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P 131551Z MAR 07
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DEPT FOR EUR/AGS, INR/EU, AND EUR/PPD FOR YVETTE SAINT-ANDRE 
 
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E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KPAO AU OPRC
 
SUBJECT: AUSTRIAN MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS: March 13, 2007 
 
 
Tax Row Continues 
 
¶1. The divisions in the governing coalition over inheritance tax 
continue. People's Party (OeVP) insists on the complete abolition of 
taxes on inherited wealth, but Social Democrats (SPOe) say they want 
a reform of inheritance taxes, after the Constitutional Court last 
week suspended laws relating to taxes on inherited property. The 
People's Party has also criticised President Heinz Fischer, who says 
he is in favour of retaining inheritance taxes, declaring he was 
straying too far into everyday politics. 
The coalition partners SPOe and OeVP continue to disagree on the 
abolition of inheritance taxes, as called for by the Constitutional 
Court. While OeVP finance spokesperson Guenther Stummvoll emphasized 
on Austrian television that inheritance taxes would be cancelled 
gradually, the SPOe's state secretary for finances Christoph 
Matznetter has suggested the "super rich" should still be obliged to 
contribute. Despite the disagreement, both parties emphasize the 
good coalition climate, and that some key issues need to be debated. 
Mass-circulation tabloid Kronen Zeitung in its lead story suggests 
the probability that inheritance taxes will be axed altogether shows 
that the OeVP had "tricked" the SPOe on the issue. In view of the 
Conservatives' position, there is no majority in Parliament for a 
potential adaptation of the respective laws, the tabloid explains. 
 
 
Tough Stance on Immigration 
 
¶2. The SPOe's coalition partner OeVP is adopting a tougher stance on 
immigration to Austria. The party's Secretary General Hannes 
Missethon emphasized that tolerance had its limits: "We have to make 
clear migrants understand what we expect from them," he underscored, 
explaining that people who want to live in Austria "need to speak 
our language, have to be willing to work and learn to integrate." 
According to centrist daily Die Presse online, the OeVP wants to 
tighten the screws on immigration. Party secretary general Hannes 
Missethon underscored that it "is the duty of foreigners wanting to 
live in Austria to ...be able to speak German, as well as be willing 
to work and to integrate," Missethon urged, speaking at a press 
conference in Burgenland province's capital Eisenstadt. Thus, forced 
marriages and female circumcision cannot be options in Austria, he 
said, stressing that Austrian laws "have to be respected, which in 
some cases may require abandoning certain traditions." Tolerance has 
its limits, Missethonsays, and respect is necessary: "Immigrants 
need to understand what we expect from them. There is too much talk 
about their rights," the Presse quotes. In May, Missethon wants to 
start visiting Vienna districts with a high percentage of foreign 
residents, and "ask how they are doing," according to the daily. 
 
 
Experts Analyze Terrorist Threat 
 
¶3. Austrian terrorism experts are examining an internet video that 
surfaced at the weekend threatening Austria and Germany if they 
don't withdraw their military personnel from Afghanistan. The video 
reportedly was released by a group calling itself the "Voice of the 
Caliphate," said to have links to Al Qaeda. The experts are looking 
into whether the tape actually originated with that organization or 
with a group of imposters. The authors of the tape appear to have 
comprehensive knowledge of Austria's domestic policy, which has led 
analysts to speculate that the tape may even have originated here. 
After an internet video surfaced on the weekend threatening Austria 
and Germany with terrorist attacks unless they withdraw military 
personnel from Afghanistan, Austrian experts are looking for the 
message's possible authors. One of the questions emerging in the 
analysis is whether the threat is genuine or the product of 
"imposters" who are merely trying to spread fear and uncertainty. In 
this context, Interior Minister Platter described the "strong 
domestic policy context" of the message" as "interesting." Although 
he does "not believe Austria is a primary target for terrorists, the 
tape is being taken very seriously," Platter added. The Minister has 
also ruled out removing the four Austrian soldiers stationed in 
Afghanistan, as it would be "wrong to cave in." In an interview with 
mass-circulation tabloid Oesterreich, Interior Ministry spokesperson 
Rudolf Gollia said the "message is being taken very seriously. 
However, we can only take specific measures if we get a specific 
lead." Terrorist attacks "cannot be ruled out anywhere in the world. 
Of course, in theory attacks are also possible in Austria," he 
added. 
 
