Brussels, 13/03/2000 (Agence Europe) - Austrian Chancellor Wolfgang Schuessel launched an appeal to his EU partners to resume the dialogue with his country in view of ending the new OVP/FPO government's isolation, considering that the EU can only function if all member States participate "without discrimination" At the same time, the Head of the Austrian Government said that he had no intention of systematically blocking decisions requiring unanimity in Council
"I suggested returning to the dialogue among Fifteen It has to be possible for all the members of the family, all Fifteen to begin the dialogue again", Mr. Schuessel declared before the press after his talks with the President of the European Council, Antonio Guterres The Portuguese Prime Minister had decided not to stop off in Vienna in the framework of his rounds of the capitals to prepare the extraordinary summit of Lisbon on March 23/24 March, but to meet the Head of the Austrian Government in Brussels. Mr. Guterres also avoided appearing with Mr. Schuessel before the press (the Portuguese Prime Minister had a separate improvised press conference).
Mr. Schuessel stressed that his presence in Brussels had to be seen as a "gesture of good will" on the part of the Austrian Government to take the "first step" towards a solution to the problem. The Chancellor did however consider that it was not up to Austria to suggest to Member States a kind of "plan of withdrawal" or an "exit strategy" enabling them to get out of the current impasse. "The ball is in the court of the Fourteen". He went on to explain: "I believe that the European Union can only work if all 15 member countries are included in the dialogue, without discrimination. This is not now the case. I am persuaded that one cannot make a distinction between bilateral and Community affairs (…). The Amsterdam Treaty obliges us to remain united, among all Fifteen", he declared.
"I asked the President of the Council to draw dot the "Is". All those who like the European idea and fight for it must act against this development. It is unacceptable that, for political reasons, Member States should take measures that clearly run against the principles of the Amsterdam Treaty". At the same time, Austria is "obviously aware" of the fact that the Amsterdam Treaty obliges Member States to respect "the highest standards regarding the protection of human rights and democracy", Mr. Schuessel stressed, recalling that the inclusion of that paragraph in the Treaty had been an Italian-Austrian initiative (he himself had launched it with his former colleague Lamberto Dini). "Rest assured that I shall always be a partner, a driving force even, to ensure the respect of these principles", he said.
Mr. Schuessel stressed that his government, in place for five weeks now, has so far done nothing that could be construed as being in contradiction with the spirit, values or rules of the EU. "On the contrary, we have raised issues that were not raised by former governments", said the Chancellor, citing as example the opening of negotiations aimed at financially compensating workers from Central and Eastern Europe forced to work under the nazi regime, and the government's intention of improving the rights of the different ethnic minorities (Slovenes, Croats, Czechs, Slovaks, Hungarian, Roma) living in Austria. "In all these fields, I shall be doing more than other Heads of Government before me, not because of external pressure but because I am personally convinced", said Mr. Schuessel.
Mr. Schuessel announced that the Portuguese Presidency had given him its backing to be able to express, in detail, the Austrian point of view before the other fourteen heads of State or Government on the occasion of the dinner at the Extraordinary Summit of Lisbon.
According to Guterres, Mr. Haider's party should change nature
Speaking to the press after his talks with Mr. Schuessel, Mr. Guterres said that the FPO had to change its "nature" to allow for a solution to the problem on the bilateral sanctions of the Fourteen against Vienna. "The problem relates to the nature of the FPO. What I would expect is that the nature of the FPO would change. For my point of view, the question is whether the FPO is able to change or not its own nature", said Guterres. The Portuguese Prime Minister placed emphasis on the fact that the sanctions were aimed at the Austrian Government and not its people.