AUSTRIAN INTERIOR MINISTER OPPOSES BILATERAL AGREEMENTS

UNCLAS VIENNA 001106 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: CVIS PREL PTER AU SUBJECT: AUSTRIAN INTERIOR MINISTER OPPOSES BILATERAL AGREEMENTS REQUIRING DATA SHARING WITH U.S. ¶1. Austrian Interior Minister Maria Fekter (OVP) has reiterated her skeptical views on agreements that would involve bilateral data sharing between the U.S. and Austria. In an interview with the provincial daily "Salzburger Nachrichten" published August 1, Fekter stressed that Austria would not negotiate bilaterally with the U.S on data sharing, but instead "seek cover under the negotiating umbrella of the EU," which was in the process of working out a sensitive treaty with Washington regarding sharing of air passenger data. Fekter told the daily that Austria had communicated this message unequivocally to DHS Assistant Secretary for Political Affairs Stuart Baker back in July when Baker attended the Western Balkans security summit in the Austrian capital. Fekter further stressed Austrian expectations that any U.S. visa regulation for EU citizens would be uniform across the entire EU. A working translation of the statements by the Austrian Interior Minister follows. ¶2. "Question: How do you view the situation regarding the visa dispute between the EU and the U.S.? Fekter: The EU Commission has now threatened to request entry formalities also from U.S. diplomats. At the recent Western Balkans summit (in Vienna),we talked with U.S. Assistant Secretary Steward ¶A. Baker. We made it very clear to him that it is not a solution if the U.S. concludes a bilateral treaty with every single EU country. We certainly expect here that there is a uniform EU regulation with regard to free visa travel for EU citizens. We are very skeptical if the U.S. now wants to set up new hurdles. Currently, the U.S. is planning electronic registration prior to departure, starting 2009. We have signaled to the Americans that we expect a uniform treatment of the EU. We will not meet any U.S. wishes such as, for example, in the area of air passenger data storage. In this case, we will wait for the data protection treaty, which the EU is negotiating with the U.S. As Austrians we are taking ourselves under the negotiating umbrella of the EU, since the EU can act much more forcefully than a small country such as ours." 3, Comment. Fekter's comments reflect her short tenure in office and lack of familiarity with the actual status of U.S. talks with the EU and negotiations with member states. They are also, however, a political response to popular sentiment. Embassy is seeking opportunities to engage Fekter and discuss the reality of U.S. proposals related to the VWP reform law of 2007. End Comment. Girard-diCarlo