US embassy cable - 05VIENNA494

UNCLAS VIENNA 000494 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR CA/VO/F/P - LOPES DA ROSA AND EUR/AGS AND EUR/PGI 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: CMGT, PREL, AU 
SUBJECT: AUSTRIAN RESPONSE: VWP - UPDATE ON 10/26/05 
DEADLINE AND REQUEST FOR INFORMATION 
 
REF: A. STATE 23029; B. BRADTKE EMAIL OF 1/14/05 
 
1. THE ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS POSED IN REFTEL A, PARA 7, HAVE 
BEEN PROVIDED BY THE AUSTRIAN INTERIOR MINISTRY'S LEGAL 
DEPARMTENT. (FYI, THEIR PASSPORT OFFICE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR 
ALL LEGAL AND TECHNICAL ISSUES RELATING TO THE DECENTRALIZED 
NATIONAL PASSPORT PRODUCTION.) 
 
--  NAME OF THE PROJECT MANAGER:  WALTER GROSINGER AND 
HEINRICH PAWLICEK, OFFICE FOR SECURITY ADMINISTRATION WITHIN 
THE MINISTRY OF INTERIOR'S LEGAL DEPARTMENT. 
 
-- TIMELINE FOR PILOT TESTING:  AUGUST AND SEPTEMBER 2005 
 
-- ANTICIPATED DATE FOR FULL PRODUCTION:  OCTOBER 25, 2005 
 
-- STATUS OF PROCUREMENT EFFORTS AND/OR LEGISLATIVE CHANGES: 
BIOMETRIC PASSPORT PRODUCTION WILL NECESSITATE MAJOR CHANGES 
TO THE NATIONAL PASSPORT ACT.  THE DRAFT BILL WILL BE READY 
FOR REVIEW AND COMMENT IN MARCH 2005, BEFORE BEING SUBMITTED 
TO PARLIAMENT. 
 
-- ANTICIPATED PROBLEMS IN ROLLING OUT THE PROGRAM:  THE GOA 
ANTICIPATES MAJOR POLITICAL OPPOSITION TO THE PASSPORT 
AMENDMENT, WHICH COULD LEAD TO SOME DELAYS, ALTHOUGH 
ULTIMATELY AUSTRIA WILL HAVE TO COMPLY WITH EU REQUIREMENTS. 
IN ADDITION, PRODUCTION AND/OR DELIVERY OF THE CHIPS AND THE 
READERS BY THE COMMERCIAL SUPPLIERS MAY NOT OCCUR BY THE 
APPROPRIATE DEADLINE. 
 
BROWN