PRESS CONFERENCE BY FOREIGN MINISTER OF AUSTRIA

Press Briefing

PRESS CONFERENCE BY FOREIGN MINISTER OF AUSTRIA

The lifting of the European Union sanctions on Austria was a victory for reason and for Europe, Benita Ferrero-Waldner, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Austria, told correspondents at a Headquarters press conference this afternoon.

"I am of course absolutely satisfied and relieved that I can announce -- here in New York at least, before the press -- that the sanctions of the European Union Fourteen against my country, Austria, have just been lifted two hours ago", Dr. Ferrero-Waldner said. Reactions of the Austrian Federal Chancellor and Vice-Chancellor had just been broadcast in Austria itself, she said. She hoped that the action would be a basis for normalization of Austria's relations with its 14 European Union partners, and lead to a full resumption of Austria's formal and informal work within the European Union. She stressed the importance of the work that lay immediately ahead: the intergovernmental conference, and the reform of the institutions of the European Union, which she viewed as a precondition for enlargement of the Union's membership.

She was also pleased with the vindication represented by the lifting of sanctions and the report that preceded it. The objective report, she said, "confirmed that the Austrian Government is committed to all the European values". And she thanked Secretary-General Kofi Annan and "the overwhelming majority of Member States" for believing in and standing by Austria through very difficult times

Correspondents asked whether the lifting of sanctions could be seen as a victory for Jörg Haider of the Freedom Party, and whether the international community should monitor Austria out of concern. Dr. Ferrero-Waldner cited the European Union's report in responding that democracy in Austria had been working well and that the Freedom Party, in its role within the Government, "has worked well and has not done anything against European values". On the other hand, she said, "Everybody can of course come and look at what is there in Austria".

A correspondent asked what effect Dr. Ferrero-Waldner thought the sanctions had, and whether she thought they were lifted because of Austria's merits or fear of Danish voters. "The reality in Austria", she replied, again citing the European Union report, "was the same before and after." Therefore she felt that the sanctions had had no effect, except upon the Austrian population, who felt they were being treated unfairly since the minimum principles of international law had not been respected. The side of the accused, she said, was never allowed to be heard. The Danish vote possibly accelerated the lifting of sanctions, but the most important factor was the rapid, objective work done on the report by the group that has been dubbed the "three wise men".

Asked what was the most disappointing feature of the whole debate about Austria, Dr. Ferrero-Waldner cited the lack of response to Austria's appeals. "When I first talked to the Fourteen in February in Brussels, and nobody except the then Portuguese presidency answered, you can imagine that this was very hard." The most difficult moment for her personally, she said, was going

Austria Press Conference - 2 - 12 September 2000

uninvited to the European Union Institute on Racism in Vienna. In response to another correspondent, she expressed disapproval of a sanctions procedure not based on rules. Austria, she said, had already tabled a proposal to improve the procedure. "We are all countries of the rule of law; so we find that the European Union must be based on the rule of law."

Other correspondents asked about the prospects of improved relations with various countries. She said that better relations with the United States -- whether or not strained by the praise of former Secretary-General Kurt Waldheim by the Austrian President during the Millennium Summit -- would have to wait until after America’s November elections. With the Czech Republic, constructive dialogue on controversial issues was expected soon. Within the European Union, Dr. Ferrero-Waldner said, there had not yet been time to schedule any bilateral talks, though this would be one of her first priorities. The most important issue between Austria and the rest of Europe was confidence building. "I'm sure that in the next months, this confidence will be re-established -- at least my outstretched hand is there."

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