GAINING PSI PARTNERS' SUPPORT FOR EXISTING TEXT OF

UNCLAS VIENNA 001064 SIPDIS SENSITIVE DEPT FOR L/LEI (DENISE MANNING) AND NP/RA (EYTHAN SONTAG) DEPT PLEASE PASS USCG - LCDR BRAD KIESERMAN DOJ FOR WAYNE RAABE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KNNP MNUC PARM PREL KTIA PHSA EWWT PGOV AU SUBJECT: GAINING PSI PARTNERS' SUPPORT FOR EXISTING TEXT OF DRAFT SHIP BOARDING AMENDMENTMENTS TO THE SUA CONVENTION - AUSTRIAN RESPONSE REF: STATE 55182 This message is sensitive but unclassified. ¶1. (SBU) EconPol Unit Chief conveyed reftel points to Ambassador Dorothea Auer (2005 Australia Group Chair and Austria's PSI representative) on March 29. In a follow-up meeting on March 30, Auer agreed that her office would support the draft text that had emerged from the working group. ¶2. (SBU) EconPol Off also conveyed reftel points to MFA Legal Affairs officer Thomas Loidl, who is coordinating the GOA's position, on April 1. Loidl told us that it is in the best interests of the GOA to achieve a revised SUA, and that the MFA is in favor of the current draft without amendments. However, he added a caveat, saying that he would need to consult with the Ministry of Justice before adopting a final position. ¶3. (SBU) Loidl informed us that Professor Gunther Handl, a professor of public international law at Tulane University and specialist in the law of the sea, will represent Austria at the Legal Committee meeting later this month. Handl, an Austrian, has served previously as a special advisor to the MFA's Legal Affairs Office. Brown