Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08VIENNA1263
2008-09-03 14:52:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Vienna
Cable title:
AUSTRIA POSTPONES SOUTH STREAM TALKS
how-toVZCZCXRO4404 PP RUEHFL RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHROV RUEHSR DE RUEHVI #1263 2471452 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 031452Z SEP 08 FM AMEMBASSY VIENNA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0868 INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
C O N F I D E N T I A L VIENNA 001263
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/03/2023
TAGS: PREL ENRG AU RU GG
SUBJECT: AUSTRIA POSTPONES SOUTH STREAM TALKS
REF: (A) VIENNA 1259 (B) VIENNA 1247 AND PREVIOUS
Classified By: Econ/Pol Counselor Dean Yap. Reason: 1.4(b) and (d)
(C) Austria has decided to postpone indefinitely the opening
of formal talks with Russia on Austrian participation in the
South Stream project. The unexpected but very welcome
decision, apparently made late Sept. 2, follows multiple
Embassy interventions with the Foreign and Economics
Ministries and the energy firm OMV. Officials of the latter
first informed Embassy of the decision early Sept. 3. It was
subsequently confirmed by International Energy Affairs staff
at the Economics Ministry. The decision to postpone may well
have also been influenced by the EU's decision to suspend its
Partnership negotiations with Russia. Post understands from
an EU Embassy that among the proposals at the September 1 EU
Council was a suspension of all meetings with the Russians in
September. It also comes in the context of the NSG
discussion about an exception for India, in which Austria is
among a handful of states insisting on amendments thus far
rejected by India.
Girard-diCarlo
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/03/2023
TAGS: PREL ENRG AU RU GG
SUBJECT: AUSTRIA POSTPONES SOUTH STREAM TALKS
REF: (A) VIENNA 1259 (B) VIENNA 1247 AND PREVIOUS
Classified By: Econ/Pol Counselor Dean Yap. Reason: 1.4(b) and (d)
(C) Austria has decided to postpone indefinitely the opening
of formal talks with Russia on Austrian participation in the
South Stream project. The unexpected but very welcome
decision, apparently made late Sept. 2, follows multiple
Embassy interventions with the Foreign and Economics
Ministries and the energy firm OMV. Officials of the latter
first informed Embassy of the decision early Sept. 3. It was
subsequently confirmed by International Energy Affairs staff
at the Economics Ministry. The decision to postpone may well
have also been influenced by the EU's decision to suspend its
Partnership negotiations with Russia. Post understands from
an EU Embassy that among the proposals at the September 1 EU
Council was a suspension of all meetings with the Russians in
September. It also comes in the context of the NSG
discussion about an exception for India, in which Austria is
among a handful of states insisting on amendments thus far
rejected by India.
Girard-diCarlo