Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05VIENNA3786
2005-12-01 13:43:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Vienna
Cable title:  

DEFENSE MINISTER REJECTS ALLEGATIONS OF CIA

Tags:  PREL MARR EAIR KPAO AU EUN 
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This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
UNCLAS VIENNA 003786 

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/AGS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL MARR EAIR KPAO AU EUN
SUBJECT: DEFENSE MINISTER REJECTS ALLEGATIONS OF CIA
OVERFLIGHTS


UNCLAS VIENNA 003786

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/AGS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL MARR EAIR KPAO AU EUN
SUBJECT: DEFENSE MINISTER REJECTS ALLEGATIONS OF CIA
OVERFLIGHTS



1. At the request of the opposition Social Democrats (SPO)
and Greens, the Austrian National Security Council met
November 30 regarding allegations that a U.S. overflight of
Austria on January 21, 2003 may have been a CIA flight to
transport prisoners. Afterwards, Austrian Defense Minister
Platter told journalists that "there was no evidence that
the disputed January 2003 overflight had been carried out by
the CIA," nor "that the U.S. agency had transported
prisoners in that plane." Similarly, there was "no
indication that Austrian airspace had been
violated," Platter said. Participants in the meeting did
not provide further information, since the government
representatives had voted to maintain the confidentiality of
the hearings.


2. SPO and Greens reportedly requested information from
Transportation Minister/Vice Chancellor Gorbach as well as
from Defense Minister Platter on whether the Austrian
government "had been aware of overflights by the U.S.
intelligence agency." According to Austrian media,
representatives of the government in turn asked the
opposition what evidence it had for such allegations.

3. The SPO and Greens have called on Chancellor Schuessel,
in his capacity as future chair of the EU presidency, to
make use of his December 8 meeting with President Bush in
Washington to lodge a protest.

4. During a joint press conference in Vienna with visiting
Danish FM Moellmann November 30, Austrian FM Plassnik, in
response to a question as to whether Austria would raise the
issue bilaterally with the U.S., replied that British FM
Jack Straw had "contacted the U.S. on behalf of the EU" and
"we are waiting for a response."

5. The Greens' security spokesman, Peter Pilz, announced on
November 29 that he would visit the NGO Human Rights Watch
in Washington and hold a press conference there on December
7 on the alleged CIA overflights. Pilz said that he would
demand that Bush apologize to Schuessel for the overflights.

6. On November 30, prior to Platter's statement, Social
Democratic floor leader Josef Cap deplored the GoA's failure
to comment publicly about the overflights. Cap called on
the government to provide information on all overflights of
Austria in recent years and the defense ministry's response.
van Voorst