2024-03-15 17:25:00
Already when approaching this Federal Chancellery It became clear that it was not a day like any other in the official center of power of the Republic. Dozens of police officers and bodyguards, both in uniform and in civilian clothes, had a protest in Vienna on Friday Ballhausplatz took a stand – as well as three Climate protection activists of the “last generation”who somehow made it right to the entrance to the Chancellery.
The media room inside was also good, although not full to capacity, as Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg (ÖVP) at 3:45 p.m. half an hour late and its US counterpart Antony Blinken arrived.
During the press conference, “Dear Tony” and his “friend Alexander” repeatedly assured each other of their support. There was always talk of a strong partnership or a long friendship, not only between the two ministers, but between the two countries.
Thanks for Austria’s leadership role in the Balkans
The two of them worked on the content Western Balkans on the near East up to the Ukraine through the geopolitical hotspots in and around Europe. Regarding the Balkans and those recently recommended by the EU Commission Accession talks with Bosnia-Herzegovina Blinken thanked Schallenberg for his “long-term leadership” in the region. Not least thanks to Austria, the Western Balkans are developing towards prosperity and Western Europe.
US Secretary of State Blinken visits Nehammer
Also regarding the War in Gaza no sheet of paper fit between the two. Israel’s right to respond to Hamas’ terrorist attack on October 7th is not in question, but: “Human rights apply to everyone, everywhere,” was Schallenberg’s message.
Blinken added: Regarding those announced by Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu Offensive on Rafah In the south of the Gaza Strip there is a need for a “clear and implementable” plan to protect the area 1.3 million internally displaced people in the city. So far, no such plan has been seen.
No criticism of the Austrian connection to Russia
A potential cause for discord between the USA and Austria is, in addition to… RBI’s Eastern European businesswhich came into the US sights, also Ukraine – or the fact that, in contrast to other EU states, Austria still has a large part of its gas from Russia relates.
But here too: no trace of criticism from Blinken. Europe is currently reducing energy dependence on Russia at a rate “that no one could have imagined,” he said. Given the fact that this dependency has been built up over decades, it is of course not easy to change that in a second.
But: “We see many important steps that Austria is taking.” Schallenberg again reiterated the goal of no longer purchasing gas from Russia by 2027.
End of the fossil age emphasized
The world has to anyway Moving away from fossil fuels accelerate, said Blinken – a message that the “last generation” on the doorstep would have welcomed, at least in principle. But their representatives had already left when Joe Biden’s chief diplomat went to the other side of Ballhausplatz after the end of the press conference Presidential Office for a final visit Alexander Van der Bellen gifted.
Instead, a group of demonstrators had gathered against the Israeli military operation in Gaza and its – albeit significantly weakened – support from the USA.
Blinken has already been with Chancellor before Karl Nehammer (ÖVP) met. In a broadcast that was subsequently distributed, he was pleased that the reason for Blinken’s visit, his participation in the UN Narcotic Drugs Conference, “expresses the focus on the issue of security, the fight against smugglers and crime, among other things in connection with synthetic drugs.”
(kurier.at, pan)
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15.03.2024, 18:25
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