Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09VIENNA691
2009-06-10 07:49:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Vienna
Cable title:  

SCENESETTER FOR VISIT OF AMB. RICE

Tags:  PREL OTRA RICE SUSAN AU 
pdf how-to read a cable
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RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHVI #0691/01 1610749
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 100749Z JUN 09
FM AMEMBASSY VIENNA
TO RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0302
RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 2706
C O N F I D E N T I A L VIENNA 000691 

SIPDIS

FOR USUN AMB RICE FROM CDA VIENNA ORDWAY

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/08/2024
TAGS: PREL OTRA RICE SUSAN AU
SUBJECT: SCENESETTER FOR VISIT OF AMB. RICE

REF: VIENNA 690

Classified By: CDA Amb. John Ordway. Reason: 1.4(b)

C O N F I D E N T I A L VIENNA 000691

SIPDIS

FOR USUN AMB RICE FROM CDA VIENNA ORDWAY

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/08/2024
TAGS: PREL OTRA RICE SUSAN AU
SUBJECT: SCENESETTER FOR VISIT OF AMB. RICE

REF: VIENNA 690

Classified By: CDA Amb. John Ordway. Reason: 1.4(b)


1. (U) Embassy Vienna looks forward to your visit, Amb. Rice,
which will give us the opportunity to review significant UNSC
issues with the Austrian government and to take a broad look
at the bilateral relationship. After a quick survey of
Austria's political scene, this cable takes a closer look at
Austria's foreign policy role and relationship with the
United States, and then briefly explores the major UNSC and
other issues on which we engage the Austrian Government.

Austrian Political Scene
--------------


2. (U) Austria's six-month-old coalition of Social Democrats
(SPO) and conservatives has thus far worked largely
harmoniously to address the domestic impact of the global
financial and economic crisis, the country's leading
political challenge. The country has responded to the crisis
with robust financial and fiscal packages that have secured
the stability of the financial system and cushioned the
effects of still-rising unemployment. The economy is not
likely to recover until 2011, however, according to latest
forecasts. But the harmony of the coalition is now
threatened by the poor electoral performance of the SPO in
the June 7 EU parliamentary elections. Some predict that the
SPO will become a more difficult partner for the
conservatives in order to win back voters attracted to the
right-populist Freedom Party. In addition to the economy,
concerns about crime and the integration of Muslim immigrants
into Austrian society -- both of which are tied in voters'
minds to the EU -- are major political concerns.

Austrian Foreign Policy
--------------


3. (C) Austria's engagement with the world is slipping and
narrowing for many reasons. Though Austrians -- because of
the presence of many international organizations in Vienna,
long-standing peacekeeping deployments, and (since January)
membership in the Security Council -- think of the country as
internationally active, in fact real interest in foreign
policy among the public, media, and practicing politicians
appears very low. Austrian foreign policy engagement is
narrowing to a few core national "interests": promoting
commerce (which does encourage positive engagement in

southeastern Europe and beyond, to include in exploiting
Caspian energy resources); anti-nuclear and disarmament
policies; labor and agricultural market protectionism
(Austria is also a leading voice in the EU against
agricultural GMO crops and products); and Balkan stability.
Austria has been an EU member since 1995, but its population
is among the most euro-skeptical and Austrians appear to have
become increasingly isolationist in their own attitudes about
engagement in international affairs, particularly if these
have a military component.

U.S.-Austrian Relations
--------------


4. (C) Although the scope for U.S.-Austrian partnership is
limited, in many areas the relationship has been very
positive. Perhaps foremost among the success stories are our
complementary approaches to the western Balkans, where
Austria is engaged economically, culturally, politically, and
militarily in ways that directly assist achieving U.S. goals.
Likewise, we both strongly support the development of a
southern corridor to bring energy supplies to Europe from the
Caucasus, Central Asia, and Middle East, with Austria
prioritizing the Austrian-led Nabucco gas pipeline project.
In other areas, we have mixed results. Austria warmly
welcomed President Obama's arms control proposals, but has a
strong anti-nuclear stance which puts it at odds with the
U.S. on development of nuclear energy. Environmental policy
cooperation holds great promise, but Austria continues to
push for a binding agreement among developed nations even if
major emerging economies refuse to accept binding limitations
on their greenhouse gas emissions. In other areas, Austria
has been passive and at times actively unhelpful. It has
rejected, for example, any civilian or military deployments
to Afghanistan (beyond the two officers now deployed to ISAF)
and has actively fought to block European Commission actions
that would increase access to Europe for U.S. agricultural
products, esp. GMOs. FonMin Spindelegger has recently
proposed a Black Sea initiative that could complement,
perhaps significantly, U.S. policy in that region (ref).

UN Agenda
--------------


5. (C) Austrian officials have described the GoA's approach
to its UNSC tenure as "thematic." That is, Austria would
seek to explore and develop certain themes in international
affairs, with the aim of advancing normative standards in
international law. Key themes identified included the rule
of law, human rights (with a focus on women),and (driving
their organization of the conference you are attending),the
responsibility to protect. One MFA official described
Austria as finding engaging in debate on "country-specific"
issues divisive and unhelpful to the Council's work. Amb.
Mayr-Harting recognizes that Austria cannot shirk its role on
such issues. However, he will see Austria as representing
the EU and seek to reflect the EU consensus in his
interventions in the Council. At the national level,
Austria's position may be influenced by the strong commercial
basis of Autrian diplomacy -- the country's considerable
skepticism abou the use of sanctions reflects this aswell
as political conviction.


6. (C) The mostactive issue before the UNSC on which we have
a istory of sustained engagement with the GoA has ben Iran,
with an emphasis on sanctions policy. Austria implements
fully and vigorously UNSC sanctions. However, it implements
them according the letter of the law and has been unwilling
to support any sanctions that go beyond what has been
approved by the UNSC. We cannot judge what position Austria
would take were an extension of sanctions to come to the
Council; esp. as the EU is itself divided on the issue,
Austria's skeptical attitude toward sanctions could be
important. In the case of the DPRK, however, where Austria's
commercial interests are minimal and the EU more united, we
would expect complete Austrian solidarity with measures
agreed by the P-5 2. We would also be concerned about
Austria's ability to provide concrete support for UNSC
decisions, or for those of other UN agencies. For example,
the Defense Ministry, Justice Ministry, and Interior Ministry
have all indicated that they do not have the resources (and
do not see the national interest) to provide financial or
manpower resources to new international missions. At most,
the MFA reports Austria will provide a symbolic contribution
(under EUR one million) in response to UNHCR's appeal for
financial support on behalf of Pakistani IDPs.

Summary
--------------


7. (C) Your meetings with President Fischer and Foreign
Minister Spindelegger provide a venue to express our concern
about the gap between Austria's self-proclaimed vision of
itself in the world, and its increasingly limited
performance. We want to encourage Austria to work with the
U.S. in the many areas where our interests coincide, and your
visit offers a rare opportunity to make this case
authoritatively and directly at the highest levels.
ORDWAY