US embassy cable - 05VIENNA1192

C O N F I D E N T I A L VIENNA 001192 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR SA/AR, SA/PAB, DRL, EUR/ERA AND EUR/AGS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/12/2015 
TAGS: PREL, EAID, AF, AU, UNSC 
SUBJECT: FUNDING AFGHANISTAN'S PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS: 
AUSTRIAN RESPONSE 
 
REF: A) STATE 61560 B) VIENNA 1136 C) VIENNA 1152 
 
Classified By: ECONOMIC-POLITICAL COUNSELOR GREGORY E. PHILLIPS 
REASONS: 1.4 (B) AND (D) 
 
1.  (SBU) Embassy discussed ref (a) points on April 5 with 
Rudolf Lennkh, the Foreign Ministry's A/S-equivalent for the 
Americas (ref b).  We also conveyed the information to Peter 
Storer, Director for South and Southeast Asia, and followed 
up with him on April 11.  Storer, whose office is 
coordinating the issue, said that the decision on a possible 
bilateral decision depends on the outcome of the current 
interagency process to develop an strategy for Austrian 
assistance.  The goal, Storer said, is "to focus resources in 
order to make the biggest impact possible."  While Austria 
wants to be involved in Afghanistan's reconstruction, Storer 
noted that the Austrian Development Agency (ref b) does not 
intend to designate Afghanistan as one of its priority areas. 
 
2.  (C) COMMENT: As we reported ref (c), the Austrian Defense 
Ministry will recommend, with MFA support, that Austria 
deploy troops to Konduz to help provide election security. 
The interagency priority-setting exercise may result in 
Austria choosing to assume responsibilities for election 
security, rather than making a large cash contribution for 
the conduct of the elections. 
Brown