US embassy cable - 05VIENNA2005

UNCLAS VIENNA 002005 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR EUR/AGS - VIKMANIS-KELLER 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: EAID, PGOV, EAGR, PREL, XA, AU 
SUBJECT: AUSTRIAN RESPONSE TO CHALLENGE TO DONORS TO FIGHT 
HUNBER AND ADDRESS HUMANITARIAN NEEDS IN AFRICA 
 
REF: STATE 108008 
 
1.  Ambassador delivered reftel demarche on June 15 to 
Johannes Kyrle, the Austrian Foreign Ministry's Secretary 
General (Deputy Secretary equivalent).  The Ambassador 
pointed out the initiative of the President and Prime 
Minister Blair in pledging significant funds to address 
African humanitarian emergencies, in addition to what the 
U.S. and UK had already committed.  The Ambassador also 
stressed the challenge to the recipient countries to create 
an enabling environment for economic growth. 
 
2.  Kyrle said that on May 23, Austria had announced a 
doubling of its aid commitment.  Most of this went to Africa, 
he added.  From 0.2% of GDP, Austria's aid levels for this 
year would now amount to 0.46% of GDP.  Austria intended to 
raise this level to 0.51% of GDP by 2009, and would strive to 
reach the Monterrey goal of 0.7% of GDP.  Kyrle was very 
supportive of the effort to get recipient countries to take 
the steps necessary to avoid assistance needs in the future. 
He said a real improvement in standards of living would have 
an impact on reducing sources of terrorism, as well. 
 
3.  In a June 13 meeting, A/DCM had presented reftel points 
to Irene Freudenschuss-Reichl, the Director General of the 
Austrian Foreign Ministry's Department for Development 
Cooperation.  Freudenschuss-Reichl said the Foreign Ministry 
had established an account to permit rapid re-programming and 
disbursement of funds to respond to disasters and other 
emergencies.  This had been a "lesson learned" from Austria's 
response to the Tsunami disaster at the beginning of the year. 
 
2. 
Brown