“Threats against Chancellor Kreisky are indeed being taken seriously”

Im Februar 2014 hat National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) 300.000 diplomatische Telegramme, die zwischen den US-Botschaften und dem US-Außenministerium versandt wurden, freigegeben. Es handelt sich dabei um Dokumente von 1977, dem ersten Jahr der Präsidentschaft Jimmy Carters. Unter anderem finden sich darunter auch Telegramme, die sich auf den österreichischen Bundeskanzler Bruno Kreisky und seine Nahostpolitik bzw. die Bedrohung durch den internationalen Terrorismus beziehen – anbei dazu eine Auswahl relevanter Dokumente, in denen eine Israel-Visite von Kreisky (1.), die diplomatische Aufwertung des PLO-Repräsentanten in Wien (2.), die Kontakte von Jassir Arafats „special envoy“ Issam Sartawi mit westdeutschen Politikern (3.) sowie eine Morddrohung gegen Kreisky berichtet werden. Von Interesse sind weiters Meldungen über Kontakte zwischen der westdeutschen Botschaft im Libanon mit der PLO (6.) sowie eine Übersicht über die Unterstützung des Terrorismus durch die Regime Irak, Libyen und Südjemen (5.)

1. CHANCELLOR BRUNO KREISKY'S ADDRESS TO THE ISRAEL LABOR PARTY CONGRESS, 25. 2. 1977

 “SUMMARY: KREISKY SAID HE DID NOT CARRY A SPECIFIC MESSAGE FROM THE PLO TO THE ISRAELIS. HE DID PRESENT A SUMMARY OF PLO VIEWS TO BRANDT AND RABIN. HE EMPHASIZED IN THIS TALKS WITH ISRAELIS THAT THE PALESTINIANS MUST BE GIVEN SOME RECOGNITION AND THAT IT IS NOT UP TO ISRAEL TO DEFINE A PALESTINIAN STATE. […] AUSTRIAN CHANCELLOR KREISKY TALKED OF HIS PERSONAL ATTITUDE TOWARD JUDAISM AND ZIONISM, STRESSING THAT ABOVE ALL HE "ADMIRED THE GREAT CONTRIBUTION TO CIVILIZATION WHICH YOU HAVE ACCOMPLISHED IN THIS PART OF THE WORLD BASED ON YOUR INSISTENCE ON THE RIGHTS OF YOUR PEOPLE, AFTER ALL THAT IT HAD A SECURE HOME OF ITS OWN ON THIS LAND." HE TALKED OF THE SPECIAL ROLE OF AUSTRIA IN FACILITATING THE PASSAGE OF HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF EMIGRANTS ACROSS EUROPE. HE DECLARED THAT THIS POLICY WOULD BE MAINTAINED AS A MATTER OF PRINCIPLE, REGARDLESS OF THE DISTORTED STATEMENTS WHICH HAVE APPEARED IN THE ISRAELI PRESS.

3. BRUNO KREISKY SAID FURTHER THAT HE HAD BEEN PERSUADED THAT PEACE WILL BRING ABOUT PROGRESS, PROSPERITY, AND SOCIAL REVOLUTION IN THE MIDDLE EAST, WHEREAS A WAR IN THE AREA WOULD PROBABLY SPREAD TO EUROPE. THEREFORE, ON BEHALF OF THE SOCIALIST INTERNATIONAL HE HAD UNDERTAKEN TO HEAD A COMMISSION OF INQUIRTY INTO THE QUESTION OF THE MIDDLE EAST.

