AUSTRIAN MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS: September 19, 2007

UNCLAS VIENNA 002439 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 19, 2007 Call for Tolerance ¶1. At a meeting in Vienna Tuesday in the wake of recent tensions over the arrest of several suspected Islamist militants in Vienna and Canada last week, Austrian Chancellor Alfred Gusenbauer (SPOe) and religious leaders emphasized the significance of mutual tolerance and respect, and urged a peaceful coexistence of followers of all creeds. In view of the recent heated debate over the role of Islam in Austria, Gusenbauer, who hosted the meeting, called for mutual respect and a critical dialogue of the issue. The "roots of hatred and intolerance are to be found in the misinterpretation of the various faiths, and in social causes, which prevent integration and a peaceful coexistence," the Chancellor said. Reporting on a meeting in Vienna yesterday between Austrian Chancellor Alfred Gusenbauer (SPOe) and religious leaders, liberal daily Der Standard quotes Gusenbauer as warning that he would "adopt a tough stance against all those who want to sow the seed of violence." The daily writes that the Chancellor saw the meeting as an opportunity to "do some straight talking" on the issue, stressing the dialogue of religious representatives was a "manifestation of the fact that it is the state's responsibility to protect the freedom of religion." Meanwhile, centrist daily Die Presse publishes an interview with Austrian President Heinz Fischer, which has caused quite a stir. Fischer told the daily: "I am committed to human rights and the principles of humanism. I respect the Christian roots of European society and I believe that a society, which adheres [to these principles], is superior to others." Liberal daily Der Standard points out that with his comments, President Fischer had "irritated" some of the religious leaders participating in the meeting with Chancellor Gusenbauer. Anas Shakfeh, the President of Austria's Muslim Community, however, suggests Fischer may have been misquoted: "Such a statement is entirely alien to his nature and beliefs," Shakfeh told the Standard. Centrist daily Die Presse also quotes the President as saying: "I do not want to see other religions as the enemy. The use of violence, the breaking of laws, intolerance: These are our opponents, but not a certain creed of religion." Bawag: Hundstorfer Incriminates Verzetnitsch ¶2. Testifying as a witness in the bank Bawag trial Tuesday, Austrian Unions Association (OeGB) President Rudolf Hundstorfer massively incriminated his predecessor Fritz Verzetnitsch. "I am one hundred percent convinced that Verzetnisch greatly overstepped his competence" in connection with the scandal surrounding the formerly union-owned bank, Hundstorfer told presiding judge Claudia Bandion-Ortner. The OeGB boss argued that Verzetnisch did not have the authority to provide Bawag guarantees without an agreement from the OeGB federal board. Like all Austrian media reporting on recent developments in the bank Bawag trial, mass-circulation daily Kurier notes that Austrian Unions Association OeGB President Rudolf Hundstorfer has accused his predecessor Fritz Verzetnisch of misuse of authority, pointing out that Verzetnitsch had high-handedly and arbitrarily used the OeGB's strike funds as a guarantee for bank Bawag's losses. Likewise, mass-circulation tabloid Oesterreich describes the recent developments as a "showdown between the OeGB bosses," and says that with Hundstorfer having incriminated Verzetnitsch, the latter will be under massive pressure "to come out with the whole truth." Plassnik Calls on US to Lead on Nuclear Test Bans ¶3. Austrian Foreign Minister Ursula Plassnik addressed a conference Tuesday on the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty, or CTBT. She said the treaty's effectiveness depended on it being ratified by the United States. "We would like to see the US take a leading role within the CTBT process", she said. The United States did not attend the conference which ended late Tuesday. Reporting on a conference Tuesday on the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty CTBT, where Austrian Foreign Minister Ursula Plassnik urged the United States to assume a "leading role" in the matter, semi-official daily Wiener Zeitung writes that the US, which did not attend the conference, opposes some of the verification procedures called for in the treaty, specifically a provision which allows CTBT inspections, if a signatory state is thought to have covertly carried out a nuclear test. Plassnik also implicitly criticized the Bush White House, the daily continues, and quotes: "Unilateralism has proven to be a dead-end street. The sooner we make that clear to our international partners, the better." Democratic Senators and presidential candidates Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama have both called for ratifying the CTBT. The treaty was concluded in 1996 and has been ratified by 140 nations, but needs to be ratified by ten more countries