LONDON BOMBINGS: AUSTRIANS EXPRESS SOLIDARITY:

UNCLAS VIENNA 002313

SIPDIS

STATE FOR EUR/AGS - VIKMANIS-KELLER

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PTER PREL PGOV AU
SUBJECT: LONDON BOMBINGS: AUSTRIANS EXPRESS SOLIDARITY:
"EUROPE WILL NOT BE INTIMIDATED"


1. Chancellor Wolfgang Schuessel has declared Austria's
solidarity for the United Kingdom and sympathy for the
victims of the July 7 bombings in London. "Europe will not
be intimidated. It will close ranks," he declared.
President Heinz Fischer expressed shock and outrage, calling
the attacks "despicable crimes the international community
has to act against together." Foreign Minister Ursula
Plassnik said Austria would consult with the British on "how
to support our British partners," and announced that the
government was dispatching TDY assitance to its Embassy in
London. The opposition was equally forthright: Social
Democratic Party chairman Alfred Gusenbauer said, "all
democracies in and outside of Europe are called upon to drive
back and fight this terror against innnocent people."
Austria's Islamic Community also issued a statement strongly
condemning the attack.


2. In addition to sympathy and solidarity, much of the
Austrian reaction focussed on whether Austria is vulnerable
to similar attacks. Interior Minsiter Liese Prokop announced
heightened security, both in general and in support of
British facilities. An Interior Ministry spokesperson said
that there is no immediate threat in Austria, but noted "a
mid-term threat from radical Islamists living in austria, who
are interested in Jihadism and might be motivated to carry
out attacks in and outside of Austria."
Brown