Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05VIENNA3157
2005-09-23 06:53:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Vienna
Cable title:
AMBASSADOR'S SEPTEMBER 22 MEETING WITH CHANCELLOR
This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 VIENNA 003157
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EUR/ERA AND EUR/AGS - VIKMANIS-KELLER
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/22/2015
TAGS: PREL PGOV AU EUN
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR'S SEPTEMBER 22 MEETING WITH CHANCELLOR
SCHUESSEL -- AUSTRIA STILL CALLS FOR CLEAR LANGUAGE ON
TURKEY
REF: A. (A) STATE 174901
B. (B) VIENNA 2994
C. (C) VIENNA 2944
D. (D) VIENNA 2827
E. (E) VIENNA 2752 AND PREVIOUS
Classified By: Ambassador W.L. Lyons Brown. Reasons: 1.4 (b) and (d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 VIENNA 003157
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EUR/ERA AND EUR/AGS - VIKMANIS-KELLER
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/22/2015
TAGS: PREL PGOV AU EUN
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR'S SEPTEMBER 22 MEETING WITH CHANCELLOR
SCHUESSEL -- AUSTRIA STILL CALLS FOR CLEAR LANGUAGE ON
TURKEY
REF: A. (A) STATE 174901
B. (B) VIENNA 2994
C. (C) VIENNA 2944
D. (D) VIENNA 2827
E. (E) VIENNA 2752 AND PREVIOUS
Classified By: Ambassador W.L. Lyons Brown. Reasons: 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (C) Summary: Ambassador Brown paid his farewell call on
Austrian Chancellor Wolfgang Schuessel on September 22.
Discussion focussed on Austrian views of Croatian and Turkish
accession to the European Union. Schuessel thanked the
Ambassador profusely for his work in Austria over the last
four years. End Summary.
--------------
Croatia
--------------
2. (C) Schuessel said it was important to Austria that the
EU begin accession talks with Croatia. Croatia is the Balkan
country most ready to start the accession process, and this
was the beginning of the process of bringing stability to the
region. This was very much in the interest of the U.S., he
said. In the end, Schussel said, it was hard for Austrians,
who knew Croatia well and had long cultural, ethnic and
commercial ties to that country, to understand how accession
talks could begin with Turkey before there was any prospect
of them beginning with Croatia. However, Schuessel confirmed
that Austria sought no conditionality between the start of
the Turkish talks and the beginning of the accession process
with Croatia.
3. (C) The Ambassador pointed out that there was no great
disagreement between Austria and the United States on the
strategic importance of Croatia. However, the fact was that
Croatia had flaunted the international community's call for
justice by hiding Ante Gotovina for years. If Croatia had
changed its position, it would have to show this to the
world, and that should mean that Gotovina went to the Hague
for trial before the International Criminal Tribunal for the
former Yugoslavia (ICTY). Schuessel indicated that he was in
communication with the British presidency on a way forward.
--------------
Turkey
--------------
4. (C) The Ambassador said it was important to understand
Austria's position on the start of the EU's accession
negotiations with Turkey. We understood from Foreign
Minister Ursula Plassnik's discussion with the Secretary in
Washington (ref a) that Austria would not veto the start of
negotiations with Turkey on October 3, and would not link
Turkey and Croatia. Schuessel said it was important to
improve the language in the negotiating framework. Clearly,
Schuessel said, the goal of the talks is full EU membership
for Turkey. However, if this is "not possible," there should
be a fall back position. The Ambassador acknowledged that
Plassnik had spelled this out in her letter to British
Foriegn Secretary Straw (ref c). We were all aware, the
Ambassador said, that public opinion in Austria and other
countries opposed Turkish membership in the EU. However,
there should be no suggestion that Austria would block the
start of talks on October 3. The Ambassador noted that
Turkey had made huge progress in reforms because of its
desire to enter the EU. The continuation of Turkey's reform
process, and the stability membership in the EU would bring,
were of tremendous strategic importance. Schuessel
acknowledged these points, but highlighted continuing human
rights problems in Turkey.
5. (C) Note: The Austrian press has highlighted the fact
that Austria now stands alone in maintaining reservations
concerning the start of talks on October 3. The spokesperson
of the Austrian mission to the EU has said, as Plassnik had
done earlier, that it is "one against 24." The British
presidency will reportedly enter into bilateral talks with
Austria on Monday, September 26. One Austrian journalist
wrote, "Austria's maneuvers in Brussels are meant for the
domestic policy stage." Be that as it may, Schuessel was
unwilling to tip his hand just yet on his negotiating
strategy. End note.
