Also unanimous: Call for greater commitment to women in Afghanistan
Vienna (PK) – The National Council voted today with a large majority in favor of several foreign policy initiatives. Thus, he unanimously took the initiative and condemned the activities of the Russian Wagner Group. Austria, together with European partners, must therefore support further measures to ban the mercenary group’s activities, limit its political and financial scope of action and eliminate its presence around the world.
All parliamentary groups also voted in favor of a further foreign policy demand for the Federal Government to work towards improving the human rights situation in Afghanistan – especially for women.
Furthermore, all five parliamentary groups condemned Azerbaijan’s military actions, which caused a mass exodus of more than 100,000 ethnic Armenians from Nagorno-Karabakh. The request asks, among other things, the federal government to work at all levels towards de-escalation, the protection of minority rights and to allow humanitarian aid to the local civilian population.
Unanimously in favor of action against the activities of the Wagner Group
All parliamentary groups today approved a multi-party motion from the ÖVP, Greens, SPÖ and NEOS. In it, the parliamentary groups advocate working with European partners to support Austria’s moves to ban the activities of the Russian Wagner Group and take action against its activities. The mercenary group actively participated in the fighting in Ukraine and committed serious human rights violations against civilians, which should be classified as war crimes. Furthermore, according to UN reports, the paramilitary organization was also involved in the Moura massacre in Mali. Although private military companies are prohibited by Russian law, the Wagner Group is used as a Russian military instrument in Syria, Libya, the Central African Republic, Venezuela and Sudan, for example, with the intention of hiding its involvement and Russia’s responsibility. Accordingly, the government is also called upon by parliamentary groups to support international initiatives that work to take into account relevant international legal obligations and best practices for states in connection with the operations of private military and security companies during armed conflicts. The UN and the International Criminal Court must also be supported to prosecute serious crimes committed by private military and security companies around the world.
Everything must be done to prosecute the leaders, members and supporters of the Wagner Group, so that they do not escape justice, demanded Reinhold Lopatka (ÖVP). With the motion, Parliament sends a clear signal of zero tolerance towards this group. For months there were images of destruction and human suffering that should no longer exist in modern times, said Andreas Minnich (ÖVP). The Wagner Group causes this suffering on an unimaginable scale every day in many parts of the world. There is, therefore, only one position, namely that of condemning them as a terrorist organization.
It is natural for the FPÖ to condemn terrorists, acts of terrorism and mercenary troops, said Susanne Fürst (FPÖ). However, Fürst criticized the EU’s support for Palestine, where “billions of taxpayers’ money” were sent, much of which was diverted from Hamas. Fürst also criticized the EU’s military support for Ukraine, saying the weapons also killed innocent people.
Christoph Matznetter (SPÖ) lamented that atrocities were increasing instead of decreasing across the world. Mercenary force is the worst form of violent repression. Mercenary troops must therefore be avoided entirely.
There are numerous other sources of fires around the world and care must be taken to ensure that these do not lead to forest fires, said Ewa Ernst-Dziedzic (Greens). All terrorist groups would be “happy” if international law was thrown overboard, humanitarian aid was halted, and civilians were treated differently based on skin color, religion, or origin. This is adding fuel to the fire.
David Stögmüller (Greens) also said that there are “many” dangerous trouble spots in the world that could become “barrel bombs” and explode at any time. Even though all eyes are currently on the terrorist organization Hamas, Putin’s war of aggression against Ukraine must not be forgotten. The Wagner group is still there and is responsible for war crimes. This destabilizes, kidnaps and tortures – this is terror, says Stögmüller.
The Wagner Group is not a mercenary group, but a terrorist group, emphasized Helmut Brandstätter (NEOS), referring to its “bestial” actions. Therefore, it is important to do everything possible to ensure that its members are prosecuted.
