Austrian Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg made his position on the latest developments in Eastern Ukraine clear at today’s meeting of the OSCE council:
The recognition of the independence of the self-proclaimed People’s Republics of Donetsk and Luhansk constitutes a blatant and unacceptable breach of Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
He explained that Austria stood in solidarity with Ukraine and there was no place for Austria to be politically neutral in the current situation.
Even Austria, a neutral state, must and will make a clear stand here. Because the Rule of Law is above the survival of the fittest,
said Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg.
A unilateral breach of international law by Russia would cross a very serious line. Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg stressed that the European Union would react to the latest developments with unanimity and unity. He added that the OSCE was the natural centre of diplomatic efforts for a peaceful resolution to defuse the situation in Eastern Ukraine and that Austria was unwavering in its commitment to the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission.
The Monitoring Officers of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission in Ukraine are the “antennae” of the international community. Not only are we prepared to put our staff on the ground, but if required, we will not hesitate in sending additional Monitoring Officers,
announced Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg, confirming his commitment to staff resources.
However, according to Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg, we have not yet reached the “point of no return” and we have not heard the last of the matter:
We have to give diplomacy the space it needs to resolve this conflict peacefully once and for all. Because one thing is for certain: There are no winners in this current downward spiral, only losers. That goes not only for the people of Ukraine, but ultimately for all of us.
