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Austrian Support for Moldova: Foreign Minister Schallenberg Participates in Donor Conference in Berlin

On 5th April 2022, Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg took part in an international donor conference in Berlin that was organised by Germany, France and Romania for the Republic of Moldova. The goal of the conference was to mobilise international assistance for Moldova, which has been particularly hit hard by the humanitarian effects of the Russian war of aggression on Ukraine. The focus was on providing financial support, helping to relocate displaced persons and securing the country’s energy supply.

This conference sends a strong signal of solidarity with Moldova. Moldova deserves our greatest respect for its clear stance against Russian aggression, and it rightfully expects support from the West. That is why I was in Chisinau last Friday together with my Slavkov colleagues to assure our partners of Austria’s solidarity and to provide assistance on the ground,

underlined Foreign Minister Schallenberg the Austrian support for Moldova.

Moldova, which has been a priority country for the Austrian development cooperation since 2004, has taken in nearly 100,000 displaced persons from Ukraine since the start of the Russian aggression. In order to deal with this humanitarian challenge, Austria was the first EU member state to establish an airlift to pick up displaced Ukrainians from Moldova. More than 350 displaced persons have already been brought to Austria via this route.

In addition, Foreign Minister Schallenberg announced the provision of a further ten million euros from the Austrian development cooperation fund and the Foreign Disaster Fund to support Moldova. This brings Austrian emergency assistance for the Ukrainian population in Ukraine and neighboring countries to a total of 27.5 million euros. Austria had already responded quickly in February, approving 17.5 million euros from the Foreign Disaster Fund as an initial emergency assistance measure.

Despite the comprehensive support package for Moldova, however, only an immediate end to hostilities could ultimately help:

By now, even the leadership in Moscow should have realized that this war cannot be won in the long run. The only sustainable solution is a diplomatic one. Until then, we in the European Union and like-minded countries must continue to stand together firmly – to send a strong signal to the Russian leadership and to support our partners in the region,

Foreign Minister Schallenberg emphasized in conclusion.

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