VZCZCXRO5240
RR RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHDIR RUEHKUK
DE RUEHKB #0554 1240658
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 040658Z MAY 07
FM AMEMBASSY BAKU
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 2957
INFO RUCNIRA/IRAN COLLECTIVE
RUEHVI/AMEMBASSY VIENNA 0233
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
RHEBAAA/DEPT OF ENERGY WASHDC
UNCLAS BAKU 000554
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR EB/ESC, NEA/IR AND EUR/CARC
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ENRG ETTC PREL EPET EINV AU IR AJ
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR UNDERSCORES IRAN SANCTIONS ACT CONCERNS
WITH VISITING AUSTRIAN AMBASSADOR
REF: A. STATE 53758
B. VIENNA 1068
1. (U) SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED; NOT FOR INTERNET
DISTRIBUTION.
2. (SBU) The Ambassador took the opportunity of a May 2
meeting with Austrian Ambassador to Azerbaijan Marius
Calligaris (resident in Ankara) to raise US concerns
regarding reports of any agreement between OMV and Iran to
develop Phase 12 of the South Pars gas field (ref a).
Calligaris noted that he had heard from OMV CEO
Ruttensdorfer, who told him the Ambassador had conveyed USG
concerns directly to him during his recent trip to Baku (ref
b). Calligaris confirmed that OMV had not signed a final
agreement with Iran and characterized the document as more
like a "letter of intent;" he also said the Mehr block oil
agreement was not a final agreement. Calligaris said the
Austrian government had heard USG concerns regarding Iran on
numerous occasions but noted that the Austrian government had
only a limited ability to influence OMV. While OMV is a
state-owned company, it "operates completely independently,"
Calligaris said.
DERSE