AUSTRIANS WARY BUT NONCOMMITTAL ON VENEZUELA'S

C O N F I D E N T I A L VIENNA 000578 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR IO/UNP HARRIS, WHA/PPC YONEOKA, AND EUR/PGI E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/22/2016 TAGS: PREL PHUM UNSC GT VE EUN AU SUBJECT: AUSTRIANS WARY BUT NONCOMMITTAL ON VENEZUELA'S UNSC BID REF: STATE 20173 Classified By: Political-Economic Counselor Gregory E. Phillips Reasons: 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) Ambassador demarched MFA Secretary General Johannes Kyrle regarding Venezuela's bid for a UN Security Council seat on the margins of a dinner she hosted for him on February 9. Pol Unit Chief met with MFA A/S for International Organizations Helmut Boeck on February 16 to follow up. Boeck said that while the GoA well understood our problems with Venezuela's candidacy, the GoA could not openly take a position on the matter before the May 2006 EU-Latin American summit Austria will host in Vienna. Otherwise, a contentious debate on this topic might overshadow the Summit. Even if the GOA strategy allowed it to divulge its views, Boeck also feared complications for Austria's own candidacy for a non-permanent UNSC seat in 2009-10. As Austria tallies up its potential votes, Boeck said, the GoA would appreciate an indication of support from its "friend and ally," the United States. He took our point, however that the U.S. would not yet be focused on the 2009-10 Security Council. ¶2. (C) COMMENT: Boeck implied that Austria viewed Guatemala's candidacy favorably and did not appear to be trying to swap votes for Security Council seats. On the other hand, he rather pointedly said that Austria was "taking a page from the U.S. book" by remaining guarded about commitments for support. McCaw