Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07VIENNA891
2007-04-03 14:14:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Vienna
Cable title:  

AUSTRIAN MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS: April 03, 2007

Tags:  OPRC PAO AU 
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PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHVI #0891/01 0931414
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 031414Z APR 07
FM AMEMBASSY VIENNA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6890
RUEKJCS/OSD WASHDC PRIORITY
RHEHAAA/WHITEHOUSE WASHDC PRIORITY
UNCLAS VIENNA 000891 

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 PAO AU

SUBJECT: AUSTRIAN MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS: April 03, 2007

Elsner Begins Rehab Treatment

UNCLAS VIENNA 000891

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 PAO AU

SUBJECT: AUSTRIAN MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS: April 03, 2007

Elsner Begins Rehab Treatment


1. Helmut Elsner, one of the chief suspects in the Bawag banking
scandal, has begun rehabilitation treatment in a facility in the
south of Austria after a heart bypass operation. The former CEO of
Bawag is expected to remain in the clinic for at least four weeks,
during which time Austrian justice authorities have imposed an
information blackout on his condition. He and eight other former
bank executives are charged with fraud and false accounting, and
their trial is scheduled to begin in summer.
While former bank Bawag CEO Helmut Elsner begins his rehabilitation
treatment in Carinthia, the Austrian parliamentary committee looking
into banking supervision on Monday focused on the Bawag bank, which
was formerly owned by Austria's unions. Six people have been called
to testify about billion-Euro losses from failed currency
speculation. Among them is retired State Prosecutor Erich Mueller,
who is likely to be asked about charges made as long ago as 1994,
semi-official daily Wiener Zeitung reports.


EU Says Austrian CO2 Cuts Not Enough


2. The EU Commission says Austrian Environment Minister Josef
Proell's plans to reduce carbon dioxide emissions do not go far
enough. Environment Commissioner Dimas warned that Austria could not
guarantee it will reach Kyoto goals, and demands a further cut of
emission quotas by 2.1 million tons. While Proell agreed he would
push for quick implementation of the Commission's plan, the Austrian
Industrialists Association has criticized the ruling as an
"environmental-political sin."
According to ORF online news, the EU Commission argues that while
Austria's climate strategy is a "step in the right direction," it is
not enough to reach the European Union's climate protection goals,
which is why Brussels is moving to reduce Austria's emission rights.
The Environment Ministry has announced it will has invited interest
group and industry representatives and officials from the ministries
affected to meet after Easter for a discussion of the new situation
and to develop effective strategies. ORF radio early morning news
Morgenjournal notes that Minister Proell - despite emphasizing his
misgivings about the Commission's demands -- says he will push for
implementing the new goals. The Austrian Industrialists Association,

however, said it is considering taking the issue to court and filing
proceedings with the European Court of Justice. Centrist daily Die
Presse also publishes a front-page report on the issue, citing the
EU Commission as complaining that Austria is doing too little to
curb the waste of energy. According to the daily, a key aspect of
the Industrialist Association's criticism of Minister Proell is the
group's complaint he had forwarded too late key data on Austria's
climate strategy to Brussels.


Palestinian Foreign Minister in Vienna


3. New Palestinian Foreign Minister Ziad Abu Ammr will arrive in
Vienna for a working visit today at the invitation of his Austrian
counterpart Ursula Plassnik. He will also meet with Parliamentary
President Barbara Prammer, and with the Palestinian community in
Vienna.
Ahead of the new Palestinian Foreign Minister's visit to Austria,
Ursula Plassnik told semi-official daily Wiener Zeitung the dialogue
between Israelis and Palestinians needed "new drive." In an
interview with the daily, the Austrian Foreign Minister described
Ziad Abu Ammr as "enjoying the confidence of Palestinian President
Mahmoud Abbas. He is an integration figure, receiving a lot of
acceptance from all areas of Palestinian society, and he is an
independent candidate." At their meeting in December, Abu Ammr had
outlined to Plassnik "the three necessary steps for a re-launch of
the political process in the Middle East: There has to be a national
unity government, the Israeli soldier Gilad Shalid, who was
kidnapped in July 2006, has to be released, and the cease fire needs
to be made permanent." Regarding Hamas, Plassnik stressed that the
EU was "just approaching a phase of re-assessment, but that is
something that cannot happen in one day. The new Palestinian
government will be measured by its actions, and not by its
statements or program. This will also make an evaluation by Israeli
much easier." She also underscored that "there are rules, and Hamas
will have to change its position accordingly."
Meanwhile, independent provincial daily Salzburger Nachrichten with
its headline "movement in the Middle East" reflects the view of all
major Austrian media on Israeli Premier Ehud Olmert's proposal for a
regional peace conference with Arab League representatives.
Commentator for the daily Gil Yaron argues that the "Israeli
reaction to the peace offer of the Arab League finally gives cause
for hope. The convergence of local, regional and overall interests
leads Israelis and Arabs to have a greater interest in rapprochement
than ever before. (...) Without an alliance with the moderate Arabs,
Jerusalem will hardly succeed in putting a stop to the threatening
omnipotence fantasies of Teheran. In addition, there are the overall
interests. The Arab states, all in deep economic distress, need the
West for their own survival. (...) However, it was Iran's successful
power politics that has led to change in the Middle East: Fear and
suffering unite Israelis and Arabs."
However, foreign affairs writer for liberal daily Der Standard
Markus Bernath suggests that recent developments "show how limited
the options for a new start of the peace process really are. (...)
Nonetheless, the "chances for a 'new movement' in the Middle East
remains: If Olmert survives the report of the investigative
commission for the Lebanon war and there are no new elections which
bring right-winger Benjamin Netanyahu back to power - and if Hamas
Prime Minister Haniyeh finds his way back to realpoltik via the
EU."


