Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07VIENNA774
2007-03-26 15:30:00
SECRET
Embassy Vienna
Cable title:  

DEMARCHE TO AUSTRIA: RELEASE OF TALIBAN PRISONERS

Tags:  PREF PTER AF IT AU 
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VZCZCXYZ0010
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHVI #0774 0851530
ZNY SSSSS ZZH
O 261530Z MAR 07
FM AMEMBASSY VIENNA
TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6749
S E C R E T VIENNA 000774 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR EUR/AGS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/26/2017
TAGS: PREF PTER AF IT AU
SUBJECT: DEMARCHE TO AUSTRIA: RELEASE OF TALIBAN PRISONERS

REF: STATE 36204

Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Scott F. Kilner. Reasons: 1.4 (b) an
d (d).

S E C R E T VIENNA 000774

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR EUR/AGS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/26/2017
TAGS: PREF PTER AF IT AU
SUBJECT: DEMARCHE TO AUSTRIA: RELEASE OF TALIBAN PRISONERS

REF: STATE 36204

Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Scott F. Kilner. Reasons: 1.4 (b) an
d (d).


1. (C) Charge delivered reftel demarche to Peter Launsky,
the Austrian MFA's point person in the case of Bert
Nussbaumer, the Austrian hostage in Iraq. Charge stressed
that we -- and many coalition countries -- were very upset
about the resolution of the Italian hostage case. We see the
deal which led to the release of Taliban prisoners as setting
a very bad precedent.


2. (C) Launsky referred immediately to the Nussbaumer case.
He expressed great appreciation for the cooperative stance of
U.S. and UK authorities. He noted that there was now a
secure telephone link between the Austrian team in Kuwait
that is handling the Nussbaumer case, and the U.S. hostage
unit in Baghdad.


3. (S) Launsky said he had discussed with Washington
officials the question ("purely hypothetical," he said) of
what our attitude would be if a "go-between" approacheed
Austria in an effort to forge a deal for Nussbaumer's
release. He said that the answer from one USG agency was
that we would have "no problem" with such a situation, as
long as the Austrians kept us informed. He continued that he
had further asked the specific question of how we would view
a situation in which the Austrians received a ransom offer.
Launsky said one of his Washington interlocutors told him
that they would not pay, "but would support an initiative by
third parties, including payment."


4. (S) Charge stressed that this does not reflect U.S.
policy. Charge read verbatim the text of reftel, para 7
concerning National Security Presidential Directive 12, to
the effect that, while we would use all appropriate resources
to gain the safe return of hostages, we would not pay ransom,
agree to prisoner releases, agree to policy changes, or make
any other concessions.


5. (S) Launsky said he had heard that relatives of the group
of hostages of which Nussbaumer is a part (including American
citizens) were planning to go to Iraq in an effort to buy the
group's release for 150,000 dollars. Launsky asked that we
remain in close contact as this develops.
Kilner