AUSTRIAN MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS: August 10, 2007

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SUBJECT: AUSTRIAN MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS: August 10, 2007


Wabl Appointed Climate Representative


1. Chancellor Alfred Gusenbauer of the Social Democrats (SPOe) has
appointed Green Party politician Andreas Wabl as his personal
representative for climate issues. Gusenbauer said Wabl will oversee
projects to combat climate change and manage special funds allocated
by the coalition government for environmental protection issues. The
OeVP and the opposition parties FPOe and BZOe have harshly
criticized the Chancellor's move. Criticism of Wabl's appointment
has also come from Gusenbauer's own party, the SPOe.
Semi-official daily Wiener Zeitung writes that while discussing the
appointment of Andreas Wabl from the Greens as his personal climate
representative, Chancellor Alfred Gusenbauer (SPOe) pointed out that
in the past ambitious targets had been set for greenhouse gas
emission reductions, but they had been poorly implemented.
Gusenbauer added that his coalition partners in the People's Party
(OeVP) had not been consulted about Wabl's appointment since "the
position was entirely my responsibility." The 56 year old Wabl is a
founding member of the Greens Party in Austria and a former MP.
Wabl's previous engagement in climate policy was very ambitious,
according to Gusenbauer, who stressed that Wabl was quite competent
in environment and climate matters. All other Austrian media also
report on the issue, emphasizing that the Chancellor's decision was
met with harsh criticism, not only from the Social Democrats'
coalition partner OeVP, the opposition parties FPOe and BZOe, but
also from within the SPOe itself. In an interview with
mass-circulation tabloid Oesterreich, Wabl says that "hopefully, the
Chancellor's efforts will trigger a dynamism, which might even give
support to others responsible for climate issues, as for example
Environment Minister Josef Proell. There's a lot on the agenda, but
with the assistance of experts, and an excellent team, we will be
able to do much."


Interview with Gabi Burgstaller


2. Leader of the Salzburg provincial Social Democrats and SPOe
deputy leader Gabi Burgstaller in an interview with a leading
Austrian daily criticizes what she describes as the coalition
parties' "petty wars."
In an interview with centrist daily Die Prese, SPOe deputy leader
and Salzburg Governor Gabi Burgstaller says she had expected the
grand coalition "to be much more focused on goals and objectives.
Just like the Austrian people, I have no appreciation for the many
petty wars and squabbles." However, "when it comes to the really big
issues, there usually is [cooperation], as for example on the double
budget for 2007 and 2008. So, all the coalition partners would have
to do after summer recess is to cut back on the squabbling and get
some serious work done." Asked about a first-past-the-post voting
system, Burgstaller suggested there were "very interesting
discussions about it. Any democratic system should be scrutinized
closely from time to time. Personally, I have always preferred the
broadest possible cooperation of all forces, but more often than not
that is just plain theory. In reality, the majority (of parties and
groups) would rather emphasize how they differ from others."


No State of Emergency in Pakistan


3. Pakistan's President Pervez Musharraf has rejected calls to
declare emergency powers, and wants Pakistan's elections to go ahead
as planned. There has been growing speculation Musharraf was
considering declaring a state of emergency after he called off a
visit to Afghanistan earlier this week. Pakistan is currently facing
an increasingly volatile security situation, as well as internal
political problems. US President George Bush has meanwhile urged
Pakistan to hold free and fair elections.
ORF radio early morning news Morgenjournal quotes US President
George Bush, who was pleased at President Musharraf's announcement
rejecting calls to declare emergency powers, and to go ahead with
the Pakistani elections as planned: "My focus in terms of the
domestic scene there is that they have a free and fair election, and
that's what we've been talking with [Musharraf] about and hopefully
they will," the US President said. Centrist daily Die Presse in an
analysis suggests that the Pakistani "rulers cannot shake off the
Islamic ghosts any more." The "military's control of the country's
political life engendered resistance, including that of radical
Islamist" groups, the daily says. Following the siege of the Red
Mosque in Islamabad, Pervez Musharraf has "become himself
increasingly isolated. Nevertheless, the situation offers the chance
for a formation of a coalition of anti-Jihadist forces in Pakistan,
which would have to include the country's generals and democratic
parties." After all, Musharraf can "bank on the support of the
people, who are opposed to a further Islamization of the country."
Still, the Presse warns, it remains to be seen whether Pakistan has
not already embarked on a course eventually leading to an Iraq-like
situation."


Earlier Passenger Information Checks


4. The US Department of Homeland Security announced Thursday that it
is changing its handling of aviation security: For international
flights, AIR carriers flying to and from the United States will have
to provide passenger manifest information 30 minutes prior to
departure, which will then be checked against watch lists.
Previously, the US government was not receiving that information
until planes were en route. According to DHS Secretary Michael
Chertoff, the new regulation will give US Customs and Border
Protection authorities more time to check names, says ORF radio
early morning news Morgenjournal.


Gadhafi's Son Says Medics Were Tortured


5. The son of Libya's leader, Seif al-slam Gadhafi, has said the
six medics from Bulgaia and Palestine, who were imprisoned for
allegely deliberately infecting children in Libya with HV, were
tortured in captivity. Gadhafi told al Jzeera televsion that
Libyan investigators had totured the medics with electric shocks
and had theatened to target their families. However, he dened his
country would face legal action for mistrating the medics,
according to independent provicial daily [Salzburger Nachrichten.
Kilner