VZCZCXRO0652
RR RUEHAG RUEHDF RUEHIK RUEHLZ RUEHROV
DE RUEHVI #1018 2000943
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 180943Z JUL 08
FM AMEMBASSY VIENNA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0574
INFO RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE
UNCLAS VIENNA 001018
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/ERA
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV EUN IR SO CD ZI AU
SUBJECT: AUSTRIAN VIEWS ON THE JULY 22-23 GAERC
REF: STATE 75702
(SBU) Polchief discussed reftel points July 16 with Klaus
Famira, MFA European Correspondent. Famira offered the
following information on the GAERC agenda items:
-- Iran Sanctions: Famira said participants at the GAERC will
discuss a set of proposed, tougher sanctions on Iran, but he
did not expect them to reach agreement on the measures
because member states remain divided. He acknowledged that
Austria is among a minority of member states resisting the
measures. But he averred that as long as there was no
consensus, the GOA was not under pressure to change its
position. (Note: Septel will report on subsequent exchange on
Iran between U/S Burns and Austrian State Secretary Winkler.
End Note).
-- Somalia: FMs will discuss how the EU can implement UNSC
sanctions. They will also discuss how to promote stability
in the country.
-- Chad: The EU mission in Chad is scheduled to end March 15.
GAERC participants will discuss the current mission and the
need to begin preparing for a transition to a follow-on UN
mission.
-- Zimbabwe: Representatives will approve additions to
existing EU sanctions that will expand the freezing of assets
and add to the list of individuals under travel bans. Travel
bans will be expanded to prohibit travel for participation in
meetings with EU bodies.
-- Middle East: Special Envoy Blair will brief ministers on
the situation in the West Bank and Gaza.
-- Western Balkans: The GOA will brief participants on a
program that provides student visas to about 200 Serbs a year
for study in Austrian universities.
-- Transatlantic Relations: There will be a discussion of
transatlantic relations based on an article jointly written
by the French, Spanish, and Portuguese FMs and published June
14 in Le Monde.
Girard-diCarlo