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E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KPAO AU OPRC
 
SUBJECT: AUSTRIAN MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS: January 19, 2007 
 
 
Students Contemplating Further Action 
 
¶1. Representatives of Austria's Student Union are considering what 
further action to take in their opposition to university tuition 
fees. They are reported to be considering boycotting the fees, 
organizing a popular petition and holding regular demonstrations. 
Meeting in Linz yesterday, the leadership of the Austrian Students 
Association OeH unanimously demanded the abolition without 
replacement of the university tuition fees, ORF online news writes. 
In a resolution they published Thursday evening, the student 
representatives warned that they would consider boycotting the fees, 
should negotiations and protests fail to bring about results. The 
model proposed by the new Austrian government that students could do 
community service instead of paying tuition fees was a "half-baked" 
measure, the student representatives continued, stressing that it 
was "not an improvement, but the institutionalization of the 
precarious employment situation" of many students. 
 
 
Strache's War Games 
 
¶2. Pictures have emerged showing FPOe boss Heinz-Christian Strache 
engaged in paramilitary "war games" with members of far-right 
political groups. Strache is downplaying the significance of the 
photos, but Austrian media speculate they could indicate a power 
struggle within the party between Strache and FPOe MP Ewald Stadler, 
as it was he who made public the images. 
Like all Austrian media, liberal daily Der Standard reports on the 
"war games photo affair," which - the daily believes -- is likely to 
put FPOe leader Heinz-Christian Strache under pressure. On ORF 
television, Strache defended himself; downplaying the matter as "a 
harmless paintball game" he had played as a youth, and as a "storm 
in a teacup." All Austrian media argue that the issue indicates an 
"open power struggle over the FPOe's leadership" between Strache and 
his party colleague Ewald Stadler. Mass-circulation tabloid 
Oesterreich quotes Strache as claiming on ORF television that 
Stadler was behind the photos' publication. The daily also reports 
on alleged massive differences between Strache and Stadler and 
suggests the affair could lead to a breaking test for the FPOe. 
 
 
Haider to Return to Parliament? 
 
¶3. Carinthian Governor Joerg Haider in an interview with an Austrian 
daily has announced his intention to return to the federal 
parliament as an MP. Following stiff criticism from Administrative 
Court President Clemens Jabloner of his refusal to put up all the 
required bi-lingual town signs in Carinthia, Haider attacked the 
grand coalition, claiming the SPOe and the OeVP were intent on 
carrying out what he described as "an ethnic and political 
cleansing" in Austria. He would "strike back," however, and "launch 
an initiative to break the grand coalition's power binge." 
Despite the criticism of Administrative Court President Jabloner and 
his suggestion proceedings could be launched to remove Haider from 
office because of his stance on town signs, the Carinthian Governor 
emphasizes he is ruling out his retirement from politics. Quite the 
contrary: In an interview with mass-circulation tabloid Oesterreich, 
Haider said he was "on the list, and could return to Parliament 
immediately. I won't just sit there and watch those people who have 
ended up in top positions through nepotism launch a campaign of 
revenge against everyone who is not a member of the SPOe or the 
OeVP." 
Meanwhile, independent provincial daily Salzburger Nachrichten 
reports on rumors that the estranged parties FPOe and BZOe could be 
discussing rapprochement. The daily writes about an alleged "pact" 
between BZOe leader Joerg Haider and FPOe boss Heinz-Christian 
Strache, which envisages FPOe support for the BZOe in the next 
provincial elections in Carinthia in exchange for a BZOe seat in the 
federal parliament for the FPOe. 
 
 
The Embassy Fence 
 
¶4. A Vienna television station publishes a report on the 
construction work for the security fence currently being put up in 
Boltzmanngasse outside the US Embassy building. 
Vienna city television station plus TV published a report on the 
security fence project at the US Embassy in Vienna. The building of 
the 2.8m-high fence has attracted criticism from Boltzmanngasse 
residents, some of whom have suggested the Embassy should move to 
the outskirts of Vienna instead, says puls TV. Assistant Public 
Affairs Officer Katherine M. Perez explained, however, that it was 
far more convenient for everyone that the US Embassy remain where it 
is. Puls TV adds that some of the opposition to the fence might be 
down to general anti-Americanism, and has nothing to do with the 
actual project. The authorities for the 9th district are also 
convinced that anger among the residents will die down following the 
conclusion of the fence's construction in February. The costs for 
the new security barrier are borne entirely by the US Embassy, puls 
TV notes. 
 
 
Pentagon Chief Criticizes Iran 
 
¶5. America's new Defense Secretary Robert Gates has criticized the 
Iranian leadership for having "gone too far" in the dispute over 
Tehran's nuclear program. This had led to "serious concern" in the 
region over Tehran's intentions, Gates added. He made the statement 
in a meeting with Saudi Arabia's King and the Emir of Qatar. 
In his criticism of the Iranian leadership, US Defense Secretary 
Robert Gates conceded that Iran may currently believe it has been 
given a "tactical opportunity," because of the United States' 
problems in Iraq, but he pointed out that the US is still a "very 
powerful country," according to ORF online news. Asked about a 
possible US dialogue with Tehran, the Pentagon chief replied that 
Washington needed to boost its negotiating position first. At this 
point, there was nothing the US had to offer to Iran, which would 
automatically relegate it to the position of petitioner in any 
negotiation, ORF online news quotes. 
In related news, ORF radio says that a bi-partisan group of US 
congressmen has put forward legislation to prevent President Bush 
attacking Iran without the authorization of Congress. The move comes 
amid concern that President Bush may choose to confront Iran rather 
than engage it, as he has recently made the decision to send a 
second Navy task force to the Persian Gulf. Also, last week, US 
troops arrested Iranian officials in northern Iraq. 
Kilner