Of . – 04/06/2022 10:51 (act 04/06/2022 15:35)
Important visitor from Ireland in Vienna: Michael D. Higgins meets Alexander Van der Bellen. ©AP (image of symbol)
Irish President Michael D. Higgins is in Vienna from Tuesday to Friday. On Wednesday, he will meet Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen in the Hofburg, with whom he has something in common when it comes to dogs.
According to the Irish Presidential Chancellery, “the invasion and humanitarian crisis in Ukraine and its consequences for the future of Europe, multilateralism and neutrality” will take up a lot of space at its working meeting. Like Austria, Ireland is a member of the EU but not of NATO.
Van der Bellen meets Irish President Higgins in Vienna
As in other neutral or non-aligned countries in Europe, Russia’s war of aggression in Ukraine has sparked a debate in Ireland over its own foreign and security policy status. Similar to the government of Austria, Ireland was said to be militarily, as a member of the EU, but not politically neutral. Prime Minister Micheál Martin underlined that, in this regard, he is committed to law-based approaches to solving international problems; Ireland supports Ukraine and its territorial integrity, Martin said.
Irish President Higgins: ‘Russia must withdraw troops’
Commenting on the start of the war, President Higgins said: “As we return to the terror of war … and the blatant violation of UN principles, a strong sense of darkness has gripped the world at the unfolding tragedy in Ukraine. (…) The violence must stop. (…) Russia must withdraw its troops. The resurgence of this imperialism and militarism must end.”
Byrne on Higgins’ visit to Vienna
President Higgins will be accompanied on his visit to Austria by Minister for Europe Thomas Byrne. Both meet on Wednesday, among others, Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg (ÖVP). Higgins also wants to exchange views with the Vienna-based Secretary General of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), Helga Schmid. Tomorrow, Thursday, the 80-year-old state guest, sociologist and poet, will address the role of culture for Europe’s future in a lecture at the University of Vienna.
Dogs: Higgins and Van der Bellen have in common
Higgins became Ireland’s first directly elected president in 2011, and in 2018 the Labor Party veteran, who was born into a humble family, was re-elected with over 55%. The office of President in Ireland is primarily representative in nature. Higgins returned a visit to Van der Bellen that his predecessor Heinz Fischer paid him in Dublin in 2014. Privately, Higgins and Van der Bellen share a love of dogs: Higgins owns two Bernese Mountain Dogs, Van der Bellen has a mixed race.