Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06VIENNA2712
2006-09-12 14:10:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Vienna
Cable title:  

AUSTRIAN MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS: September 12, 2006

Tags:  KPAO AU OPRC 
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Dayna R Robison 09/20/2006 11:12:06 AM From DB/Inbox: Dayna R Robison

Cable 
Text: 
UNCLAS VIENNA 02712

SIPDIS
CXVIENNA:
 ACTION: PAO
 INFO: DAO POLEC REVIEW DCM AMB

DISSEMINATION: PAO
CHARGE: PROG

APPROVED: PAO: WWANLUND
DRAFTED: VBARTL
CLEARED: NONE

VZCZCVII207
PP RUEHC RUEKJCS RHEHAAA
DE RUEHVI #2712/01 2551410
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 121410Z SEP 06
FM AMEMBASSY VIENNA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 4906
RUEKJCS/OSD WASHDC PRIORITY
RHEHAAA/WHITEHOUSE WASHDC PRIORITY
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 VIENNA 002712 

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EUR/AGS, INR/EU, AND EUR/PPD FOR YVETTE SAINT-ANDRE

OSD FOR COMMANDER CHAFFEE

WHITEHOUSE FOR NSC/WEUROPE


E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KPAO AU OPRC

SUBJECT: AUSTRIAN MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS: September 12, 2006


Floettl Incriminates SPOe, Vranitzky

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 VIENNA 002712

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EUR/AGS, INR/EU, AND EUR/PPD FOR YVETTE SAINT-ANDRE

OSD FOR COMMANDER CHAFFEE

WHITEHOUSE FOR NSC/WEUROPE


E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KPAO AU OPRC

SUBJECT: AUSTRIAN MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS: September 12, 2006


Floettl Incriminates SPOe, Vranitzky


1. Investment banker Wolfgang Floettl, who has come under fire in
connection with the scandal surrounding union-owned bank Bawag,
claims he also transferred "several tens of thousands of Euros" to
the SPOe and former Chancellor Franz Vranitzky in 1999. Vranitzky
has confirmed the receipt of the money, but says it was a private
consultancy fee, which he had not forwarded to the SPOe.
According to newly established Austrian daily Oesterreich, these
revelations could have "dramatic" consequences for the SPOe. With
less than three weeks to go until the October 1 general elections,
the Social Democrats are finding themselves caught up even more
deeply in the Bawag quagmire, the daily says.

Election Outcome Open, Surveys Show


2. Three surveys on the upcoming general election in Austria on
October 1 by polling institutes OGM, Market and Gallup show the OeVP
in the lead, followed closely by the SPOe. The Greens and the FPOe
are competing for third place according to the surveys, and the BZOe
and maverick MEP Hans-Peter Martin's party for place four.
The results of the surveys by polling institutes OGM, Market and
Gallup are as follows: All three pollsters see the OeVP in first
place with 38 percent of the votes. Both OGM and Gallup say the SPOe
would currently get 35 percent, while Market shows a 34 percent
result for the Social Democrats. OGM says the FPOe would win nine
percent of the votes at this point, eight percent according to
Market, and only seven percent according to Gallup. For the Greens
OGM forecasts 10 percent, Market suggests 11 percent and Gallup 12
percent of the votes. Market and Gallup both show a three-percent
result for the BZOe, and OGM expects two percent of support.
Hans-Peter Martin's list could win five percent according OGM and
Market, and four percent according to Gallup, semi-official daily
Wiener Zeitung writes.

New Debate on Tax Reform


3. Finance Minister Karl-Heinz Grasser presented a first draft tax
reform proposal to be implemented by the next Austrian government on
Monday. Proposed measures for the tax cuts of about 3 billion Euros
include reducing top tax brackets. This would require a balanced
national budget and cutting expenses by about four billion Euros,

Grasser stressed.


US Ambassador Reviews Progress Since 9/11 Attacks


4. Speaking in Wels, Upper Austria, on the fifth anniversary of the
September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States, US
Ambassador to Austria Susan McCaw discussed their impact on the US
and its place in the world, and reviewed progress in the struggle
against terrorism.
In her speech, Ambassador McCaw said the September 11 attacks on the
World Trade Center in New York and the Pentagon in Washington
"showed how a single event can change the course of history" and
"forced Americans to take a good, hard look at ourselves and the
world we live in." The United States has revised its immigration
policies, and has also obtained "substantial international
cooperation" in the effort to cut off terrorist financing, Austrian
Press Agency APA quotes Ambassador McCaw. She expressed her
appreciation to Austria for taking steps to strengthen the judicial
system to "identify, freeze and seize terrorist financial assets."
The United States has had to explore "unknown legal territory" where
"legal precedents are not well established" to identify and
prosecute terrorists while ensuring that fundamental citizens'
rights are protected, the Ambassador continued. The Ambassador also
emphasized that global security "is inextricably linked to the
success of freedom and democracy in the Middle East." She concluded:
"We want to work in partnership with nations throughout the world in
ways that will result in greater peace and prosperity, and a better
life for people everywhere.


