US embassy cable - 05VIENNA2253

UNCLAS VIENNA 002253 
 
SIPDIS 
 
INFO EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
STATE FOR EUR/AGS, EUR/ERA, EUR/OHI 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KNAR, PHUM, PGOV, AU 
SUBJECT: MFA LEGAL ADVISER HANS WINKLER BECOMES AUSTRIA'S 
NEW STATE SECRETARY FOR EUROPEAN AFFAIRS 
 
 
THIS MESSAGE IS SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED - PLEASE 
PROTECT ACCORDINGLY.  NOT FOR INTERNET DISTRIBUTION. 
 
1.(SBU)  On July 4, Hans Winkler, heretofore the Austrian 
Foreign Ministry's Legal Advisor and number three 
official, became new State Secretary in the MFA. 
European Affairs will be the core portfolio for this new 
postition.  Winkler, who is not affiliated with any 
political party, is a top diplomat and will be a key 
asset for the GOA in carrying out the EU Presidency in 
the first half of 2006. 
 
2.(U)  Some opposition politicians criticized the 
appointment of an additional State Secretary.  The 
government of Wolfgang Schussel had resisted for years 
creating the position for fear of seeming to expand the 
government.  However, the opposition Greens welcomed 
Winkler's nomination as a necessary step for the EU 
Presidency.  Winkler stressed that he will not receive 
any additional staff, but will head over 100 MFA 
personnel in charge of preparing for and carrying out the 
EU Presidency.  With the creation of a State Secretary to 
handle EU affairs, the GOA follows the practice of 
several other EU countries.  During its last EU 
Presidency in 1998, Benita Ferrero-Waldner, who is now EU 
Commissioner, was Austria's State Secretary for European 
Affairs. 
 
3.(U)  The Foreign Ministry has not yet announced who 
will assume charge of the legal office.  Christian Ebner, 
Winkler's deputy, will move to Winkler's state 
secretariat.  However, Winkler and Ebner will remain 
 
SIPDIS 
engaged on Holocaust restitution issues. 
 
Bio 
--- 
4.(U)  60-year old Winkler was born in Vienna.  After 
obtaining a law degree from the University of Vienna, he 
attended the Diplomatic Academy and then, in 1970, joined 
the MFA.  His foreign assignments included West Berlin, 
Strassbourg, Belgrade, Cairo and Washington.  He served 
as Director (Assistant Secretary equivalent) of the 
Americas Desk in Vienna from 1996 to 1999.  He became 
Legal Adviser in 1999, and was key negotiatior in the 
Holocaust restitution negotiations in 2000 and 2001. 
Since 2002, he has also served as deputy MFA Secretary 
General effectively the third-ranking official in the 
MFA.  He is married to Christa Winkler.  They have a 
daughter. 
 
Comment 
------- 
5.(SBU)  The assignment of Winkler is an important step 
toward a successful Austrian EU Presidency in 2006. 
Winkler has been a key adviser to Chancellor Schuessel 
and Foreign Minister Plassnik.  He has been an excellent, 
cooperative and flexible interlocutor for the USG.  Both 
government and opposition parties value him highly as top 
diplomat and legal expert.  With his extroverted and 
warmhearted personality, Winkler is popular throughout 
the Austrian political class. 
BROWN