Vice Chancellor of Austria Reciprocates: Russia Forging Closer Ties Despite Brussels Pressure

— Mr. Strache, thank you for taking the time to be here today. You attended the World Cup opening ceremony and saw the game between Russia and Saudi Arabia. How would you describe the atmosphere in the city and at the stadium that day?

Heinz-Christian Strache, Vice-Chancellor of Austria: The atmosphere was fantastic. Anyone who's been to Moscow before probably knows that the traffic gets pretty busy there. So getting to the Luzhniki Stadium took us a little longer than planned. The new stadium looks incredible, it reminded me of the Colosseum. It's a modern venue, which totally lived up to my expectations regarding the capacity and the atmosphere at the Russia-Saudi Arabia match. The match ended well, the World Cup host's national team did an amazing job. The 5 — 0 win was a great success for the Russian team and the fans' reaction was to be expected.

 

— What was the reaction in the lounge? Perhaps, you even had a chance to discuss the match with Vladimir Putin in German? Did the president make any comments on the game?

— Well, we didn't get a chance to meet and discuss the game yesterday. However, before the game began, Putin briefly addressed the stadium. According to some media reports, after each goal scored by the Russian team, Putin turned to the Saudi Arabia Crown Prince with an apologetic look on his face because he felt bad for his guest.

— Now that we've talked about sports, I'd like to move on to politics. The fact that Vladimir Putin and the Vice-Chancellor of Austria have already met twice this year didn't escape the Western media's attention. What's the reason for the rapid development of our bilateral relations?

— First of all, Austria has a great tradition of neutrality. This tradition was revived when we began to actively use our neutrality to help solve global issues. We recently celebrated 50 years of cooperation between OMV and Gazprom at the Hofburg Palace in Vienna. It's a great example of successful cooperation. Both countries are interested in extending and deepening economic cooperation. Needless to say, sanctions have had a negative impact on our partnership. But we appreciate the fact that major diplomatic channels remain open to us. Enhancing diplomatic relations is important to us. Together with the other EU members, we'd like to find a solution to current problems. We must continue to seek a solution so that, over time, the sanctions can be left behind. Our dialogue with Russia is going well. Vladimir Putin's visit to Vienna was very productive. The two countries signed gas supply contracts between Gazprom and OMV, Russian and Austrian businesses.

— Mr. Strache, could you please tell me about your meeting with President Putin in Vienna?

— It was an interesting meeting. Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz and I have discussed it. Putin speaks very good German: he managed to perfect it while living in East Germany. I was astounded. He speaks in a very soft, pleasant manner. He's also won judo tournaments in Russia. We lightly touched upon the subject of martial arts because I came fourth at a Vienna judo tournament held for school students. I certainly wouldn't stand a chance against the Russian president. The atmosphere of the visit was very pleasant and honest. We now have a positive, friendly relationship and I'm very happy about it.

— During Putin's visit to Vienna, I had a chance to talk to Austrian businessmen. They insist on taking a realistic approach. Austria's economic indicators and population size are exceeded by those of France and Germany. On the one hand, Vienna doesn't have enough leverage to change Europe's course. Yet, you continue to pursue pragmatic, independent policies. How do you manage to resist the pressure coming from Brussels?

— Austria will soon take over the EU Presidency. Clearly, we coordinate all of our decisions with the other EU members. But it's important to make an attempt to contribute to the common cause and find a compromise. We should be focused on finding common ground rather than on differences. We must join our efforts and find a solution to the Ukrainian crisis together. We should also discuss the possibility of holding a meeting between Russian president Putin and American president Trump in Vienna. Perhaps, a UN peacekeeping mission could help de-escalate the conflict in eastern Ukraine, which in its turn would allow us to forget about the sanctions. This scenario would be beneficial for both Russia and the European Union. If we can come up with a peaceful solution that both parties would be willing to accept, then we can move on to long-term, successful economic cooperation.

— Transatlantic relations are currently in crisis. Do you think the Austrian model of neutrality could solve this problem? Are Brussels, Paris, and Berlin likely to adopt your methods?

— Austria has a unique history. This includes the Austrian State Treaty, in which Russia played an important role. The treaty gave us freedom, independence, and neutrality, which has sentimental value for us. We don't want to and we won't lose this status. This has to do with our unique history. Other European countries and EU members don't have that. Creating the European Union was the right choice, and the project that made peace-building a priority was a success. At the same time, the European Union wants to form a defensive alliance, whose members would ensure collective security. It needs to happen, but, as a neutral state, our participation in the process is limited. There's a line there.

— We've seen discontent with the EU sanctions rise in the Balkan states. Austria has been criticizing the restrictive measures as well. Is there a red line and, if it gets crossed, will you say "That's it, we're not voting to extend the sanctions again"?

— The sanctions were imposed when a war that no one wanted broke out in Europe. Many people were concerned by the fact that a combat zone was created just 430 miles away from the Austrian border. We're very concerned and are watching the situation closely. We must negotiate a peaceful settlement and find a solution. I believe that we can come up with a plan only if Russia, the United States, and the EU members join their efforts. The conflict parties must take steps toward reconciliation, which could involve a UN peacekeeping mission, for example. I think it would be a step toward lifting sanctions imposed on Russia. I'm intentionally leaving the Crimea matter aside. If nothing changes, the problem will remain. I think the conflict in eastern Ukraine can be resolved. The European Union would then have to respond to the new state of affairs. We would support this step; it would be beneficial for everyone. It would help us end the sanctions regime, which has been harmful to all the parties involved in the conflict.