 
US Working on Iraq Pullout Strategy 
 
¶4. Although the Bush administration is planning to deploy a total of 
26,000 additional soldiers to Iraq, the US government is 
simultaneously looking at options for a withdrawal from the country. 
The Pentagon has confirmed a report recently published by the Los 
Angeles Times that it is working on an exit strategy, should the new 
Iraq security offensive fail. It would be "irresponsible" of the 
administration not to consider withdrawal plans, a White House 
spokesperson quoted Defense Secretary Robert Gates. 
On ORF radio's early morning news Morgenjournal, Washington 
correspondent Raimind Loew comments: "The Bush administration 
continues to dismiss the growing pressure from Congress to present a 
definite plan for the withdrawal of US troops from Iraq. 
Vice-President Dick Cheney argues such a plan would only undermine 
troop morale; moreover, America's enemies would then just have to 
sit back and wait for US forces to leave, Cheney - generally 
considered a hardliner - has stressed. At the same time, however, 
the Pentagon has confirmed a report by the Los Angeles Times 
according to which pullout plans are also being considered, should 
the current deployment of additional US troops to Iraq fail to be 
effective. It would be 'irresponsible' not to take alternatives into 
account, a spokesperson underscored. That part of the world was 
apparently allergic to foreign presence. Reportedly, though, the 
Pentagon's deliberations of a potential pullout are still in the 
initial stages." 
 
 
ElBaradei Going to North Korea 
 
¶5. The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency Mohamed 
ElBaradei is traveling to Pyongyang to continue negotiations on 
suspension of the DPRK  nuclear program. During his two-day trip to 
North Korea, he wants to "outline how the agreements reached in the 
six-party talks can be implemented." ElBaradei's visit is considered 
a test of whether Pyongyang is really prepared to fulfill its 
promise to suspend its nuclear program, Austrian media say. 
On ORF radio's early morning news Morgenjournal, commentator Karin 
Koller says: "ElBaradei's trip to North Korea is aimed at 
determining whether the country is serious about its promise to 
suspend its nuclear program. Less than a month ago, North Korea 
agreed to shut down its nuclear reactor at Yongbyon completely in 
return for generous energy supplies and economic aid. IAEA Director 
General ElBaradei now has to ascertain to what extent North Korea is 
really prepared to cooperate. He hopes that after years of 
estrangement his agency will again cooperate more closely with North 
Korea, he said prior to his departure. Specifically, return of UN 
weapons inspectors to North Korea is on the agenda. But ElBaradei is 
also urging patience - perhaps the timetable for the shutdown of the 
Yongbyon reactor cannot be met. The most important issue now is 
rebuilding trust and getting North Korea back into the IAEA fold, 
ElBaradei argues." 
 
 
New Iran Sanctions Imminent? 
 
¶6. Major powers on the UN Security Council appear close to an 
agreement on sanctions punishing Iran for failing to give up its 
uranium enrichment program. Diplomats from the five UN veto powers 
have been meeting in New York and say new sanctions are likely to 
include an embargo on arms exports and the extension of an asset 
freeze to include more individuals and companies. 
In the international dispute over Iran's nuclear ambitions, Russia 
has signaled it is running out of patience with Tehran, thus further 
isolating its former ally, writes ORF online news. According to 
media reports, Russia is accusing Iran of trying to exploit the 
traditionally good relations between the two countries in the 
conflict. For Russia, however, it was not acceptable for Iran to 
possess nuclear weapons or the capability to build them, a 
high-ranking Russian government representative told Russian press 
agencies yesterday. 
McCaw