AUSTRIAN MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS: March 21, 2007

UNCLAS VIENNA 000714 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: KPAO AU OPRC SUBJECT: AUSTRIAN MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS: March 21, 2007 Government Debates Climate Strategy ¶1. The SPOe-OeVP coalition will make an effort to settle its ongoing dispute regarding implementation of Kyoto goals at today's Council of Ministers. There has been disagreement on a number of aspects of Austria's planned new climate strategy, including on the SPOe's proposals of holding a climate summit and of appointing a "climate envoy" - both moves the OeVP has rejected. Like the majority of Austrian media, centrist daily Die Presse reports on the continuing quarrel in the collation government over Austria's climate strategy. The daily quotes Chancellor Alfred Gusenbauer (SPOe) as attacking Environment Minister Josef Proell (OeVP),calling his climate and environmental policy a "complete failure." Gusenbauer insists on appointment of a climate envoy and the holding of a climate summit. Proell, in turn, has dismissed these demands, saying he might "go to the climate summit if I have the time." The minister has instead invited the provinces to talks on climate strategy, says the Presse. Austrian media agree that this is just one of many issues causing the "harsh words" between the coalition parties. Plassnik Invites Abu Amr to Austria ¶2. Foreign Minister Ursula Plassnik has invited Abu Amr, the newly appointed Palestinian Foreign Minister, to visit Austria. Plassnik said the swearing in of a Palestinian unity government on Saturday, made up of members of the militant group Hamas and moderates from the Fatah movement, was an opportunity to normalize the Palestinians' relations with the international community. The Hamas-run government has been boycotted because of its refusal to recognize Israel or renounce violence. All major Austrian media report that Foreign Minister Ursula Plassnik has invited Abu Amr, the newly appointed Palestinian foreign minister, to visit Austria. The EU and the US have meanwhile said the new Palestinian government will not be offered quick recognition, but will be judged on its actions, semi-official daily Wiener Zeitung writes. Centrist daily Die Presse summarizes the Austrian media's assessment of Plassnik's move, headlining "Vienna breaks the blockade against the Palestinians." The daily adds that Israel has expressed its "disappointment" over the meeting, which it considers as undermining the conditions to be met by the Palestinians brought forward by the Mideast Quartet. And mass-circulation tabloid Oesterreich quotes Israel's Ambassador to Austria Dan Ashbel as saying he is "sad" about Plassnik's move, which is "not helpful for the peace process." Thus, foreign affairs editor for mass-circulation provincial daily Kleine Zeitung Ernst Heinrich comments: "People in Jerusalem will be anything but pleased that Austrian Foreign Minister Ursula Plassnik was so quick in taking the initiative and inviting her Palestinian colleague Siad Abu Amr to Austria. However, the Austrian Foreign Minister has done the right thing. Especially now, that there is finally a Palestinian government after all the unrest, which was reminiscent of a civil war, and the months of quarrelling, it would be wrong not to seek dialogue with the new government out of spite. To continue to boycott further the Palestinian government of national unity would mean to further strengthen their radical forces. Ursula Plassnik shows good sense in doing just the opposite." Raymond Johansen, the Norwegian Deputy Foreign Minister, was the first senior European official to hold talks with Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniya. Norway, which is not part of the European Union, immediately recognized the unity government, and said it was lifting an economic and political boycott. After the meeting Johansen said he hoped that all European countries, and even other countries, will support the unity government. France has also invited the new Palestinian Foreign Minister to pay a visit and Britain is signaling some flexibility. The US says it will stay in touch with moderate Palestinians, the Wiener Zeitung adds. According to ORF radio's early morning news Morgenjournal, however, the United States is said to have made its first unofficial contact with the new Palestinian unity government already. The Palestinian Finance Minister, Salam Fayed, a political independent, said he met US Consul General Jacob Walles in the West Bank. The meeting ends a year-long diplomatic boycott, after the militant group Hamas took over the Palestinian government. Nussbaumer Could Still Be Alive ¶3. There are indications that Bert Nussbaumer, the Austrian abducted in Iraq last year, could still be alive. A list has been found with the names of persons abducted in Iraq, which includes Nussbaumer. In addition, negotiators in Kuwait and Iraq have contacted the suspected hostage takers via intermediaries in order to push for the Austrian's release. And, in a letter, President Heinz Fischer recently asked his Iraqi counterpart for support in the matter, according to mass-circulation tabloid Oesterreich. Russia Increases Pressure on Tehran ¶4. Sourcing the New York Times, Austrian media report that Russia has increased pressure on Iran to stop uranium enrichment activities with a warning that Moscow will withhold nuclear fuel for Iran's nuclear power plant at Bushehr. With the UN Security Council expected to vote within a week on sanctions against Tehran for its refusal to suspend uranium enrichment. Russia's tougher stance on the issue could make passing the planned UNSC sanctions against Iran a lot easier, Austrian commentators believe. On ORF radio early morning news Morgenjournal, commentator Elisa Vass analyzes the situation: "Up to now, Russia had been a moderate voice in the international concert, urging a milder approach towards its ally Iran. Now, however, Moscow's patience with Tehran appears to have worn out. According to Western diplomats, Russia has already recalled the majority of its experts, who assisted Iran in the construction of its nuclear facility at Bushehr on the Persian Gulf. In addition, Russia also seems to be delaying delivery of urgently needed nuclear fuel, without which the Bushehr reactor cannot be brought online. US media say Moscow has tied the fuel's delivery to Iran's coming around in the nuclear dispute. The UN Security Council, after all, has repeatedly and so far unsuccessfully demanded Iran suspend its uranium enrichment program. Russia, however, is denying it has issued such an ultimatum - there is no connection with the nuclear dispute, Moscow insists, claiming the dispute over Bushehr is a financial issue only. A Russian nuclear corporation is accusing Iran of not having paid the agreed 25-million-dollar rates since January, which is why it is threatening to suspend construction of the Bushehr plant. Iran, in turn, is denying it has fallen behind in its payments, and claims Russia had given in to US pressure in the nuclear dispute. In any case, the Russian-Iranian discord could make passing the upcoming UN Security Council resolution much easier, which will likely result in tightened international sanctions against Iran." Iran Said to Have Trained Insurgents in Iraq ¶5. An Iranian dissident has accused the regime in Tehran of condoning the training of Iraqi insurgents in secret training camps. Iran's elite units, the Revolutionary Guards, have allegedly been operating these camps with the government's endorsement for several months, Alireza Jafarzadeh said on Tuesday. Jafarzadeh had first caused a stir five years ago, when he brought important details about the Iranian nuclear program to the public's attention, says independent provincial daily Salzburger Nachrichten. Iraqi Government Should Talk To Insurgents ¶6. The Vice-President of Iraq, Tarek Al-Hashemi, has suggested talks with insurgents in an attempt to bring peace to Iraq. Hashemi ruled out talks only with al Qaeda members. He stressed that many insurgents could become part of the political process. ORF radio quotes Iraq's Vice-President Tarek Al-Hashemi on stressing in connection with his proposal to hold talks with Iraqi insurgents that they are "just part of the Iraqi community. We believe that all Iraqis, whether they are participating in the political process, or (are) outside the political process, principally agree that there is no way (forward) for Iraqis but democracy and (a) political process." Meanwhile, independent provincial daily Salzburger Nachrichten analyzes the situation in Iraq, where -- the daily says -- "violence continues to reign." One of the main problems, the Salzburger Nachrichten suggests, is that the people in Iraq have not yet come to terms psychologically with the end of Saddam Hussein's despotic regime, although the former dictator and three of his top aides have been executed in the meantime. McCaw