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TAGS: KPAO AU OPRC
 
SUBJECT: AUSTRIAN MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS: October 16, 2006 
 
 
Working towards Forming a Government 
 
¶1. The second round of coalition talks for a new Austria government 
will begin on Tuesday with meetings between the SPOe and the OeVP. A 
daily speculates that the SPOe could make major concessions 
regarding the Eurofighter deal in order to form a government with 
the OeVP. 
ORF radio early morning news Morgenjournal reports that the climate 
between the teams of the SPOe klc,kH~VP appears to have improved 
slightly, with both parties expressing their willngness to 
negotiate. The question of whether the ocial Democrats and the 
Conservatives address soe of the hot topics and whether progress is 
madeon key issues could be a good indication of whethe a SPe-OeVP 
coalition is possible, the radio arues. Meanwhile, according to 
front-page report inmass-circulation tabloid Kronen Zeitung 
suggeststhere is concern among some SPOe representatives te party 
leadership might abandon its call for a ancellation of the 
Eurofighter purchase and chane its course on the issue eventually. 
 
 
 
More of the Same? 
 
¶2. Although the option was ruled out by leading Conservative 
politicians ahead of the general elections, top OeVP representatives 
are now contemplating an OeVP-BZOe-FPOe coalition government. 
In the face of the Conservatives' apparent lack of enthusiasm 
regarding a grand coalition with the SPOe, Austrian media report on 
alleged plans by the OeVP to form a coalition government with the 
FPOe and its spin-off BZOe. Independent provincial daily Salzburger 
Nachrichten writes that two OeVP heavyweights, Chancellor Wolfgang 
Schuessel and Upper Austrian Governor Josef Puehringer, said last 
weekend they do not want to rule out such a combination. Although 
cooperation with the FPOe and the BZOe was not their primary choice, 
Schuessel said it "remains an option" in any case, the daily 
reports. 
 
 
Glawischnig in Parliament 
 
¶3. The Greens have nominated their deputy leader Eva Glawischnig as 
third parliamentary president. Glawischnig says she considers the 
position a top political position. 
Liberal daily Der Standard quotes Greens leader Alexander Van der 
Bellen as saying that Glawischnig is to "continue playing an 
important role in Austria's domestic and foreign policy." For the 
Greens, the parliamentary presidents are more than just 
representational positions, he added.  In addition to other 
traditional Greens topics, the key issues for Glawischnig will be 
women's and environmental policies, the Standard explains. 
 
 
EU Summit in Finland 
 
¶4. Energy policy, migration and EU relations with Russia are no the 
agenda of the European Union summit in Lathi, Finland on Friday. 
Behind the scenes, a struggle over future distribution of power in 
the EU has begun. 
According to liberal daily Der Standard, among the top issues on the 
agenda at the Finland summit will be the question of who will be 
calling the shots in the EU Commission in the future, and which 
member states will have to do without a Commissioner. Also, the EU 
countries are to discuss the individual members' voting rights at 
ministerial and at summit meetings. Adaptations will be necessary 
with the accession of Romania and Bulgaria, as the Treaty of Nice 
envisages a reshuffling of decision structures within the EU-27. 
 
 
North Korea Sanctions 
 
¶5. In the dispute over its controversial nuclear program, the US 
Security Council has imposed sanctions on North Korea. The North 
Korean foreign minister has condemned the move as "gangster 
methods." 
ORF radio early morning news Morgenjournal says that the United 
States is urging China to fully implement the UN sanctions imposed 
on North Korea following its nuclear test last week. America's UN 
ambassador John Bolton said that China had an obligation to comply 
with Resolution 1718, which was passed unanimously by the Security 
Council on Saturday. The sanctions include a series of measures 
targeting Pyongyang's weapons and missile programs. However, 
reservations persist on the Chinese side over cargo inspections. 
In addition, ORF online news reports that the United States has also 
reiterated its tough stance on Iran's nuclear ambitions. It has 
threatened sanctions, unless Tehran makes concessions. John Bolton 
stressed that in the face on the North Korea sanctions, he "hopes 
that Iran is aware it may face similar isolation and restrictions as 
North Korea, if it continues to pursue nuclear weapons." The five UN 
veto powers and Germany are to discuss possible sanctions against 
Iran later this week. 
 
 
Israel President Faces Rape Charges 
 
¶6. Israel's police say it has sufficient evidence to charge 
President Moshe Katsav for rape illegal wiretapping, fraud, indecent 
assault and sexual harassment, and have recommended he be 
prosecuted. 
ORF radio early morning news Morgenjournal reports that Katsav has 
denied any wrongdoings, and says he is the victim of a "public 
lynching." The Israeli President has rejected calls that he quit the 
largely ceremonial post he has held since 2000. If charged, he would 
be immune from prosecution, but he could be impeached by Parliament. 
A decision on whether to press charges has to be made by the Israeli 
Attorney General. ORF Jerusalem correspondent Ben Segenreich argues 
nonetheless, that Katsav is "in a tight spot." Today's opening of 
parliament is going to be "an indicator of the Knesset members' 
positions" in the case. "Some MPs have announced they are planning 
to leave the floor in protest," should Katsav appear in Parliament, 
Segenreich adds. 
McCaw