The fact that this happened was “remarkable and incredibly important,” Tanner told the APA on Wednesday before an informal meeting with her EU counterparts in Brest, France. For the EU in particular, it is “essential that a transparent dialogue” be conducted with Moscow.
“Every exchange that takes place in these days and hours” must be supported by a “disarmament of words and deeds” on both sides, Tanner reiterated her demand. So that one can get away from the “reciprocal rocking”. Russia must be aware, however, that the EU would definitely react with economic sanctions if it invaded Ukraine.
Tanner also emphasized Austria’s commitment to a special observation mission of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) in Ukraine. Representatives of the armed forces would, among other things, help with the observation and documentation of the agreed ceasefire in the security zone, explained the defense minister. There is also training for OSCE missions at the Götzendorf / Leitha base abroad. As with all missions, Austria’s participation in a possible EU mission in Ukraine would first have to be examined “intensively”.
SPÖ calls for “active peace policy”
The SPÖ demanded active participation from Austria. “The best defense policy for a small, neutral country is an active peace policy,” said SPÖ defense spokesman Robert Laimer, according to a broadcast. “Tanner boasts of Austria’s involvement in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, but sends only one representative to the OSCE mission to Ukraine. That is dishonest and unworthy of a traditional peace negotiator like Austria.”
Mali is also on the agenda of the EU defense ministers on Wednesday evening. The Armed Forces are in action in the West African crisis country with two soldiers as part of the UN peacekeeping mission MINUSMA and, when they are 70, in the EU training mission EUTM, whose command Austria took over shortly before Christmas.
The situation on site is “very complex,” said Tanner to the APA. It was found that the Russian mercenary company Wagner “does not have the same interests” as the EU. In any case, there had been agreements between Wagner and the military transitional government, said the Defense Minister. According to the French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian, Wagner is not on the fight against terrorism in Mali, but on strengthening the current rulers.
At the moment, however, Tanner does not see a termination of the mission due to the security situation. Especially with the upcoming elections, which have been postponed several times, it is important that “we as the European Union remain on the ground,” she added. “Who else would fill this vacuum? That would be different then.” Mali, with around 20 million inhabitants, has seen three military coups since 2012 and is considered politically extremely unstable.
At the so-called Jumbo Council on Thursday together with the EU foreign ministers, including head of department Alexander Schallenberg (ÖVP), the strategic compass will also be discussed. It is a kind of security and defense doctrine for the EU. This also includes the establishment of an EU rapid military reaction force, which is to consist of up to 5,000 soldiers. It is important for Austria that “the Western Balkans are assigned a special role” in the documents, Tanner stated. Things are already going in “the right direction”. Tanner expects an agreement on the Strategic Compass in the next few months.
Source: Nachrichten
