Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08VIENNA1580
2008-10-28 10:22:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Vienna
Cable title:
CITIBANK AUSTRIA INDICATES INTEREST IN NABUCCO
how-toVZCZCXYZ0000 RR RUEHWEB DE RUEHVI #1580 3021022 ZNY CCCCC ZZH R 281022Z OCT 08 FM AMEMBASSY VIENNA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 1150 INFO RUCNMEU/EU INTEREST RUEHKB/AMEMBASSY BAKU 0351 RUEHSI/AMEMBASSY TBILISI 0647
C O N F I D E N T I A L VIENNA 001580
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/27/2023
TAGS: ENRG ETRD ECIN PREL AU
SUBJECT: CITIBANK AUSTRIA INDICATES INTEREST IN NABUCCO
Classified By: Econ/Pol Counselor Dean Yap. Reason: 1.4(b) and (d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L VIENNA 001580
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/27/2023
TAGS: ENRG ETRD ECIN PREL AU
SUBJECT: CITIBANK AUSTRIA INDICATES INTEREST IN NABUCCO
Classified By: Econ/Pol Counselor Dean Yap. Reason: 1.4(b) and (d)
1. (C) Two Vienna-based officers of Citibank called on
Econ/Pol Counselor, FCS Counselor, and Economic Unit chief
October 21 to discuss USG attitudes toward the Nabucco
project. The two reported that Citibank had been approached
over a year before by representatives of the Nabucco
consortium about providing financial advisory services to the
project. At the time, Citibank rejected the proposal,
largely because of concerns about the political risk involved
were the project to ship Iranian gas and the belief that the
U.S. opposed the project on those grounds. However, Citibank
was looking again at the issue and wanted to hear USG views
on Nabucco at first hand.
2. (U) Emboffs responded that the USG was a strong supporter
of the Nabucco project for various reasons, including the
energy diversification it represented. Emboffs noted that
the USG was in close and frequent contact with both
governments and commercial partners involved in the Nabucco
project and sought to use its limited influence to advance
the project. However, the U.S. would be concerned about
steps to bring Iranian gas into the project and had made
those concerns known. At this stage, though, there appeared
to be alternatives to Iranian gas and the timing was not
urgent.
3. (C) Based on this briefing, the Citibank officers
indicated that they would recommend further exploration of
the possibilities for Citibank-Nabucco collaboration,
probably including further discussions with USG agencies in
Washington.
GIRARD-DICARLO
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/27/2023
TAGS: ENRG ETRD ECIN PREL AU
SUBJECT: CITIBANK AUSTRIA INDICATES INTEREST IN NABUCCO
Classified By: Econ/Pol Counselor Dean Yap. Reason: 1.4(b) and (d)
1. (C) Two Vienna-based officers of Citibank called on
Econ/Pol Counselor, FCS Counselor, and Economic Unit chief
October 21 to discuss USG attitudes toward the Nabucco
project. The two reported that Citibank had been approached
over a year before by representatives of the Nabucco
consortium about providing financial advisory services to the
project. At the time, Citibank rejected the proposal,
largely because of concerns about the political risk involved
were the project to ship Iranian gas and the belief that the
U.S. opposed the project on those grounds. However, Citibank
was looking again at the issue and wanted to hear USG views
on Nabucco at first hand.
2. (U) Emboffs responded that the USG was a strong supporter
of the Nabucco project for various reasons, including the
energy diversification it represented. Emboffs noted that
the USG was in close and frequent contact with both
governments and commercial partners involved in the Nabucco
project and sought to use its limited influence to advance
the project. However, the U.S. would be concerned about
steps to bring Iranian gas into the project and had made
those concerns known. At this stage, though, there appeared
to be alternatives to Iranian gas and the timing was not
urgent.
3. (C) Based on this briefing, the Citibank officers
indicated that they would recommend further exploration of
the possibilities for Citibank-Nabucco collaboration,
probably including further discussions with USG agencies in
Washington.
GIRARD-DICARLO