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Dayna R Robison  09/29/2006 11:03:36 AM  From  DB/Inbox:  Dayna R Robison

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SUBJECT: AUSTRIAN MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS: September 21, 2006 
 
 
Greens - BZOe TV Debate 
 
¶1. Greens leader Alexander Van der Bellen and BZOe boss Peter 
Westenthaler clash over immigration policy during Wednesday's 
televised debate. 
ORF online news notes that in last night's TV debate, Greens leader 
Alexander Van der Bellen and BZOe boss Peter Westenthaler "refused 
to agree on a single issue." The Greens leader dismissed the BZOe's 
foreigner and immigration policy plan to force up to 300,000 
non-Austrian nationals to leave the country as a "deportation 
program," and as an attempt to "profit through fear." Westenthaler, 
in turn, accused the Greens of being "leftist extremists hiding 
behind their leader portraying himself as the absent-minded 
professor." 
 
OeVP - SPOe Debate 
 
¶2. Expectations are high ahead of tonight's TV debate between the 
two candidates for the chancellorship - OeVP leader Wolfgang 
Schuessel and SPOe chairperson Alfred Gusenbauer. The debate will be 
aired live on ORF TV channel II at 21:10 CET tonight. 
Newly established Austrian daily Oesterreich labels tonight's 
televised debate between OeVP leader Wolfgang Schuessel and SPOe 
chairperson Alfred Gusenbauer as the "political showdown of the 
candidates for the chancellorship," and the "TV highlight in the 
run-up to the elections." Experts agree that the debate is "unlikely 
to be as tough and confrontational" as some of the previous ones, 
but it could be "Gusenbauer's final opportunity to boost his 
chances." The daily analyses the two candidates' strengths and 
weaknesses: The SPOe leader is "convincing when it comes to 
explaining political concepts; perseveres even in long, drawn-out 
campaigns; can take hits without stumbling; and is considered an 
intellectual." Gusenbauer's weaknesses, according to Oesterreich are 
that he is "not a charismatic speaker and politician; uses 
exaggerated explanations and examples; and is not close enough to 
the people." Schuessel, on the other hand, is seen as "the most 
convincing speaker by far; articulates perfectly and at the right 
speed; is absolutely credible; and is a strong leader." The 
chancellor's weaknesses, according to the daily, are that he is 
"neither spontaneous nor cordial; never lively enough; and too 
inaccessible." 
 
Bawag Indictment Complete 
 
¶3. State prosecutors in Vienna are reported to have completed their 
list of indictments in the Bawag case. Charges are expected to be 
served next week and are expected to include investment banker 
Wolfgang Floettl and former Bawag boss Helmut Elsner, ORF radio 
early morning news Morgenjournal says. 
 
GMO Rice 
 
¶4. Traces of genetically modified rice of a strain not approved for 
sale or consumption in Europe have been found in three rice products 
imported to Austria from the US and China, says liberal daily Der 
Standard. 
 
Plassnik on Mideast 
 
¶5. Austrian Foreign Minister Ursula Plassnik, currently attending 
the UN General Assembly in New York, has urged the continuation of 
the Mideast peace process. Plassnik and her German counterpart 
Frank-Walter Steinmeier have urged a re-launch of the Mideast 
quartet. 
The EU foreign ministers met with Palestinian President Mahmoud 
Abbas on Tuesday to discuss progress in the Palestinian government 
dialogue. The EU is also planning to urge a meeting between Abbas 
and Israeli Premier Ehud Olmert. In addition, Plassnik intends to 
hold talks with her counterparts from Syria and Iran later this 
week. However, instead of such individual initiatives, the Austrian 
Foreign Minister is pushing for the reactivation of the Mideast 
Quartet as a "coordination mechanism" for the region's peace 
process, writes semi-official daily Wiener Zeitung. Thus, the 
Quartet could not only be revived, but also be given extended 
responsibilities, Plassnik believes. 
 
 
Ahmadinejad at UNGA 
 
¶6. The US and Iran appeared irreconcilable at the UN General 
Assembly. In his address yesterday, Iran's President Mahmoud 
Ahmadinejad accused the United States and Britain of abusing the UN 
Security Council as an instrument for threats in order to further 
their own agenda. 
The Iranian President also emphasized his country's right to the 
peaceful use of nuclear technology. Mass-circulation daily Kurier 
also quotes Ahmadinejad as attacking the US: America had "abused 
nuclear technology to build atomic bombs and has a bleak record of 
using them against humanity," the Iranian leader complained. 
Foreign affairs writer for independent daily Der Standard Julia 
Raabe comments: "In view of the issues which the world will have to 
deal with in the future, a strong UN Security Council is more 
necessary than ever before. Therefore Kofi Annan is right in 
insisting that reform plans must not be abandoned. A democratically 
organized and globally respected Security Council would put even 
heads of state such as Ahmadinejad or Hugo Chavez in their place - 
or at least make it more difficult for them to score points with 
their populist 'we against the imperialists' slogans at the cost of 
the United Nations." 
 
Outrage over Chavez at UNGA 
 
¶7. Mass-circulation tabloid Kronen Zeitung reports that Venezuela's 
leader Hugo Chavez called US President George Bush "the devil" and 
the US the "greatest threat for our planet" in a speech at the 
United Nations General Assembly. 
 
All Quiet in Thailand after Coup 
 
¶8. The situation in Thailand is quiet following Tuesday's military 
coup there. The country's King Bhumibol has meanwhile officially 
declared his support for the rebels, whose leader, Gen. Sonthi 
Boonyaratglin, has promised he will appoint a new prime minister 
within two weeks. 
Both Europe and the US have condemned Tuesday's coup in Thailand. 
The Finnish Presidency of the EU demanded that military forces give 
way to the democratically elected government. The White House has 
meanwhile urged coup leaders to keep their promise to hold 
elections. However, there was no demand for deposed Prime Minister 
Thaksin Shinawatra to be returned to power, ORF radio early morning 
news Morgenjournal reports. 
Foreign affairs writer for independent daily Salzburger Nachrichten 
Willi Germund comments: "Thaksin has provoked his own downfall. Once 
again, the old truism which holds that Thailand's Prime Ministers 
are elected in the country's provinces, but are toppled by the 
people of Bangkok has proved correct. This was possible through a 
kind of 'feudal conspiracy' of the generals, the King, the economic 
elite and a middle class that does not trust the voters in the 
provinces because it holds them to have 'insufficient education.' As 
long as this anti-democratic attitude does not change, there will be 
no stable democracy in Thailand." 
McCaw