Keep Us Strong WikiLeaks logo

Currently released so far... 143912 / 251,287

Articles

Browse latest releases

Browse by creation date

Browse by origin

A B C D F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z

Browse by tag

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
AORC AS AF AM AJ ASEC AU AMGT APER ACOA ASEAN AG AFFAIRS AR AFIN ABUD AO AEMR ADANA AMED AADP AINF ARF ADB ACS AE AID AL AC AGR ABLD AMCHAMS AECL AINT AND ASIG AUC APECO AFGHANISTAN AY ARABL ACAO ANET AFSN AZ AFLU ALOW ASSK AFSI ACABQ AMB APEC AIDS AA ATRN AMTC AVIATION AESC ASSEMBLY ADPM ASECKFRDCVISKIRFPHUMSMIGEG AGOA ASUP AFPREL ARNOLD ADCO AN ACOTA AODE AROC AMCHAM AT ACKM ASCH AORCUNGA AVIANFLU AVIAN AIT ASECPHUM ATRA AGENDA AIN AFINM APCS AGENGA ABDALLAH ALOWAR AFL AMBASSADOR ARSO AGMT ASPA AOREC AGAO ARR AOMS ASC ALIREZA AORD AORG ASECVE ABER ARABBL ADM AMER ALVAREZ AORCO ARM APERTH AINR AGRI ALZUGUREN ANGEL ACDA AEMED ARC AMGMT AEMRASECCASCKFLOMARRPRELPINRAMGTJMXL ASECAFINGMGRIZOREPTU ABMC AIAG ALJAZEERA ASR ASECARP ALAMI APRM ASECM AMPR AEGR AUSTRALIAGROUP ASE AMGTHA ARNOLDFREDERICK AIDAC AOPC ANTITERRORISM ASEG AMIA ASEX AEMRBC AFOR ABT AMERICA AGENCIES AGS ADRC ASJA AEAID ANARCHISTS AME AEC ALNEA AMGE AMEDCASCKFLO AK ANTONIO ASO AFINIZ ASEDC AOWC ACCOUNT ACTION AMG AFPK AOCR AMEDI AGIT ASOC ACOAAMGT AMLB AZE AORCYM AORL AGRICULTURE ACEC AGUILAR ASCC AFSA ASES ADIP ASED ASCE ASFC ASECTH AFGHAN ANTXON APRC AFAF AFARI ASECEFINKCRMKPAOPTERKHLSAEMRNS AX ALAB ASECAF ASA ASECAFIN ASIC AFZAL AMGTATK ALBE AMT AORCEUNPREFPRELSMIGBN AGUIRRE AAA ABLG ARCH AGRIC AIHRC ADEL AMEX ALI AQ ATFN AORCD ARAS AINFCY AFDB ACBAQ AFDIN AOPR AREP ALEXANDER ALANAZI ABDULRAHMEN ABDULHADI ATRD AEIR AOIC ABLDG AFR ASEK AER ALOUNI AMCT AVERY ASECCASC ARG APR AMAT AEMRS AFU ATPDEA ALL ASECE ANDREW
EAIR ECON ETRD EAGR EAID EFIN ETTC ENRG EMIN ECPS EG EPET EINV ELAB EU ECONOMICS EC EZ EUN EN ECIN EWWT EXTERNAL ENIV ES ESA ELN EFIS EIND EPA ELTN EXIM ET EINT EI ER EAIDAF ETRO ETRDECONWTOCS ECTRD EUR ECOWAS ECUN EBRD ECONOMIC ENGR ECONOMY EFND ELECTIONS EPECO EUMEM ETMIN EXBS EAIRECONRP ERTD EAP ERGR EUREM EFI EIB ENGY ELNTECON EAIDXMXAXBXFFR ECOSOC EEB EINF ETRN ENGRD ESTH ENRC EXPORT EK ENRGMO ECO EGAD EXIMOPIC ETRDPGOV EURM ETRA ENERG ECLAC EINO ENVIRONMENT EFIC ECIP ETRDAORC ENRD EMED EIAR ECPN ELAP ETCC EAC ENEG ESCAP EWWC ELTD ELA EIVN ELF ETR EFTA EMAIL EL EMS EID ELNT ECPSN ERIN ETT EETC ELAN ECHEVARRIA EPWR EVIN ENVR ENRGJM ELBR EUC EARG EAPC EICN EEC EREL EAIS ELBA EPETUN EWWY ETRDGK EV EDU EFN EVN EAIDETRD ENRGTRGYETRDBEXPBTIOSZ ETEX ESCI EAIDHO EENV ETRC ESOC EINDQTRD EINVA EFLU EGEN ECE EAGRBN EON EFINECONCS EIAD ECPC ENV ETDR EAGER ETRDKIPR EWT EDEV ECCP ECCT EARI EINVECON ED ETRDEC EMINETRD EADM ENRGPARMOTRASENVKGHGPGOVECONTSPLEAID ETAD ECOM ECONETRDEAGRJA EMINECINECONSENVTBIONS ESSO ETRG ELAM ECA EENG EITC ENG ERA EPSC