--------------
Meeting Requests
--------------
6. (SBU) In a discussion with the Ambassador, the Chancellor
indicated his understanding for the fact that he had not yet
received answers to his requests for a meeting with the
President in December and for a date for the U.S.-EU Summit.
Brown
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EUR/ERA AND EUR/AGS - VIKMANIS-KELLER
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/22/2015
TAGS: PREL PGOV AU EUN
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR'S SEPTEMBER 22 MEETING WITH CHANCELLOR
SCHUESSEL -- AUSTRIA STILL CALLS FOR CLEAR LANGUAGE ON
TURKEY
REF: A. (A) STATE 174901
B. (B) VIENNA 2994
C. (C) VIENNA 2944
D. (D) VIENNA 2827
E. (E) VIENNA 2752 AND PREVIOUS
Classified By: Ambassador W.L. Lyons Brown. Reasons: 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (C) Summary: Ambassador Brown paid his farewell call on
Austrian Chancellor Wolfgang Schuessel on September 22.
Discussion focussed on Austrian views of Croatian and Turkish
accession to the European Union. Schuessel thanked the
Ambassador profusely for his work in Austria over the last
four years. End Summary.
--------------
Croatia
--------------
2. (C) Schuessel said it was important to Austria that the
EU begin accession talks with Croatia. Croatia is the Balkan
country most ready to start the accession process, and this
was the beginning of the process of bringing stability to the
region. This was very much in the interest of the U.S., he
said. In the end, Schussel said, it was hard for Austrians,
who knew Croatia well and had long cultural, ethnic and
commercial ties to that country, to understand how accession
talks could begin with Turkey before there was any prospect
of them beginning with Croatia. However, Schuessel confirmed
that Austria sought no conditionality between the start of
the Turkish talks and the beginning of the accession process
with Croatia.
3. (C) The Ambassador pointed out that there was no great
disagreement between Austria and the United States on the
strategic importance of Croatia. However, the fact was that
Croatia had flaunted the international community's call for
justice by hiding Ante Gotovina for years. If Croatia had
changed its position, it would have to show this to the
world, and that should mean that Gotovina went to the Hague
for trial before the International Criminal Tribunal for the
former Yugoslavia (ICTY). Schuessel indicated that he was in
communication with the British presidency on a way forward.
--------------
Turkey
--------------
4. (C) The Ambassador said it was important to understand
Austria's position on the start of the EU's accession
negotiations with Turkey. We understood from Foreign
Minister Ursula Plassnik's discussion with the Secretary in
Washington (ref a) that Austria would not veto the start of
negotiations with Turkey on October 3, and would not link
Turkey and Croatia. Schuessel said it was important to
improve the language in the negotiating framework. Clearly,
Schuessel said, the goal of the talks is full EU membership
for Turkey. However, if this is "not possible," there should
be a fall back position. The Ambassador acknowledged that
Plassnik had spelled this out in her letter to British
Foriegn Secretary Straw (ref c). We were all aware, the
Ambassador said, that public opinion in Austria and other
countries opposed Turkish membership in the EU. However,
there should be no suggestion that Austria would block the
start of talks on October 3. The Ambassador noted that
Turkey had made huge progress in reforms because of its
desire to enter the EU. The continuation of Turkey's reform
process, and the stability membership in the EU would bring,
were of tremendous strategic importance. Schuessel
acknowledged these points, but highlighted continuing human
rights problems in Turkey.
5. (C) Note: The Austrian press has highlighted the fact
that Austria now stands alone in maintaining reservations
concerning the start of talks on October 3. The spokesperson
of the Austrian mission to the EU has said, as Plassnik had
done earlier, that it is "one against 24." The British
presidency will reportedly enter into bilateral talks with
Austria on Monday, September 26. One Austrian journalist
wrote, "Austria's maneuvers in Brussels are meant for the
domestic policy stage." Be that as it may, Schuessel was
unwilling to tip his hand just yet on his negotiating
strategy. End note.
--------------
Meeting Requests
--------------
6. (SBU) In a discussion with the Ambassador, the Chancellor
indicated his understanding for the fact that he had not yet
received answers to his requests for a meeting with the
President in December and for a date for the U.S.-EU Summit.
Brown