AUSTRIAN RESPONSE: VWP - UPDATE ON 10/26/05

UNCLAS VIENNA 000494 SIPDIS DEPT FOR CA/VO/F/P - LOPES DA ROSA AND EUR/AGS AND EUR/PGI E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: CMGT PREL AU SUBJECT: AUSTRIAN RESPONSE: VWP - UPDATE ON 10/26/05 DEADLINE AND REQUEST FOR INFORMATION REF: A. STATE 23029; B. BRADTKE EMAIL OF 1/14/05 ¶1. THE ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS POSED IN REFTEL A, PARA 7, HAVE BEEN PROVIDED BY THE AUSTRIAN INTERIOR MINISTRY'S LEGAL DEPARMTENT. (FYI, THEIR PASSPORT OFFICE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL LEGAL AND TECHNICAL ISSUES RELATING TO THE DECENTRALIZED NATIONAL PASSPORT PRODUCTION.) -- NAME OF THE PROJECT MANAGER: WALTER GROSINGER AND HEINRICH PAWLICEK, OFFICE FOR SECURITY ADMINISTRATION WITHIN THE MINISTRY OF INTERIOR'S LEGAL DEPARTMENT. -- TIMELINE FOR PILOT TESTING: AUGUST AND SEPTEMBER 2005 -- ANTICIPATED DATE FOR FULL PRODUCTION: OCTOBER 25, 2005 -- STATUS OF PROCUREMENT EFFORTS AND/OR LEGISLATIVE CHANGES: BIOMETRIC PASSPORT PRODUCTION WILL NECESSITATE MAJOR CHANGES TO THE NATIONAL PASSPORT ACT. THE DRAFT BILL WILL BE READY FOR REVIEW AND COMMENT IN MARCH 2005, BEFORE BEING SUBMITTED TO PARLIAMENT. -- ANTICIPATED PROBLEMS IN ROLLING OUT THE PROGRAM: THE GOA ANTICIPATES MAJOR POLITICAL OPPOSITION TO THE PASSPORT AMENDMENT, WHICH COULD LEAD TO SOME DELAYS, ALTHOUGH ULTIMATELY AUSTRIA WILL HAVE TO COMPLY WITH EU REQUIREMENTS. IN ADDITION, PRODUCTION AND/OR DELIVERY OF THE CHIPS AND THE READERS BY THE COMMERCIAL SUPPLIERS MAY NOT OCCUR BY THE APPROPRIATE DEADLINE. BROWN