Cablegate: Iraq: Austrian Statement Supporting

This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

UNCLAS VIENNA 003488

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

STATE FOR EUR/AGS - VIKMANIS-KELLER

E.O. 12958: N/A

TAGS: KDEM KPAO PREL PGOV IZ AU
SUBJECT: IRAQ: AUSTRIAN STATEMENT SUPPORTING

CONSTITUTIONAL REFERENDUM

REF: A. (A) STATE 199224

B. (B) STATE 198365

This message is SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED. Please treat

accordingly.

1. (U) EconPolCouns and visiting EUR/ERA Director Chase

discussed reftel points on October 28 with Austrian MFA

Political Director Thomas Mayr-Harting and with Austrian MFA

Middle East Director Ralph Scheide.

2. (SBU) Austrian Foreign Minister Ursula Plassnik issued a

statement noting that the referedum "opens the next important

chapter in the democratization process of Iraq." She called

for all of Iraq's groups to show dialogue and a readiness to

engage in the process of building democracy.

3. (SBU) Mayr-Harting, who had just returned from a visit to

Baghdad as part of the EU troika, noted the continuing

challenges Iraqis faced in implementing the constitution. He

expressed Austria's readiness to help in the planned review

of the constitution by offering experts in running a federal

state. In general, Austria was ready to be helpful in areas

in which it could offer expertise.

van Voorst

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