AUSTRIA: 2006 COUNTRY REPORT ON TERRORISM

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 06 VIENNA 003584 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR S/CT (RHONDA SHORE) AND EUR/AGS (SAINT ANDRE) E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PTER ASEC KCRM KPAO KHLS AEMR EFIN AU SUBJECT: AUSTRIA: 2006 COUNTRY REPORT ON TERRORISM REF: STATE 175925 ¶1. Per reftel, Post is submitting the 2006 Country Report on Terrorism for Austria. Embassy POC for this report is Economic-Political Officer Dayna R. Robison, office phone: 43-1-31339-2196 and email: RobisonDR(at sign)state.gov. Post emailed the updated Intellipedia version of this report to the Department on December 20, 2006. Summary -------------- ¶2. Summary. Austria is a constructive ally in the fight against terrorism. In 2006, it allocated twelve million euros for counterterrorism measures and strengthened its export controls on weapons and dual-use goods. Austria held the EU Presidency during the first half of 2006, and held a series of high-profile talks. In May, Austria hosted a conference of Justice and Interior Ministers from the EU, U.S., and Russia, who signed a declaration to increase cooperation against terrorism. President Bush attended the U.S.-EU Summit in June. Austria has a comprehensive legal framework to combat money laundering and terrorism financing and has achieved compliance with FATF's nine Special Recommendations. In 2006, Austria maintained three police instructors at the Iraqi police academy in Jordan. It has 380 UNDOF peacekeepers in the Golan Heights, seven UNTSO observers in Jerusalem, and four liaison officers at the ISAF headquarters in Kabul. Austria also has troops and police representatives in the Balkans. During 2005 and the first half of 2006, the Interior Ministry stopped nine shipments of dual-use goods that were destined for Iran, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and North Korea. End Summary. General Assessment -------------- ¶3. Austria continues to be a constructive ally in the fight against terrorism and a leader in implementing regional anti-terrorism strategies. It follows a two-tiered strategy of protection and prevention in its fight against terrorism. Terrorist acts are prosecuted in accordance with Austria's general criminal statutes and Austria has a comprehensive legal framework in place to combat money laundering and terrorist financing. ¶4. A top priority for Austria, given current demographic trends in Europe, is to maintain a productive and fruitful intercultural and religious dialogue with its Muslim community, in particular. These and related efforts, such as providing educational, linguistic, and vocational assistance, are part of Austria's strategy to promote social and economic integration, prevent the isolation of ethnic and religious groups, and stop radicalization. ¶5. Austrian authorities believe the likelihood of a terrorist attack in Austria is low. According to a recent poll, only 17 percent of Austrians fear a terrorist attack in Austria. According to a 2006 report on counterterrorism by the Interior Ministry's Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution and for Counterterrorism (BVT),extremists could use Austria for "logistical support activities" in the medium term. The BVT report warns that second and third generation Muslim immigrants, who feel marginalized or are not well-integrated into society, are vulnerable to radicalization. ¶6. As a percentage of the population, Austria has the second largest share of Muslims in its population of all EU members, behind France. There are approximately 340,000 Muslim citizens or legal residents in Austria, or 4.2 percent of the population, according to a 2001 census. The government views the Austrian Muslim community as moderate and highly cooperative. Resident Austrian Muslims are primarily of Turkish (about 120,000) and Bosnian (about 50,000) descent. According to the census, the largest concentrations of Muslims are in the Austrian province of Vorarlberg (8.4 percent) and in Vienna (7.8 percent),which is home to one third of the Austrian Muslim population. Austria is also home to approximately 16,500 Chechen refugees. A controversial study published by the Interior Ministry in May 2006 claimed that 45 percent of Muslims living in Austria are unwilling to integrate. ¶7. During its Presidency of the European Union from January to July 2006, Austria encouraged the Member States to implement the EU's anti-terrorism agenda. Key objectives include improving efforts against terrorism financing, improving the exchange of law enforcement information within VIENNA 00003584 002 OF 006 the EU, and strengthening EUROPOL. In May, Austria hosted a ministerial conference on "The Role of Internal Security in Relations Between the EU and Its Neighbors." The participants, including U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales and Department of Homeland Security Deputy Secretary Michael P. Jackson, signed the "Vienna Declaration on Security Partnership." This document called for increased cooperation in the fight against terrorism, organized crime, corruption, and illegal migration and the need to further develop the dialogue between religions and cultures. ¶8. In May, the Austrian Presidency presented a media communications strategy for preventing radicalization and recruitment at the bi-annual U.S.