Identifier | Created | Classification | Origin |
---|---|---|---|
07VIENNA1260 | 2007-05-14 12:50:00 | UNCLASSIFIED | Embassy Vienna |
VZCZCXYZ0010 PP RUEHWEB DE RUEHVI #1260/01 1341250 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 141250Z MAY 07 FM AMEMBASSY VIENNA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7301 RUEKJCS/OSD WASHDC PRIORITY RHEHAAA/WHITEHOUSE WASHDC PRIORITY |
UNCLAS VIENNA 001260 |
1. Vice-Chancellor and Finance Minister Wilhelm Molterer (OeVP) will appear before the parliamentary investigative committee looking into the Austrian Eurofighter purchase today. Topping the agenda are once again the interceptor deal's tax files, large parts of which were redacted by the Finance Ministry before they were handed over to the Eurofighter committee. Like all Austrian media, liberal daily Der Standard continues to report on the controversial Eurofighter purchase and comments on the "war of nerves between the governing parties SPOe and OeVP" over the issue. Shortly before the planned delivery on May 23 of the first interceptors to Austria, accusations continue to fly regarding the alleged payment of bribes, the quarrel over the tax files and other documents, and the dispute over a quality control test Defense Minister Norbert Darabos (SPOe) believes the planes will fail. The parliamentary investigative committee is meanwhile going to question Finance Minister Wilhelm Molterer (OeVP) on the redacted sections of the Eurofighter tax files, and will also hear the statements of constitutional law experts Bernd-Christian Funk and Theo Oehlinger on the matter. Fischer Calls For Decision on Kosovo 2. As Austria is preparing to provide another 200 troops to Kosovo for the planned EU rapid reaction force, President Heinz Fischer, on an official visit to Cyprus, called for a common solution to the situation. Fischer, along with Tassos Papadopoulos, his Cypriote counterpart, met to discuss the Kosovo question and other topics last week. The Austrian President will arrive in Greece today for a two-day official visit. Semi-official daily Wiener Zeitung reported on President Heinz Fischer's "visit to the divided country Cyprus." Opinions on the future status of Kosovo differ, as Cyprus is far more skeptical than Austria with regard to the UN plan, which envisages a form of controlled independence for the Serbian province. Cyprus is concerned that the Kosovo could "serve as an example for the Turkish-Cypriote northern part of the island," President Papadopoulos indicated in a meeting with his Austrian counterpart. Fischer, meanwhile, described the Kosovo question as an "unsolved problem" and that the EU is pushing for a joint position on the issue. Rice in Moscow for Talks 3. US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is traveling to Russia for talks with President Vladimir Putin amid growing tensions between Moscow and Washington. The Kremlin has expressed its strong opposition to US efforts to extend its missile defense shield in Europe, and has also attacked Washington's backing for Kosovo's independence. For her part, Condoleezza Rice has criticized democratic setbacks in Russia. According to mass-circulation tabloid Oesterreich, the US Secretary of State is hoping to improve the strained relations between Washington and Moscow with her visit to Russia. Her meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin "won't be an easy task," however, the daily believes. NATO Confirms Taliban Leader's Death 4. NATO officials have confirmed that Mullah Dadullah, the Taliban's top operational commander in Southern Afghanistan, was killed during a clash between Western and Afghan forces. His body was shown to reporters in Kandahar, and Taliban sources confirmed the death after initial denials. Dadullah's death is the heaviest blow so far to the Taliban insurgents, Austrian media say. Like all Austrian media, independent provincial daily Salzburger Nachrichten reported on Mullah Dadullah's death, which "may have brought the NATO forces in Afghanistan considerably closer to their goal to take out or capture as many radical Taliban leaders as possible this year." The NATO generals are "hoping that without its radical top leadership, the Taliban militias might be more willing to come to the conference table and participate in a serious debate on how to end the ongoing conflict," the Salzburger Nachrichten explained. In contrast, terrorism expert Rolf Tophoven told mass-circulation tabloid Oesterreich: "We know from experience that both with al Qaeda and with the Taliban the top functionaries will be replaced quickly." Nevertheless, the expert argued, Mullah Dadullah's death is "a heavy blow to the Taliban, and a psychological success for NATO." Suicide Bombings in Iraq 5. At least 45 people have been killed and dozens wounded by a suicide truck bombing in Makhmur in northern Iraq. It was the second suicide attack in the mainly Kurdish area in the past week. In Baghdad, at least ten people died and more than 40 were wounded when a car bomb exploded near a market in a predominantly Shiite district. Meanwhile, thousands of American troops have been searching for three US soldiers missing in Iraq after an attack on their convoy on Sunday. Meanwhile, ORF radio early morning news Morgenjournal reported that the United States and Iran intend to hold direct talks on the security situation in Iraq. Commentator Elisa Vass explained that both the US and Iran "want a stable Iraq and a strong government in Baghdad. Their influence could be decisive for improving the situation" in Iraq. Tehran and Washington have not had direct diplomatic relations for about 25 years, so the announcement of direct talks "must be considered a positive sign." Vass also argued that although "both sides have emphasized they are not going to discuss any topics beyond Iraq, and that the Iranian nuclear ambitions or the US-Iranian relations are not going to be on the agenda, we can expect the talks to be difficult." But whatever the results of these talks, the primary representatives for the daily and disastrous attacks in Iraq these days must be sought among the Sunnis, and neither the US nor Iran have any influence to speak of on that particular group," the commentator concluded. Kilner |