AUSTRIAN MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS: September 10, 2007

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SUBJECT: AUSTRIAN MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS: September 10, 2007


Austrians Not Happy With Government


1. A recent survey by polling institute Gallup has revealed that
almost 50 percent of Austrians disapprove of the SPOe-OeVP coalition
government's work so far. The government will have to do far better
from now on, if it wants to convince the people it is doing a good
job, one daily argues, and points out that as many as 47 percent of
interviewees are calling for improvements to the coalition's
performance in office. Only 35 percent say they are happy with the
SPOe-OeVP government.
According to mass-circulation tabloid Oesterreich, the Gallup survey
also shows that when it comes to voters' support, the People's
Party, at 36 percent, is ranked first; followed closely by the
Social Democrats with 35 percent of the votes. Among the opposition
parties, the FPOe (14 percent) has overtaken the Greens for the
first time in months, but experts suggest the current increase in
support for the Freedom Party is not going to last.

Squabble Over Kosovo Initiative


2. Regarding the question of the Serbian province Kosovo's future
status, Washington is breathing down the EU's neck, one Austrian
daily says, and quotes Austrian Foreign Minister Ursula Plassnik as
stressing the US' stance was "not helpful."
The US' decision to push ahead on Kosovo was "perfectly timed,"
centrist daily Die Presse reports: Just when the EU foreign
ministers were struggling over a common EU position on Kosovo,
Washington announced it would "recognize the independence of
Kosovo," should Pristina decide in favor of a unilateral declaration
of the province's independent status. According to Kurt Volker,
Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State in the State
Department's Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs, this was the
"only way out for the Balkans." Austria's Foreign Minister Ursula
Plassnik was "not amused," the Presse writes, and quotes her as
saying a unilateral commitment was "not helpful" at this point.
However, the daily notes, although the EU foreign ministers were
"all but falling over each other" in their appeals for and
statements on a common EU position on Kosovo, they are apparently
still "completely in the dark" as to that joint stance.


Petraeus to Present Iraq Report


3. The top US commander in Iraq, Gen. David Petraeus, is expected to
tell Congress today that there should be no substantial cuts in US
troop levels in Iraq. Gen. Petraeus and leading political advisors
to President Bush are scheduled to report to four Congressional
committees later today. Meanwhile, according to a recent survey done
in Iraq, most Iraqis interviewed said the surge of US forces in and
around Baghdad had made conditions much worse. However, just over 50
percent also say the troops should stay until security has
improved.
Liberal daily Der Standard says that the United States' top
commander in Iraq, Gen. David Petraeus, and US Ambassador to Iraq
Ryan Crocker, have both warned the Bush administration against
altering its strategy on Iraq. Major changes would only jeopardize
progress with regard to security and the country's political
development, they emphasize in their report to Congress. Meanwhile,
Gen. Petraeus in a letter to US troops is also accusing the Iraqi
government of having failed to meet US expectations in connection
with this year's troops surge. However, neither he nor Ambassador
Crocker believes there is an alternative to Premier Nuri al-Maliki
at this time, the Standard quotes. The daily also notes that the US
troops surge has undoubtedly resulted in an improvement of the
security situation in Baghdad, where the number of attacks has gone
down in recent times. It appears, however, that the insurgents have
merely relocated to the neighboring province of Dijala, where
provincial governor Abdulla Al-Jubori has noted an "unprecedented
concentration of terrorists." His province had become a stronghold
for al Qaeda and associated organizations.


Former Pakistani PM Returns Home


4. The former Prime Minister of Pakistan, Nawaz Sharif, has returned
home after seven years in exile. His plane was surrounded by
security forces as he landed at Islamabad airport, and he was only
allowed to disembark and enter the airport building after an hour of
negotiations. Sharif has said he will lead a campaign against
President Pervez Musharraf, who ousted him from power in 1999.
Austrian media suggest that the former Premier's return will likely
lead to an "all-out fight over power" between Sharif and Musharraf.
Liberal daily Der Standard reports there is "high alert" and
"breathless anticipation" ahead of the return to Pakistan of the
country's former Prime Minister, Nawaz Sharif. Despite barely
concealed threats, Sharif has stuck to his plan to return to his
country after seven years of exile in London, the daily continues.
Indeed, the Standard explained, Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf
should fear the popular former Premier more than anyone else. The
President has suffered a massive loss of support in the past months,
and is literally fighting for his political survival, according to
the Standard. Similarly, centrist daily Die Presse reports on a
"showdown" between Musharraf and Sharif. After all, the former
Premier has openly declared he wants to challenge Musharraf with his
early return and restore the rule of law in Pakistan.



Tehran Is Playing for Time


5. ... US Ambassador to the United Nations in Vienna Gregory Schulte
told an Austrian daily, ahead of a new round of IAEA negotiations
with Iran over its controversial nuclear program. Recent successes
in the UN nuclear watchdog's talks with Tehran have given rise to
new hope - and new doubts, the daily adds.
With a new round of IAEA negotiations regarding the timetable for
Tehran's full disclosure of its nuclear program beginning in Vienna
today, mass-circulation daily Kurier quotes US Ambassador to UNVIE
Gregory Schulte as warning that despite assurances to the contrary,
Tehran may be doing no more than "play for time," given the fact
that the controversy over Iran's nuclear ambitions is now well into
its fourth year. "We have seen this strategy before," Ambassador
Schulte argues, and adds that "it is not enough to simply tidy up
the past. We have to insist on a stop to uranium enrichment (on the
part of Tehran). That is the only way for Iran to win back the
international community's trust." In contrast, IAEA Director General
Mohamed ElBaradei is pushing for a more optimistic approach, and has
suggested giving Tehran until the end of the year to determine
whether it keeps its promises or not.
McCaw