ECONEINVETRDEFINELABETRDKTDBPGOVOPIC EIPR ELABPGOVBN EURFOR ETRAD EUE EISNLN ECONETRDBESPAR ELAINE EGOVSY EAUD EAGRECONEINVPGOVBN EINVETRD EPIN ECONENRG EDRC ESENV EB ENER ELTNSNAR EURN ECONPGOVBN ETTF ENVT EPIT ESOCI EFINOECD ERD EDUC EUM ETEL EUEAID ENRGY ETD EAGRE EAR EAIDMG EE EET ETER ERICKSON EIAID EX EAG EBEXP ESTN EAIDAORC EING EGOV EEOC EAGRRP EVENTS ENRGKNNPMNUCPARMPRELNPTIAEAJMXL ETRDEMIN EPETEIND EAIDRW ENVI ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS EPEC EDUARDO EGAR EPCS EPRT EAIDPHUMPRELUG EPTED ETRB EPETPGOV ECONQH EAIDS EFINECONEAIDUNGAGM EAIDAR EAGRBTIOBEXPETRDBN ESF EINR ELABPHUMSMIGKCRMBN EIDN ETRK ESTRADA EXEC EAIO EGHG ECN EDA ECOS EPREL EINVKSCA ENNP ELABV ETA EWWTPRELPGOVMASSMARRBN EUCOM EAIDASEC ENR END EP ERNG ESPS EITI EINTECPS EAVI ECONEFINETRDPGOVEAGRPTERKTFNKCRMEAID ELTRN EADI ELDIN ELND ECRM EINVEFIN EAOD EFINTS EINDIR ENRGKNNP ETRDEIQ ETC EAIRASECCASCID EINN ETRP EAIDNI EFQ ECOQKPKO EGPHUM EBUD EAIT ECONEINVEFINPGOVIZ EWWI ENERGY ELB EINDETRD EMI ECONEAIR ECONEFIN EHUM EFNI EOXC EISNAR ETRDEINVTINTCS EIN EFIM EMW ETIO ETRDGR EMN EXO EATO EWTR ELIN EAGREAIDPGOVPRELBN EINVETC ETTD EIQ ECONCS EPPD ESS EUEAGR ENRGIZ EISL EUNJ EIDE ENRGSD ELAD ESPINOSA ELEC EAIG ESLCO ENTG ETRDECD EINVECONSENVCSJA EEPET EUNCH ECINECONCS
KPKO KIPR KWBG KPAL KDEM KTFN KNNP KGIC KTIA KCRM KDRG KWMN KJUS KIDE KSUM KTIP KFRD KMCA KMDR KCIP KTDB KPAO KPWR KOMC KU KIRF KCOR KHLS KISL KSCA KGHG KS KSTH KSEP KE KPAI KWAC KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KPRP KVPR KAWC KUNR KZ KPLS KN KSTC KMFO KID KNAR KCFE KRIM KFLO KCSA KG KFSC KSCI KFLU KMIG KRVC KV KVRP KMPI KNEI KAPO KOLY KGIT KSAF KIRC KNSD KBIO KHIV KHDP KBTR KHUM KSAC KACT KRAD KPRV KTEX KPIR KDMR KMPF KPFO KICA KWMM KICC KR KCOM KAID KINR KBCT KOCI KCRS KTER KSPR KDP KFIN KCMR KMOC KUWAIT KIPRZ KSEO KLIG KWIR KISM KLEG KTBD KCUM KMSG KMWN KREL KPREL KAWK KIMT KCSY KESS KWPA KNPT KTBT KCROM KPOW KFTN KPKP KICR KGHA KOMS KJUST KREC KOC KFPC KGLB KMRS KTFIN KCRCM KWNM KHGH KRFD KY KGCC KFEM KVIR KRCM KEMR KIIP KPOA KREF KJRE KRKO KOGL KSCS KGOV KCRIM KEM KCUL KRIF KCEM KITA KCRN KCIS KSEAO KWMEN KEANE KNNC KNAP KEDEM KNEP KHPD KPSC KIRP KUNC KALM KCCP KDEN KSEC KAYLA KIMMITT KO KNUC KSIA KLFU KLAB KTDD KIRCOEXC KECF KIPRETRDKCRM KNDP KIRCHOFF KJAN KFRDSOCIRO KWMNSMIG KEAI KKPO KPOL KRD KWMNPREL KATRINA KBWG KW KPPD KTIAEUN KDHS KRV KBTS KWCI KICT KPALAOIS KPMI KWN KTDM KWM KLHS KLBO KDEMK KT KIDS KWWW KLIP KPRM KSKN KTTB KTRD KNPP KOR KGKG KNN KTIAIC KSRE KDRL KVCORR KDEMGT KOMO KSTCC KMAC KSOC KMCC KCHG KSEPCVIS KGIV KPO KSEI KSTCPL KSI KRMS KFLOA KIND KPPAO KCM KRFR KICCPUR KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KNNB KFAM KWWMN KENV KGH KPOP KFCE KNAO KTIAPARM KWMNKDEM KDRM KNNNP KEVIN KEMPI KWIM KGCN KUM KMGT KKOR KSMT KISLSCUL KNRV KPRO KOMCSG KLPM KDTB KFGM KCRP KAUST KNNPPARM KUNH KWAWC KSPA KTSC KUS KSOCI KCMA KTFR