Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09VIENNA361
2009-03-27 07:21:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Vienna
Cable title:  

S/CRS ENCOURAGES AUSTRIAN OFFICIALS TO DEVELOP

Tags:  EAID PREL PGOV KCRS KPKO AU 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO1668
OO RUEHAG RUEHDF RUEHIK RUEHLZ RUEHROV RUEHSR
DE RUEHVI #0361 0860721
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 270721Z MAR 09
FM AMEMBASSY VIENNA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 2203
INFO RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES
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

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