-EU dialogue on counterterrorism. In June, President Bush, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, and other senior U.S. officials attended the U.S.-EU Summit in Vienna. Counterterrorism discussions focused on the implementation of biometric standards and on preventing terrorist financing, radicalization, and recruitment. ¶9. Austria continues to promote inter-cultural dialogue as an integral part of its counter-terrorism strategy. In April, the government hosted the second European Conference of Imams in Vienna. In May, the Austrian government convened a "Dialogue Between Cultures and Religions" for high-ranking government and religious leaders from around the world. The government is planning a follow-up conference on Islam in April 2007. That conference will focus on the role of women. ¶10. Austrian officials remain highly responsive to U.S. requests for proliferation-related interventions, both diplomatically and in terms of concrete law enforcement action. During the reporting period, government agencies continued to sensitize customs officials and the business community to proliferation-related trading schemes, and encouraged intensified monitoring of commercial shipments. ¶11. In November, terrorism hit closer to home in Austria when Iraqi insurgents kidnapped a Kuwait-based Austrian contract worker, who was accompanying a food convoy on its way to the Iraqi city of Nassiriya. Sanctuary Assessment/Terrorist Groups -------------- ¶12. Austria is not a known sanctuary for terrorist groups. The BVT closely monitors the movements in Austria of individuals they suspect of having terrorist connections. The BVT stepped up surveillance on a number of suspected Islamic extremists, following the July 2005 terrorist attacks in London. Such suspects mostly adhere to the radical views of terrorist organizations in Egypt, Iraq, Pakistan, and Turkey. In 2006, the BVT continued to monitor four radical imams. However, Austrian authorities maintain that radicalized Muslims do not pose an immediate security threat in Austria and assess their threat potential as low compared to other groups in Europe. Austria's official Muslim community has condemned terrorist attacks in Europe and continues to support ongoing inter-religious dialogue in Austria. ¶13. In 2005, Austria introduced stricter immigration laws to strengthen enforcement of the 2003 Dublin Convention. This discourages "asylum shopping" and allows the government to return serial asylum seekers to the EU country where they first applied for asylum. The new law includes tighter counterterrorism measures against foreign visa holders, who are suspected of having terrorist links, of sympathizing with terrorist acts, or engaging in extremist preaching or incitement. During the first half of 2006, Austrian Interior Minister Liese Prokop confirmed that the number of asylum applicants dropped 32 percent as a result of the new law. Meanwhile, authorities have noted an increase in applicants attempting to conceal their transit routes through the EU. ¶14. In Spring 2006, the BVT responded to press allegations that it failed to arrest a key suspect in the 2004 Madrid terrorist bombings, who attempted to enter Austria in April ¶2004. The BVT clarified that Austrian border police questioned Abdelmajid Bouchard of Morocco after he illegally tried to enter Austria from Hungary. The border police subsequently deported him to Hungary because there was no international arrest warrant for him at that time. ¶15. There were few violent incidents this year in Austria and the authorities attributed most of the incidents to individuals with right wing, xenophobic, or anti-American tendencies. These resulted in minor property damage, but no VIENNA 00003584 003 OF 006 causalities. In June, police discovered four fake bombs in Vienna's first district prior to the visit by President Bush. Domestic Counterterrorism Actions -------------- ¶16. In 2005, Austria introduced a legislative package that earmarked 105 million euros for terrorism