KPAOPREL KNNPCH KWGB KSTT KNUP KPGOV KUK KMNP KPAS KHMN KPAD KSTS KCORR KI KLSO KWNN KNP KPTD KESO KMPP KEMS KPAONZ KPOV KTLA KPAOKMDRKE KNMP KWMNCI KWUN KRDP KWKN KPAOY KEIM KGICKS KIPT KREISLER KTAO KJU KLTN KWMNPHUMPRELKPAOZW KEN KQ KWPR KSCT KGHGHIV KEDU KRCIM KFIU KWIC KNNO KILS KTIALG KNNA KMCAJO KINP KRM KLFLO KPA KOMCCO KKIV KHSA KDM KRCS KWBGSY KISLAO KNPPIS KNNPMNUC KCRI KX KWWT KPAM KVRC KERG KK KSUMPHUM KACP KSLG KIF KIVP KHOURY KNPR KUNRAORC KCOG KCFC KWMJN KFTFN KTFM KPDD KMPIO KCERS KDUM KDEMAF KMEPI KHSL KEPREL KAWX KIRL KNNR KOMH KMPT KISLPINR KADM KPER KTPN KSCAECON KA KJUSTH KPIN KDEV KCSI KNRG KAKA KFRP KTSD KINL KJUSKUNR KQM KQRDQ KWBC KMRD KVBL KOM KMPL KEDM KFLD KPRD KRGY KNNF KPROG KIFR KPOKO KM KWMNCS KAWS KLAP KPAK KHIB KOEM KDDG KCGC
PGOV PREL PK PTER PINR PO PHUM PARM PREF PINF PRL PM PINS PROP PALESTINIAN PE PBTS PNAT PHSA PL PA PSEPC POSTS POLITICS POLICY POL PU PAHO PHUMPGOV PGOG PARALYMPIC PGOC PNR PREFA PMIL POLITICAL PROV PRUM PBIO PAK POV POLG PAR POLM PHUMPREL PKO PUNE PROG PEL PROPERTY PKAO PRE PSOE PHAS PNUM PGOVE PY PIRF PRES POWELL PP PREM PCON PGOVPTER PGOVPREL PODC PTBS PTEL PGOVTI PHSAPREL PD PG PRC PVOV PLO PRELL PEPFAR PREK PEREZ PINT POLI PPOL PARTIES PT PRELUN PH PENA PIN PGPV PKST PROTESTS PHSAK PRM PROLIFERATION PGOVBL PAS PUM PMIG PGIC PTERPGOV PSHA PHM PHARM PRELHA PELOSI PGOVKCMABN PQM PETER PJUS PKK POUS PTE PGOVPRELPHUMPREFSMIGELABEAIDKCRMKWMN PERM PRELGOV PAO PNIR PARMP PRELPGOVEAIDECONEINVBEXPSCULOIIPBTIO PHYTRP PHUML PFOV PDEM PUOS PN PRESIDENT PERURENA PRIVATIZATION PHUH PIF POG PERL PKPA PREI PTERKU PSEC PRELKSUMXABN PETROL PRIL POLUN PPD PRELUNSC PREZ PCUL PREO PGOVZI POLMIL PERSONS PREFL PASS PV PETERS PING PQL PETR PARMS PNUC PS PARLIAMENT PINSCE PROTECTION PLAB PGV PBS PGOVENRGCVISMASSEAIDOPRCEWWTBN PKNP PSOCI PSI PTERM PLUM PF PVIP PARP PHUMQHA PRELNP PHIM PRELBR PUBLIC PHUMKPAL PHAM PUAS PBOV PRELTBIOBA PGOVU PHUMPINS PICES PGOVENRG PRELKPKO PHU PHUMKCRS POGV PATTY PSOC PRELSP PREC PSO PAIGH PKPO PARK PRELPLS PRELPK PHUS PPREL PTERPREL PROL PDA PRELPGOV PRELAF PAGE PGOVGM PGOVECON PHUMIZNL PMAR PGOVAF PMDL PKBL PARN PARMIR PGOVEAIDUKNOSWGMHUCANLLHFRSPITNZ PDD PRELKPAO PKMN PRELEZ PHUMPRELPGOV PARTM PGOVEAGRKMCAKNARBN PPEL PGOVPRELPINRBN PGOVSOCI PWBG PGOVEAID PGOVPM PBST PKEAID PRAM PRELEVU PHUMA PGOR PPA PINSO PROVE PRELKPAOIZ PPAO PHUMPRELBN PGVO PHUMPTER PAGR PMIN PBTSEWWT PHUMR PDOV PINO PARAGRAPH PACE PINL PKPAL PTERE PGOVAU PGOF PBTSRU PRGOV PRHUM PCI PGO PRELEUN PAC PRESL PORG PKFK PEPR PRELP PMR PRTER PNG PGOVPHUMKPAO PRELECON PRELNL PINOCHET PAARM PKPAO PFOR PGOVLO PHUMBA POPDC PRELC PHUME PER PHJM POLINT PGOVPZ PGOVKCRM PAUL PHALANAGE PARTY PPEF PECON PEACE PROCESS PPGOV PLN PRELSW PHUMS PRF PEDRO PHUMKDEM PUNR PVPR PATRICK PGOVKMCAPHUMBN PRELA PGGV PSA PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA PGIV PRFE POGOV PBT PAMQ

