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