AUSTRIAN MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS: November 20, 2006

UNCLAS VIENNA 003373

SIPDIS

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: November 20, 2006


Is Schuessel Planning Coalition Rerun?


1. Austrian media speculate that Chancellor Wolfgang Schuessel may
be planning a continuation of the OeVP-FPOe coalition. Following his
"amicable" talks with Freedom Party leader Heinz-Christian Strache
last week, the Conservatives could be exploring the possibility of
forming a three-party government with the FPOe and the BZOe, should
the grand coalition with the SPOe fall through.
Like several Austrian media, mass-circulation tabloid Oesterreich
speculates about a potential "OeVP-FPOe coalition comeback,"
following a meeting last week between Chancellor Wolfgang Schuesssl
and Freedom Party boss Heinz-Christian Strache. While Interior
Minister Liese Prokop stated that the OeVP had "a lot more in common
with the FPOe" that with the Social Democrats on a number of issues,
such as Austria's immigration policy, both party leaders have tried
to downplay their "amicable" meeting as "nothing out of the
ordinary." The Schuessel-Strache one-on-one has nevertheless boosted
speculation that the Chancellor and his party could be working
behind the scenes toward re-establishing an OeVP-FPOe-BZOe
government. BZOe leader Peter Westhenthaler has said such a
coalition would be "an interesting project." While some OeVP
representatives are reportedly "relieved" about their party's
rapprochement with the Freedom Party and the BZOe, the Social
Democrats are watching developments with considerable suspicion.


OeVP Finance Minister?


2. The post of finance minister would be a key position in a grand
coalition, both the SPOe and the OeVP emphasized in recent weeks.
SPOe secretary general Norbert Darabos said on ORF TV that an OeVP
Finance Minister was "conceivable" for the Social Democrats - "as
long as it is not Karl-Heinz Grasser."
Speaking on ORF TV's Sunday night panel discussion program Offen
gesagt, SPOe secretary general Norbert Darabos said that, for a
grand coalition, his party was willing to compromise on some key
portfolios including the finance minister's, provided the OeVP's
choice was not incumbent Karl-Heinz Grasser. According to ORF online
news, however, Grasser as finance minister does not appear to be a
basic condition for the OeVP, either. The Conservatives could
therefore be willing to "sacrifice" Grasser in return for keeping
the highly important ministry of finance.


Interview with Ambassador McCaw


3. US Ambassador to Austria Susan McCaw gave an interview to the
online version of a leading Austrian daily, discussing US President
George Bush's past six years in office, possible mid-term election
fallout, and the 2008 US presidential elections.
In an interview published in liberal daily Der Standard online, US
Ambassador to Austria Susan McCaw says the "Bush presidency has been
marked by the war on terror. Of course, terrorism existed before
President Bush assumed office, but September 11 had far-reaching
consequences on his term of office, and on our country. It has
changed the way we see the world." Marked by 9/11 and terrorism,
President Bush's presidency will in time been remembered for his
commitment to facing these threats, Ambassador McCaw explains,
adding that it will "take generations to understand the impact of
President Bush's strategic leadership." The mid-term elections were
a "call on the part of the American people for a government that
works with both parties in Congress, something that is not out of
the ordinary for the US." On "shooting star" Barack Obama, the
Ambassador says that is would be "fantastic to have an African
American as US president. It says a lot about our country. I believe
he is a very capable, qualified young man."
For full interview in German go to : http://derstandard.at/ ?
Politik ? International ? USA ? "Ein Afro-Amerikaner als Praesident
waere grossartig"


Former US Ambassador Presents New Book


4. Former US Ambassador to Austria Swanee Hunt has presented her new
book, the autobiographical Half-Life of a Zealot, in which she
reveals details about her ambassadorship in Vienna.
Mass-circulation tabloid Oesterreich in its Life&Day supplement
reports on the presentation in New York recently of former US
Ambassador to Austria Swanee Hunt's autobiography. Following her
ambassadorship in Austria, Hunt has emerged as a leading figure in
the global movement for boosting women's rights, the paper says.
She is also said to have good chances for a career in politics, the
tabloid speculates: Hunt has been suggested as a candidate for a top
cabinet position, should Hillary Clinton succeed in making it to the
Oval Office, according to Oesterreich. In her book, Hunt discusses
her career as Ambassador in Austria, her encounters with a number of
leading Austrians at that time, and her commitment to women's
rights, among other topics.


Saddam Trial Flawed?


5. A leading human rights organization says the trial of former
Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein was flawed and that the death sentence
should be set aside. Human Rights Watch released an extensive report
after ten months of observation.
ORF radio early morning news Morgenjournal says a recent report by
Human Rights Watch claims the Saddam Hussein trial was flawed. The
international human rights group says the flaws include the regular
failure to disclose key evidence to the defense in advance, and
violations of the basic right of the defense to confront prosecution
witnesses. A spokesperson for Human Rights Watch is quoted as saying
it was a "fundamental misstep to put the burden of conducting this
complex, highly-charged trial onto the backs of judges and lawyers
who did not have the experience for conducting these kinds of
trials." The Iraqi government responded by saying the trial had been
open and fair.


New Iraq Strategy?


6. An Austrian tabloid says the Bush administration could be
contemplating a change of course in its Iraq strategy: Allegedly,
the US is going to attempt a last concerted effort to stabilize the
country, before it begins to withdraw its troops.
Mass-circulation tabloid Kronen Zeitung says Washington's revised
strategy for Iraq includes: Deploying an additional 20,000 US
troops to the country to support the 140,000 already stationed there
in securing order in Baghdad after four years of chaos, after which
the US would withdraw; holding a regional peace conference with the
participation of neighboring states Syria, Saudi Arabia, Iran and
Jordan, aimed at pacifying these countries' borders with Iraq and at
dissolving the private armies operating in Iraq supported mainly by
Syria and Iran; and allocating an additional $60 billion for the
build-up of Iraq's military, which - according to the Kronen Zeitung
- is key to setting up an authoritarian military government as an
alternative to the current corrupt civilian administration.


Moscow Heading for WTO Membership


7. At the APEC summit in Vietnam, Russia and the US signed an
agreement aimed at securing Moscow's membership in the World Trade
Organization. The "historic" deal has brought Russia a lot closer to
reaching its goal of joining the WTO.
Austrian media reporting on the APEC summit in Vietnam say that
although it is not clear at this point when exactly Russia will join
the WTO, after signing a bilateral agreement on the issue with the
US, the deal is nonetheless a major political success for Vladimir
Putin.
Meanwhile, on ORF radio's Morgenjournal, commentator Sybille Rothe
analyzes the summit: "One issue clearly stood out among the many
topics on the agenda at the APEC summit: the deadlocked Doha Round.
Representatives from the Pacific states appealed for a resumption of
the talks, announcing they would make new concessions regarding the
cutting of trade barriers in the agrarian sector, and calling on
their trading partners - including the EU - to support their
strategy. On the political level, North Korea was at the top of the
agenda, though the Pacific states only verbally denounced
Pyongyang's nuclear tests. A disappointing result for US President
Bush, who ahead of the summit had assumed that a joint resolution on
the issue would be passed. China and Russia made sure the statement
on North Korea was not part of the official wrap-up communiqu. The
two countries want to limit the political pressure on Pyongyang.
Washington also failed to push its agenda with regard to terrorism:
there were no new initiatives; merely a commitment to vigilance from
the participants."
McCaw