S/CRS ENCOURAGES AUSTRIAN OFFICIALS TO DEVELOP

UNCLAS VIENNA 000361 SIPDIS SENSITIVE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EAID PREL PGOV KCRS KPKO AU SUBJECT: S/CRS ENCOURAGES AUSTRIAN OFFICIALS TO DEVELOP RECONSTRUCTION AND STABILIATION CAPABILITY ¶1. Summary: John Herbst, head of the Office of the Coordinator for Reconstruction and Stabilization (S/CRS),discussed USG initiatives with key GOA assistance officials on March 16, encouraging the GOA to develop its own civilian reconstruction and stabilization assistance capabilities. GOA officials noted Austria lacks an equivalent office and generally directs crisis management contributions through multilateral organizations. However, they saw the usefulness of the S/CRS concept and its applicability to future GOA efforts. Attending were Austrian MFA Director for Humanitarian Aid Gerhard Weinberger, MFA Head of the European Security Policy Unit Karl Prummer, and Austrian Development Agency (ADA) Officer Daniela Kreidl; Ambassador Herbst was accompanied by OSCE Deputy PolCouns, S/CRS Diplomatic Outreach Officer, and Emboffs (notetaker). ¶2. After describing the history of S/CRS and its growth plans, Herbst encouraged the GOA to develop similar civilian capacity which could be used with the EU, or the UN, as well as in other contexts. Herbst cited S/CRS' close working relationships with equivalent offices in the UK and in Canada, a leader in reconstruction and stabilization. Weinberger responded with interest and admitted he lacked the expertise to comment in the absence of an equivalent office at the MFA. Describing it as the closest equivalent to a reconstruction and stabilization organization, Weinberger said the GOA operates a foreign disaster response fund through ADA and its UN partners; has long experience in peacekeeping; and often conducts stability operations through the EU. ¶3. On the civilian side, Prummer told Herbst the GOA has a group of 150 experts, of whom 100 are police trainers and the others are experts in crisis management, government reconstruction, and civil society. Prummer noted budgetary limitations, remarking that Austrian ministries (unlike in other EU countries, such as Finland) are not compensated when a civil servant leaves for an assignment abroad. In addition, with the exception of disaster assistance, the Austrian constitution requires that civilian deployments obtain parliamentary committee approval before being sent to a failed state. ¶4. There are now 20-30 Austrians on peace missions in Kosovo, 20 as part of EUPOL in the Palestinian territories, and five in Bosnia. Two Austrians serve in the 100-member EU civilian response corps. Weinberger also noted that Austria has an expert working in Addis with the African Union on blocking the arms trade. Kreidl of the ADA cited Austria's bilateral projects of about USD 3 to 5 million per country; these are spread across various countries in the developing world listed as either "priority" or "partner" countries. She also noted the ADA last year concluded a project with Afghanistan. Comment -------------- ¶5. Although Austria lacks its own crisis office, the concept of S/CRS found a receptive audience. The GOA prefers working through multilateral bodies, but there is some acknowledgement within the MFA of the respective limitations of those bodies. Post considers it worthwhile to continue the dialogue on crises and failed states -- and to encourage the GOA to further develop its own response capacity. KILNER DRAFT DRAFT