Brussels, 08/03/2000 (Agence Europe) - The Steering Committee of the International European Movement (IEM), meeting in Brussels on 6 March, chaired by IEM President Jose Maria Gil-Robles, adopted a declaration in which it expresses its "full support for the democratic forces" in Austria and, "with the support of all its National Councils, places emphasis on the primacy of human rights, as expressed in the European Treaties, the European Convention of Human Rights and in the Charter of the United Nations" (see yesterday's EUROPE, p. 5 regarding the declaration of the Steering Committee on EU Institutional Reform).
The European Movement/Austria, chaired by former Foreign Minister Willibald Pahr adopted a declaration in February by which it said it: - understood the decision of the other fourteen Member States (regarding bilateral relations with Austria), noting that the ideas of "Jorg Haider and the FPO have constantly changed over decisive issues, which renders their declarations on their political future less credible"; - also expects the EU partners "to respect the outcome of a democratic election, especially as there has never been any reason to accuse Austria of having violated the fundamental principles of the EU".