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TAGS: OPRC KPAO AU
 
SUBJECT: AUSTRIAN MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS: September 10, 2007 
 
 
Austrians Not Happy With Government 
 
¶1. A recent survey by polling institute Gallup has revealed that 
almost 50 percent of Austrians disapprove of the SPOe-OeVP coalition 
government's work so far. The government will have to do far better 
from now on, if it wants to convince the people it is doing a good 
job, one daily argues, and points out that as many as 47 percent of 
interviewees are calling for improvements to the coalition's 
performance in office. Only 35 percent say they are happy with the 
SPOe-OeVP government. 
According to mass-circulation tabloid Oesterreich, the Gallup survey 
also shows that when it comes to voters' support, the People's 
Party, at 36 percent, is ranked first; followed closely by the 
Social Democrats with 35 percent of the votes. Among the opposition 
parties, the FPOe (14 percent) has overtaken the Greens for the 
first time in months, but experts suggest the current increase in 
support for the Freedom Party is not going to last. 
 
Squabble Over Kosovo Initiative 
 
¶2. Regarding the question of the Serbian province Kosovo's future 
status, Washington is breathing down the EU's neck, one Austrian 
daily says, and quotes Austrian Foreign Minister Ursula Plassnik as 
stressing the US' stance was "not helpful." 
The US' decision to push ahead on Kosovo was "perfectly timed," 
centrist daily Die Presse reports: Just when the EU foreign 
ministers were struggling over a common EU position on Kosovo, 
Washington announced it would "recognize the independence of 
Kosovo," should Pristina decide in favor of a unilateral declaration 
of the province's independent status.  According to Kurt Volker, 
Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State in the State 
Department's Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs, this was the 
"only way out for the Balkans." Austria's Foreign Minister Ursula 
Plassnik was "not amused," the Presse writes, and quotes her as 
saying a unilateral commitment was "not helpful" at this point. 
However, the daily notes, although the EU foreign ministers were 
"all but falling over each other" in their appeals for and 
statements on a common EU position on Kosovo, they are apparently 
still "completely in the dark" as to that joint stance. 
 
 
Petraeus to Present Iraq Report 
 
¶3. The top US commander in Iraq, Gen. David Petraeus, is expected to 
tell Congress today that there should be no substantial cuts in US 
troop levels in Iraq. Gen. Petraeus and leading political advisors 
to President Bush are scheduled to report to four Congressional 
committees later today. Meanwhile, according to a recent survey done 
in Iraq, most Iraqis interviewed said the surge of US forces in and 
around Baghdad had made conditions much worse. However, just over 50 
percent also say the troops should stay until security has 
improved. 
Liberal daily Der Standard says that the United States' top 
commander in Iraq, Gen. David Petraeus, and US Ambassador to Iraq 
Ryan Crocker, have both warned the Bush administration against 
altering its strategy on Iraq. Major changes would only jeopardize 
progress with regard to security and the country's political 
development, they emphasize in their report to Congress. Meanwhile, 
Gen. Petraeus in a letter to US troops is also accusing the Iraqi 
government of having failed to meet US expectations in connection 
with this year's troops surge. However, neither he nor Ambassador 
Crocker believes there is an alternative to Premier Nuri al-Maliki 
at this time, the Standard quotes. The daily also notes that the US 
troops surge has undoubtedly resulted in an improvement of the 
security situation in Baghdad, where the number of attacks has gone 
down in recent times. It appears, however, that the insurgents have 
merely relocated to the neighboring province of Dijala, where 
provincial governor Abdulla Al-Jubori has noted an "unprecedented 
concentration of terrorists." His province had become a stronghold 
for al Qaeda and associated organizations. 
 
 
Former Pakistani PM Returns Home 
 
¶4. The former Prime Minister of Pakistan, Nawaz Sharif, has returned 
home after seven years in exile. His plane was surrounded by 
security forces as he landed at Islamabad airport, and he was only 
allowed to disembark and enter the airport building after an hour of 
negotiations. Sharif has said he will lead a campaign against 
President Pervez Musharraf, who ousted him from power in 1999. 
Austrian media suggest that the former Premier's return will likely 
lead to an "all-out fight over power" between Sharif and Musharraf. 
Liberal daily Der Standard reports there is "high alert" and 
"breathless anticipation" ahead of the return to Pakistan of the 
country's former Prime Minister, Nawaz Sharif. Despite barely 
concealed threats, Sharif has stuck to his plan to return to his 
country after seven years of exile in London, the daily continues. 
Indeed, the Standard explained, Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf 
should fear the popular former Premier more than anyone else. The 
President has suffered a massive loss of support in the past months, 
and is literally fighting for his political survival, according to 
the Standard. Similarly, centrist daily Die Presse reports on a 
"showdown" between Musharraf and Sharif. After all, the former 
Premier has openly declared he wants to challenge Musharraf with his 
early return and restore the rule of law in Pakistan. 
 
 
 
Tehran Is Playing for Time 
 
¶5. ... US Ambassador to the United Nations in Vienna Gregory Schulte 
told an Austrian daily, ahead of a new round of IAEA negotiations 
with Iran over its controversial nuclear program. Recent successes 
in the UN nuclear watchdog's talks with Tehran have given rise to 
new hope - and new doubts, the daily adds. 
With a new round of IAEA negotiations regarding the timetable for 
Tehran's full disclosure of its nuclear program beginning in Vienna 
today, mass-circulation daily Kurier quotes US Ambassador to UNVIE 
Gregory Schulte as warning that despite assurances to the contrary, 
Tehran may be doing no more than "play for time," given the fact 
that the controversy over Iran's nuclear ambitions is now well into 
its fourth year. "We have seen this strategy before," Ambassador 
Schulte argues, and adds that "it is not enough to simply tidy up 
the past. We have to insist on a stop to uranium enrichment (on the 
part of Tehran). That is the only way for Iran to win back the 
international community's trust." In contrast, IAEA Director General 
Mohamed ElBaradei is pushing for a more optimistic approach, and has 
suggested giving Tehran until the end of the year to determine 
whether it keeps its promises or not. 
McCaw