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TAGS: OPRC KPAO AU
 
SUBJECT: AUSTRIAN MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS: December 17, 2007 
 
 
Political Squabble over Arigona Zogaj 
 
¶1. All Austrian media report on what is described as "massive 
squabbling" among the country's leading political parties over the 
case of teenage Kosovo asylum seeker Arigona Zogaj. On Friday, the 
Austrian Constitutional Court turned down an appeal from the family 
seeking initial residence status in Austria. The judges suggested, 
however, that Arigona could be granted residence on "humanitarian 
grounds," a decision which falls within Interior Minister Guenther 
Platter's jurisdiction. The Minister ruled out this option shortly 
after the court verdict became public, but said Arigona could stay 
in the country until the end of the school year. "The requirements 
for granting residence on humanitarian grounds have not been 
fulfilled," Interior Minister Platter said in a statement. 
Reflecting the differing views in Austria regarding the latest 
developments in the case of teenage asylum seeker Arigona Zogaj, 
mass-circulation tabloid Kronen Zeitung runs the headline "Opinions 
differ on Arigona: deport or allow to stay?" Kronen Zeitung 
publisher Hans Dichand, writing under his pen name "Cato," says that 
"we at the Krone are of the opinion that Arigona should be allowed 
to stay in Austria for humanitarian reasons. Our justification: It 
is a disgrace that asylum petitions take so long to be dealt with in 
this country. That fact only goes to show how incompetent our 
politicians are." 
Meanwhile, independent provincial daily Salzburger Nachrichten says 
that constitutional experts are in disagreement regarding Arigona's 
case. Interior Minister Guenther Platter (OeVP) has acted correctly 
in rejecting Ms. Zogaj's wish to stay in Austria, but he might just 
as well have decided to permit her to stay, they argue. 
 
 
EU Preparing for Schengen Extension 
 
¶2. The European Union is preparing for the extension of the 
border-free Schengen Zone to nine additional member states on 
December 21. Among those states are Austria's neighbors the Czech 
Republic, Hungary, Slovakia and Slovenia. Schengen allows 
passport-free travel within its area, with stronger security on its 
outer borders. Checks will continue at airports for intra-Schengen 
flights until the end of March. Austrian Interior Minister Guenther 
Platter emphasized that the Schengen enlargement is a "tremendous 
chance for European unity." He dismissed concerns by those fearing 
the move might result in Austria being overrun by criminal elements, 
according to ORF online news. 
 
 
Fischer, Darabos in Syria 
 
¶3. Austrian President Heinz Fischer is holding talks in Damascus 
today with Syrian President Bashir al-Assad. Yesterday, President 
Fischer and Defense Minister Norbert Daraos (SPOe) met with Austrian 
troops serving as UN peacekeepers on the Golan Heights. Reporting on 
the visit to Syria of Austrian President Heinz Fischer, 
mass-circulation daily Kurier publishes an analysis of the current 
situation there: "Quo vadis, Damascus?" According to the daily, 
"Syria, isolated and humiliated because of the Golan Heights' 
occupation, is not going to decide in favor of either Iran or the 
pro-Western camp." The country is nonetheless "a key player when it 
comes to the Middle East peace process: It has ties both with 
extremist Hamas in Gaza, as well as with Hezbollah in Lebanon. On 
top of that, it is under Iran's thumb." Still, Syria is not getting 
a lot of attention from the rest of the world, the Kurier suggests: 
"For everyone, a solution for the Palestinian problem appears more 
important than the hereditary dictatorship in Damascus with its 
disruptive potential in the Middle East crisis region." Perhaps, the 
daily speculates, Syrian President "Bashir al-Assad will share some 
of his views on how to solve the conflict with President Fischer?" 
After all, the Austrian President stressed that "after Annapolis, it 
is important to use even the slightest change for mutual 
understanding and communication." 
 
 
Paris Aid Conference for Palestinians 
 
¶4. Representatives from around 60 countries are gathering in Paris 
for an international aid conference aimed at reviving the 
Palestinian economy, and ultimately building the foundations for a 
viable Palestinian state. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas is 
hoping to get over 5 billion US Dollars in aid over the next three 
years. Observers say the conference is of considerable importance, 
because it regenerates hope for the Palestinian people that the 
international community is supporting their cause. The EU has 
pledged 650 million Dollars for next year, and the US 550 million, 
says ORF radio early morning news Morgenjournal. 
 
 
US Denies Permitting Turkish Iraq Strikes 
 
¶5. The United States has denied it gave permission to Turkey to 
carry out air strikes yesterday against Kurdish PKK rebels in 
northern Iraq. Turkey's military, however, has said that that the US 
opened northern Iraqi airspace for the operation, and also made 
intelligence information available to them. According to Iraqi 
officials, bombs have hit ten villages and killed one civilian, 
while the PKK has reported seven deaths. Iraq summoned the Turkish 
ambassador and demanded a halt to the strikes, according to liberal 
daily Der Standard. 
 
 
 
 
Iraqi Authorities Assume Control of Basra 
 
¶6. British troops have transferred control of Basra province to the 
Iraqi authorities, four-and-a-half years after the US-led invasion 
of the country. The handover marks a significant milestone towards 
Britain's final withdrawal from southern Iraq. The 4,500 British 
troops still in Iraq will now take a backseat role, focusing on 
training Iraqi forces. US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, while 
welcoming the move, stressed that the US and Britain were aware 
there was still a lot to do in Iraq, reported ORF TV's prime time 
news Zeit im Bild I on Sunday. 
 
 
America's Quest for a President 
 
¶7. ... headlines centrist daily Die Presse, publishing a feature 
report on the US presidential campaign, which is picking up speed, 
now that the Iowa caucus and the New Hampshire primary are less than 
a month away. According to the daily, the Democrats are so far ahead 
of the Republicans in all surveys. The most promising candidates, at 
this point, are Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama for the Democrats, 
and Rudy Giuliani and Michael Huckabee for the Republicans, the 
Presse suggests. Iraq and the American economy are likely to be the 
key issues in the 2008 presidential election campaign. 
 
 
In Bali, US Agreed to Global Warming Deal 
 
¶8. In a dramatic turn of events on Saturday, the United States 
rejected and then accepted a compromise to set the stage for intense 
negotiations in the next two years aimed at reducing carbon dioxide 
emissions worldwide. The White House, however, later said in a 
statement that it still has "serious concerns" about the agreement. 
"The negotiations must proceed on the view that the problem of 
climate change cannot be adequately addressed through commitments 
for emissions cuts by developed countries alone. Major developing 
economies must likewise act," the White House said. Meanwhile, 
Austrian Chancellor Alfred Gusenbauer welcomed the Bali agreement, 
emphasizing the importance of binding emission cuts. 
Kilner