President Fischer Visits South Korea


4. Austrian President Heinz Fischer held talks with his South Korean
counterpart Roh Moo-hyun in Seoul during his state visit to the
country - the first to South Korea by an Austrian president. In
addition to bilateral relations, discussions focused on South
Korea's relationship with the European Union. After reaching a free
trade agreement with the United States to open up South Korea's
highly protected market, the South Korean president says he now
hopes to reach the same type of understanding with the EU during the
first half of this year.
Semi-official daily Wiener Zeitung quotes Austrian President Fischer
as saying during his visit to South Korea that Seoul's free trade
deal with the United States was a positive development and that he
welcomed the upcoming talks with the EU. The Austrian President also
stressed he was looking forward to more investment by Austrian
entrepreneurs in South Korea. On that issue, head of the Chamber of
Commerce Christoph Leitl remarked that trade with South Korea was
only seven percent of Austrian foreign trade volume, but that he
hoped by 2010 it could be doubled from 500 million to one billion
Euros. According to the South Korean President, Austria had been
engaged in promoting the unification of the Korean peninsula since
the end of WWII, and Fischer emphasized with regard to North Korea's
nuclear ambitions that he considered the six party talks the best
way to end the problem without violence. The Austrian president on
Monday visited a number of South Korean firms, especially in the
electronics field, accompanied by a delegation which includes
ministers and state secretaries as well as business and cultural
representatives.
Foreign affairs writer for centrist daily Die Presse Thomas Seifert
in an analysis of Fischer's visit suggests that Seoul's free trade
agreement with the US caused quite a stir, which is why the Austrian
President's visit had a calming effect.




Iran, UK Signal Diplomatic Opening


5. Iran says it wants to resolve through diplomacy the crisis over
the 15 British soldiers seized in the Gulf more than a week ago, and
that there was no need for a trial. The London Foreign Office
explained it is still studying the remarks from Tehran, but
emphasized it shares the preference for early bilateral discussions
and would be contacting Iranian authorities. Austrian media suggest
these developments are a sign Tehran might be willing to come around
in the dispute.
Like all Austrian media reporting on the crisis between London and
Tehran over the 15 British sailors, mass-circulation daily Kurier
notes the two countries are now apparently banking on diplomacy to
resolve the issue. Aside from these developments, however, the
"threat of a new war in the region is not off the table," the daily
warns. "According to Israeli military intelligence observers, Iran,
Syria and the Lebanese Hezbollah are already putting defense
measures in place for a potential confrontation with the United
States. It is possible the US could launch an attack in summer in
which Israel could be involved as well," the Kurier writes.
Similarly, foreign affairs writer Michael Schmoelzer comments in
semi-official daily Wiener Zeitung that while "London is pushing for
de-escalation, George Bush is adding fuel to the flames." The fact
that the US President "has interfered" in the crisis over the 15
British sailors "is likely to reduce the chance people will get off
as lightly as possible." By labeling the Navy personnel "hostages"
and describing their arrest as "inexcusable," Bush has "poured oil
on more than one fire." He has made it "even harder for Mahmoud
Ahmadinejad to come around, as his opponents would say he had caved
in and shown cowardice in the face of Iran's archenemy."


Yushchenko Dissolves Parliament


6. All Austrian media report on a "massive government crisis" in
Ukraine, after President Victor Yushchenko signed a decree to
dissolve Parliament and hold an election next month. His move is
part of a long-running power struggle between Yushchenko, who favors
greater integration with the West, and his pro-Russian rival Victor
Yanukovich, the country's Prime Minister. Ukrainian Members of
Parliament, which is dominated by the Prime Minister's allies, have
voted to continue to work.
Liberal daily Der Standard reports that Ukrainian President Victor
Yushchenko has already set a date for early elections: Ukrainians
will go to the polls May 27. It is unlikely, however, that the
recent protests will trigger a second Orange Revolution, the daily
adds, and quotes sociologist Irina Bekeshkina as explaining that in
2004, "people pushed for political change, now they primarily want
an economic upswing." Mass-circulation daily Kurier meanwhile
analyzes the fact that the Ukrainian government has ignored the
Parliament's dissolution by President Yushchenko. According to
Ukrainian journalist Tatyana Kremen, these developments "may not be
the end for Yushckenko, but they will certainly bring about the end
of his strong leadership position."


Supreme Court Says Us Must Regulate Pollution


7. The United States Supreme Court has ruled that the Bush
administration was wrong to say it did not have the power to
regulate exhaust gases from new cars and trucks. According to the
Court, the Environmental Protection Agency had offered "no reasoned
explanation" for refusing to regulate carbon dioxide and other
harmful gas emissions from cars. Environmental campaigners have
described the ruling as a "watershed moment," says ORF radio early
morning news Morgenjournal.
McCaw