Question Time with the Minister of Foreign Affairs at the National Council
Vienna (PK) – Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine was the central theme of Question Time for Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg at the National Council, after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy addressed lawmakers in a video today ( see Parliamentary Correspondence No. 363/2023). Austria will continue to show solidarity with Ukraine, emphasized Schallenberg, who was also asked about human rights violations in Iran and the burden of the asylum system.
Supporting Ukraine as a pathway to peace talks
Support options for investigating war crimes were initially discussed by MPs Reinhold Lopatka (ÖVP), Dagmar Belakowitsch (FPÖ) and Agnes Sirkka Prammer (Greens). As one of 33 countries, Austria has actively campaigned for the establishment of a special tribunal at the International Criminal Court in relation to the Russian act of aggression, Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg said. According to him, the international arrest warrant for Vladimir Putin is a clear sign that no one – not even a head of state – is above the law.
Peace was never achieved with more weapons, confirmed SPÖ Foreign Minister Katharina Kucharowits, who expressed concern about an “arms spiral”. Facts would be settled at the table, not on the battlefield, so helping Ukraine is the best way to start peace talks, Schallenberg said. He called the deployment of nuclear weapons in Belarus announced by Russia to Nico Marchetti (ÖVP) as an unacceptable and irresponsible level of escalation.
Petra Steger (FPÖ) used Question Time to substantiate her group’s criticisms of the federal government’s position on the war against Ukraine. In her view, Austria’s neutrality is being trampled upon by allowing Zelenskyy’s video appearance in parliament. Only the FPÖ would defend Austria’s neutrality. She wanted to know how much Austria has supported Ukraine so far. According to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, 129 million euros of public funds entered the country, with no weapons being financed under the European Peace Facility, but only humanitarian support services. EU macro-financial aid to Ukraine is subject to control mechanisms and reporting obligations, Schallenberg responded to a question about the possible misuse of funds. On the issue of neutrality, Schallenberg replied that only one parliamentary group had not understood what Austria’s neutrality meant. This is about military neutrality, not sentimental neutrality, he said. Austria will continue to show solidarity with Ukraine.
Referring to humanitarian aid for the approximately 90,000 Ukrainians seeking protection in Austria, not only the federal government, but also the federal states, municipalities and the population can be proud of what has been achieved, Schallenberg told Martin Engelberg (ÖVP) . In addition to financial resources, he also mentioned the delivery of relief material. Also in 2023, solidarity will be addressed at all levels, he said.
China’s role in Russia’s war of aggression and the situation with Taiwan was raised by Michel Reimon (Greens). A conflict would have dire consequences, the foreign minister said. There is therefore a need for a dialogue with fair framework conditions that address human rights. With its “pro-Russian neutrality”, China has no interest in the continuation of the war and has a global responsibility, which must be dealt with systemically, Schallenberg said.
Other topics: human rights violations in Iran, Schengen and the burden of asylum seekers
Against the background of the war in Ukraine, one should not forget about other crises, Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg referred to the situation in Iran. To classify the Iranian Revolutionary Guards as a terrorist organization at the EU level would first require judgment by a court in an EU member state. Despite multiple sanctions packages, it is important to keep the pressure on and “show a clear advantage”, Schallenberg told Harald Troch (SPÖ), who also viewed the democracy movement in Iran with suspicion.
The foreign minister was asked by Helmut Brandstätter (NEOS) about his involvement in the Schengen veto against Bulgaria and Romania. The answer was that it didn’t happen overnight. As Austria has the biggest asylum burden within the EU, it was necessary to pull the emergency brake, he explained that the Schengen area is currently a “dysfunctional system”.
The issue of readmission agreements was also discussed in connection with the European asylum system. FPÖ MP Axel Kassegger spoke out in favor of appropriate measures for “illegal residents” with a negative asylum decision. Foreign Minister Schallenberg described the fact that seven out of ten people who did not obtain asylum status would remain in Austria as the “Achilles’ heel”. As readmission agreements with several countries would only work slowly, he advocated a holistic approach and was pleased that a slow rethink was taking place in the European Union. Robert Laimer (SPÖ) and Henrike Brandstötter (NEOS) asked about specific cooperation and were told that agreements already exist with India, Morocco and Mongolia, and that there should also be agreements with Armenia, Azerbaijan and Egypt in the future.
Relations between Serbia and Kosovo are currently keeping his department very busy, the minister told ÖVP head Andreas Minnich. Both sides would struggle with the implementation schedule. In his view, there is no alternative to the normalization of relations, but he was basically positive in view of the successful agreement on principles. Schallenberg supports the prospect of Kosovo joining the EU.
Hermann Gahr (ÖVP) discussed the measures taken by the new Italian government to restore South Tyrol’s autonomy. The clear stance of this was a positive surprise for Schallenberg. Conditions are good. (Continued from the National Council) supporter
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