AUSTRIAN MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS: October 16, 2007

UNCLAS VIENNA 002633 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: October 16, 2007 Study Shows Poor Austrian Integration Record ¶1. A SPOe-OeVP government review of integration policy began in Austria on Monday with the launch of the so-called "integration platform." At the same time, the European Union released a study saying Austria has one of the worst records in the EU on integration. The study reveals that Austria is ranked last alongside Cyprus and Latvia. Austria obviously has "no active, or only a highly restrictive" integration policy, one of the authors of the study complains. In a front-page report, liberal daily Der Standard says the study on integration, carried out by the British Council in cooperation with the Migration Integration Policy Group, which was presented in Brussels on Monday, shows the "dire necessity" in Austria of improving its integration policy. The study revealed that Austria is among the EU's "bottom of the league" states, offering "particularly poor integration conditions" for migrants. According to the authors, Austria is not providing immigrants sufficient access to the labor market, and does not protect them enough from discrimination. Furthermore, applications for Austrian citizenship may only be filed after a period of ten years, which is among the longest waiting times in the EU, the Standard reports. All Austrian media continue to report on the ongoing discussion on the issue, which received new impetus following the arrest in September of three Islamist suspects and the case of Bosnian teenager Arigona Zogaj. According to semi-official daily Wiener Zeitung, Rainer Bauboeck from the Austrian Academy of Sciences, and an expert on integration, has been highly critical of the government's and authorities' move to link integration and security. Bauboeck argues the issues should be treated separately and emphasized that the great majority of immigrants have nothing to do with suspect networks. Meanwhile, in the wake of Arigona Zogaj's case there have been numerous calls for families who have integrated well to be allowed to remain in Austria even if their asylum cases fail. Platter Upholds Tough Stance on Integration ¶2. Speaking on ORF television on Monday, Interior Minister Guenther Platter (OeVP) defended the Austrian integration policy. He argued that the fact Austria is among the toughest countries for foreigners to obtain citizenship is "a good thing." Austrian passports should "not simply be sold at a throwaway price." Furthermore, the newly-established integration platform would discuss various integration measures, Platter added. Speaking on ORF TV's late night news Zeit im Bild II on Monday, Interior Minister Guenther Platter said it was "good" that Austria's policy on integration was "restrictive," responding to a critical EU study published in Brussels yesterday. It was a "misconception" to believe obtaining Austrian citizenship was a "measure of integration;" the Minister suggested it should be considered the "final element in a successful integration process." He believes Austria had chosen a "good course" by making citizenship very difficult to obtain. Platter pointed to the newly-established integration platform when asked about the study's criticism regarding discrimination, labor market obstacles and the sluggish family reunification process immigrants to Austria are faced with. People wanting to stay in Austria "need to show they are willing to integrate," said Platter, and added that Austria "is an open country, which is why we need an open discussion of the topic." Austria Calls for Support on University Quotas ¶3. Germany has said it has supported Austrian attempts to have the EU Commission agree to quotas on foreign students at some study courses, particularly at Austrian medical universities. Large numbers of students from Germany have applied for places at Austrian medical schools, but Vienna says it needs to reserve three quarters of places for local students to ensure the country's supply of doctors. At a meeting of EU ministers, Foreign Minister Ursula Plassnik called on other EU countries to understand Austria's position on a quota system for medical students. Reporting on Austria's efforts to have the EU Commission agree to quotas on foreign students at Austrian medical universities, semi-official daily Wiener Zeitung writes that Foreign Minister Ursula Plassnik has called on other EU countries to understand Austria's position, speaking at a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Luxembourg three days ahead of an EU summit. Plassnik also urged Margot Wallstroem, the Vice-President of the EU Commission, to understand the Austrian position on quotas for medical students. Diplomats from Ireland, Romania, Malta and Latvia have expressed their support, as has Germany. Meanwhile, Austrian Chancellor Alfred Gusenbauer has called on the Commission to drop proceedings against Austria over limits Brussels says are contrary to EU law. The Commission, however, argues that the restrictions on students from other EU states violate the principle of free movement of people within the European Union. Other countries such as Denmark and Belgium have similar problems with quotas. Pitching For a UN Seat ¶4. Austria is among the countries hoping to inherit one of the rotating seats on the UN Security Council in 2009. Analyzing the country's chances of success, a leading weekly says Austria's long tradition as a "reliable mediator" and participant in peacekeeping missions, as well as the UN seat in Vienna could work in favor of such efforts. One of the setbacks is the fact, however, that Austria has not been the most generous of givers when it comes to development aid payments, according to independent political weekly Profil of October 15. Putin Arrives in Tehran ¶5. Russian President Vladimir Putin has begun a historic visit to Tehran - the first by a Russian leader since Stalin during the Second World War. Iran is expected to seek confirmation from Putin that Russia will complete the Bushehr nuclear reactor, which is being built by Russian engineers. The Russian President has brushed aside reports of an alleged plot to assassinate him during his Iran trip. An Austrian daily suggests the visit comes as Russia is trying to secure its influence in the Caspian Sea region. All major Austrian media report on the visit to Tehran of Russian President Vladimir Putin. Semi-official daily Wiener Zeitung labels the visit a "milestone," and a "historic moment," pointing out that the last visit to Iran of a Russian leader had been 64 years ago. The daily suggests that with his trip to Tehran, Putin will "partially lead Iran out of its position of international isolation." Tehran is meanwhile hoping Russia will be able to help Iran avert tougher UN sanctions. After all, Moscow has been supporting Iran in the international dispute over Tehran's nuclear ambitions by emphasizing there was no objective proof of US allegations that Iran was pursuing nuclear weapons. Mass-circulation provincial daily Kleine Zeitung runs the headline "Hot atomic summit," and predicts a "dicey dispute over nuclear fuel rods." In an interview with the daily, Middle East expert Antonia Rados warns "Iran should not be underestimated. An Iranian atomic bomb would not be the end of a truly gloomy chapter -- it would merely be the beginning. After Iran, a whole range of other countries would follow suit and build atomic bombs of their own, such as the Saudis, the Egyptians. The Syrians may already be working on a project. I believe the problem that will occupy us most in years to come is the question of such atomic bombs." Putin's visit not only serves to "boost Iran's position against the West," it could also lead to the development of a "new type of Cold War - with Iran as its hub. I'm afraid we may have to come to grips with the possibility that the next major conflict may well be with Iran. And unfortunately, in the Middle East, more often than not you have to expect the worst, which is war." Rice Urging Palestinian State ¶6. US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has said it is time for the establishment of a Palestinian state, and emphasized that the US would put its "full weight" behind such efforts. Rice was speaking in the West Bank, where she has been trying to get agreement for a Middle East peace summit in the US later this year. The Palestinians have warned, however, that if no firm text is agreed on which to base talks, they will not attend the summit with Israel. According to semi-official daily Wiener Zeitung, US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, currently on one of her "commuter missions" in the Middle East, is "probing a minefield." Although she underscored that it is "time for a Palestinian state" - a statement that was welcomed by Ramallah - Rice has already ruled out that a decisive rapprochement between Israel and the Palestinians could occur within the next few days. Nonetheless, the Secretary of State continues to push for the Mideast summit that has been planned for late November. McCaw