Greater commitment to women in Afghanistan
All parliamentary groups agreed on another initiative. It is committed to ensuring that the rule of law, human rights, fundamental rights and freedoms, as well as opportunities for a self-determined life, especially for women and girls in Afghanistan, are fully respected and guaranteed. Furthermore, Vienna should work in international committees for the release of people who have become political prisoners due to their commitment to human and women’s rights. According to parliamentary groups, the EU should also take a more active role with regard to Afghanistan. The initiative by the ÖVP, the Greens, the SPÖ and NEOS is based on a demand from the SPÖ, in which, referring to violent attacks against women, they also advocated that Austria follow the example of Sweden, Denmark and Finland for particularly vulnerable people in Afghanistan must provide protection to women.
The worst thing that can happen to a girl is to be born in Afghanistan, said Reinhold Lopatka (ÖVP), referring to the “terrible” situation of women in that country. Given the situation there, it is not easy to find the right way to deal with such a regime, Lopatka appealed to the UN to support his efforts to get the Taliban to relent.
Petra Bayr (SPÖ) said that the human rights violations committed by the Taliban against women were serious and systematic and therefore a crime against humanity. Many women would run away because of this situation. Many countries recognized the size and would recognize them as refugees, but in Austria there is no such option, criticized Bayr. There needs to be a debate on how a dialogue with Afghanistan can be conducted – without recognizing that country’s government – so that human rights are respected. Conditions in Afghanistan are hard to believe, said Selma Yildirim (SPÖ) and called on the federal government to work to improve things.
A trip by former FPÖ politicians to Afghanistan and their promise to work for the recognition of the local government caused massive criticism from Ewa Ernst-Dziedzic (Greens).
Women’s rights “simply” no longer exist in Afghanistan, said Henrike Brandstötter (NEOS). In development cooperation, it is important to discuss where and under what circumstances Austria provides aid, Brandstötter called for an appropriate catalog of criteria.
Quadripartite motion condemns Azerbaijani military action in Nagorno-Karabakh
In an initiative presented jointly by the ÖVP, SPÖ, Greens and NEOS, which was unanimously approved, the parliamentary groups condemn Azerbaijan’s military actions. This caused a mass exodus of more than 100,000 ethnic Armenians from the Nagorno-Karabakh region. The Federal Government, especially the Minister of Foreign Affairs, must continue to represent this position in all international committees and in bilateral discussions and in working towards de-escalation and resumption of dialogue between Azerbaijan and Armenia. Furthermore, it must be ensured that the population remaining in Nagorno-Karabakh has unrestricted access to vital assets in the long term and that minority rights and cultural assets are protected. For urgently needed humanitarian assistance, international humanitarian organizations also require unrestricted access to Nagorno-Karabakh. In order to further stabilize the refugee situation, Armenia, as a priority country for Austrian development cooperation, should continue to receive the necessary funds, according to the application. The basis for the initiative was also a four-party motion presented before the mass exodus of Armenians and approved together with the resolution.
History constantly teaches, but finds no students. Hans Stefan Hintner (ÖVP) quoted Ingeborg Bachmann and explained the story of the Armenian “suffers”.
The situation in Nagorno-Karabakh is oppressive, said Harald Troch (SPÖ). A 3,000-year-old culture is being exterminated and demolished. Solidarity is needed here. The world is facing a large number of humanitarian crises, said Robert Laimer (SPÖ). This requires a coordinated approach and neutral states would play an important role as bridge builders and mediators. Laimer called for a “more committed foreign policy” in Austria. Society should not get used to the madness that happens every day, Melanie Erasim (SPÖ) defended unity for peace and respect for human rights.
The international community has failed in Nagorno-Karabakh since the collapse of the Soviet Union and should have done more for this, emphasized Dagmar Belakowitsch (FPÖ). Even though the current ethnic cleansing the international community only watched, Belakowitsch warned that Azerbaijan should be condemned.
The expulsion of Armenians from their historic homeland must not go unpunished, said Ewa Ernst-Dziedzic (Greens). This is a flagrant violation of international law. An international mechanism should be created in Nagorno-Karabakh to monitor the situation and ensure the safe and dignified return of Armenians to their homeland. It is important to ensure that such ethnic cleansing does not occur in southern Armenia.
Putin withdrew protection from Armenia. Overall, Helmut Brandstätter (NEOS) said he wanted to work together with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and dictatorships against the liberal legal system and democracies and called for greater commitment to this region in terms of human rights. (Continued by the National Council) pst
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