4. "TODAY, AFTER A PROLONGED INQUIRTY OVER SEVERAL YEARS I, AS HEAD OF THE COMMISSION OF INQUIRTY, HAVE CONCLUDED THAT POSSIBILITIES FOR PEACE EXIST. WITH ONLY A FEW EXCEPTIONS, THE LEADERS OF THE ARAB WORLD WANT PEACE AND IT IS THE MORE REMARKABLE THAT THEY SO DESIRE IT, FULLY CONSCIOUS OF THEIR GREAT FINANCIAL POWER." […]

11. AN AUSTRIAN EMBASSY OFFICER HAS TOLD US THAT KREISKY DID NOT BRING A SPECIFIC MESSAGE FROM THE PLO. KREISKY EXPLAINED THAT HE HAD HAD A DISCUSSION WITH SARTAWI AND HAD ASKED HIM TO SUMMARIZE HIS VIEWS IN WRITING. AS HEAD OF THE SI COMMITTEE ON THE MIDDLE EAST, HE HAD PASSED THAT SUMMARY TO SI PRESIDENT BRANDT AND TO RABIN AS A VICE-PRESIDENT OF SI. KREISKY ALSO TOLD AUSTRIAN EMBASSY OFFICERS THAT HE FELT HE SHOULD SPEAK PLAINLY TO THE ISRAELIS ABOUT HOW EUROPEANS SEE THEIR STRUGGLE QITH THE ARABS.

12. COMMENT: ALTHOUGH KREISKY INSISTED THAT ISRAEL WOULD HAVE TO COME AROUND TO ACCEPTING AN INDEPENDENT PALESTINIAN STATE, HE WENT A LONG WAY TOWARD ASSUAGING ISRAELI RESENTMENT BY STRESSING HIS FRATERNAL SOLIDARITY WITH THE LABOR PARTY AND BY PRAISING THE ACHIEVEMENTS AND COURAGE OF THE ZIONIST PIONEERS IN ESTABLISHING THE STATE OF ISRAEL. WE BELIEVE HE WAS SUCCESSFUL IN THIS AND THAT HE LEFT ISRAEL FEBRUARY 23 WITH HIS RELATIONSHIP WITH THE ISRAELI LEADERSHIP BETTER THAN IT HAS BEEN FOR SOME TIME.”

http://aad.archives.gov/aad/createpdf?rid=27999&dt=2532&dl=1629

2. Subject: PLO OBSERVER AT UNIDO, OTHER ARAB ACTIVITY IN VIENNA, 7. 2. 1977

 “RECENT PRESS REPORT FROM DAMASCUS THAT PLO HAD NAMED GHAZA HUSSAIN AS PLO REPRESENTATIVE TO INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS IN VIENNA AND FROM CAIRO THAT UNION OF ARAB NEWS AGENCIES HAD GIVEN PRELIMINARY APPROVAL FOR JOINT OFFICE FOR ARAB NEWS AGENCIES IN VIENNA, COMBINED WITH MEETING OF PLO REPRESENTATIVE DR. ISAM SARTAWI WITH CHANCELLOR KREISKY ON JANUARY 27, HAS LET TO CONFUSED MEDIA SPECULATION ABOUT PLO AND OTHER ARAB ACTIVITIES IN VIENNA. […].”

http://aad.archives.gov/aad/createpdf?rid=29179&dt=2532&dl=1629

3. SUBJECT: SPD LEADERS MEET WITH PLO REPRESENTATIVE, 10. 11. 1977

 “THE SPD ANNOUNCED ON NOVEMBER 3 THAT PARTY CHAIRMAN BRANDT HAD MET THAT DAY WITH PLO REPRESENTATIVE DR. ISAM A. SARTAWI FOR A GENERAL DISCUSSION WHICH INCLUDED THE PRESENT SITUATION IN THE MIDDLE EAST. BRANDT WAS ACCOMPANIED BY SPD BUSINESS MANAGER EGON BAHR AND MINISTER OF STATE WISCHNEWSKI FROM THE FEDERAL CHANCELLOR'S OFFICE. THE SPD ANNOUNCEMENT STATES THAT WISCHNEWSKI ATTENDED THE MEETING IN HIS CAPACITY AS CHAIRMAN OF THE SPD EXECUTIVE BOARD'S COMMISSION FOR INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS. […]”

http://aad.archives.gov/aad/createpdf?rid=254782&dt=2532&dl=1629

4. SUBJECT: KREISKY ASSASSINATION THREATS, 11. 11. 1977

 “POLICE SOURCES IN BERLIN SAY THE THREATS AGAINST CHANCELLOR KREISKY ARE INDEED BEING TAKEN SERIOUSLY, THOUGH THEY DO NOT CONSIDER THEM AS EMANATING FROM RED ARMY FACTION. THEY ARE ASSESSED AS COMING FROM A PSYCOPATH. […].”

