VZCZCXRO5057
RR RUEHAG RUEHAST RUEHDA RUEHDF RUEHFL RUEHIK RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHLN
RUEHLZ RUEHNP RUEHPOD RUEHROV RUEHSK RUEHSR RUEHVK RUEHYG
DE RUEHVI #1832 3471617
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 121617Z DEC 08
FM AMEMBASSY VIENNA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 1669
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
RUEHRC/USDA FAS WASHDC 1238

UNCLAS VIENNA 001832 
 
SIPDIS 
SENSITIVE 
 
DEPT FOR EUR/CE 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: TBIO PGOV PREL ECON EAGR SENV AU
SUBJECT: AUSTRIA'S NEW CABINET: MINISTER FOR AGRICULTURE 
AND ENVIRONMENT NIKI BERLAKOVICH 
 
¶1. (U) The following is a profile of Nikolaus ("Niki") 
Berlakovich of the conservative People's Party (OVP), who 
has been named Minister for Agriculture and Forestry, 
Environment and Water Management (also termed the "Life 
Ministry") in the new GOA cabinet. 
 
Experience 
---------- 
 
¶2. (U) Berlakovich, an experienced local politician and 
parliamentarian in Austria's poorest state of Burgenland, 
was sworn in December 2 as Austria's agriculture and 
environment minister. 
 
¶3. (U) Born on June 4, 1961, in Eisenstadt (Burgenland), 
Berlakovich has lived in that state for most of his life. 
After receiving his high-school diploma in 1979 he studied 
Agriculture and "Production of Plants" at the University of 
Natural Resources and Applied Life Sciences in Vienna, 
where he graduated as engineer in 1985. 
 
¶4. (U) He has spent most of his professional life in 
politics, specializing in agricultural issues.  In 1991 he 
became a member of the state parliament of Burgenland.  In 
1998 he took on the party manager job of Burgenland's OVP, 
but stepped down after an unsuccessful campaign in 2000. 
His political career was reborn with his appointment for 
OVP floor leader in the provincial parliament in 2002.  In 
2005 he became Burgenland state minister for agriculture, 
environmental/animal protection, hunting, and water/sewage 
management.  His political base is in the OVP Farmer's 
Association, where he has served as head of the Burgenland 
chapter since 2006. 
 
Political/Economic Views 
------------------------ 
 
¶5.  (U) Berlakovich has been virtually unknown on the 
national scene but is an experienced local politician.  He 
has always worked in "grand coalitions" in Burgenland, so 
he knows that form of cooperation well.  He is a member of 
the Croatian minority in Burgenland, speaks Croatian, and 
was spokesman for the minority in the Burgenland provincial 
parliament.  He enjoys good relations with the other 
ethnic-Croatian GOA minister (Norbert Darabos (SPO)). 
 
¶6.  (SBU) Berlakovich will be a strong advocate for the 
interests of Austrian and European farmers, potentially 
lobbying for subsidies and against market access in WTO 
negotiations.  In one of his first statements as Minister 
he opined that "farmers are those who preserve the basis of 
life, such as a healthy earth, air and water for the 
society."  Berlakovich has also said Austria "will not move 
a millimeter" from its position that Austria's agriculture 
and food must remain "biotechnology-free" -- a "model" for 
Europe in this regard.  He will maintain the long-standing 
cordon against nuclear energy and is likely to speak out 
against any new nuclear power plant in neighboring 
countries and beyond.  Berlakovich follows in the footsteps 
of Vice Chancellor/Finance Minister Josef Proell (who is 
also the new conservative party chief), so he will have his 
party's ear. 
 
PERSONAL 
-------- 
 
¶7. (U) Berlakovich is married (wife Ursula is a doctor) and 
has a son (17) and a daughter (15).  His main leisure 
activity is playing soccer. 
 
GIRARD-DICARLO