Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07VIENNA2340
2007-09-05 13:20:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Vienna
Cable title:
AUSTRIAN MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS: September 05, 2007
how-toVZCZCXYZ0015 PP RUEHWEB DE RUEHVI #2340/01 2481320 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 051320Z SEP 07 FM AMEMBASSY VIENNA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8504 RUEKJCS/OSD WASHDC PRIORITY RHEHAAA/WHITEHOUSE WASHDC PRIORITY
UNCLAS VIENNA 002340
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: September 05, 2007
Renewed Outrage over Strache's Past
Following the outrage last month at pictures showing FPOe boss
Heinz-Christian Strache among the participants at an event of the
banned neo-Nazi group Wiking Jugend, "yet another piece has been
added to the mosaic of Strache's political leanings in the past,"
Austrian media comment. One Austrian daily now reports on a police
file proving that Strache was arrested and detained for nine hours
in Germany when he participated in one of the group's activities in
1989.
All Austrian media report on the criticism from Austrian political
parties of FPOe boss Heinz-Christian Strache in the wake of reports
that the Freedom Party leader was arrested and detained on New
Year's Day 1990 when he participated in an event of a banned
neo-Nazi group in Germany. Mass-circulation tabloid Oesterreich says
that the Socials Democrats and the Green Party reacted harshly to
the latest revelations of Strache's political past: While the Greens
argue that Strache no longer has a place in Austrian politics, and
the SPOe said the FPOe could not be taken seriously as a party any
more. The mass-circulation tabloid also suggests, like several
Austrian media, that Strache will be hard-pressed to explain or
defend his political past. Liberal daily Der Standard says the FPOe
has meanwhile dismissed all accusations in connection with its party
boss, describing the issue as a "witch hunt."
Justice Ministry Defends Itself
The Austrian Ministry of Justice has defended itself against
accusations raised earlier this week by the Simon Wiesenthal Center
in Jerusalem that Austria has "failed miserably" in bringing Nazi
criminals to justice. While admitting to "certain omissions and
failures," these had occurred under previous Justice Ministers, and
could not be blamed on incumbent Maria Berger, a ministry
spokesperson said. The Wiesenthal Center had criticized in
particular the cases of Erna Wallisch and Milivoj Asner, two
suspected Nazi criminals still living in Austria.
Like several Austrian media, semi-official daily Wiener Zeitung says
the Justice Ministry's statement came after a report from the Simon
Wiesenthal Center in Jerusalem criticized Austria for not doing
enough to track down Nazi war criminals. The head of the Center,
Efraim Zuroff, accused the Austrian government of lacking the
political will to tackle the problem. According to the Center's
report, at least two alleged Nazi criminals are known to be living
in Austria: Milivoj Asner is accused of committing crimes against
civilians for Croatia's wartime Fascist regime, but officials say he
is too weak to stand trial today. Meanwhile, Erna Wallisch served as
a guard at the Majdanek concentration camp, and is thought to be
living in Vienna. The daily also quotes from the statement put out
by the Justice Ministry that there had been "missed opportunities"
under previous governments, but that more has been done on the issue
since incumbent Maria Berger took office. A ministry official cited
the recently issued 50,000 reward leading to the capture and
prosecution of Aribert Heim and Alois Brunner. Heim, who carried out
executions as a member of the SS at the Mauthausen concentration
camp, is thought to be in Chile. Brunner is said to have helped
organize the deportation of Jews and was last known to be living in
Syria.
Gusenbauer in the Middle East
Austrian Chancellor Alfred Gusenbauer is currently on a visit to the
Middle East, where he held talks with Palestinian President Mahmoud
Abbas and Prime Minister Salam Fayyad. Earlier, he also paid a brief
visit to the grave of late Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat in
Ramallah.
Reporting on the visit to the Middle east of the Austrian
Chancellor, semi-official daily Wiener Zeitung quotes Gusenbauer as
criticizing the barrier which Israel had put up between the Israeli
and Palestinian territories. Speaking to journalists in Ramallah,
Gusenbauer described the barrier as an "economic burden to both
sides." Nonetheless, mass-circulation tabloid Kronen Zeitung
reports, the Austrian Chancellor spoke of a "light at the end of the
tunnel in the Mideast conflict" following his meetings with Israeli
and Palestinian political leaders. Austria "supports the process of
direct talks between the two Presidents Olmert and Abbas,"
Gusenbauer underscored: There was a "genuine chance of progress
towards a Mideast solution. There is also the hope that an agreement
between Israel and Palestine can be presented at the Middle East
conference in November, on the basis of which a two-state system
could be created."
Similarly, in an interview with centrist daily Die Presse,
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said he believes Israel is
"serious about wanting peace." Referring to previous efforts at
making progress on the peace process, he argued that Hamas had
"unfortunately destroyed everything." Under his leadership, there
will be "no negotiations with Hamas, direct or indirect. With their
putsch in the Gaza Strip, Hamas made a mistake, and they need to
bear the responsibility and the consequences."
