Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08VIENNA1832
2008-12-12 16:17:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Vienna
Cable title:
AUSTRIA'S NEW CABINET: MINISTER FOR AGRICULTURE
how-toVZCZCXRO5057 RR RUEHAG RUEHAST RUEHDA RUEHDF RUEHFL RUEHIK RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHLN RUEHLZ RUEHNP RUEHPOD RUEHROV RUEHSK RUEHSR RUEHVK RUEHYG DE RUEHVI #1832 3471617 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 121617Z DEC 08 FM AMEMBASSY VIENNA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 1669 INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE RUEHRC/USDA FAS WASHDC 1238
UNCLAS VIENNA 001832
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
DEPT FOR EUR/CE
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: TBIO PGOV PREL ECON EAGR SENV AU
SUBJECT: AUSTRIA'S NEW CABINET: MINISTER FOR AGRICULTURE
AND ENVIRONMENT NIKI BERLAKOVICH
UNCLAS VIENNA 001832
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
DEPT FOR EUR/CE
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: TBIO PGOV PREL ECON EAGR SENV AU
SUBJECT: AUSTRIA'S NEW CABINET: MINISTER FOR AGRICULTURE
AND ENVIRONMENT NIKI BERLAKOVICH
1. (U) The following is a profile of Nikolaus ("Niki")
Berlakovich of the conservative People's Party (OVP),who
has been named Minister for Agriculture and Forestry,
Environment and Water Management (also termed the "Life
Ministry") in the new GOA cabinet.
Experience
--------------
2. (U) Berlakovich, an experienced local politician and
parliamentarian in Austria's poorest state of Burgenland,
was sworn in December 2 as Austria's agriculture and
environment minister.
3. (U) Born on June 4, 1961, in Eisenstadt (Burgenland),
Berlakovich has lived in that state for most of his life.
After receiving his high-school diploma in 1979 he studied
Agriculture and "Production of Plants" at the University of
Natural Resources and Applied Life Sciences in Vienna,
where he graduated as engineer in 1985.
4. (U) He has spent most of his professional life in
politics, specializing in agricultural issues. In 1991 he
became a member of the state parliament of Burgenland. In
1998 he took on the party manager job of Burgenland's OVP,
but stepped down after an unsuccessful campaign in 2000.
His political career was reborn with his appointment for
OVP floor leader in the provincial parliament in 2002. In
2005 he became Burgenland state minister for agriculture,
environmental/animal protection, hunting, and water/sewage
management. His political base is in the OVP Farmer's
Association, where he has served as head of the Burgenland
chapter since 2006.
Political/Economic Views
--------------
5. (U) Berlakovich has been virtually unknown on the
national scene but is an experienced local politician. He
has always worked in "grand coalitions" in Burgenland, so
he knows that form of cooperation well. He is a member of
the Croatian minority in Burgenland, speaks Croatian, and
was spokesman for the minority in the Burgenland provincial
parliament. He enjoys good relations with the other
ethnic-Croatian GOA minister (Norbert Darabos (SPO)).
6. (SBU) Berlakovich will be a strong advocate for the
interests of Austrian and European farmers, potentially
lobbying for subsidies and against market access in WTO
negotiations. In one of his first statements as Minister
he opined that "farmers are those who preserve the basis of
life, such as a healthy earth, air and water for the
society." Berlakovich has also said Austria "will not move
a millimeter" from its position that Austria's agriculture
and food must remain "biotechnology-free" -- a "model" for
Europe in this regard. He will maintain the long-standing
cordon against nuclear energy and is likely to speak out
against any new nuclear power plant in neighboring
countries and beyond. Berlakovich follows in the footsteps
of Vice Chancellor/Finance Minister Josef Proell (who is
also the new conservative party chief),so he will have his
party's ear.
PERSONAL
--------------
7. (U) Berlakovich is married (wife Ursula is a doctor) and
has a son (17) and a daughter (15). His main leisure
activity is playing soccer.
GIRARD-DICARLO
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
DEPT FOR EUR/CE
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: TBIO PGOV PREL ECON EAGR SENV AU
SUBJECT: AUSTRIA'S NEW CABINET: MINISTER FOR AGRICULTURE
AND ENVIRONMENT NIKI BERLAKOVICH
1. (U) The following is a profile of Nikolaus ("Niki")
Berlakovich of the conservative People's Party (OVP),who
has been named Minister for Agriculture and Forestry,
Environment and Water Management (also termed the "Life
Ministry") in the new GOA cabinet.
Experience
--------------
2. (U) Berlakovich, an experienced local politician and
parliamentarian in Austria's poorest state of Burgenland,
was sworn in December 2 as Austria's agriculture and
environment minister.
3. (U) Born on June 4, 1961, in Eisenstadt (Burgenland),
Berlakovich has lived in that state for most of his life.
After receiving his high-school diploma in 1979 he studied
Agriculture and "Production of Plants" at the University of
Natural Resources and Applied Life Sciences in Vienna,
where he graduated as engineer in 1985.
4. (U) He has spent most of his professional life in
politics, specializing in agricultural issues. In 1991 he
became a member of the state parliament of Burgenland. In
1998 he took on the party manager job of Burgenland's OVP,
but stepped down after an unsuccessful campaign in 2000.
His political career was reborn with his appointment for
OVP floor leader in the provincial parliament in 2002. In
2005 he became Burgenland state minister for agriculture,
environmental/animal protection, hunting, and water/sewage
management. His political base is in the OVP Farmer's
Association, where he has served as head of the Burgenland
chapter since 2006.
Political/Economic Views
--------------
5. (U) Berlakovich has been virtually unknown on the
national scene but is an experienced local politician. He
has always worked in "grand coalitions" in Burgenland, so
he knows that form of cooperation well. He is a member of
the Croatian minority in Burgenland, speaks Croatian, and
was spokesman for the minority in the Burgenland provincial
parliament. He enjoys good relations with the other
ethnic-Croatian GOA minister (Norbert Darabos (SPO)).
6. (SBU) Berlakovich will be a strong advocate for the
interests of Austrian and European farmers, potentially
lobbying for subsidies and against market access in WTO
negotiations. In one of his first statements as Minister
he opined that "farmers are those who preserve the basis of
life, such as a healthy earth, air and water for the
society." Berlakovich has also said Austria "will not move
a millimeter" from its position that Austria's agriculture
and food must remain "biotechnology-free" -- a "model" for
Europe in this regard. He will maintain the long-standing
cordon against nuclear energy and is likely to speak out
against any new nuclear power plant in neighboring
countries and beyond. Berlakovich follows in the footsteps
of Vice Chancellor/Finance Minister Josef Proell (who is
also the new conservative party chief),so he will have his
party's ear.
PERSONAL
--------------
7. (U) Berlakovich is married (wife Ursula is a doctor) and
has a son (17) and a daughter (15). His main leisure
activity is playing soccer.
GIRARD-DICARLO