AUSTRIAN VIEWS ON THE JULY 22-23 GAERC

UNCLAS VIENNA 001018 SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/ERA E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV EUN IR SO CD ZI AU SUBJECT: AUSTRIAN VIEWS ON THE JULY 22-23 GAERC REF: STATE 75702 (SBU) Polchief discussed reftel points July 16 with Klaus Famira, MFA European Correspondent. Famira offered the following information on the GAERC agenda items: -- Iran Sanctions: Famira said participants at the GAERC will discuss a set of proposed, tougher sanctions on Iran, but he did not expect them to reach agreement on the measures because member states remain divided. He acknowledged that Austria is among a minority of member states resisting the measures. But he averred that as long as there was no consensus, the GOA was not under pressure to change its position. (Note: Septel will report on subsequent exchange on Iran between U/S Burns and Austrian State Secretary Winkler. End Note). -- Somalia: FMs will discuss how the EU can implement UNSC sanctions. They will also discuss how to promote stability in the country. -- Chad: The EU mission in Chad is scheduled to end March 15. GAERC participants will discuss the current mission and the need to begin preparing for a transition to a follow-on UN mission. -- Zimbabwe: Representatives will approve additions to existing EU sanctions that will expand the freezing of assets and add to the list of individuals under travel bans. Travel bans will be expanded to prohibit travel for participation in meetings with EU bodies. -- Middle East: Special Envoy Blair will brief ministers on the situation in the West Bank and Gaza. -- Western Balkans: The GOA will brief participants on a program that provides student visas to about 200 Serbs a year for study in Austrian universities. -- Transatlantic Relations: There will be a discussion of transatlantic relations based on an article jointly written by the French, Spanish, and Portuguese FMs and published June 14 in Le Monde. Girard-diCarlo