AUSTRIAN MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS: March 06, 2007

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SUBJECT: AUSTRIAN MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS: March 06, 2007


Molterer Favors Kerosene Tax


1. Following a call for the introduction of a tax on kerosene by
Minister for the Environment Josef Proell, Vice-Chancellor and
Finance Minister Wilhelm Molterer has also spoken in favor of such a
move. It would be a "politically sensible" measure with regard to
climate protection goals, and could also boost the EU's financial
assets. Increasing the European Union's financial resources would be
a good strategy, and take some of the burden off the EU's net
payers, including Austria, Molterer suggested, according to centrist
daily Die Presse.


Air Crash Kills Eight


2. Austrian officials are trying to determine what led to the crash
yesterday between a helicopter and small passenger plane near Zell
am See in Salzburg province, although officials say it was most
likely the consequence of human failure. Eight people died in the
collision, ORF online news reports like all Austrian media.


Nuclear Energy Divides EU


3. Semi-official daily Wiener Zeitung writes that European Union
heads of state and government are to debate ambitious climate
protection goals when they meet on Friday. As part of the effort for
a "compulsive" minimum requirement of a 20 percent share of
renewable energies by 2020, France has now launched a debate on the
use of nuclear energy, which should be considered as part of the
climate protection agenda, France's Minister for EU Issues Catherine
Colonna stressed. Austrian Foreign Minister Ursula Plassnik,
however, has dismissed the move as "not effective."


Gusenbauer on US, Russia


4. An Austrian tabloid reports that a few days ahead of the EU
summit, Chancellor Alfred Gusenbauer, appearing on Bloomberg TV in
his first interview with international media, found clear words to
outline his foreign policy agenda.
Mass-circulation tabloid Kronen Zeitung writes that Austrian
Chancellor Alfred Gusenbauer in an interview with Bloomberg TV
expressed his concern over the planned missile defense shield the
United States wants to set up in Poland and the Czech Republic. He
called on Europe to push for a "moderating influence" in order to
defuse emerging tensions, and warned recent tones from Moscow on the
issue were "problematic, particularly should they be the signs of an
imminent new arms race." Gusenbauer urged that NATO be included in
the process to resolve the issue, and warned both Moscow and
Washington: "Both have lessons to learn; the US that it is not the
only one to make decisions in the world, while Russia has to
understand that even the growing importance of its energy reserves
will not give it back the position of power it held during the Cold
War. The times are past when a superpower could decide what is good
for the rest of the world. As Europeans, we are charged with the
noble task of creating the basis for stability," Gusenbauer
emphasized.


New Tensions in the Far East


5. Several Austrian media report on new tensions between China and
Taiwan: While the Taiwanese President is pushing for independence
for his country, China is threatening it might consider a military
strike against Taiwan. According to one Austrian daily, Taiwan's
most recent bid for independence may have been triggered by domestic
policy reasons.
In his commentary entitled "Taiwan's risky game with China," deputy
chief editor Viktor Hermann argues in independent provincial daily
Salzburger Nachrichten: "Taiwanese president Chen Shui-Bian has
shown expert timing for attracting attention - both at home and
abroad. His announcement that Taiwan will change its constitution
and launch its bid for full independence certainly had the desired
effect: Beijing, with the National People's Congress underway, was
clearly not prepared for this kind of provocation. (...) Chen
probably needs a bit of trouble with China and the threats from
Beijing to deflect from Taiwan's own domestic problems. (...) But
the economic ties between China and its 'maverick province' are far
too close for both sides to jeopardize the advantages they bring. In
addition, China and Taiwan both want to come across as reliable
partners for the international community, who do not want to cause
crises over each and every little dispute. This, in turn, points to
an aspect Chen should be aware of: Taiwan is diplomatically isolated
and dependent on US support -- militarily as much as politically.
Washington will guarantee the island's security, but it does not
want any pointless quarrels with Beijing."


US and North Korea Launch Talks


6. Landmark talks have opened in New York between the United States
and North Korea, aimed at normalizing diplomatic relations. The two
countries have not had full ties since the end of the Korean War
more than 50 years ago. The meeting follows North Korea's agreement
to abandon part of its nuclear program.
The talks, which are scheduled to conclude Tuesday, are to focus on
establishing bilateral contacts between the US and Pyongyang, which
are to eventually lead to the resumption of diplomatic relations,
says liberal daily Der Standard.


Protestors Support Ocalan


7. Around fifty people demonstrated in support of Kurdish rebel
leader Abdullah Ocalan at the entrance to the United Nations' Vienna
headquarters on Monday. Ocalan has been in a Turkish prison since

1999. The protesters say Turkey is poisoning him and called on the
UN to act. In the face of the protestors' accusations, the Turkish
government has commissioned a medical check-up for Abdullah Ocalan,
according to a report on ORF TV's prime time news Zeit im Bild I on
Monday.


US Support For Latin AMERICA


8. US President George W. Bush has promised millions of dollars in
aid for Latin America's poor two days before his tour of the region.
The money is to go towards education, housing and healthcare
programs, says. ORF radio early morning news Morgenjournal.
McCaw