Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08VIENNA532
2008-04-17 14:27:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Vienna
Cable title:  

AUSTRIAN MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS: April 17, 2008

Tags:  OPRC KPAO AU 
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VZCZCXYZ1597
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHVI #0532/01 1081427
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 171427Z APR 08
FM AMEMBASSY VIENNA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0025
RUEKJCS/OSD WASHDC PRIORITY
RHEHAAA/WHITEHOUSE WASHDC PRIORITY
UNCLAS VIENNA 000532 

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: April 17, 2008


No End Of Price Surge

UNCLAS VIENNA 000532

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: April 17, 2008


No End Of Price Surge


1. There is no end to the price surge that shocks Austrian
consumers: According to the latest statistics, the costs of living
went up by 3.5 percent in March - more than in January or February.
This price increase was especially noticeable in the costs for food
products, gasoline, housing, and energy. For the time being, an end
to the price spiral is nowhere in sight - WIFO expert Markus
Marterbauer estimates that inflation will decrease only slightly in
the second half of the year, but will remain at an overall rate of 3
percent for 2008. This way, consumer purchasing power will stagnate
since the latest salary raises are outweighed by the fast-increasing
prices. [Neue Kronenzeitung, p. 5; other Austrian media]

"Democrats Eager For The White House"


2. In a PAS-facilitated interview with independent daily "Salzburger
Nachrichten," Charg d'Affaires of the US Embassy in Vienna Scott F.
Kilner gave his assessment of the upcoming US elections and of
transatlantic relations after the irritations following the Iraq
war. Kilner sees strong indications that the US could be ready for
either a woman president or an African-American president in
November and believes that the Democrats are "so eager for victory"
that they will be "ready to close the ranks" and rally behind one
candidate once the primary contest is over. However, he cautions
against the idea that a Democratic victory will lead to a quick
withdrawal from Iraq. "Even if Clinton or Obama win, they will
inherit a certain situation. Whoever moves into the White House will
have to deal with the current situation." On the issue of
transatlantic relations, the Charg refers to a rapprochement that
has taken place during the second term of the Bush presidency. In
the interview with "Salzbuger Nachrichten," the Charg d' Affaires
of the US Embassy Scott Kilner expressly makes a case for the US
being ready to elect either a woman or an African American to the
White House. "I have long believed that we are ready for a female
President. After all, there are plenty of model cases
internationally for strong female leadership personalities." While
he concedes that in the case of an African-American the
"psychological obstacles are higher" and that he would not have

believed it possible a year ago, he points out that "now, there is
an overwhelming readiness in the US": "As a US citizens, I find it
very encouraging that we have come this far. Obama gets support from
all segments of the population: White men, women, young and old
people." Asked about speculations that the presumptive Republican
candidate John McCain will pick Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice
as his running mate, thus also playing the female and
African-American card, Scott Kilner dismisses this as unlikely to
happen: "McCain is more likely to choose someone who has political
qualities that complement his own. Condoleezza Rice may just go back
to academic life." According to Kilner, the frequently observed
crossing of lines between politics, economy or academia "brings
expert knowledge and fresh air into the system." "Professional
politicians, who become involved with party organizations after
graduation, are in danger of forming a political caste which acts in
a way that is aloof from the rest of society." With regard to the
current situation in Iraq, the Charg admits that "the operation
"surge" has not been such a great success. However, it has brought
us into a somewhat better position in Iraq. There has been
progress." On a general scale, his assessment of the war is that "it
cost a lot of blood and money" and will "narrow the maneuvering room
of a Democratic President as well." Progress was also made in the
damaged transatlantic relations, says Kilner, and refers in this
context to President Bush's second term with Condoleezza Rice being
Secretary of State. However, as regards the reputation of the US in

SIPDIS
Europe, the US diplomat's assessment is sober and resigned: "There
has been no improvement."

