SARKOZY IN VIENNA: IRAN, SYRIA, ENERGY, AND

C O N F I D E N T I A L VIENNA 000752

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/01/2023
TAGS: PREL EU AU
SUBJECT: SARKOZY IN VIENNA: IRAN, SYRIA, ENERGY, AND
IMMIGRATION POLICY

Classified By: Econ/Pol Counselor Dean Yap. Reason 1.4 (b) and (d)


1. (C) Summary. French President Sarkozy made little progress
in efforts to persuade Austria to accept autonomous EU
sanctions on Iran; was briefed on Austrian plans for their
June 23 conference on reconstruction of a Palestinian refugee
camp in Lebanon, discussed European energy strategy in
general terms, and laid out ideas on an inter-governmental
immigration policy during his three-hour June 27 visit to
Vienna. End Summary.


2. (C) During his visit, meant to advance French goals during
their upcoming EU Presidency, Sarkozy met with Chancellor
Gusenbauer one-on-one for an hour, and French DCM van Rossum
reported that he has as yet received no readout of the
meeting. Sarkozy also met with President Fischer, which van
Rossum attended.

Iran
--------------


3. (C) Sarkozy raised French and British desires to move
ahead with the implementation of EU autonomous sanctions
against Iran's energy sector, which the Austrian's rejected.
Moreover, Fischer's diplomatic advisor, Alfons Kloss, argued
that the French were being hypocritical, as Electricite de
France was one of the financial backers (through its part
ownership of Edison of Italy) of Italian energy firm ENI's
recent investment in Iran. Van Rossum acknowledged that the
French and British face a bloc of 5-6 EU members who have
taken a position in principle against autonomous sanctions.

Lebanon
--------------


4. (C) The Austrians pressed for ministerial-level
participation in their June 23 conference on reconstruction
of the Nahr El-Bared Palestinian refugee camp. Van Rossum
was skeptical about the high-level value of a conference on
this topic alone, or of using the venue for a wider
discussion on Lebanon absent the Syrians (judged as unlikely
to attend) and Israelis (not invited).

European Energy Policy
--------------


5. (C) Van Rossum said Sarkozy had sought to elevate the
discussion of energy policy above th Austria's neuralgic
anti-nuclear stance. Sarkozy reportedly stressed the common
goal of diversification of European energy supplies away from
both fossil fuels and Russia, noting that different countries
should have the option of choosing different paths. The
Austrians in response indicated, along known lines, that
common European funds should not be used for programs that
would promote the use or growth of nuclear power, but could
be used for safety/security training.

Immigration
--------------


6. (C) Though recognizing that a common EU immigration policy
is not achieveable in the near-term, van Rossum said Sarkozy
pushed for an inter-governmental agreement that would more
completely harmonize immigration policy -- and hoped to have
this agreed by October. However, Sarkozy's proposals have
met resistance both from those who believe his proposals
would open the doors to new immigration and those who belive
it would lead to a crackdown on illegal immigrants alreayd in
Europe. The Austrians fall largely into the former category,
accoring to van Rossum.
Kilner