AUSTRIAN CHANCELLOR WILL TRAVEL TO MOSCOW TO

UNCLAS VIENNA 001401 SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/CE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL RU AU SUBJECT: AUSTRIAN CHANCELLOR WILL TRAVEL TO MOSCOW TO DISCUSS ECONOMIC ISSUES, UNSC PRIORITIES ¶1. Chancellor Faymann will travel to Moscow November 10-11 for meetings with PM Putin and President Medvedev, the first Moscow visit by an Austrian Chancellor since 2005. Juergen Meindl, diplomatic advisor to the Chancellor, told us November 2 that the Putin meeting will focus on economic issues, such as the South Stream and Nabucco pipelines and plans for General Motors to sell its Opel unit to Magna International and Russia's Sberbank. Meindl said the GOA is not prepared to sign an agreement on South Stream. Though Austria's OMV energy company remains interested in South Stream, there are concerns about the high cost of the project. Meindl speculated that Faymann and Putin may also discuss WTO accession for Russia and the possibility that a dispute between Russia and Ukraine over gas payments could, once again, cause a shutdown in gas supplies to Europe this winter. ¶2. The Medvedev meeting will focus on foreign policy issues, particularly in relation to Austria's term on the UNSC. Faymann will seek Russian support for GOA plans to focus on the protection of civilians in armed conflict during Austria's term as UNSC president for November. Meindl said Medvedev may also brief Faymann on the latest developments regarding Iran's nuclear program. He said Medvedev may raise Russian proposals for a new European security treaty. The GOA continues to oppose any security arrangement that would undermine the status of the Vienna-based OSCE, he said. EACHO