US embassy cable - 05VIENNA3427

C O N F I D E N T I A L VIENNA 003427 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR EUR/RPM AND EUR/AGS - VIKMANIS-KELLER 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/21/2015 
TAGS: ASEC, EAID, MASS, PGOV, PREF, PREL, PK, AU, AMEMR, NATO 
SUBJECT: DEMARCHE TO AUSTRIA:  NATO SUPPORT TO PAKISTAN 
EARTHQUAKE RELIEF 
 
REF: STATE 194572 
 
Classified By: Economic-Political Counselor Gregory E. Phillips,.  Reas 
ons:  1.4 (b) and (d). 
 
1.  (U) EconPolCouns delivered reftel demarche on October 21 
to Thomas Hajnoczi, the Austrian MFA's assistant secretary 
level Director for Political Military Affairs. 
 
2.   (C) Hajnoczi said Austria had reached the limits of its 
capabilities in deploying 60 troops from the elite NBC unit 
to the earthquake region in Pakistan.  The unit is providing 
water purification support.  Deployment was with a leased 
Ilyushin transport.  In addition to the troop deployment, the 
Austrians have provided in-kind assistance (primarily 
blankets and tarpaulins).  Austria has also provided some 2 
million Euros for disaster assistance in Pakistan. 
 
3.  (SBU) Hajnoczi said the Austrian government was able to 
extend the deployment to Pakistan.  Parliament had originally 
authorized a one-month stay, but the troops will now be in 
the disaster region for at least six weeks, with a 
possibility of further extensions. 
van Voorst