Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09VIENNA631
2009-05-29 12:40:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Vienna
Cable title:
DOMESTIC AND EU POLICY COMPLICATIONS DELAY
how-toVZCZCXRO5867 RR RUEHFL RUEHKN RUEHMJ RUEHMR RUEHPA RUEHPB RUEHQU RUEHRN DE RUEHVI #0631 1491240 ZNY CCCCC ZZH R 291240Z MAY 09 FM AMEMBASSY VIENNA TO RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 2628 RUEHFR/USMISSION UNESCO PARIS INFO RUCNSCO/UNESCO COLLECTIVE
C O N F I D E N T I A L VIENNA 000631
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/29/2024
TAGS: PGOV PREL UNESCO AU
SUBJECT: DOMESTIC AND EU POLICY COMPLICATIONS DELAY
AUSTRIAN NOMINATION OF UNESCO DG CANDIDATE FERRERO-WALDNER
Classified By: Econ/Pol Counselor Dean Yap. Reason: 1.4 (b) and (d)
Austria's May 28 nomination of EU Commissioner for External
Affairs Benita Ferrero-Waldner for the UNESCO DG position was
delayed because of domestic political and EU policy factors.
Ferrero-Waldner's personal preference was to remain an EU
Commissioner, according to media reports confirmed by former
Austrian Ambassador to the U.S. Eva Nowotny (protect).
However, the conservative party (OVP),a partner with the
Social Democrats (SPO) in Austria's governing coalition,
sought to replace her in Brussels with former Vice-Chancellor
(and former party chief) Wilhelm Molterer, a decision
accepted by SPO Chancellor Faymann. Ferrero-Waldner herself
a senior member of the OVP, contested the decision and the
OVP, already suffering from a dispute between more and less
pro-European factions, sought to keep the matter under wraps
as long as possible. Indeed, when Econ/Pol Counselor raised
the possible nomination with a former OVP Defense Minister
two weeks ago, he expressed surprise that the USG had gotten
wind of the possible nomination, which he described as
extremely closely held.
ORDWAY