2023-10-04 14:14:46
Wide range of topics in current discussions in the Foreign Policy Committee of the National Council
Vienna (PK) – Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg does not expect that a political change in the USA would have a major impact on Ukraine’s support in the war once morest Russia. There is a “much broader intersection” between the various actors in the USA in Russia and Ukraine policy than is generally assumed, he said today at a debate on current issues in the Foreign Policy Committee of the National Council. Even the most recent budget dispute did not lead to a “total failure” of aid. He sees no end to the war in sight. A second hard winter of war is imminent, especially since Russia is once more specifically attacking energy supply infrastructure.
Schallenberg believes it is “indispensable” that elections be held in Ukraine despite the war. If the date is postponed, there needs to be a clear date for the vote, he emphasized. The minister reported that he had also clearly addressed the issue of fighting corruption in Kiev and that there should be “no blind spots” here. Although some steps have already been taken, individual measures are not enough. The topic also has great resonance among the Ukrainian population.
Regarding Ukraine’s EU accession prospects, Schallenberg noted that alternatives to full accession should generally be considered for candidate countries. Instead of waiting until the countries meet all the requirements for joining the EU, one might work together on certain issues in the form of “gradual enlargement” and integrate the candidate countries into the common security policy.
In this context, the minister once once more referred to the need to place a special focus on the Western Balkans. The EU should not only look to the east, but also to the southeast, he warned. One should not give the impression that some EU accession candidates are in the fast lane and others are on the hard shoulder. If the EU fails to stabilize the situation in the Western Balkans and “export” the European value model and economic system, it runs the risk of “importing uncertainty.” Especially since Europe is in a “systemic competition” with Russia and China.
Schallenberg sees the recent escalation in northern Kosovo as an incentive to seek a European solution. The EU did not fail in Kosovo, it was regarding drilling hard boards, he said. Serbia is called upon to investigate the “heinous attack”. Regardless of this, both sides would have to move to continue the dialogue. Kosovo also has obligations that it has not fulfilled.
“Pulverfass” Bergkarabach
As far as the situation in Nagorno-Karabakh is concerned, Schallenberg promised additional financial aid for Armenia via the Austrian Development Agency (ADA). Armenia, which is an EZA priority country, faces enormous challenges given the large number of refugees and is in danger of sliding into a humanitarian crisis, he warned. It is “a powder keg with an extremely short fuse.” Although observers in Nagorno-Karabakh found no signs of attacks on Armenians or targeted destruction, the minister reported, people still fled out of fear. Schallenberg sees little chance for a UN or OSCE mission on site, but he wants to hold Azerbaijan “responsible” when it comes to protecting the population still on site and protecting churches and monasteries.
According to the Foreign Minister, the establishment of an Austrian embassy in Armenia, as requested by NEOS MP Helmut Brandstätter, is not currently under discussion. This would be desirable, but it is a question of financing and personnel. His current focus is on Africa and the Middle East.
New Austrian embassy in Iraq
In this context, Schallenberg described the opening of the embassy in Iraq as a “very nice act”. It is necessary for Austria to forge strong partnerships in a timely manner. Iraq has enormous interest in investments from Austria, he informed. But that only goes hand in hand with cooperation on security policy and cooperation on migration issues. In this sense, an agreement has already been concluded on the repatriation of Iraqi citizens without the right to remain in Austria. According to Schallenberg, further repatriation agreements are also “in the pipeline”, for example with Egypt.
During the debate, Schallenberg once once more pointed out the need for the EU to learn “a new language” when dealing with African states. Mutual respect is needed. Otherwise there is a risk that these states will be driven even further into the hands of China and Russia. In the Sahel zone we are currently witnessing a “slope slide”. The minister also believes it is necessary to give greater consideration to the countries of the global south in the discussed reform of the UN Security Council.
Austria continues to view the Mercosur agreement critically
When asked by several MPs regarding the Mercosur agreement, Schallenberg emphasized that Austria still rejects the agreement in its current form, which he described as an “old-school mass agreement”. In his opinion, it would make more sense to make agreements on individual issues instead of such “mass contracts”, which would also make it easier to reach an agreement. According to him, dividing the agreement into a trade agreement and “a remainder”, as was the case with the CETA agreement, is currently not an issue at EU level.
The minister described current relations with Iran as “enormously frustrating”. This is on a clear confrontation course with Austria. Several packages of sanctions have been imposed, but Austria’s power is limited.
As far as Taiwan is concerned, Schallenberg spoke out once morest departing from the existing “One China policy.” There are still dialogue channels in Belarus where detention cases are also addressed. In the case of the ORF correspondent in Ukraine, Christian Wehrschütz, there was no political intervention from either the Ukrainian or the Austrian side. In connection with the judicial reform in Israel, it is important to “show red lines,” although he has great confidence in his “Israeli friends.”
FPÖ criticizes foreign ministers’ meeting in Kiev
On the part of the MPs, Reinhold Lopatka (ÖVP) emphasized that following the events in Nagorno-Karabakh they might not return to the agenda and that measures had to be taken to protect the Armenians remaining in the region and the cultural assets. In the opinion of Christoph Matznetter (SPÖ), a model is also needed for the region to enable people who have already fled to return. It is “really heartbreaking” that people have to leave the villages where they or their ancestors have lived for centuries, he said.
Petra Bayr (SPÖ) stated in connection with the Mercosur Treaty, which in her opinion was on the verge of failure, that one had to ensure that Latin America did not become a blind spot for Europe. She also pushed for dealing with the global south on an equal footing.
MEPs assessed the special meeting of EU foreign ministers in Kiev differently. While FPÖ MP Petra Steger viewed it as “madness” to hold such a meeting in a “belligerent country” and accused Schallenberg of “continuing to trample on Austrian neutrality”, Green MP Ewa Ernst-Dziedzic spoke of one “important characters”. The EU has a responsibility to show that international law is being “trampled” by Russia in Ukraine. Ernst-Dziedzic also brought up the repression in Iran and Belarus.
NEOS MP Henrike Brandstötter addressed, among other things, the repatriation of children of Austrian “terrorist fighters” in Syria. Christian Hafenecker (FPÖ) criticized various staff appointments in the Foreign Ministry. (Continuation of the Foreign Policy Committee) gs
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