before it can go into effect. These include China, India, Iran, North Korea, Pakistan and the United States, all of which are in possession or are thought to be seeking nuclear arms. The CTBT bans nations which ratify it from testing and exporting nuclear weapons. Dispute over Iran's Nuclear Program ¶4. An Austrian economics daily says that "fronts are hardening" in the crisis over Tehran's nuclear ambitions, as United States is increasing pressure on companies doing business or intending to do business with Iran. US President George Bush's stance on the issue has already paid off: Exports to Iran have caved in, the daily says. In view of growing pressure on Iran, leading Austrian economics daily Wirtschaftsblatt reports on what it describes as the "big jitter over the last Iran deals." Austrian exports to Iran have declined dramatically in 2007, and the Gulf state - once Austria's leading trading partner in the region - has fallen behind the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia where business deals are concerned. The daily also says that the Bush administration has stepped up pressure on Austrian companies not to do business with Iran, although officially, notions of US intervention to that effect have been dismissed as incorrect. A US government representative, however, told the Wirtschaftsblatt that "we are stressing to Austrian businesses that it is particularly important to 'know your customer.' The Iranian regime is looking to use non-sanctioned firms and financial entities to assist with its proliferation program." With regard to Austrian energy provider OMV's planned deal with Tehran, the US diplomat emphasizes that "now is not the time for 'business as usual' with this regime." Rice En Route to Jerusalem ¶5. US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is on her way to Jerusalem in another attempt to restart the stalled Middle East peace process. A leading Austrian daily suggest that the Secretary of State wants to "set the course with Israelis and Palestinians for how to proceed" with the peace process. Liberal daily Der Standard writes about "Rice's advertising campaign tour" for the Middle East conference. "For lack of a better idea," Jerusalem correspondent Ben Segenreich suggests, US President Bush announced in July a Mideast conference would be taking place in fall - and now fall is almost upon us, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is "faced with the difficult task of making sure there will be a conference with at least a minimum result in the first place." Still, Rice's earlier trips to the region this year "have led to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert obediently talking to each other again," the correspondent says. US: Negotiated Settlement Possible With Iran ¶6. US President George W. Bush has confirmed his intention to settle the dispute over Iran's nuclear program through negotiations. Speaking in Washington yesterday, White House spokesperson Dana Perino emphasized the administration is "convinced there is a diplomatic solution." The United States is continuing to cooperate closely with France and the entire EU to get Iran to change its course in the matter, she added. President Bush's emphasis on a diplomatic solution with Tehran in the dispute over the country's nuclear ambitions came after French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner recently warned that if push came to shove, there might even be "war" with Iran. Mass-circulation tabloid Kronen Zeitung reports that in response to Kouchner's statement, Iran has "issued a clear warning against an attack, announcing that it had 600 of its Shahab 3 missiles pointed at targets in Israel. Liberal daily Der Standard meanwhile writes about European reactions to the French Foreign Minister's comments, and says that "Berlin does not want a war with Iran." There is "skepticism among the British government" as well, with the Foreign Office seeing a military strike against Iran as the "worst case scenario." In a commentary, the daily also suggests that France's "waffling about war" is recognized for what it is in Tehran: With an eye on opinion pollsters and popularity ratings, French President Nicolas Sarkozy is "making sure to come up with a new policy sound bite for the media on a daily basis. Sarkozy's Iranian colleague is fully aware of that. There's no need to take PR statements seriously, Ahmadinejad said, pointing out that the 'actual position' were quite different." Federal Reserve Cuts Interest Rates ¶7. US interest rates have been cut for the first time in four years, reduced by half a percentage point from 5.25% to 4.75%. Although an expected move, the extent of the cut was unforeseen and shot shares to four year highs. The Federal Reserve had been expected to cut rates by 0.25 points to prevent a housing market downturn and the credit crunch from denting the economy. Meanwhile, stock markets in Asia and the United States have rallied in response to the bigger-than-expected cut in key interest rates, says ORF radio early morning news Morgenjournal. McCaw