At its meeting today, the Austrian Government discussed mainly EU matters and the preparation for the forthcoming EU Summit in Brussels. In the run-up to the European Council, Federal Chancellor Wolfgang Schüssel will take part in the European Business Summit in Brussels next Thursday. The Europe Forum in Lech this weekend will also be an opportunity for informal coordination. Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso, the President of the European Parliament, Josep Borrell, and two heads of government will be attending the Forum.
At the press session, the Chancellor also commented on the dispute concerning Iran’s nuclear research. He stressed the international harmony on this issue. Schüssel: "We do not want research activities of this kind to take place in Iran. The step from there to the development of nuclear weapons would be very small. Confidence is lacking in this respect. We want to enable Iran to use nuclear energy for peaceful purposes. We want enrichment to take place in Russia, and at the same time we want a voluntary renunciation of all research activities that can lead to the development of nuclear weapons. On this issue there is a clear, common position. The USA, Russia, China and Europe are in agreement on this."
The Chancellor also announced the visits by the Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and the President of the Palestinian Authority, Mahmoud Abbas, next week in Vienna.
Contact:
Verena Nowotny
Spokesperson for the Federal Chancellor
Tel.: (01) 531 15 / 2922
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