http://aad.archives.gov/aad/createpdf?rid=262389&dt=2532&dl=1629

5. SUBJECT: IRAQI, LIBYAN AND SOUTH YEMENI SUPPORT OF

TERRORISM, 10. 5. 1977

“[…] 5. QUOTE: IRAQ. THE GOVERNMENT OF IRAQ IS A MAJOR SUPPORTER OF REJECTIONIST PALESTINIAN ELEMENTS WHICH REPUDIATE A NEGOTIATED SETTLEMENT TO THE ARAB/ISRAEL DISPUTE. THE REJECTIONIST PALESTINIANS INCLUDE GROUPS WHICH USE TERRORISM AS A POLICY INSTRUMENT. BAGHDAD LENDS POLITICAL AND MORAL SUPPORT TO ALL REJECTIONIST GROUPS. TO WHAT DEGREE BAGHDAD PROVIDES FINANCIAL, MILITARY, LOGISTICAL OR TRAINING SUPPORT IS UNCLEAR, BUT IT APPEARS THAT A SUBSTANTIAL DEGREE OF SOME SUCH SUPPORT GOES TO ONE RENEGADE FATAH GROUP AND THE WADI HADDAD WING OF THE POPULAR FRONT FOR THE LIBERATION OF PALESTINE (PFLP), BOTH OF WHICH CARRY OUT INTERNATIONAL TERRORIST ACTIVITIES. END QUOTE.

6. QUOTE: LIBYA. ALTHOUGH THE LIBYAN GOVERNMENT CLAIMS THAT IT IS OPPOSED TO TERRORISTS IT HAS QUALIFIED THIS BY SAYING THAT "FREEDOM FIGHTERS" ARE NOT "TERRORISTS" AND HAVE THE RIGHT TO CARRY ON THEIR STRUGGLES "BY WHATEVER MEANS" THEY DEEM NECESSARY. THE LIBYAN GOVERNMENT, SINCE AT LEAST 1972, HAS ACTIVELY ASSISTED A NUMBER OF TERRORIST GROUPS AND INDIVIDUALS. THESE HAVE PRIMARILY BEEN MEMBERS OF THE SEVERAL "REJECTIONIST" FACTIONS OF THE PALESTINIAN MOVEMENT WHO HAVE BROKEN AWAY FROM MORE MODERATE PALESTINIAN LEADERS ON THE ISSUE OF THE LEGITIMACY OF POLITICALLY MOTIVATED VIOLENCE AS A MEANS OF CARRYING ON THE STRUGGLE AGAINST ISRAEL. IT IS A MATTER OF PUBLIC RECORD THAT LIBYA HAS RECEIVED AND GIVEN REFUGE TO INTERNATIONAL TERRORISTS INVOLVED IN A LONG HISTORY OF TERRORIST ACTS, INCLUDING:

-- THE PERPETRATORS OF THE OCTOBER 1972 MASSACRE AT THE MUNICH OLYMPICS;

-- THE HIJACKERS OF THE LUFTHANSA AIRCRAFT IN OCTOBER 1972;

-- THE HIJACKERS OF THE JAPANESE AIR LINE BOEING BLOWN UP IN JULY 1973;

-- THE TERRORISTS WHO ATTACKED THE TWA PLANE AT ATHENS AIRPORT IN AUGUST 1973;

-- THE TERRORISTS WHO ATTEMPTED TO SHOOT DOWN THE EL AL PLANE OUTSIDE OF ROME IN SEPTEMBER 1973;

-- THE TERRORISTS WHO COMMANDEERED A TRAIN IN CZECHOSLAVAKIA BOUND FOR AUSTRIA IN SEPTEMBER 1973;

-- THE HIJACKERS OF THE BOAC PLANE OVER DUBAI OF NOVEMBER 1974;

-- THE KIDNAPPERS OF CERTAIN OPEC OIL MINISTERS IN DECEMBER 1975. END QUOTE.

