AUSTRIA: DEMARCHE ON RUSSIA-UKRAINE GAS

C O N F I D E N T I A L VIENNA 000322 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/02/2016 TAGS: ENRG ECON AU SUBJECT: AUSTRIA: DEMARCHE ON RUSSIA-UKRAINE GAS NEGOTIATIONS REF: STATE 17066 Classified By: Economic-Political Counselor Gregory E. Phillips for reasons 1.5 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) Econ Unit Chief and PolOff delivered reftel talking points February 2 to Hannes Porias, Assistant Secretary-level Head of the MFA's Central and Eastern Europe Division. Porias noted that the GoA remained concerned with energy security issues in light of the early January gas crisis. He noted that the Austrian Presidency had reacted quickly and in coordination with the EU to stabilize the situation. Porias did not comment on our request to join the USG in approaching the Ukrainian Government to highlight the non-transparent nature of the RUE gas deal. He undertook to share USG concerns within the GoA and to develop a more detailed response. McCaw