U.S.-EU CONFERENCE ON IRAQ: AUSTRIAN RESPONSE

UNCLAS VIENNA 001740

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

DEPARTMENT FOR NEA/I, EUR/ERA AND EUR/AGS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL EAID IZ AU EUN UN
SUBJECT: U.S.-EU CONFERENCE ON IRAQ: AUSTRIAN RESPONSE

REF: A) STATE 93742 B) STATE 94861

This message is sensitive but unclassified.


1. (SBU) Economic-Political Counselor and Political Unit
Chief discussed ref (A) information on May 23 with Austrian
MFA A/S-equivalent for Africa and the Middle East Ralph
Scheide and Director for Gulf Affairs Oskar Wuestinger.
Scheide observed that the U.S. and EU now appeared to have a
"complete identity of objectives" for Iraq as well as in
their aims for the U.S.-EU International Conference in
Brussels. Scheide hoped that the conference would have a
significant "impact on the situation on the ground" in Iraq.


2. (SBU) Scheide thought the conference should serve to
highlight the EU's preparedness to help. He noted that
Austria had offered to provide assistance in drafting Iraq's
new constitution, in particular its expertise in addressing
questions of federalism and multi-ethnic "standards."


3. (SBU) Scheide offered to inform us of the composition and
leadership of the Austrian representatives for the conference
as soon as those arrangements have been finalized.
Wuestinger added that he was engaged in the run-up to the
PrepComm meeting. We said that we were expecting additional
information about the PrepComm (ref B) and agreed to get back
in touch to discuss both the organizational and substantive
aspects further.
Brown