7. QUOTE. PEOPLE'S DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF YEMEN (ADEN). THERE IS SOME PUBLIC EVIDENCE THAT THE PEOPLE'S DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF YEMEN HAS ON OCCASION ALLOWED ITS TERRITORY TO BE USED AS A SANCTUARY FOR TERRORISTS. THE ABSENCE OF ANY U.S. REPRESENTATION IN SOUTH YEMEN AND THE GENERAL RESTRICTIONS PLACED ON THE MOVEMENTS AND CONTACTS OF FOREIGNERS THERE MAKE IT DIFFICULT FOR THE UNITED STATES TO VERIFY THE EXISTENCE AND EXTENT OF PDRY SUPPORT FOR TERRORISM. IN RECENT MONTHS THERE HAVE BEEN SOME TENTATIVE MOVEMENTS TOWARD IMPROVEMENT OF RELATIONS BETWEEN PDRY AND CERTAIN OF ITS MODERATE ARAB NEIGHBORS WHICH HAVE CONSISTENTLY REPUDIATED INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM. WE ARE NOT ABLE TO PREDICT WITH ANY CERTAINTY, HOWEVER, WHETHER THIS TREND

WILL HAVE A SIGNIFICANT EFFECT ON PDRY'S ATTITUDE TOWARD TERRORISM. […].”

http://aad.archives.gov/aad/createpdf?rid=122727&dt=2532&dl=1629

6. SUBJECT: FRG AND THE PLO, 13. 12. 1977

 “A FOREIGN OFFICE OFFICIAL INFORMS US THAT THE FRG EMBASSY IN BEIRUT, WHICH MAINTAINS LOW-LEVEL CONTACTS WITH THE PLO, WAS RECENTLY INSTRUCTED TO NOTIFY THE LATTER THAT BONN WAS CONCERNED ABOUT CONTACTS BETWEEN IT AND GERMAN TERRORISTS. THE EMBASSY TOLD THE PLO IT WAS AWARE THAT MEMBERS OF THE GERMAN "RED ARMY FACTION" HAD RECENTLY BEEN IN BEIRUT AND HAD BEEN IN TOUCH WITH PLO MEMBERS. (THE GERMAN TERRORISTS, NOT FURTHER IDENTIFIED BY OUR SOURCE, ARE NOW THOUGHT TO BE IN BAGHDAD). OUR SOURCE SAID THE CONTACTS HAD NOT BEEN LIMITED TO THE WADI HADDAD GROUP.

2. THE PLO HAD TACITLY ADMITTED THE CONTACTS, REPLYING THAT THEIRS WAS A LOOSELY STRUCTURED ORGANIZATION AND THE LEADERSHIP WAS NOT IN A POSITION TO REGULATE ALL ACTIVITIES. THE PLO HAD ALSO REITERATED ITS PROFESSED OPPOSITION TO TERRORISM.

3. OUR FOREIGN OFFICE SOURCE SAID THE FRG EMBASSY IN BAGHDAD MAINTAINED SIMILAR LOW-LEVEL CONTACTS WITH THE PLO AND THAT THESE WERE DESIGNED IN PART TO WARD OFF POSSIBLE ACTS OF TERRORISM AGAINST THE FRG. HE ADDED THAT THE NOVEMBER 3 MEETING IN BONN BETWEEN SPD LEADERS AND PLO REPRESENTATIVE SARTAWI (REFTEL) WAS INTER ALIA PART OF THIS EFFORT.”

http://aad.archives.gov/aad/createpdf?rid=290655&dt=2532&dl=1629