DELIVERY TO AUSTRIA OF ORAL MESSAGE FROM THE

S E C R E T VIENNA 002056

SIPDIS

STATE FOR NEA AND EUR/AGS - VIKMANIS-KELLER

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/20/2015
TAGS: PREL IZ SY AU
SUBJECT: DELIVERY TO AUSTRIA OF ORAL MESSAGE FROM THE
SECRETARY ON THE INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON IRAQ


SIPDIS

REF: A. (A) STATE 114212

B. (B) VIENNA 2036

C. (C) VIENNA 2035 AND PREVIOUS

Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Carol van Voorst. Reason: 1.4
(b) and (d).


1. (SBU) DCM delivered ref (a) message on June 20 to
Austrian Political Director Thomas Mayr-Harting.
Mayr-Harting undertook to deliver the contents of the message
to the Austrian delegation (Foreign Minister Ursula Plassnik
and Middle East director Ralph Scheide).


2. (S) Mayr-Harting said that Austria agrees with the
Secretary's objectives for the conference and officials had

SIPDIS
planned to handle any contact with the Syrian delegation in
Brussels very much as the Secretary urged.


3. (SBU) In line with the spirit of the Secretary's message,
Mayr-Harting added that Austria was organizing a conference
on "Islam in a Pluralistic Society," which it intended to
host in Vienna November 14-16. He said FM Plassnik and Amb.
Scheide would look for opportunities to raise this with U.S.
delegation members in Brussels. Scheide told us separately
that President Karzai of Afghanistan has confirmed his
attendance, and the Austrians have formally invited President
Talabani of Iraq to attend. Talabani maintained firm ties to
Austria, Scheide said, and the Austrians thought it likely
that he would attend as well. The Austrians see the
conference as a further opportunity to demonstrate support
for the Afghan and Iraqi governments, in the context of a
discussion of overall relations with the Muslim world. They
believe a high level U.S. presence would be crucial to the
success of the initiative.
Brown