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RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHVI #0691/01 1610749
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 100749Z JUN 09
FM AMEMBASSY VIENNA
TO RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0302
RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 2706

C O N F I D E N T I A L VIENNA 000691 
 
SIPDIS 
 
FOR USUN AMB RICE FROM CDA VIENNA ORDWAY 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/08/2024 
TAGS: PREL OTRA RICE SUSAN AU
SUBJECT: SCENESETTER FOR VISIT OF AMB. RICE 
 
REF: VIENNA 690 
 
Classified By: CDA Amb. John Ordway.  Reason: 1.4(b) 
 
¶1. (U) Embassy Vienna looks forward to your visit, Amb. Rice, 
which will give us the opportunity to review significant UNSC 
issues with the Austrian government and to take a broad look 
at the bilateral relationship.  After a quick survey of 
Austria's political scene, this cable takes a closer look at 
Austria's foreign policy role and relationship with the 
United States, and then briefly explores the major UNSC and 
other issues on which we engage the Austrian Government. 
 
Austrian Political Scene 
------------------------ 
 
¶2. (U) Austria's six-month-old coalition of Social Democrats 
(SPO) and conservatives has thus far worked largely 
harmoniously to address the domestic impact of the global 
financial and economic crisis, the country's leading 
political challenge.  The country has responded to the crisis 
with robust financial and fiscal packages that have secured 
the stability of the financial system and cushioned the 
effects of still-rising unemployment.  The economy is not 
likely to recover until 2011, however, according to latest 
forecasts.  But the harmony of the coalition is now 
threatened by the poor electoral performance of the SPO in 
the June 7 EU parliamentary elections.  Some predict that the 
SPO will become a more difficult partner for the 
conservatives in order to win back voters attracted to the 
right-populist Freedom Party.  In addition to the economy, 
concerns about crime and the integration of Muslim immigrants 
into Austrian society -- both of which are tied in voters' 
minds to the EU -- are major political concerns. 
 
Austrian Foreign Policy 
----------------------- 
 
¶3. (C) Austria's engagement with the world is slipping and 
narrowing for many reasons.  Though Austrians -- because of 
the presence of many international organizations in Vienna, 
long-standing peacekeeping deployments, and (since January) 
membership in the Security Council -- think of the country as 
internationally active, in fact real interest in foreign 
policy among the public, media, and practicing politicians 
appears very low.  Austrian foreign policy engagement is 
narrowing to a few core national "interests": promoting 
commerce (which does encourage positive engagement in 
southeastern Europe and beyond, to include in exploiting 
Caspian energy resources); anti-nuclear and disarmament 
policies; labor and agricultural market protectionism 
(Austria is also a leading voice in the EU against 
agricultural GMO crops and products); and Balkan stability. 
Austria has been an EU member since 1995, but its population 
is among the most euro-skeptical and Austrians appear to have 
become increasingly isolationist in their own attitudes about 
engagement in international affairs, particularly if these 
have a military component. 
 
U.S.-Austrian Relations 
----------------------- 
 
¶4. (C) Although the scope for U.S.-Austrian partnership is 
limited, in many areas the relationship has been very 
positive.  Perhaps foremost among the success stories are our 
complementary approaches to the western Balkans, where 
Austria is engaged economically, culturally, politically, and 
militarily in ways that directly assist achieving U.S. goals. 
 Likewise, we both strongly support the development of a 
southern corridor to bring energy supplies to Europe from the 
Caucasus, Central Asia, and Middle East, with Austria 
prioritizing the Austrian-led Nabucco gas pipeline project. 
In other areas, we have mixed results.  Austria warmly 
welcomed President Obama's arms control proposals, but has a 
strong anti-nuclear stance which puts it at odds with the 
U.S. on development of nuclear energy.  Environmental policy 
cooperation holds great promise, but Austria continues to 
push for a binding agreement among developed nations even if 
major emerging economies refuse to accept binding limitations 
on their greenhouse gas emissions.  In other areas, Austria 
has been passive and at times actively unhelpful.  It has 
rejected, for example, any civilian or military deployments 
to Afghanistan (beyond the two officers now deployed to ISAF) 
and has actively fought to block European Commission actions 
that would increase access to Europe for U.S. agricultural 
products, esp. GMOs.  FonMin Spindelegger has recently 
proposed a Black Sea initiative that could complement, 
perhaps significantly, U.S. policy in that region (ref). 
 
UN Agenda 
--------- 
 
¶5. (C) Austrian officials have described the GoA's approach 
to its UNSC tenure as "thematic."  That is, Austria would 
seek to explore and develop certain themes in international 
affairs, with the aim of advancing normative standards in 
international law.  Key themes identified included the rule 
of law, human rights (with a focus on women), and (driving 
their organization of the conference you are attending), the 
responsibility to protect.  One MFA official described 
Austria as finding engaging in debate on "country-specific" 
issues divisive and unhelpful to the Council's work.  Amb. 
Mayr-Harting recognizes that Austria cannot shirk its role on 
such issues.  However, he will see Austria as representing 
the EU and seek to reflect the EU consensus in his 
interventions in the Council.  At the national level, 
Austria's position may be influenced by the strong commercial 
basis of Autrian diplomacy -- the country's considerable 
skepticism abou the use of sanctions reflects this aswell 
as political conviction. 
 
¶6. (C) The mostactive issue before the UNSC on which we have 
a istory of sustained engagement with the GoA has ben Iran, 
with an emphasis on sanctions policy.  Austria implements 
fully and vigorously UNSC sanctions.  However, it implements 
them according the letter of the law and has been unwilling 
to support any sanctions that go beyond what has been 
approved by the UNSC.  We cannot judge what position Austria 
would take were an extension of sanctions to come to the 
Council; esp. as the EU is itself divided on the issue, 
Austria's skeptical attitude toward sanctions could be 
important.  In the case of the DPRK, however, where Austria's 
commercial interests are minimal and the EU more united, we 
would expect complete Austrian solidarity with measures 
agreed by the P-5 2.  We would also be concerned about 
Austria's ability to provide concrete support for UNSC 
decisions, or for those of other UN agencies.  For example, 
the Defense Ministry, Justice Ministry, and Interior Ministry 
have all indicated that they do not have the resources (and 
do not see the national interest) to provide financial or 
manpower resources to new international missions.  At most, 
the MFA reports Austria will provide a symbolic contribution 
(under EUR one million) in response to UNHCR's appeal for 
financial support on behalf of Pakistani IDPs. 
 
Summary 
------- 
 
¶7. (C) Your meetings with President Fischer and Foreign 
Minister Spindelegger provide a venue to express our concern 
about the gap between Austria's self-proclaimed vision of 
itself in the world, and its increasingly limited 
performance.  We want to encourage Austria to work with the 
U.S. in the many areas where our interests coincide, and your 
visit offers a rare opportunity to make this case 
authoritatively and directly at the highest levels. 
ORDWAY