AUSTRIAN MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS: September 21, 2006

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 VIENNA 002823 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 21, 2006 Greens - BZOe TV Debate ¶1. Greens leader Alexander Van der Bellen and BZOe boss Peter Westenthaler clash over immigration policy during Wednesday's televised debate. ORF online news notes that in last night's TV debate, Greens leader Alexander Van der Bellen and BZOe boss Peter Westenthaler "refused to agree on a single issue." The Greens leader dismissed the BZOe's foreigner and immigration policy plan to force up to 300,000 non-Austrian nationals to leave the country as a "deportation program," and as an attempt to "profit through fear." Westenthaler, in turn, accused the Greens of being "leftist extremists hiding behind their leader portraying himself as the absent-minded professor." OeVP - SPOe Debate ¶2. Expectations are high ahead of tonight's TV debate between the two candidates for the chancellorship - OeVP leader Wolfgang Schuessel and SPOe chairperson Alfred Gusenbauer. The debate will be aired live on ORF TV channel II at 21:10 CET tonight. Newly established Austrian daily Oesterreich labels tonight's televised debate between OeVP leader Wolfgang Schuessel and SPOe chairperson Alfred Gusenbauer as the "political showdown of the candidates for the chancellorship," and the "TV highlight in the run-up to the elections." Experts agree that the debate is "unlikely to be as tough and confrontational" as some of the previous ones, but it could be "Gusenbauer's final opportunity to boost his chances." The daily analyses the two candidates' strengths and weaknesses: The SPOe leader is "convincing when it comes to explaining political concepts; perseveres even in long, drawn-out campaigns; can take hits without stumbling; and is considered an intellectual." Gusenbauer's weaknesses, according to Oesterreich are that he is "not a charismatic speaker and politician; uses exaggerated explanations and examples; and is not close enough to the people." Schuessel, on the other hand, is seen as "the most convincing speaker by far; articulates perfectly and at the right speed; is absolutely credible; and is a strong leader." The chancellor's weaknesses, according to the daily, are that he is "neither spontaneous nor cordial; never lively enough; and too inaccessible." Bawag Indictment Complete ¶3. State prosecutors in Vienna are reported to have completed their list of indictments in the Bawag case. Charges are expected to be served next week and are expected to include investment banker Wolfgang Floettl and former Bawag boss Helmut Elsner, ORF radio early morning news Morgenjournal says. GMO Rice ¶4. Traces of genetically modified rice of a strain not approved for sale or consumption in Europe have been found in three rice products imported to Austria from the US and China, says liberal daily Der Standard. Plassnik on Mideast ¶5. Austrian Foreign Minister Ursula Plassnik, currently attending the UN General Assembly in New York, has urged the continuation of the Mideast peace process. Plassnik and her German counterpart Frank-Walter Steinmeier have urged a re-launch of the Mideast quartet. The EU foreign ministers met with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Tuesday to discuss progress in the Palestinian government dialogue. The EU is also planning to urge a meeting between Abbas and Israeli Premier Ehud Olmert. In addition, Plassnik intends to hold talks with her counterparts from Syria and Iran later this week. However, instead of such individual initiatives, the Austrian Foreign Minister is pushing for the reactivation of the Mideast Quartet as a "coordination mechanism" for the region's peace process, writes semi-official daily Wiener Zeitung. Thus, the Quartet could not only be revived, but also be given extended responsibilities, Plassnik believes. Ahmadinejad at UNGA ¶6. The US and Iran appeared irreconcilable at the UN General Assembly. In his address yesterday, Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad accused the United States and Britain of abusing the UN Security Council as an instrument for threats in order to further their own agenda. The Iranian President also emphasized his country's right to the peaceful use of nuclear technology. Mass-circulation daily Kurier also quotes Ahmadinejad as attacking the US: America had "abused nuclear technology to build atomic bombs and has a bleak record of using them against humanity," the Iranian leader complained. Foreign affairs writer for independent daily Der Standard Julia Raabe comments: "In view of the issues which the world will have to deal with in the future, a strong UN Security Council is more necessary than ever before. Therefore Kofi Annan is right in insisting that reform plans must not be abandoned. A democratically organized and globally respected Security Council would put even heads of state such as Ahmadinejad or Hugo Chavez in their place - or at least make it more difficult for them to score points with their populist 'we against the imperialists' slogans at the cost of the United Nations." Outrage over Chavez at UNGA ¶7. Mass-circulation tabloid Kronen Zeitung reports that Venezuela's leader Hugo Chavez called US President George Bush "the devil" and the US the "greatest threat for our planet" in a speech at the United Nations General Assembly. All Quiet in Thailand after Coup ¶8. The situation in Thailand is quiet following Tuesday's military coup there. The country's King Bhumibol has meanwhile officially declared his support for the rebels, whose leader, Gen. Sonthi Boonyaratglin, has promised he will appoint a new prime minister within two weeks. Both Europe and the US have condemned Tuesday's coup in Thailand. The Finnish Presidency of the EU demanded that military forces give way to the democratically elected government. The White House has meanwhile urged coup leaders to keep their promise to hold elections. However, there was no demand for deposed Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra to be returned to power, ORF radio early morning news Morgenjournal reports. Foreign affairs writer for independent daily Salzburger Nachrichten Willi Germund comments: "Thaksin has provoked his own downfall. Once again, the old truism which holds that Thailand's Prime Ministers are elected in the country's provinces, but are toppled by the people of Bangkok has proved correct. This was possible through a kind of 'feudal conspiracy' of the generals, the King, the economic elite and a middle class that does not trust the voters in the provinces because it holds them to have 'insufficient education.' As long as this anti-democratic attitude does not change, there will be no stable democracy in Thailand." McCaw