Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08VIENNA70
2008-01-16 14:44:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Vienna
Cable title:
AUSTRIAN SUPPORT FOR CHAD MISSION SOLID
how-toVZCZCXYZ0017 RR RUEHWEB DE RUEHVI #0070 0161444 ZNY CCCCC ZZH R 161444Z JAN 08 FM AMEMBASSY VIENNA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 9338 INFO RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 0851 RUEHNJ/AMEMBASSY NDJAMENA 0046 RUEHKH/AMEMBASSY KHARTOUM RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0238 RUEHUNV/USMISSION UNVIE VIENNA 0429
C O N F I D E N T I A L VIENNA 000070
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/15/2023
TAGS: PREL EUN MARR PREF CD AU
SUBJECT: AUSTRIAN SUPPORT FOR CHAD MISSION SOLID
REF: STATE 3208
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 000070
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/15/2023
TAGS: PREL EUN MARR PREF CD AU
SUBJECT: AUSTRIAN SUPPORT FOR CHAD MISSION SOLID
REF: STATE 3208
Classified By: Econ/Pol Counselor Dean Yap. Reason: 1.4(b) and (d)
1. (C) A series of conversations with Austrian Foreign
Ministry and Social Democratic party leaders have confirmed
solid Austrian support for the EU's Chad Mission, despite a
continuing campaign by opposition parties and Austria's most
prominent newspaper against the deployment. MFA Security
Policy Department Chief Thomas Hajnoczi reported Jan. 14 that
the Jan. 11 French announcement that it would provide
additional units (mainly helicopters) to enable the mission
to go forward was an expected step. Within the EU, he
reported, Germany and the UK, had long been very clear that
they would not contribute to the Mission; much of the delay,
Hajnoczi indicated, was due to French efforts to get London
and Berlin to change their minds. Hajnoczi also reported
that the opposition to the deployment from the Green Party
was weak; Green chairman van der Bellin had told him that he
regretted that Austrian parliamentary procedure did not allow
him to abstain on the vote and that party Foreign Policy
Spokesman Ursula Lunacek was privately in favor of the
deployment.
2. (C) In brief conversations Jan. 15, leading figures in the
Social Democratic party confirmed that, although the
deployment remains unpopular in Austria, the parliamentary
party is solidly behind it. Parliamentary caucus leader
Josef Cap said that the caucus would follow the line decided
by the party leadership. Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman
Andreas Schieder (SPO) said there would be no revolt from the
back benches over Chad. In addition, Bernhard Wrabetz,
Chancellor Gusenbauer's foreign policy advisor, confirmed the
government's commitment to the deployment.
Kilner
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/15/2023
TAGS: PREL EUN MARR PREF CD AU
SUBJECT: AUSTRIAN SUPPORT FOR CHAD MISSION SOLID
REF: STATE 3208
Classified By: Econ/Pol Counselor Dean Yap. Reason: 1.4(b) and (d)
1. (C) A series of conversations with Austrian Foreign
Ministry and Social Democratic party leaders have confirmed
solid Austrian support for the EU's Chad Mission, despite a
continuing campaign by opposition parties and Austria's most
prominent newspaper against the deployment. MFA Security
Policy Department Chief Thomas Hajnoczi reported Jan. 14 that
the Jan. 11 French announcement that it would provide
additional units (mainly helicopters) to enable the mission
to go forward was an expected step. Within the EU, he
reported, Germany and the UK, had long been very clear that
they would not contribute to the Mission; much of the delay,
Hajnoczi indicated, was due to French efforts to get London
and Berlin to change their minds. Hajnoczi also reported
that the opposition to the deployment from the Green Party
was weak; Green chairman van der Bellin had told him that he
regretted that Austrian parliamentary procedure did not allow
him to abstain on the vote and that party Foreign Policy
Spokesman Ursula Lunacek was privately in favor of the
deployment.
2. (C) In brief conversations Jan. 15, leading figures in the
Social Democratic party confirmed that, although the
deployment remains unpopular in Austria, the parliamentary
party is solidly behind it. Parliamentary caucus leader
Josef Cap said that the caucus would follow the line decided
by the party leadership. Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman
Andreas Schieder (SPO) said there would be no revolt from the
back benches over Chad. In addition, Bernhard Wrabetz,
Chancellor Gusenbauer's foreign policy advisor, confirmed the
government's commitment to the deployment.
Kilner