AUSTRIAN MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS: December 17, 2007

UNCLAS VIENNA 002958 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: December 17, 2007 Political Squabble over Arigona Zogaj ¶1. All Austrian media report on what is described as "massive squabbling" among the country's leading political parties over the case of teenage Kosovo asylum seeker Arigona Zogaj. On Friday, the Austrian Constitutional Court turned down an appeal from the family seeking initial residence status in Austria. The judges suggested, however, that Arigona could be granted residence on "humanitarian grounds," a decision which falls within Interior Minister Guenther Platter's jurisdiction. The Minister ruled out this option shortly after the court verdict became public, but said Arigona could stay in the country until the end of the school year. "The requirements for granting residence on humanitarian grounds have not been fulfilled," Interior Minister Platter said in a statement. Reflecting the differing views in Austria regarding the latest developments in the case of teenage asylum seeker Arigona Zogaj, mass-circulation tabloid Kronen Zeitung runs the headline "Opinions differ on Arigona: deport or allow to stay?" Kronen Zeitung publisher Hans Dichand, writing under his pen name "Cato," says that "we at the Krone are of the opinion that Arigona should be allowed to stay in Austria for humanitarian reasons. Our justification: It is a disgrace that asylum petitions take so long to be dealt with in this country. That fact only goes to show how incompetent our politicians are." Meanwhile, independent provincial daily Salzburger Nachrichten says that constitutional experts are in disagreement regarding Arigona's case. Interior Minister Guenther Platter (OeVP) has acted correctly in rejecting Ms. Zogaj's wish to stay in Austria, but he might just as well have decided to permit her to stay, they argue. EU Preparing for Schengen Extension ¶2. The European Union is preparing for the extension of the border-free Schengen Zone to nine additional member states on December 21. Among those states are Austria's neighbors the Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovakia and Slovenia. Schengen allows passport-free travel within its area, with stronger security on its outer borders. Checks will continue at airports for intra-Schengen flights until the end of March. Austrian Interior Minister Guenther Platter emphasized that the Schengen enlargement is a "tremendous chance for European unity." He dismissed concerns by those fearing the move might result in Austria being overrun by criminal elements, according to ORF online news. Fischer, Darabos in Syria ¶3. Austrian President Heinz Fischer is holding talks in Damascus today with Syrian President Bashir al-Assad. Yesterday, President Fischer and Defense Minister Norbert Daraos (SPOe) met with Austrian troops serving as UN peacekeepers on the Golan Heights. Reporting on the visit to Syria of Austrian President Heinz Fischer, mass-circulation daily Kurier publishes an analysis of the current situation there: "Quo vadis, Damascus?" According to the daily, "Syria, isolated and humiliated because of the Golan Heights' occupation, is not going to decide in favor of either Iran or the pro-Western camp." The country is nonetheless "a key player when it comes to the Middle East peace process: It has ties both with extremist Hamas in Gaza, as well as with Hezbollah in Lebanon. On top of that, it is under Iran's thumb." Still, Syria is not getting a lot of attention from the rest of the world, the Kurier suggests: "For everyone, a solution for the Palestinian problem appears more important than the hereditary dictatorship in Damascus with its disruptive potential in the Middle East crisis region." Perhaps, the daily speculates, Syrian President "Bashir al-Assad will share some of his views on how to solve the conflict with President Fischer?" After all, the Austrian President stressed that "after Annapolis, it is important to use even the slightest change for mutual understanding and communication." Paris Aid Conference for Palestinians ¶4. Representatives from around 60 countries are gathering in Paris for an international aid conference aimed at reviving the Palestinian economy, and ultimately building the foundations for a viable Palestinian state. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas is hoping to get over 5 billion US Dollars in aid over the next three years. Observers say the conference is of considerable importance, because it regenerates hope for the Palestinian people that the international community is supporting their cause. The EU has pledged 650 million Dollars for next year, and the US 550 million, says ORF radio early morning news Morgenjournal. US Denies Permitting Turkish Iraq Strikes ¶5. The United States has denied it gave permission to Turkey to carry out air strikes yesterday against Kurdish PKK rebels in northern Iraq. Turkey's military, however, has said that that the US opened northern Iraqi airspace for the operation, and also made intelligence information available to them. According to Iraqi officials, bombs have hit ten villages and killed one civilian, while the PKK has reported seven deaths. Iraq summoned the Turkish ambassador and demanded a halt to the strikes, according to liberal daily Der Standard. Iraqi Authorities Assume Control of Basra ¶6. British troops have transferred control of Basra province to the Iraqi authorities, four-and-a-half years after the US-led invasion of the country. The handover marks a significant milestone towards Britain's final withdrawal from southern Iraq. The 4,500 British troops still in Iraq will now take a backseat role, focusing on training Iraqi forces. US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, while welcoming the move, stressed that the US and Britain were aware there was still a lot to do in Iraq, reported ORF TV's prime time news Zeit im Bild I on Sunday. America's Quest for a President ¶7. ... headlines centrist daily Die Presse, publishing a feature report on the US presidential campaign, which is picking up speed, now that the Iowa caucus and the New Hampshire primary are less than a month away. According to the daily, the Democrats are so far ahead of the Republicans in all surveys. The most promising candidates, at this point, are Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama for the Democrats, and Rudy Giuliani and Michael Huckabee for the Republicans, the Presse suggests. Iraq and the American economy are likely to be the key issues in the 2008 presidential election campaign. In Bali, US Agreed to Global Warming Deal ¶8. In a dramatic turn of events on Saturday, the United States rejected and then accepted a compromise to set the stage for intense negotiations in the next two years aimed at reducing carbon dioxide emissions worldwide. The White House, however, later said in a statement that it still has "serious concerns" about the agreement. "The negotiations must proceed on the view that the problem of climate change cannot be adequately addressed through commitments for emissions cuts by developed countries alone. Major developing economies must likewise act," the White House said. Meanwhile, Austrian Chancellor Alfred Gusenbauer welcomed the Bali agreement, emphasizing the importance of binding emission cuts. Kilner