Gunfire Near US Embassy Damascus


5. The US Embassy in Damascus, Syria, is reported to have come under
attack, with reports of heavy gunfire and explosions.
Sourcing Arab news network Al Arabiya, ORF online news writes that
the well-protected US embassy in the Syrian capital has apparently
been attacked. The Syrian authorities have confirmed the reports at
this point. Several attackers are said to have been killed, ORF
online adds. Relations between Washington and Damascus have been
strained for years. The Bush administration has accused the Syrian
leadership and President Bashar al Assad of supporting extremists in
Iraq, in Lebanon and in the Palestinian territories, ORF online news
explains.

Hamas-Fatah Cooperation


6. Palestinian rival parties Hamas and Fatah are reported to have
struck a deal on forming a national unity government. President
Mahmoud Abbas has announced a government reshuffle within the next
few days. The sudden agreement came in the face of a looming
financial collapse, which weakened Abbas' position.
Palestinians are now hoping the formation of a unity government will
convince international aid donors to end their boycott of the
Palestinian authority. Abbas is expected to dissolve the Hamas-led
government within 48 hours, Austrian media say. Independent
provincial daily Salzburger Nachrichten calls the development an
attempt at "rebooting" progress in the Middle East Palestinian
conflict. A Palestinian political analyst quoted by the daily,
however, is skeptical: "Both sides have often pushed for
rapprochement in the past," he says. "I'll believe the promises
when I see ministers from both sides standing side by side and
taking the oath of office."


Bush Discusses War on Terror


7. US President George W. Bush has marked the fifth anniversary of
the September 11 attacks on the United States with a speech
describing the war on terror as a "struggle for civilization." In a
televised address from the White House, he warned that failing to
face the enemy now would create a new threat in the future.
ORF radio's early morning news Morgenjournal quotes President Bush
as warning that, "if we do not defeat these enemies now, we will
leave our children to face a Middle East overwhelmed by terrorist
states and radical dictators armed with nuclear weapons. We are in a
war that will set the course for this new century and determine the
destiny of millions across the world." Senior Democrats accused
President Bush of using the September 11 anniversary for political
purposes, ORF radio adds.

ORF Washington correspondent Joerg Winter comments: "Bush's address
was aired on prime-time television, with millions of Americans
watching. Once again, the President attempted to rally a nation that
has grown tired of fighting to back his war on terror. This fight
was more than just a military conflict, Bush suggested, adding that
it was the most important ideological battle of the 21st century,
and the most important test for the US since the end of the Cold
War. The war on terror was the requirement for peace and stability
in the Middle East. The President also directly addressed al Qaeda
leader Osama bin Laden, stressing that America's message for him was
clear: No matter how long it takes, America is going to find bin
Laden and bring him to justice."


US Welcomes Progress in Iran dispute


8. The US envoy to the International Atomic Energy Agency has
welcomed progress made by the EU on talks with Iran over its
disputed nuclear program. Speaking at the beginning of an IAEA board
of governors' meeting in Vienna, Ambassador Gregory Schulte said it
was "encouraging" that progress was made, but added Washington still
intends to push for sanctions at the UN Security Council if Tehran
refuses to halt uranium enrichment.


New Al Qaeda Threat


9. On the fifth anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, terrorist
organization al Qaeda released a new video message, which was aired
by US TV network CNN. On what an Austrian tabloid calls a "highly
professional and technically sophisticated" tape, al Qaeda's number
two, Ayman al-Zawahiri, says new attacks are being prepared. He also
called on Muslims worldwide to step up resistance against the US.
Liberal daily Der Standard also reports on the message, and quotes
Ayman al-Zawahiri as claiming that Western leaders were "not aware
of the actual extent of the disaster." The bin Laden deputy's
allusions to the situation in Lebanon suggest the recording is
fairly recent, the daily adds.
McCaw