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TAGS: KPAO AU OPRC
 
SUBJECT: AUSTRIAN MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS: January 26, 2007 
 
 
Molter, Platter tough on Strache Photos 
 
¶1. Unlike Chancellor Alfred Gusenbauer (SPOe), Vice-Chancellor 
Wilhelm Molterer has harshly criticized FPOe boss Heinz-Christian 
Strache's "war games pictures." Such images, Molterer underscored, 
"could not simply be dismissed as some foolish action" Strache 
committed as a youth. Similarly, should pictures surface showing 
Strache giving a Nazi salute - something the FPOe boss did not rule 
out entirely earlier this week -- he should resign as Freedom Party 
leader immediately, Defense Minister Norbert Darabos from the SPOe 
told centrist daily Die Presse. 
 
 
Dispute over Unions Election 
 
¶2. The head of the Public Services Union, Fritz Neugebauer, a member 
of the People's Party has threatened to take action against the 
Austrian Trade Unions Federation OeGB after he was voted out of his 
position as a board member at the Federation's annual congress, 
which ended Wednesday. In a subsequent television interview he said 
there would be "consequences" and blamed "concerted action" by the 
Social Democratic unions for his sacking. OeGB President Rudolf 
Hundstorfer and Neugebauer are to meet today to discuss the issue, 
according to semi-official daily Wiener Zeitung. 
All Austrian media continue to report on the quarrel that has 
erupted within the Austrian unions, when Public Services Union head 
Fritz Neugebauer of the OeVP accused the SPOe of a "concerted 
action" after he was voted out of his position as an OeGB board 
member. Independent provincial daily Salzburger Nachrichten like 
most Austrian media suggests the events could lead to a split within 
the OeGB: The Public Services Union is said to be contemplating what 
the daily describes as "de facto secession." OeGB President Rudolf 
Hundstorfer is meanwhile trying to smooth the waters. 
 
 
EU Constitution Supporters Meet in Spain 
 
¶3. Ministers from 18 European Union countries, including Austria, 
are meeting in Madrid today in an effort to revive the EU 
Constitution treaty. All EU members represented have ratified the 
Constitution and want it to enter into force with as few changes as 
possible. Spain's Minister for Europe, Alberto Navarro, stressed it 
was time Europe heard from those who support the Constitution. The 
Madrid meeting has angered the treaty's critics, however, who say 
the issue threatens to divide the EU, independent provincial daily 
Salzburger Nachrichten says. 
 
 
Op-Ed by Ambassador McCaw 
 
¶4. An Austrian daily publishes a guest commentary by US Ambassador 
to Austria Susan McCaw on President George Bush's new Iraq strategy 
and her impressions of her trip to Erbil as a member of the 
delegation on board the Austrian Airlines promotion flight to the 
northern Iraqi city. 
In a guest commentary in mass-circulation tabloid Kronen Zeitung, US 
Ambassador to Austria Susan McCaw outlines President Bush's Iraq 
strategy, saying that according to the President's view, "our most 
urgent task is to stabilize security in Baghdad,"  an assessment 
shared by the Iraqi government. Unfortunately, the Iraqi government 
is "not yet equipped to tackle this problem alone, and current U.S. 
and Coalition force levels are not sufficient to maintain order. 
That is why President Bush called for a temporary surge in U.S. 
troop presence:  To help the Iraqis implement their own 
stabilization plan now," and to "give Iraq some breathing room to 
move forward with political reconciliation." However, the "Iraqis 
have to lead and protect themselves." Last weekend, Ambassador McCaw 
continues, she was "fortunate to be able to travel on Austrian 
Airlines' official inaugural flight to Erbil, in northern Iraq," 
together with an Austrian business delegation and Austrian and 
international journalists. It was "a fascinating trip," the 
Ambassador says, noting in particular as "promising developments" 
the "optimism in Northern Iraq," the "building boom," the "energy 
and the progress in Erbil." Ambassador McCaw also pointed out that, 
as the "first European commercial provider with regularly scheduled 
service to Erbil, Austrian Airlines is helping facilitate the 
economic development so critical to Iraqi reconstruction and 
stability. Austria's contribution in opening a gateway to this vital 
area, through which people, capital and ideas can flow," hopefully 
will "lead to greater Austrian and international business 
involvement." The developments in Erbil "show what Iraqis can do in 
an environment of relative peace and security, and with the support 
of the international community." Failure in Iraq, the Ambassador 
warned, would have "terrible consequences, most of all for Iraqi 
citizens, but also for the region, for the United States and for our 
allies.  The war on terror would become even more difficult, and the 
whole region could be destabilized.  A more secure Iraq means a more 
secure Middle East." 
 