11 Goals Not Reached In Iraq
A US Congressional report has found that the Iraqi government is
"dysfunctional" and has "not been successful in taking political and
military steps to cut sectarian violence." The Government
Accountability Office has concluded that Iraq has failed to meet
eleven of eighteen key benchmarks set by the US Congress in May. The
report is the first in a series of assessments of Iraq this month.
In connection with a US Congressional report which has concluded
that Iraq has failed to meet eleven of eighteen key benchmarks set
by the US Congress in May, commentator Christian Lininger says on
ORF radio early morning news Morgenjournal: "The violence has not
abated, the militias have still not been disarmed, there are fewer
Iraqi security forces on alert than previously, and Parliament has
failed to pass important laws, which should have paved the way
towards a rapprochement of the hostile religious and ethnic groups
in the country. This is the gloomy picture painted by the US
Government Accountability Office in its most recent report to
Congress. Out of the 18 goals which Congress demanded be met in
Iraq, eleven have not been fulfilled. The report is yet another
heavy blow for the Bush administration, which keeps arguing that the
deployment of additional US troops has brought about partial
success, which is why these forces should not be pulled out for the
time being." ORF radio also quotes the head of the GAO, David
Walker, as stressing the government has "not eliminated militia
control of local security, nor eliminated political intervention in
military operations, nor ensured even-handed enforcement of the law
or ensured that political authorities made no false accusations
against security forces."
Three Terrorist Suspects Arrested In Germany
In Germany, three people were arrested yesterday on suspicion of
planning terrorist attacks. A German news network has said the three
are suspected of planning attacks on the Frankfurt international
airport and the US military base at Ramstein. Quoting security
sources in Berlin, German media say that two of the suspects are
German nationals, while the third has a Pakistani passport. German
Defense Minister Franz Josef Jung has meanwhile confirmed there was
an "immediate threat."
In connection with the arrests in Germany yesterday of three people
suspected of planning terrorist attacks, semi-official daily Wiener
Zeitung says that the ministers in charge of security from the
German-speaking EU countries are planning to step up
counter-terrorism measures. "We will have to accept that terrorism
has arrived in Europe," the daily quotes Austrian Minister for the
Interior Guenther Platter from the OeVP. At a meeting with his
counterparts from Germany, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein, Platter
suggested "introducing new measures aimed at restricting the
terrorists' scope," the daily says. The Minister proposed online
searches of terrorist suspects' computers as one of the potential
measures, pointing out that the internet was a forum for the "most
unbelievable criminal activities."
McCaw
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: September 05, 2007
Renewed Outrage over Strache's Past
Following the outrage last month at pictures showing FPOe boss
Heinz-Christian Strache among the participants at an event of the
banned neo-Nazi group Wiking Jugend, "yet another piece has been
added to the mosaic of Strache's political leanings in the past,"
Austrian media comment. One Austrian daily now reports on a police
file proving that Strache was arrested and detained for nine hours
in Germany when he participated in one of the group's activities in
1989.
All Austrian media report on the criticism from Austrian political
parties of FPOe boss Heinz-Christian Strache in the wake of reports
that the Freedom Party leader was arrested and detained on New
Year's Day 1990 when he participated in an event of a banned
neo-Nazi group in Germany. Mass-circulation tabloid Oesterreich says
that the Socials Democrats and the Green Party reacted harshly to
the latest revelations of Strache's political past: While the Greens
argue that Strache no longer has a place in Austrian politics, and
the SPOe said the FPOe could not be taken seriously as a party any
more. The mass-circulation tabloid also suggests, like several
Austrian media, that Strache will be hard-pressed to explain or
defend his political past. Liberal daily Der Standard says the FPOe
has meanwhile dismissed all accusations in connection with its party
boss, describing the issue as a "witch hunt."
Justice Ministry Defends Itself
The Austrian Ministry of Justice has defended itself against
accusations raised earlier this week by the Simon Wiesenthal Center
in Jerusalem that Austria has "failed miserably" in bringing Nazi
criminals to justice. While admitting to "certain omissions and
failures," these had occurred under previous Justice Ministers, and
could not be blamed on incumbent Maria Berger, a ministry
spokesperson said. The Wiesenthal Center had criticized in
particular the cases of Erna Wallisch and Milivoj Asner, two
suspected Nazi criminals still living in Austria.
