Nabucco IGA: GoA Confirms No Reference To Specific Entry

UNCLAS VIENNA 000673 SIPDIS, SENSITIVE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ENRG PGOV AU SUBJECT: Nabucco IGA: GoA Confirms No Reference To Specific Entry Points, IGA Signing Targetted for Mid-July REF: (A) STATE 55469; (B) VINNA 595; (C) BRUSSELS 768 Sensitive but Unclassfied - Protect Accordingly. ¶1. (SBU) On June 5,Embassy conveyed ref A demarche to Gerhard Langeer, energy advisor to Economic Minister Reinhold Miterlehner. (NOTE: the meeting came after repeatd delays in meeting with Austrian Special EnergyEnvoy Dr. Maria Reich-Rohrwig, who was ill -- EN NOTE). Langeder confirmed earlier indicatins -- in our contacts with the GoA and OMV, and in ref C -- that the Nabucco partners have solved the "entry points" issue in a way that addresses USG concerns. The IGA is not a done deal, he said, but the GoA is guardedly optimistic that a deal can be reached in time for a mid-July signing in Ankara, hosted by Turkish President Gul. ¶2. (SBU) As other posts have noted, the draft Nabucco IGA no longer defines "initial entry points" with reference to any specific country -- rather, it enumerates three initial entry points and specifies unanimity with regard to future entry points. Langeder said that the current definition was the only solution Turkish negotiators would accept, given its desire not to grant Nabucco access at the expense of future energy supplies for Turkey. (NOTE: OMV contacts recently told us that Turkey opposes specific reference to Iraq, because the GoT is seeking a bilateral agreement on Iraqi energy - END NOTE). ¶3. (SBU) Langeder noted a slight delay in the target signing for IGA, which had been scheduled for June 25. Langeder envisages a mid-July signing in Ankara, assuming that Turkey does not hold up the negotiations over its continued campaign for gas out-take guarantees (the "15 percent"). That demand is still being discussed informally, although it is no longer an official part of the negotiations -- a significant positive development, Langeder emphasized. ¶4. (U) Assuming the partners agree on an IGA (still an open question),Austria is tentatively considering its level of participation at a signing ceremony. The Ministry will try to secure participation by Chancellor Werner Faymann; failing his participation, MinEcon Mitterlehner would sign the agreement. ORDWAY