Browse by classification

Community resources

courage is contagious

Viewing cable 09VIENNA173, Austria's Anti-Nuclear Stance: Rock Solid,

If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs

Understanding cables
Every cable message consists of three parts:
  • The top box shows each cables unique reference number, when and by whom it originally was sent, and what its initial classification was.
  • The middle box contains the header information that is associated with the cable. It includes information about the receiver(s) as well as a general subject.
  • The bottom box presents the body of the cable. The opening can contain a more specific subject, references to other cables (browse by origin to find them) or additional comment. This is followed by the main contents of the cable: a summary, a collection of specific topics and a comment section.
To understand the justification used for the classification of each cable, please use this WikiSource article as reference.

Discussing cables
If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol). Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #09VIENNA173.
Reference ID Created Released Classification Origin
09VIENNA173 2009-02-17 15:44 2011-08-26 00:00 UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY Embassy Vienna
VZCZCXRO4497
RR RUEHAG RUEHAST RUEHDA RUEHDBU RUEHDF RUEHFL RUEHIK RUEHKW RUEHLA
RUEHLN RUEHLZ RUEHNP RUEHPOD RUEHROV RUEHSK RUEHSR RUEHVK RUEHYG
DE RUEHVI #0173/01 0481544
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 171544Z FEB 09
FM AMEMBASSY VIENNA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 2002
INFO RHEBAAA/DEPT OF ENERGY WASHDC
RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 VIENNA 000173 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ENRG EPET PGOV AU
SUBJECT: Austria's Anti-Nuclear Stance: Rock Solid, 
Deeply Felt, Counterproductive 
 
REF: (A) 08 VIENNA 1819; 06 VIENNA 3482 
 
1. (SBU) SUMMARY:  There is no nuclear renaissance in 
Austria.  This cable details Austrians' long-standing 
rejection of nuclear power and GOA opposition in every 
international context.  Austria's new government will 
continue its role as Europe's strongest opponent of 
nuclear energy.  While the reasons are historical -- a 
1978 popular referendum (mothballing Austria's only 
nuclear power plant) and the Chernobyl disaster of 1986 -- 
the ban rests on very broad public support.  "Anti- 
nuclear" is a central plank of Austria's foreign policy 
prompting frequent disputes over nuclear power stations 
across Austria's (eastern) borders and opposition to EU/IFI 
financing for nuclear energy.  The anti-nuclear din 
drowns out the fact that nuclear power accounts for up to 
a third of Austria's electricity imports -- and the 
ban's negative impact on Austria's already spotty climate 
record.  END SUMMARY. 
 
