AUSTRIAN MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS: February 08, 2008

UNCLAS VIENNA 000202 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR EUR/AGS, INR/EU, AND EUR/PPD FOR YVETTE SAINT-ANDRE OSD FOR COMMANDER CHAFFEE WHITEHOUSE FOR NSC/WEUROPE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: OPRC KPAO AU SUBJECT: AUSTRIAN MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS: February 08, 2008 Deliberate Cover-Ups In Kampusch Case? ¶1. In the controversy over allegations regarding a potential OeVP cover-up of shortfalls in the search for kidnap victim Natascha Kampusch, which may have prevented an earlier rescue of the girl, OeVP Secretary General Hannes Missethon told Austrian radio that late Interior Minister Liese Prokop (OeVP) deliberately did not follow up on potential mistakes in the kidnap case's investigation in 2006, as she did not want to make the matter an issue during the general election campaign underway at the time. Prokop had "decided wisely," Missethon emphasized, and added that she had "planned to launch an investigation" after the 2006 election. SPOe Blasts Vice-Chancellor over Inflation Subsidies ¶2. SPOe Social Affairs Minister Erwin Buchinger and SPOe State Secretary for Finance Christoph Matznetter have harshly attacked SIPDIS OeVP Vice-Chancellor and Finance Minister Wilhelm Molterer for his opposition to the proposed once-off payments of 100 Euros to Austrians most-affected by high inflation. They said that Molterer had had no problem with abolition of the inheritance tax, but was refusing to help those most in need. "Money for the rich is available, but there is none for the poor," Minister Buchinger complained. All Austrian media report on the SPOe's harsh attacks on the People's Party and the Vice-Chancellor for their opposition to once-off payments to Austrians most-affected by rising inflation. After Social Affairs Minister Buchinger complained that apparently, only money for the rich was available, OeVP Economy Minister Martin "Bartenstein, not to be outdone, called for an examination of 'home-made' causes of inflation, and Lower Austrian OeVP Governor Erwin Proell said that he was very concerned since the Social Democratic Chancellor was partially responsible for high inflation," semi-official daily Wiener Zeitung notes. Mass-circulation tabloid Kronen Zeitung, reporting on what it describes as a "head-on attack" by the SPOe on the OeVP leadership, asks whether this time, the coalition government might truly be heading for a crash. Meanwhile, liberal daily Der Standard says on its front page that the "SPOe feels it is being 'systemaically criminalized' by the OeVP." And, accordingto semi-official daily Wiener Zeitung, the SPOe-OeP coalition has ended up in "conflict at all fronts." Chad Mission to Be Continued ¶3. In a meeting on Thursday, the Austrian National Security Council decided that Austria's participation in the EU's humanitarian assistance mission in Chad will continue. There is no decision at this point, though, when the remainder of the Austrian contingent of 160 soldiers will be deployed to Africa to team up with the advance team. Meanwhile, Austrian Chancellor Alfred Gusenbauer underscored that "EUFOR must act only in a neutral manner, independent of French interests" in the African state, reported ORF TV's prime time news Zeit im Bild I on Thursday. France Passes EU Reform Treaty ¶4. The French Parliament has approved the European Union's Reform Treaty. The move is particularly significant, according to Austrian media, as it comes three years after voters in France and The Netherlands rejected its predecessor, the EU Constitution, in a referendum, thus delivering a killing blow to the draft document. Reporting on the French Parliament's move to approve the EU Reform Treaty, mass-circulation tabloid Kronen Zeitung runs the headline "France rushes EU Treaty's ratification through Parliament," and says that this move is "all the more remarkable" given France's negative referendum three years ago. The tabloid explains that in 2005, 55 percent of French voters had opted against the draft Constitution, and goes on to say: That way, the French "prevented the EU from turning into a military alliance, and thus indirectly also saved Austria's neutrality." Today, France's President Nicolas Sarkozy apparently wanted to avoid a new "setback," which is why the Reform Treaty was passed in Parliament, and without a popular referendum. This, according to the Kronen Zeitung, will serve as a "fine example" for the Austrian government, which is also opposed to allowing the people to have their say on the issue. Romney Throws In the Towel ¶5. Senator John McCain's main rival, Mitt Romney, has announced he is dropping out of the race for the Republican presidential nomination. Romney did not endorse McCain, but warned of the possibility that the Democratic candidate might win the presidential election if his party did not unite around a single candidate. Austrian media agree that with this move, McCain looks certain to become his party's candidate for November. He has meanwhile called on conservative activists to support him and unite the party. All Austrian media say that with Mitt Romney having dropped out of the race, Republican Senator John McCain looks certain to become his party's candidate for the White House. Calling on conservative activists to support him and unite the party, McCain was eager to emphasize his conservative credentials, ORF radio states in its early morning news Morgenjournal, and quotes the Senator: "I am very proud to have come to public office in a Reagan revolution and if a few of my positions have raised your concern that I have forgotten my political heritage, I want to assure you I have not and I am as proud of that association today as I was then." ORF radio also quotes Mitt Romney as emphasizing the Republican Party needed to unite around one candidate: "Now if I fight on my campaign all the way to the convention, I forestall the launch of a national campaign and frankly I'd be making it easier for Senator Clinton or Obama to win. Frankly, in this time of war, I simply cannot let my campaign be part of evading surrender to terror," said Romney. Centrist daily Die Presse runs the headline "The path is clear for McCain." The newspaper's Washington correspondent Norbert Rief suggests that his decision "not only works in favor of McCain; it also hurts the two Democratic candidates Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama. McCain, whose nomination is now virtually a given, can now afford to re-distribute his resources, and no longer has to focus on the stressful and costly pre-election campaign." And, semi-official daily Wiener Zeitung comments on Romney's decision to drop out of the race: "The go-getter with the fat bank account is finished." Former US Ambassador Hoping For Improvement Of US Image ¶6. Commenting on the US presidential election process, former US Ambassador to Austria Helene von Damm suggests that "presumably, John McCain and Hillary Clinton will win their party's nomination for the presidential election." However, she believes that "Barack Obama would be best suited to repair America's image abroad." In mass-circulation weekly NEWS of February 7, former US Ambassador to Austria Helene von Damm comments on this year's US presidential election campaign: "Presumably, John McCain and Hillary Clinton will win their party's nomination for the presidency. She can rely on a massive political apparatus, and he has the necessary boost. There could still be surprises, but I expect this will be the 'year of the Democrats.' As a Republican, I'm more at home with Senator McCain and Governor Romney's values and programs. Those two would be a particularly good team. Romney knows a lot about the economy, and McCain has the necessary international experience. But the person best suited to rehabilitate America's battered image in the world is - in my opinion - undoubtedly Barack Obama. He would show the world that America is still the country it has always been: open for all citizens, independent of their origin or race. He is considered as America's great hope - Republican friends, too, have told me that they would vote for him, if it became an option." Kilner