prevention measures and research through the year 2013. It allocated twelve million euros for 2006. ¶17. In March 2006, Austria amended its export control legislation to further restrict transfers of chemicals, software, and weapons, and to prevent these sensitive dual-use goods from falling into the terrorist hands. This action further harmonizes Austrian law with EU and multilateral export control regimes. ¶18. During 2005 and the first half of 2006, the Interior Ministry investigated 921 suspected cases of nonproliferation and stopped nine shipments of dual-use goods that were destined for Iran, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and North Korea. This included a friction-testing device for Iran that was disguised as a pharmaceutical shipment. In December 2006, according to press reports, Austrian authorities were investigating the Graz-based firm Daniel Frosch Export (DFE) on allegations that it delivered accelerators, capacitors, and condensers to Iran's nuclear program. ¶19. In August, an Austrian news magazine reported that the Interior Ministry's Threat Response Center dissolved a Vienna-based Islamic terror cell in December 2005. The cell reportedly consisted of five Pakistani men with Austrian citizenship. Reports alleged that they had connections to the terrorists responsible for the failed 2006 attacks in London. ¶20. October 2006, an Austrian administrative court rejected an appeal by convicted terrorist Mohammed Abdul (a.k.a. Adel Sayed Mohammed Abdel) of Egypt to renew his asylum status. Authorities in Egypt believe Abdul has ties to the Al-Qa'ida leadership. An Egyptian military tribunal twice convicted and sentenced him, in absentia, to death for terrorist activities. Abdul's status in Austria, however, remains unclear. Austria subscribes to the Geneva Human Rights Convention and is unlikely to deport Abdul to Egypt or to any country with the death penalty. Efforts Against Terrorist Financing and Money Laundering -------------- -------------- ¶21. Disrupting terrorist financing is an integral part of Austria's counterterrorism strategy. Austria has a comprehensive legal framework in place -- in the Austrian Code of Criminal Procedure, Associations Act, Banking Act, and Customs Law -- to combat money laundering and terrorism financing. Austria is a member of the Financial Action Task Force Against Money Laundering (FATF),and has implemented and achieved a good level of copliance with all of FATF's nine Special Recommenations. These measures require financial institutions and related professionals (e.g. lawyers, notaries, real estate agents, accountants, casino owners, etc.) to disclose uspicious financial transactions and overseas trnsfers of financial payments. Austria requires all financial transfer and foreign exchange busineses to obtain a license from the Financial Market Authority, and has outlawed hawala banking. 22 Austria closely follows EU policies to fight terorist financing. Austria actively participates i the EU Clearinghouse mechanism, which designate terrorist financiers under UNSCR 1373. During 2006, Austria fulfilled its obligations to freeze assets, pursuant to UNSC resolutions and EU Clearinghouse designations, but did not initiate any freezing actions independently. In 2006, the government began to implement the EU Third Money Laundering Directive, which will make changes to several laws to further tighten disclosure requirements on entities that are involved in financial transactions. ¶23. In May 2006, Austria signed the Council of Europe Convention on the Prevention of Terrorism (ETS No. 196) and the Convention on Laundering, Search, Seizure, and Confiscation for the Proceeds from Crime and on the Financing of Terrorism (ETS No. 198). The government is working on ratifying these agreements as well as the amended Convention on the Suppression of Terrorism (ETS No. 190),which Austria signed in May 2003. VIENNA 00003584 004 OF 006 ¶24. In 2004, the Austrian Financial Intelligence Unit and the BVT received 24 reports of suspected terrorist financing transactions. These did not result in any convictions. Figures for 2005 and 2006 are not yet available. ¶25. In 2004, according to the most recent statistics, money laundering investigators in Austria received over 1,500 reports and subsequently reported criminal offenses to the police in 147 cases. Austria also froze accounts worth 27.9 million euros in 2004, according to press reporting, because of money laundering suspicions. Money laundering in Austria has connections primarily to fraud and to other criminal activity, such as drug smuggling and human trafficking. ¶26. In April, the Austrian EU Presidency hosted a joint EU-Gulf countries cooperation seminar in Brussels on Combating Terrorist Financing. Some 100 participants attended from the EU, U.S., Bahrain, Kuwait, UAE, Oman, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia. The agenda focused on strengthening international cooperation among financial intelligence units, non-profit organizations, and formal and informal banking systems. ¶27. In June, Austria hosted a U.S.