Like several Austrian media, semi-official daily Wiener Zeitung says
the Justice Ministry's statement came after a report from the Simon
Wiesenthal Center in Jerusalem criticized Austria for not doing
enough to track down Nazi war criminals. The head of the Center,
Efraim Zuroff, accused the Austrian government of lacking the
political will to tackle the problem. According to the Center's
report, at least two alleged Nazi criminals are known to be living
in Austria: Milivoj Asner is accused of committing crimes against
civilians for Croatia's wartime Fascist regime, but officials say he
is too weak to stand trial today. Meanwhile, Erna Wallisch served as
a guard at the Majdanek concentration camp, and is thought to be
living in Vienna. The daily also quotes from the statement put out
by the Justice Ministry that there had been "missed opportunities"
under previous governments, but that more has been done on the issue
since incumbent Maria Berger took office. A ministry official cited
the recently issued 50,000 reward leading to the capture and
prosecution of Aribert Heim and Alois Brunner. Heim, who carried out
executions as a member of the SS at the Mauthausen concentration
camp, is thought to be in Chile. Brunner is said to have helped
organize the deportation of Jews and was last known to be living in
Syria.
Gusenbauer in the Middle East
Austrian Chancellor Alfred Gusenbauer is currently on a visit to the
Middle East, where he held talks with Palestinian President Mahmoud
Abbas and Prime Minister Salam Fayyad. Earlier, he also paid a brief
visit to the grave of late Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat in
Ramallah.
Reporting on the visit to the Middle east of the Austrian
Chancellor, semi-official daily Wiener Zeitung quotes Gusenbauer as
criticizing the barrier which Israel had put up between the Israeli
and Palestinian territories. Speaking to journalists in Ramallah,
Gusenbauer described the barrier as an "economic burden to both
sides." Nonetheless, mass-circulation tabloid Kronen Zeitung
reports, the Austrian Chancellor spoke of a "light at the end of the
tunnel in the Mideast conflict" following his meetings with Israeli
and Palestinian political leaders. Austria "supports the process of
direct talks between the two Presidents Olmert and Abbas,"
Gusenbauer underscored: There was a "genuine chance of progress
towards a Mideast solution. There is also the hope that an agreement
between Israel and Palestine can be presented at the Middle East
conference in November, on the basis of which a two-state system
could be created."
Similarly, in an interview with centrist daily Die Presse,
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said he believes Israel is
"serious about wanting peace." Referring to previous efforts at
making progress on the peace process, he argued that Hamas had
"unfortunately destroyed everything." Under his leadership, there
will be "no negotiations with Hamas, direct or indirect. With their
putsch in the Gaza Strip, Hamas made a mistake, and they need to
bear the responsibility and the consequences."
11 Goals Not Reached In Iraq
A US Congressional report has found that the Iraqi government is
"dysfunctional" and has "not been successful in taking political and
military steps to cut sectarian violence." The Government
Accountability Office has concluded that Iraq has failed to meet
eleven of eighteen key benchmarks set by the US Congress in May. The
report is the first in a series of assessments of Iraq this month.
In connection with a US Congressional report which has concluded
that Iraq has failed to meet eleven of eighteen key benchmarks set
by the US Congress in May, commentator Christian Lininger says on
ORF radio early morning news Morgenjournal: "The violence has not
abated, the militias have still not been disarmed, there are fewer
Iraqi security forces on alert than previously, and Parliament has
failed to pass important laws, which should have paved the way
towards a rapprochement of the hostile religious and ethnic groups
in the country. This is the gloomy picture painted by the US
Government Accountability Office in its most recent report to
Congress. Out of the 18 goals which Congress demanded be met in
Iraq, eleven have not been fulfilled. The report is yet another
heavy blow for the Bush administration, which keeps arguing that the
deployment of additional US troops has brought about partial
success, which is why these forces should not be pulled out for the
time being." ORF radio also quotes the head of the GAO, David
Walker, as stressing the government has "not eliminated militia
control of local security, nor eliminated political intervention in
military operations, nor ensured even-handed enforcement of the law
or ensured that political authorities made no false accusations
against security forces."
Three Terrorist Suspects Arrested In Germany
In Germany, three people were arrested yesterday on suspicion of
planning terrorist attacks. A German news network has said the three
are suspected of planning attacks on the Frankfurt international
airport and the US military base at Ramstein. Quoting security
sources in Berlin, German media say that two of the suspects are
German nationals, while the third has a Pakistani passport. German
Defense Minister Franz Josef Jung has meanwhile confirmed there was
an "immediate threat."
In connection with the arrests in Germany yesterday of three people
suspected of planning terrorist attacks, semi-official daily Wiener
Zeitung says that the ministers in charge of security from the
German-speaking EU countries are planning to step up
counter-terrorism measures. "We will have to accept that terrorism
has arrived in Europe," the daily quotes Austrian Minister for the
Interior Guenther Platter from the OeVP. At a meeting with his
counterparts from Germany, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein, Platter
suggested "introducing new measures aimed at restricting the
terrorists' scope," the daily says. The Minister proposed online
searches of terrorist suspects' computers as one of the potential
measures, pointing out that the internet was a forum for the "most
unbelievable criminal activities."
McCaw