Cablegate: Austrian Assistance to Georgia

VZCZCXRO1528
RR RUEHAG RUEHAST RUEHDA RUEHDF RUEHFL RUEHIK RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHLN
RUEHLZ RUEHPOD RUEHROV RUEHSR RUEHVK RUEHYG
DE RUEHVI #1416 2691256
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 251256Z SEP 08
FM AMEMBASSY VIENNA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 1003
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS VIENNA 001416

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/ERA AND EUR/ACE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAID EFIN KCRS KMCA EUMEM PREL GG RS AU
SUBJECT: AUSTRIAN ASSISTANCE TO GEORGIA

REF: STATE 100093

1. (U) Polchief discussed reftel points September 25 with
Stefan Weidinger, MFA unit chief for Development Cooperation
in Southeastern and Eastern Europe. Weidinger noted that the
Southern Caucasus, including Georgia, is one of the MFA's
seven priority regions for assistance worldwide. He said
that at the October donor conference Austria will report that
it plans to spend between a minimum of 550,000 euros and a
maximum of 1.5 million euros in bilateral technical
assistance for the Southern Caucasus for 2009. About 40
percent of this amount would be for Georgia. Austria
provided Georgia with 1.3 million euros in bilateral
technical assistance in 2008. Following the conflict with
Russia, the GOA provided Georgia with 350,000 euros in
emergency assistance, primarily for UNICEF projects to
protect civilians against mines, he said.

2. (U) In addition to the bilateral technical assistance, the
GOA is considering funding small humanitarian projects in
Georgia focused on the civil service, rule of law, and youth,
Weidinger said. The GOA will contribute 2.6 percent of any
EU or European Commission assistance provided to Georgia, he
said.
GIRARD-DICARLO

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