEMBASSY KIGALI 0007 RUEHWL/AMEMBASSY WELLINGTON 0161 RUEHBN/AMCONSUL MELBOURNE 6799 RUEHPT/AMCONSUL PERTH 5065 RUEHDN/AMCONSUL SYDNEY 5068 RUEHRC/DEPT OF AGRICULTURE WASHINGTON DC RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHINGTON DC RHEHAAA/THE WHITE HOUSE WASHINGTON DC
UNCLAS CANBERRA 001047
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
WHITE HOUSE FOR GAYLE SMITH
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON EAID AS
SUBJECT: G8 L'AQUILA SUMMIT FOOD SECURITY: AUSTRALIA
RESPONSE
REF: A. SECSTATE 120804
B. CANBERRA 836
C. CANBERRA 559
UNCLAS CANBERRA 001047
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
WHITE HOUSE FOR GAYLE SMITH
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON EAID AS
SUBJECT: G8 L'AQUILA SUMMIT FOOD SECURITY: AUSTRALIA
RESPONSE
REF: A. SECSTATE 120804
B. CANBERRA 836
C. CANBERRA 559
1. (SBU) Summary: Australia,s estimated commitment
emanating from L,Aquila on food security programs is A$464
million for food aid (ref C). Australia believes that food
aid should be included and is seeking clarification of the
criteria used to calculate the amount, which depending on the
method could be closer to A$800 million. The government has
committed the funding but not yet broken it down by year.
AUSAID is planning to attend the Rome meetings, but has not
yet decided to attend Kigali. End Summary.
2. (SBU) Econoff spoke with Rebecca Bryant, Acting Assistant
Director General for Sustainable Development at AUSAID, on
November 23. Bryant said Australia has two questions it is
seeking answers to in regard to the EU framework for the $20
billion G8 L'Aquila commitment. The first is timing - Bryant
said the government had not reached a consensus that the
period of the commitments envisioned was 2010-2013 or could
be extended beyond that timeframe. Second, the government
wants to know whether countries should include their existing
food aid programs in the overall commitment. Including
existing food aid would roughly double the estimated A$464
million now in the Australian budget specifically earmarked
for food security programs. Further, Bryant said, the
government is examining whether existing programs on trade
and market access should be included in the total commitment
estimate as well.
3. (SBU) Australia is planning to attend the Rome meetings,
but Bryant had not heard of the Kigali meetings and had no
information on whether the GOA would attend. Bryant said the
government hoped to have completed their reconciliation of
assistance against the EU framework by December 3, but could
not commit to a firm declaration of total assistance under
the L'Aquila framework.
BLEICH
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
WHITE HOUSE FOR GAYLE SMITH
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON EAID AS
SUBJECT: G8 L'AQUILA SUMMIT FOOD SECURITY: AUSTRALIA
RESPONSE
REF: A. SECSTATE 120804
B. CANBERRA 836
C. CANBERRA 559
1. (SBU) Summary: Australia,s estimated commitment
emanating from L,Aquila on food security programs is A$464
million for food aid (ref C). Australia believes that food
aid should be included and is seeking clarification of the
criteria used to calculate the amount, which depending on the
method could be closer to A$800 million. The government has
committed the funding but not yet broken it down by year.
AUSAID is planning to attend the Rome meetings, but has not
yet decided to attend Kigali. End Summary.
2. (SBU) Econoff spoke with Rebecca Bryant, Acting Assistant
Director General for Sustainable Development at AUSAID, on
November 23. Bryant said Australia has two questions it is
seeking answers to in regard to the EU framework for the $20
billion G8 L'Aquila commitment. The first is timing - Bryant
said the government had not reached a consensus that the
period of the commitments envisioned was 2010-2013 or could
be extended beyond that timeframe. Second, the government
wants to know whether countries should include their existing
food aid programs in the overall commitment. Including
existing food aid would roughly double the estimated A$464
million now in the Australian budget specifically earmarked
for food security programs. Further, Bryant said, the
government is examining whether existing programs on trade
and market access should be included in the total commitment
estimate as well.
3. (SBU) Australia is planning to attend the Rome meetings,
but Bryant had not heard of the Kigali meetings and had no
information on whether the GOA would attend. Bryant said the
government hoped to have completed their reconciliation of
assistance against the EU framework by December 3, but could
not commit to a firm declaration of total assistance under
the L'Aquila framework.
BLEICH