Nuclear Ban in Austria's Constitution since 1978 
--------------------------------------------- --- 
 
2.  (U) In November 2008, Austria's anti-nuclear 
activists celebrated the 30th anniversary of a referendum 
in which a then-narrow majority of Austrians (50.5%) 
voted against allowing Austria's first nuclear power 
plant to go into operation (mothballing the Zwentendorf 
reactor, which now serves as a training facility for 
nuclear specialists).  In December 1978, Austria adopted 
a "constitutional law" prohibiting nuclear power 
generation.  After the Chernobyl catastrophe in 1986 -- 
when radioactive fallout was recorded in some parts of 
Austria -- any support for reversing the ban evaporated; 
since then, Austrian politicians across the spectrum have 
led an aggressive anti-nuclear campaign in foreign 
affairs. 
 
3. (U) The GOA's anti-nuclear stance is backed by polls 
consistently showing 90 percent or more of the Austrian 
public disapprove of nuclear energy.  In January 2009 
polling, 70 percent of Austrians termed nuclear power 
plants in neighboring countries (mainly Czech and Slovak 
facilities) a "potential risk" and 80% would like to stop 
importing nuclear energy. 
 
Nuclear Power: "A Dangerous Drug" 
--------------------------------- 
 
4. (U) New global debates on energy security and climate 
change have led Austrian politicians to re-affirm their 
opposition to nuclear energy, lest any cracks appear. 
The October 2008 coalition program (for the government 
period through 2013) now has a chapter entitled "Anti- 
Nuclear-Policy" attesting that "nuclear energy is neither 
a sustainable form of energy supply nor a workable option 
to fight climate change."  In order to "substantiate" 
this policy, the GoA is planning to demonstrate "concrete 
alternatives" in form of "energy partnerships" with new 
EU member states.  Austria will oppose multilateral 
subsidies for the construction or operation of nuclear 
power plants, and the GOA cites its strict "nuclear 
liability" legislation as a model for the EU.  New 
environment minister Nikolaus Berlakovich (a 
conservative) defended the policy during the Russia- 
Ukraine gas crisis: "Nuclear power is a drug with evil 
side effects." 
 
Temelin and Bohunice as Constant Irritants 
------------------------------------------ 
 
5. (SBU) Nuclear power plants near Austria's borders are 
often the source of frictions with the Czech and Slovak 
republics.  The Czech power plant at Temelin -- a 
perennial bete-noire in Austria -- figured prominently in 
the Czech Republic's EU accession negotiations (2000- 
2003) and intense protests accompanied the commissioning 
of both of Temelin's reactors (at times shutting down 
dozens of border crossings).  The tone moderated after 
the Czech Republic's EU accession in 2005, but Austria 
still maintains that Czechs have not fully implemented 
safety standards under a 2001 bilateral agreement ("Melk 
accord").  In 2007, the Austrian parliament called on the 
GoA to lodge a complaint with the International Court of 
Justice over those alleged breaches, but the GoA has 
demurred, judging that such a suit would have little 
chance of success.  GoA representatives raise concerns 
over Temelin at every meeting with Czech counterparts, 
though absent any newsmaking accidents or other 
developments, the topic has become somewhat rote in 
 
VIENNA 00000173  002 OF 003 
 
 
recent years. 
 
6. (U) Slovakia's older Bohunice reactor has also figured 
prominently in bilateral ties.  Austria succeeded in 
making the decommissioning of Bohunice (in December 2008) 
a condition for Slovakia's EU accession.  It came as no 
surprise that Austrian media and officials were outraged 
when Slovaks announced they would re-start Bohunice 
during the gas crisis in January.  Chancellor Faymann 
engaged on the issue and MinEnvir Berlakovich warned of a 
direct "breach" of EU law, signaling that Austria would 
escalate the conflict if Bohunice went back into 
operation (Austria even sent a ministry observer to 
ensure the reactor was not restarted clandestinely). 
 
