AUSTRIAN MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS: March 21, 2007

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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