-EU workshop on terrorist financing. Approximately 120 representatives from the U.S., EU member state governments, and the private financial sector participated in the conference. The meeting focused on identifying best practices for ensuring private sector compliance with financial sanctions. Austria identified two issues at the conference for future action: the need to establish a private sector advisory group in connection with the UN, and the need to establish best practice guidelines for government officials, who work on sanctions implementation. International Cooperation -------------- ¶28. Austria continued to make modest, but important contributions to stability in the Middle East and Afghanistan. In 2006, Austria maintained three instructors to train Iraqi police at the International Police Training Center in Jordan. Austria has 380 UNDOF peacekeepers in the Golan Heights and seven UNTSO/UNIFIL observers working out of Jerusalem. Four Austrian liaison officers currently serve in the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) headquarters in Kabul. ¶29. Austria continued efforts to intensify international police cooperation within the "Salzburg Forum," a recurring meeting of regional Interior Ministers from Austria, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland, Hungary, and Italy. Austria further maintained its lead role in the EU Central Asian Border Security Initiative (CABSI) and in the Vienna Initiative on Central Asia (VICA) project. These programs provide funding, equipment, and technical expertise to strengthen border security and reduce trafficking of illicit goods in Central Asia. ¶30. In December 2006, Austria finalized the Treaty of Pruem (also dubbed "Schengen III") and was one of the first EU countries to grant access to its police database to the six other EU countries that are party to the Treaty. The signatories hope that access to this information, which includes DNA, fingerprints, and vehicle data, will help identify terrorism suspects. ¶31. Achieving peace and stability in the Western Balkans is a continuing, key goal of Austria's foreign policy. At the end of 2006, Austria maintained 579 peacekeepers in Kosovo (KFOR). An additional 30 Austrian police officers operated in the area under UNMIK. Austria has 311 troops in Bosnia (EUFOR). In June, Austria convened a three-day workshop of experts from Europe, the Western Balkans, Russia, the United Nations Office of Drugs and Crime (UNODC),and the U.S. to discuss strategies for fighting drug trafficking along the Balkan route. ¶32. In May, Austria participated in Operation Combined Endeavor, an annual multilateral military exercise that the U.S. European Command sponsors. The exercise focused on achieving C4 (command, control, communications, and computers) interoperability among nations. ¶33. Austria participates in all major non-proliferation regimes, including the Australia Group, the Wassenaar Arrangement (with headquarters in Vienna),and the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR). Vienna is the seat of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and is a VIENNA 00003584 005 OF 006 "major donor" to the UNODC, with an annual pledge of approximately $500,000. Cooperation with the U.S. -------------- ¶34. Austria hosted several high-profile meetings on counterterrorism with senior U.S. officials during its EU Presidency. In May, Austria hosted U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales and Department of Homeland Security Deputy Secretary Michael P. Jackson at a meeting of Justice and SIPDIS Interior Ministers from the EU and Russia. In May, Austria also co-chaired the biannual U.S.-EU dialogue on counterterrorism (COTER),where it presented a media communications strategy to counter terrorist radicalization and recruitment. In June, President Bush, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, and other senior U.S. officials visited Vienna for the U.S.