AUSTRIAN MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS: November 06, 2007

UNCLAS VIENNA 002757 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: November 06, 2007 Compromise on School Reform ¶1. Education Minister Claudia Schmied from the Social Democrats and Science Minister Johannes Hahn from the People's Party have reached a "last-minute agreement" on the introduction of comprehensive-type "new middle schools" in Austria. The breakthrough was achieved after Schmied agreed to a so-called "two-thirds clause" as called for by the OeVP. The compromise envisages launching test phases for comprehensive schools in several Austrian regions, provided that two thirds of the teachers and parents affected agree. In addition, regular high schools and secondary schools must also remain available to students in all test regions under the proposed model. All Austrian media give prominent coverage to the agreement on test phases for the introduction of comprehensive schools, which was reached after weeks of stalled negotiations between Education Minister Schmied and Science Minister Hahn. With this "last-minute deal," the SPOe-OeVP coalition government has ended its deadlock in a series of reform proposals, says independent provincial daily Salzburger Nachrichten. Mass-circulation tabloid Kronen Zeitung publishes an outline of the "upcoming changes in the school system," and points out the necessary support of two-thirds of the teachers and parents in test phase areas, and the requirement that test regions give parents the opportunity to choose between comprehensive and more traditional high or secondary schools. All in all, the deal between Ministers Schmied and Hahn is a "typically Austrian compromise," the tabloid concludes. New US Ambassador Nominated ¶2. Austrian media report that the White House has nominated businessman Charles Gargano to be the next US Ambassador to Austria. The 73-year-old, Italian-born Gargano will succeed Ambassador Susan McCaw, who arrived in Vienna in 2005. If confirmed by the US Senate, which Austrian media consider a given, Mr. Gargano will be the first US Ambassador to Austria in many years to have previous diplomatic experience: In the late 1980s, Gargano was US Ambassador to Trinidad and Tobago, the media point out. Mr. Gargano, who served as Vice Chairman of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, and as Chairman of the Empire State Development Corporation of New York State, also played a leading role in New York reconstruction projects following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, according to the media. Reporting on the nomination by the White House of businessman Charles Gargano as new US Ambassador to Austria, Austrian Press Agency APA says that Mr. Gargano is considered a close confidante of former New York Governor George Pataki. APA also points out that Gargano's Senate confirmation, which is still pending, is in all likelihood "no more than a formality." Mr. Gargano is "one of the most prominent urban developers in the world," APA says. He also "raised campaign funds for Republican politicians," including George Pataki, whose "election as Governor of New York in 1994 was also in part the result of Gargano's support." In 1995, Gargano was nominated Chairman of the Empire State Development Corporation of New York State, and the "revitalization of Times Square and a Niagara Falls renovation plan" are among his "showcase projects," according to APA. ORF online news emphasizes Mr. Gargano's "quite colorful biography," pointing to his ambassadorship in Trinidad and Tobago, his career in the real estate business, and his "part-time" career as a film actor. The Italian-born Charles Gargano, who emigrated to the US at age four, and over the years worked his way up to the position of Chairman of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey is the "embodiment of the American dream," ORF online news writes. OMV Unimpressed by US Pressure ¶3. ... reads the headline of a report on some recent developments in the dispute over Iran's nuclear ambitions, published by a major regional daily. According to the newspaper, the conflict, and US opposition to international business deals with Iran, is deepening the rift between the United States and its allies in Europe. Thus, Austrian energy provider OMV's major natural gas deal with Tehran may be seen as "a thorn in Washington's side." However, the daily points out, OMV has remained unimpressed by Washington stance, emphasizing that negotiations on the deal are continuing with Tehran. Foreign affairs writer Florian Weissmann of regional daily Tiroler Tageszeitung publishes a report on how the dispute over Iran's nuclear program might be driving a wedge between the United States and its European allies. The problem is rooted in the business interests of some countries, including Austria, whose biggest energy provider OMV is intent on finalizing a major gas deal with Iran. As the UN Security Council failed to impose tougher sanctions on Tehran, the US is now increasing pressure on Europe, and has imposed sanctions of its own outlawing business deals with Iran's elite Al-Quds corporation. This move on the part of Washington could also indirectly affect a whole range of international companies, Weissmann says. But although the planned Austrian OMV deal has displeased Washington, spokesperson Thomas Huemer told the Tiroler Tageszeitung that the Austrian energy corporation is "completely unimpressed" by the harsh tones from the US. Negotiations with Tehran on the production, liquefaction and export of natural gas from the South Pars site are continuing, Huemer confirmed. However, the OMV case is "symptomatic of the tug-of-war between the US and Europe," the daily suggests. Bush Backs Turkey ¶4. US President George Bush has promised Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan help to deal with Kurdish PKK rebels in northern Iraq after the two leaders held talks in Washington yesterday. President Bush declared the Kurdish PKK as an "enemy of Turkey, a free Iraq and the United States." At the same time, the US President urged Turkey to show moderation in the matter. Ankara has threatened to hit northern Iraqi bases used by the PKK, and Washington is concerned Turkish military intervention could lead to chaotic conditions in the entire Kurdish region in Iraq, Austrian media explain. Mass-circulation provincial daily Kleine Zeitung quotes US President George Bush as telling Turkish Premier Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Washington that the "PKK is an enemy of the US." It was a "dicey meeting" nonetheless, the daily says, explaining that "while Erdogan called on the White House to finally take action against the Kurdish rebels in northern Iraq, the US President was trying to appease his Turkish ally." The US President offered Erdogan closer intelligence cooperation in Turkey's fight against the PKK rebels. However, the Kleine Zeitung says, the recent tensions regarding the PKK between Washington and Ankara are just another step in the gradual deterioration during the past months of the Turkish-US relations, which have been strained since Congress voted in favor of a resolution describing as genocide the mass-killings of Armenians by Turkey. US Calls on Pakistan to End Emergency Rule ¶5. US President George Bush has called on the President of Pakistan, Pervez Musharraf, to end the state of emergency imposed three days ago. Speaking after Pakistani police clashed with hundreds of lawyers and activists protesting emergency rule yesterday, President Bush urged Mr. Musharraf to leave his post as army chief and restore democracy. The President also emphasized that the US expected Pakistan to hold elections as soon as possible, says ORF radio early morning news Morgenjournal. McCaw