AUSTRIAN MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS: May 18, 2007

UNCLAS VIENNA 001307 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: OPRC KPAO AU SUBJECT: AUSTRIAN MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS: May 18, 2007 OeVP Attacks Darabos ¶1. The People's Party's defense and military spokesperson Walter Murauer has accused Social Democratic Defense Minister Norbert Darabos of "working against the military." In his efforts to cancel the Eurofighter deal, the Minister has "neglected his responsibilities," and is "only working towards maneuvering Austria's armed forces into a situation with potentially disastrous results," Murauer complained. Darabos' "lack of activity" even threatens the army's effectiveness in disaster relief missions, said Murauer. Like several Austrian media, mass-circulation tabloid Kronen Zeitung reported on the People's Party's recent attacks against Defense Minister Norbert Darabos from the SPOe. The Social Democrats have meanwhile dismissed OeVP military spokesperson Walter Murauer's criticism of the Defense Minister, with SPOe military spokesperson Anton Gaal countering that Darabos has "taken on a difficult legacy from the OeVP defense ministers, who left behind such a huge mess." On top of that, "Darabos is being criticized for his efforts to realize a reduction of Eurofighter costs," when it "would be the in the taxpayers' interest for the OeVP to contribute to a more inexpensive solution for Austria's airspace surveillance," Gaal complained. Will the Coalition Hold? ¶2. An Austrian tabloid speculates that the SPOe-SPOe government could crash and the People's Party might already be making plans for early elections. At a "clandestine OeVP meeting," the OeVP leadership is allegedly drawing up scenarios for a vote in fall. Mass-circulation tabloid Oesterrreich suggests that since late April, the OeVP's election strategists and party leadership have been discussing plans for potential early elections. The daily believes that the coalition government's days are numbered, should the SPOe succeed in canceling the Eurofighter deal this summer. That is why Conservatives' strategists have begun starting up the campaign engine in secret: They want to be prepared to a potentially sudden and quick campaign and elections in fall, according to Oesterreich. Recetn survey's suggests that the OeVP, with 37 percent of voters' support, is currently about three percentage points ahead of the Social Democrats. More Deals with Iran? ¶3. A leading Austrian daily suggested that Austrian energy provider OMV may be planning additional business deals with Iran, aside from the company's controversial planned investment in Iranian natural gas. The OMV's controversial investment in Iranian gas is likely not the only business deal the Austrian energy provider is planning to set up with Tehran. Semi-official daily Wiener Zeitung suggests that in February the OMV acquired the auction papers for 17 additional energy blocks in Iran. It is not clear at this point whether OMV will chose to bid for all of these potential deals, the Wiener Zeitung continued and listed companies including Shell, Total, Repsol and Gaz de France as the Austrian corporation's competitors. The daily also quotes the Austrian Trade Representative in Tehran, who explained that "all European energy companies are represented in Iran." They are interested in the same gas field as a number of US firms, only that the Americans are based in Qatar, on the other side of the Gulf, he added. Wolfowitz Steps Down ¶4. Paul Wolfowitz is to resign as President of the World Bank following a bitter promotion row involving his girlfriend. After lengthy talks with the bank's board, Wolfowitz agreed to leave the organization on June 30. He had faced widespread calls for his resignation after being accused of a conflict of interest over a pay rise given to ex-bank employee Shaha Riza. Wolfowitz joined the World Bank in 2005. On ORF radio early morning news Morgenjournal, Washington correspondent Joerg Winter commented: "In the end, Paul Wolfowitz could only fight for his honor: He said he would only step down if the World Bank's board of directors admitted to a shared guilt in the affair, and he succeeded in getting his wish. Not only Wolfowitz, but a whole group of individuals had made mistakes, the board's official statement says. The Europeans in particular had been pushing for the World Bank President's resignation; and Wolfowitz' supporters are already talking of a hostile campaign. Before he joined the World Bank, Wolfowitz was the US' Deputy Secretary of Defense, and thus one of the architects of America's SIPDIS controversial Iraq war. He is being punished for that now, his supporters say. Wolfowitz' resignation is a defeat for US President George Bush, who repeatedly and publicly expressed his support for the beleaguered World Bank boss. In the end, he had to give in to the Europeans' pressure." Tensions Overshadow EU-Russia Summit ¶5. Russian President Vladimir Putin and EU leaders are meeting for a summit in southern Russia amid growing tension. Disputes have arisen over the status of Kosovo, energy supplies, trade, and ties between Russia and Estonia. German Chancellor Angela Merkel, whose country is currently holding the EU's rotating presidency, will lead the EU team at the summit, which will be held in the city of Samara. All Austrian media point to the tensions between the two sides, and suggest it is unlikely that the summit will yield any concrete results. Liberal daily Der Standard's comment that the EU-Russia summit currently underway in Samara is a "summit without expectations" is an assessment shared by all Austrian media. It is a good sign the meeting is taking place at all, the daily quotes a Russian newspaper. A lot of major obstacles, including US plans for a missile defense shield in Eastern Europe, or the disagreement over Kosovo's future status, have made any positive outcome unlikely. Independent provincial daily Salzburger Nachrichten meanwhile suggested that whatever the result of the Samara summit, Russian President Vladimir Putin can be sure of applause at home for his arbitrary course. Sarkozy to Present Cabinet ¶6. French President Nicolas Sarkozy will unveil his government later today, after naming Frangois Fillon Prime Minister yesterday. Sarkozy is expected to reduce the number of ministers to 15, with around half of the posts given to women. Emphasizing his political openness, the new French President has also nominated Socialist Bernard Kouchner, an eminent figure of the left and co-founder of Doctors Without Borders, for the post of Foreign Minister. In an interview with mass-circulation tabloid Oesterreich Austrian political analyst Fritz Plasser suggested that for the Conservatives, "France will likely become Europe's number one address and Sarkozy their flag-bearer." As a "role model for the Conservatives," the new French president "links conservative programs with a knack for cultivating his image." Sarkozy "combines conservative ideas and concepts, such as a neo-liberal economic policy, with nationalist and populist elements. This mix could serve as an example for others." McCaw