Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08USUNNEWYORK920
2008-10-09 22:53:00
CONFIDENTIAL
USUN New York
Cable title:  

INCOMING AUSTRIAN UN PERMREP ON PLANS FOR A

Tags:  PREL PHUM UNGA USUN UNSC UNMIK SR KV AU 
pdf how-to read a cable
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FM USMISSION USUN NEW YORK
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 5089
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE
RUEHXX/GENEVA IO MISSIONS COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE
RUCNIRA/IRAN COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE
RUEHZG/NATO EU COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE
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RUEHII/VIENNA IAEA POSTS COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 USUN NEW YORK 000920 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/05/2018
TAGS: PREL PHUM UNGA USUN UNSC UNMIK SR KV AU
SUBJECT: INCOMING AUSTRIAN UN PERMREP ON PLANS FOR A
SECURITY COUNCIL SEAT, IRAN, AND KOSOVO

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 USUN NEW YORK 000920

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/05/2018
TAGS: PREL PHUM UNGA USUN UNSC UNMIK SR KV AU
SUBJECT: INCOMING AUSTRIAN UN PERMREP ON PLANS FOR A
SECURITY COUNCIL SEAT, IRAN, AND KOSOVO


1. (C) Summary: Incoming Austrian PermRep Mayr-Harting made
his case to Ambassador Wolff for Austria to win one of the
Security Council seats up for vote October 17.
Mayr-Harting's arguments ranged from Austria's recent
successful EU Presidency to being perceived as "harmless" by
the international community. Mayr-Harting cited Austria's
need for energy diversification while extolling Austria's
"loyal execution" of EU Iran sanctions despite the high cost.
On UNMIK, Wolff urged caution on Russian and Serbian efforts
to re-start Security Council engagement. Mayr-Harting said
he will return with Foreign Minister Ursula Plassnik for the
October 17 vote and expects to take up his PermRep position
December 2. End Summary.

Optimistic about winning a seat...
--------------


2. (C) In a October 2 meeting with Ambassador Wolff incoming
Austrian PermRep Thomas Mayr-Harting predicted that Austria
would secure one of the two European seats on the Security
Council in the vote set for October 17, and expressed his
interest in working closely with the US. He said that if
Austria does win the seat it would loyally represent EU
positions and went on to describe consultations with outgoing
Council member Belgium on the mechanism for EU input into the
Council. Wolff noted that a mechanism for cooperation among
Western countries also exists, emphasizing the important role
non-permanent EU members play in negotiating Security Council
compromises.

...and viewed as "harmless"
--------------


3. (C) Mayr-Harting said his experience campaigning for the
Security Council seat convinced him that Austria has no
enemies, and that broad popularity is one of Austria's
strengths. He also noted that Austria is viewed as
"harmless," yet maintains a strong record on promoting
international rule of law and serving as a solid citizen of
the international community. Mayr-Harting went on to
describe Austria's strong cooperation with the US during its

EU presidency, and said the Austrians proved they could
implement tough decisions. He noted that when in a position
of responsibility, Austria always maintains good
transatlantic relationships. He raised Austria's role as
chair of the Iraqi sanctions committee in the 1990s as an
example.

Relations with Iran: energy diversification required
-------------- --------------


4. (C) In response to questions on Austria's potential
positions on Iran sanctions if they do win the Council seat,
Mayr-Harting said that the "traumatic" 2006 energy crisis
taught Austria that it must work seriously on energy
diversification. Mayr-Harting hinted that the US could ease
Austria's energy situation by helping talks with Turkmenistan
progress and by helping Austria gain access to Iraqi gas.
Mayr-Harting expressed gratitude for the US role in promoting
the Nabucco pipeline, saying that the US had been more useful
than Austria's EU partners. He explained that future Iranian
involvement with Nabucco could not be discounted and although
Austrians were "not trying to be difficult," they could not
accept closing options off, given their need for energy
diversification.


5. (C) Mayr-Harting added that Austria had paid a higher
price than any other country by cutting off ties with Iranian
banks, yet had "executed loyally" EU sanctions. Wolff
responded by noting that the two-track approach of sanctions
and incentives had been designed to achieve a breakthrough
and find a solution as soon as possible. He emphasized that
national economic concerns pale compared to the threat posed
by a nuclear Iran.

Austria's foreign policy to remain unchanged
--------------


6. (C) Queried on Austria's recent election, Mayr-Harting
responded he does not expect any shift in foreign policy
following the gains of the far-right Freedom Party and
Alliance for the Future of Austria Party. The shift in
Christian Democrat leadership clearly signals an intent to
continue the existing coalition, Mayr-Harting explained, and
that even after the far-right 2000 election win, Austria's
foreign policy remained steady. Shrugging off the

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significance of the far-right capturing 29 percent of the
vote, Mayr-Harting said the turnout revealed the public's
frustration with the governing coalition rather than an
endorsement of far-right views. Mayr-Harting surmised that
the Christian Democrats, by forming a new coalition with the
Social Democrats, have signaled plans to stay the course, and
that Foreign Minister Ursula Plassnik will likely keep her
position if she so chooses.

Serbian and Russian Maneuverings on Kosovo not helpful
-------------- --------------


7. (C) Mayr-Harting said that he had learned from Russian
PermRep Churkin that the UN Secretariat and the Serbian
delegation had discussed a new variation of reconfiguration
for the UN Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK). Wolff confirmed he had
heard similar reports, but noted they may be exaggerated. As
the Secretariat staff had failed to inform the Kosovars about
their meetings with the Serbs, the discussions would be
considered inappropriate. The Serbian delegation had also
requested postponement of the scheduled Secretariat meeting
on Kosovo, Wolff said, and had sought to insert itself on a
range of Kosovo matters. Wolff noted that the underlying
motivation of Russian and Serbian efforts is to have the
Security Council re-engage, which would likely lead to
further stalling on European Union Mission in Kosovo (EULEX)
deployment and other activities. A council blessing for what
the Russians have in mind, Wolff warned, would not make
things easier for the EU. Wolff told Mayr-Harting not to
expect a presidential statement following the upcoming
secretariat briefing on UNMIK.
Khalilzad