 
McCaw Urges Greater Austrian Efforts in Iraq 
 
¶5. The Austrian Press Agency quotes US Ambassador to Austria Susan 
McCaw as urging Austria to play a more decisive role in 
international reconstruction efforts in the northern Iraqi region of 
Kurdistan. 
In a report, Austrian Press Agency APA explains that although the 
autonomous Kurdish region in northern Iraq, unlike the rest of the 
country, is experiencing economic growth, unemployment is still high 
and the infrastructure poor. US Ambassador to Austria Susan McCaw, 
who visited the Kurdish city Erbil last weekend, told APA that 
"investment is necessary to create jobs."  Austria can "play a role 
in rebuilding Iraq," the Ambassador emphasized, adding that the 
United States would welcome a greater Austrian and European 
commitment in reconstruction efforts, in order to facilitate 
stability in Iraq. On the sidelines of a press conference in Erbil, 
the US Ambassador suggested that in 20 years time, US President Bush 
will perhaps be seen as someone who had brought stability to the 
region, APA quotes. 
 
 
Austrian Army Helps in Davos 
 
¶6. The Austrian military is helping the Swiss Air Force patrol 
airspace around the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. 
Lieutenant General Guenter Hoefler, a spokesman for the military, 
said while there was no direct threat of a terrorist attack, it was 
something that could not be ruled out. Twelve aircraft and thirteen 
helicopters are involved in the operation in both Swiss and Austrian 
airspace. Political and business leaders from around the world have 
gathered in the Swiss mountain resort for the annual forum, says 
semi-official daily Wiener Zeitung. 
 
 
UN to Recommend Kosovo Status 
 
¶7. United Nations special envoy on Kosovo Martti Ahtisaari will 
present proposals for the future status of the province in Vienna 
today. In a closed-door meeting, he will brief the contact group 
made up of Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Russia and the US. 
Details of Ahtisaari's presentation will not be made public until he 
presents them in Belgrade and Pristina on February 6. It is 
believed, however, that the special envoy will recommend a form of 
limited independence for the province. 
ORF radio early morning news Morgenjournal, reporting on the 
upcoming presentation by UN envoy Martti Ahtisaari of the proposals 
for the future status of Kosovo province in Belgrade and Pristina in 
early February, states that, at this point, "it is not clear whether 
Serbia and Kosovo will launch negotiations on the issue again, or 
whether they will simply have to accept what they are being offered. 
This is another issue Ahtisaari will debate with the contact group's 
representatives in Vienna today. After the previous, drawn-out 
status negotiations between Serbia and Kosovo everyone is aware that 
the biggest problem will be approval from both sides. For the Serbs 
independence is out of the question, but the Kosovars want just 
that. That is why Ahtisaari will most likely propose a compromise: 
an autonomous Kosovo under the supervision of an EU representative. 
The UN Security Council will have the final say on the issue in 
March, where both parties have powerful friends: While Kosovo has 
the US and Britain on its side, Serbia is banking on support from 
Russia." 
 
 
Curfew in Beirut 
 
¶8. A curfew was imposed in the Lebanese capital Beirut last night, 
after clashes between Hezbollah and government supporters. Hezbollah 
leader Hassan Nasrallah urged his supporters to observe the curfew. 
At least four people were killed and about 150 injured before the 
army dispersed rioters. At a donors' conference in Paris, meanwhile, 
more than 7.6 billion dollars in grants and loans have been pledged 
to rebuild Lebanon's economy. 
Like all Austrian media, semi-official daily Wiener Zeitung reports 
on the international donors' conference for Lebanon, which was held 
in Paris on Thursday and raised a "record relief package for 
Lebanon." Austria has pledged one million Euros, the daily notes. 
Austrian Foreign Minister Ursula Plassnik, who attended the Paris 
 
conference, explained that the sum would be allocated for United 
Nations projects aimed at improving the situation of refugees. 
Austria would also provide financial aid in support of the reform 
process, Plassnik added. 
 
 
NATO to Discuss Afghanistan 
 
¶9. NATO foreign ministers are meeting in Brussels today to discuss 
committing more forces to the offensive against the Taliban in 
Afghanistan. Taliban resurgence has brought about the heaviest 
fighting and the highest number of casualties since 2001. Ahead of 
the meeting, the United States said it would spend an extra 10 
million dollars on Afghanistan. US Assistant Secretary of State 
Richard Boucher stressed Washington's decision to step up its 
efforts there, and added the US wants other NATO members also to 
increase their efforts, ORF radio early morning news Morgenjournal 
reports. 
Kilner