Largely Skeptical About Middle East


3. On Wednesday, the crisis in the Middle East was the center of
Austrian diplomacy when Foreign Minister Ursula Plassnik received
the Secretary General of the Arab League, Amr Moussa as well as the
initiator of the Geneva Middle East peace talks and former Deputy
Foreign Minister Yossi Beilin. Moussa was especially skeptical with
regard to a peace solution, saying that the peace process was
stagnating, mainly due to the Israeli settlement policy, and that it
was doubtful whether it can be saved. In contrast, Beilin stressed
the necessity to conduct a dialogue with all Palestinians, including
Hamas. [Wiener Zeitung, p. 7]

Pope Visits God's Own Country


4. ... headlines centrist daily "Die Presse" in reference to Pope
Benedict's visit to the US, where he was given a grand reception by
US President Bush on Wednesday. Bush presented the Pontiff with a
huge birthday cake upon his 81st birthday and had invited more guess
than ever before. Benedict announced at the outset of his US visit
that he was about to meet a "great people and a great church."
Benedict is only the second Pope to be received in the White House
and the first since 1979. However, there are also sensitive and
controversial issues to be discussed between the Pope and the
President, most notably Iraq. All Austrian media give extensive
coverage to Pope Benedict's visit to America and his reception by US
President George W. Bush - and not just to the splendid reception
which the Head of the Catholic Church received in a country where
the majority of the population is Protestant, but also to the
political and religious issues surrounding the visit. Centrist daily
"Die Presse" sees the fact that Bush personally met the Pope at
Andrews Air Force Base as reflecting the importance which the US
President attributes to the visit, noting that this was an
unprecedented occurrence in the Bush presidency so far. The Pope
himself has already addressed one of the most critical issues he is
expected to be confronted with during his six-day visit: The
scandalous incidents of sexual abuse involving high-ranking Catholic
priests in the US. According to independent daily "Der Standard,"
Benedict XVI already before his arrival expressed his "heartfelt
shame" over the cases of sexual abuse of young people, which caused
"great suffering" for the victims and the church. "We will do all we
can to prevent this from happening in the future." This was an issue
that threatened to overshadow his US visit. Austrian media are
agreed that in the talks between Benedict XVI and President Bush,
Iraq is likely to be a controversial issue. Prior to Bush's meeting
with the Pope at the White House, however, the President's
spokeswoman Dana Perino already stated that that it was clear that
the White House and the Vatican held different positions on the
issue and that Bush did not intend to convince the Pope of his point
of view, reports "Der Standard." The Pope himself has so far
addressed the controversial issue only indirectly, writes
semi-official daily "Wiener Zeitung." In connection with the papal
visit, Austrian dailies also analyze the general differences between
the US and Europe in terms of the religious belief of the population
and reflect on the situation of the Catholic Church in the US.
Centrist daily "Die Presse" refers to the omnipresence of God in
everyday life in the US, which is partly due to the strict
separation between state and church. Austrian-born Peter Berger,
head of the "Institute on Culture, Religion and World Affairs" in
Boston refers in this context to the fact that US churches could not
rely on state support and therefore had to compete with each other
to win the support of the people. "And competition creates strong
structures." Analyzing the situation of the Catholic Church in the
US, independent daily "Der Standard" identifies the Hispanics as its
main stronghold. Generally, the scandals involving pedophile priests
and the subsequent attempts to cover them up were detrimental to the
church's reputation and led to a massive exodus of members. This
could only be compensated by the large number of Hispanic immigrants
that joined the US Catholic Church, writes "Der Standard."

Bush Wants To Stop CO2 Increase Until 2025


5. In a keynote speech in Washington on Wednesday, US President
George W. Bush announced his intention to stop the increase of CO2
in the US until 2025. At the same time, he warned of establishing a
legally binding upper limit for CO2 emissions and insisted that new
technologies were the only way to protect the environment and
promote economic growth. The climate targets had to be ambitious and
realistic at the same time so as to avoid a negative impact on the
economy and the job market in the US, the President said. [ORF
online; Kurier, p. 6]
Kilner