GoA Strategy:  Oppose Nuclear Power Everywhere 
--------------------------------------------- -- 
 
7. (SBU) How intense is GOA opposition to nuclear power 
outside its borders?  A MinEnvir contact (Andreas Molin 
from the Department of Nuclear Coordination) shared a 
ministry non-paper providing insight into the GOA anti- 
nuclear policy beyond the official GoA program.  The 
paper shows that GOA efforts go far beyond the fight 
against Bohunice and Temelin:  Austria articulates its 
concerns in bilateral "nuclear information agreements" 
(including with the Czech Republic) and cross-border 
Environmental Impact Studies (EIS) under to the ESPOO 
Convention and a relevant EU directive.  Within that 
framework, Austria is currently voicing opposition to new 
nuclear stations at Mochovce (Slovakia), Cernavoda 
(Romania), and Loviisa and Olkiluoto (both in Finland). 
The GOA is also participating in "strategic" 
Environmental Impact Studies with regard to waste storage 
in the Slovak Republic and Switzerland.  Furthermore, the 
GoA seeks (unrealistically) to amend the EURATOM treaty 
to eliminate the goal of promoting nuclear energy and 
opposes higher liability limits for EURATOM loans.  Molin 
ruled out any watering down of Austria's anti-nuclear 
policy as unimaginable.  Despite being the host country 
of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Austria 
also continues to take a strong anti-nuclear stance in 
IAEA fora. 
 
But Austria Imports a Lot of Nuclear Power 
------------------------------------------ 
 
8. (U) Unsurprisingly -- given the interconnectedness of 
Western Europe's electrical grid -- Austria has imported 
a lot of nuclear power since 2001 when demand began 
outstripping Austria's hydroelectric production (which 
now covers only 60% of consumption).  An estimated 30% of 
Austria's electricity imports (21,257 GWH in 2006) comes 
de facto from nuclear power in neighboring countries 
(NOTE: since electricity is fungible, in reality nuclear 
power is indistinguishable from other power sources, but 
Austrian energy suppliers openly trade nuclear power on 
electricity exchanges).  GOA policymakers grudgingly 
acknowledge their import dependence, but claim the 
situation is temporary:  MinEnvir Berlakovich has set a 
new goal to make Austria independent of electricity 
imports through a massive expansion of renewables. 
 
Industry Is Virtually Silent on Nuclear Power 
--------------------------------------------- 
 
9. (U) Unlike in Germany, Austrian industry 
representatives are largely silent on nuclear energy as a 
competitive issue.  Veit Sorger, President of the 
Association of the Austrian Industry (which also 
represents big electricity suppliers), recently 
acknowledged that industry profits from cheap imports of 
nuclear energy and has publicly suggested buying stakes 
in nearby nuclear energy producers to avoid shortages in 
Austria.   Association of Austrian Electricity Companies 
spokesperson Barbara Schmidt only advocates a more open 
discussion of the topic: "Every year we consume two 
percent more electricity, while at the same time there is 
opposition to building clean hydropower stations.  As a 
result we have to import nuclear energy." 
 
COMMENT: Strong Against Nukes but Weak on Climate 
--------------------------------------------- ---- 
 
10. (SBU)  The nuclear ban is a sacred cow in Austria. 
When engage GOA representatives on their opposition to 
agricultural biotechnology, we occasionally hear 
apologies that the policy is based on public opinion and 
posturing -- not so with nuclear power, where opposition 
hardened intractably after the Chernobyl accident. 
 
VIENNA 00000173  003 OF 003 
 
 
 
Austrians have a palpable fear of a nuclear catastrophe 
in one of the 20-odd reactors in Austria's neighborhood 
and have real concerns about the permanent storage of 
nuclear waste.  Austrian public television recently 
featured a disaster film about the fictive meltdown of a 
Czech reactor (Dukovany), prompting Czech protests but 
affirming ordinary Austrians' fear that another Chernobyl 
is just a matter of time. 
 
11. (U) Unfortunately, Austrians do not connect the dots 
between their poor performance on greenhouse gas 
abatement (ref A) and their anti-nuclear stance which 
raises the bar further for climate-friendly energy. 
Occasional dissenters within Austria -- like former 
Finance Minister Hannes Androsch -- are dismissed as 
cranks.  We expect the GOA to continue maneuvering 
against nuclear energy in the EU, IEA, IAEA, and OECD -- 
and to reject any notion they are thereby doing harm to 
the climate or energy security.   END COMMENT. 
 
YAP