-EU Summit. Central themes of the Summit included securing international borders, developing biometric standards, and preventing WMD proliferation, terrorist financing, and radicalization and recruitment. ¶35. Austrian authorities continue to react quickly and competently to U.S. requests for protection of U.S. facilities and personnel in the country. The Regional Security Office (RSO) enjoys a strong working relationship with Austrian police intelligence units concerning potential terrorist threats against USG personnel and facilities in Austria. The degree of support and assistance that the Austrian authorities provided during the visits of President Bush and Secretary of State Rice in June 2006 reinforced the strength of this relationship. RSO also has a functional liaison with the Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical Defense Unit of the Austrian Army for timely support in the event of a nuclear, chemical, or biological attack on Embassy facilities. Austrian authorities routinely provide appropriate and quick security support in connection with anti-U.S. demonstrations near the embassy. In 2006, demonstrators near the Embassy mainly protested the war in Iraq, allegations of torture in U.S. military prisons, and globalization. ¶36. Post's Legal Attach Office (Legat) has an excellent working relationship with its Austrian counterparts and continues to nominate and facilitate training for Austrian officials at the FBI National Academy. In February 2006, the director of Austria's Federal Criminal Office (BKA) met with FBI officers in Washington, San Diego, and New York to discuss counterterrorism, homeland security, and transnational organized crime. In April, the Legat hosted a terrorist finance seminar in Budapest for EU law enforcement services, including the Austrian BVT. In October, Austria's Deputy Director for National Security attended a two-week leadership course at the FBI. ¶37. The DHS/ICE office in Vienna also continues to work closely with Austrian law enforcement authorities on joint investigations, including in the areas of money laundering and preventing the transfer of WMD and licensable technology through the region. With direct flights between Vienna and the United States, the ICE office works with Austrian border control officials on passport and identity fraud issues on almost a daily basis. ¶38. Austria's view toward the HSPD-6 Initiative regarding the exchange of terrorist screening data remains positive. Talks with the U.S. progressed this year on concluding a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). In November 2006, a team from the Department of State and the Department of Homeland Security's Terrorist Screening Center visited the Ministry of Interior to discuss the proposed MOU. Austria prefers a simple agreement that would not be legally binding or require Parliamentary approval. Data protection is another concern, especially regarding information sharing with third countries. Austrian officials fear that a new agreement will jeopardize the level of good cooperation that already exists with the U.S. for sharing this information. ¶39. Sharing passenger name record (PNR) data has traditionally been a sensitive issue for Austria because of data privacy concerns. Austria reluctantly supports the EU's draft PNR agreement, but does not actively advocate broadening its scope. ¶40. In February, Austria pledged to implement the EU directive on telecommunications data retention. However, Austria extended the implementation period to 36 months to allow small internet providers time to make the necessary technical changes. VIENNA 00003584 006 OF 006 Renditions Allegations -------------- ¶41. In November 2006, a report by the EU Parliament on suspected U.S. renditions in Europe criticized Austria for not cooperating with its investigation into the possible kidnappings of an Egyptian physician in 2002, and an East African computer specialist in early 2003. Both were long-term residents of Austria. The report alleges that U.S. authorities abducted the men. Under scrutiny from the media throughout 2006, the Austrian foreign ministry stressed that it repeatedly addressed the issue of renditions with the U.S., including during the June 2006 U.S.-EU Summit in Vienna. Austria supports the EU position that international law and human rights standards must be respected and that illegal renditions are unacceptable. During the Summit, Austria also called on the U.S. to close the Guantanamo military prison. The Road Ahead -------------- ¶42. The U.S. will continue to support Austrian counterterrorism efforts, deepen law enforcement cooperation, and promote a better understanding of U.S. counterterrorism policy in Austria. Facilitating meetings of U.S. and Austrian authorities and sponsoring public speaking events on counterterrorism-related topics remain top priorities. Post will continue the successful trend of working with Austrian law enforcement officials to prevent the transfer of armaments and of sensitive dual-use technologies through the region. MCCAW