Austria's economic losses exceed one billion euros per year. Russia is also suffering losses. As for us, the biggest damage has been done to our agriculture, particularly, our vegetable producers. Meat exports have decreased. We're not happy about this and, in the long run, no one's going to benefit from this situation. We need to work out a plan together. Let me emphasize that there will be visible results only if Austria acts in coordination with the rest of the EU members. We must understand this.

— You said you're leaving the Crimea matter aside. What do you mean by that?

— I don't think that all problems can be solved at once. We need to focus on the main issue: We need to cease all firing and terminate all military activities in the conflict zone by means of a UN mandate. I think it should be our priority.

— How about an estimate? When do you think the sanctions against Russia may be lifted? Would it be a step-by-step process or would all the sanction be lifted at the same time?

— That's a difficult question. As you know, the sanctions are revised every six months. That's when the decision on whether the restrictive measures should be extended is made. Let's just say that until the parties agree to make mutual concessions and until the Minsk agreements have been implemented, it's highly unlikely that the sanctions will be lifted. Europe has a clear vision of the way the events should unfold. I doubt any European country will act independently on this. Both parties will have to make concessions. I wish things didn't have to go this far. Several years ago, long before the Maidan, I, as an Austrian politician, pointed out the need to conduct trilateral negotiations between Russia, Ukraine, and the European Union. The rapprochement process between Ukraine and the European Union should have been accompanied by consultations between all the parties concerned. That way we could have avoided escalation. Unfortunately, it wasn't done. We could have done things differently and avoided making many mistakes.

— It's well known that Washington has been pressuring its European allies into acting in accordance with its sanctions agenda. Why does the European Union proceed with the sanctions regime despite the crisis in relations with the United States and Trump's isolationism?

— I understand that you're talking about the tariffs imposed by the United States and Washington's one-sided withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal. We're not particularly pleased by these events. It's a proven fact that Iran implemented its obligations and did not violate the deal. That's why a one-sided withdrawal was a mistake. Not only do such actions prevent us from reaching our goals, but they also raise questions about the reliability of the international agreements. The European Union and Austria have a clear stance on the matter. We insist on the implementation of the Iran nuclear deal. As for the tariffs, we wish things were different. I've always believed that the strong, continental Europe should cooperate with Russia more closely. It would be a great step toward long-term peace and economic prosperity on the European continent.

— Why Russia?

— A large portion of the Russian territory is located in Europe. Russia is part of the European history and culture. We have obligations to our common history. Whenever Russia and Europe cooperated closely, we were at peace. As soon as we drove apart, we lost that benefit and the situation deteriorated. I think successful cooperation is beneficial to both Europe and Russia. With Europe's economic know-how on the one hand and Russian resources and the market on the other, both parties would benefit from creating a free-trade zone and the region would enjoy long-term peace.

— For decades, European businesses have been profiting from cooperating with the United States. European businesses had access to the US market and technology while Washington ensured the security of the Old World. Will Europe have to relearn how to be independent in the world arena without the US support?

— Our cooperation with the United States has its own traditions and is important to us. However, sometimes Europe has to act independently, putting its own interests first and implementing its own strategy. It's important to us that, as an equal partner, Austria remains part of all existing processes. Austria values its partnership with both the United States and Russia. These relations need to be balanced and equidistant so that we don't have to side with only one of them. We also realize that a one-sided relationship would pose a threat as well.

— In one of your interviews, you touched upon the subject of a Third World War, which you believe could be provoked by Trump administration hawks and strategists. The US president recently met with Kim Jong-un; Washington is calling for Russia's return to G8. Can these be signs of de-escalation or is it nothing more than a short-term course drift?

— The quote isn't completely accurate. I presented my idea in a slightly different way. I said that the situation we're currently in raises concerns. Concerns regarding a slight possibility that, in a situation where certain conditions and undesirable developments occur, we may face a war, a Third World War. The reason for this concern lies in differences in geostrategic interests around the globe. On the one hand, we have Syria, where Russia engaged in the fight against radical Islamists. And I'm very glad it did. ISIS has been mostly driven out of its strongholds in the region. Russia has played an important role in resolving the conflict. This gives us hope that the war might come to an end and that we'll see new prospects for development. The situation is very complicated. Like I said before, ISIS didn't appear out of thin air. Behind ISIS, there's money and institutions the organization couldn't exist without. There's a lot to think about here. I tried to stress that all parties need to be somewhat tactful. Recently, Trump and Kim Jong-un held a meeting, which had a positive outcome. But the meeting was preceded by a long argument on whose "red button" is bigger. They surprised us with their word choice, sometimes pushing the boundaries too far. When politicians openly debate in such a manner, it sparks concern. However, I still hope that Trump, in fact, does want to contribute to settling the conflict, has the will to ease the tensions and is ready to do his part in establishing global peace.

— You've mentioned the possibility of a meeting between Trump and Putin in Vienna. How is Vienna preparing for the talks? Can you share any details?

— There are no details yet, but Austria prides itself on being a good mediator. Don't forget that Vienna is home to the European headquarters of the UN. The Iran nuclear deal was signed in Vienna. We're a safe and neutral state. This allows us to hold such meetings in our territory. We're ready to help organize a meeting, but whether the parties take advantage of this offer depends on them.

— In two weeks, Austria will take over the EU presidency. What can we expect to change in the EU foreign policy with respect to Russia?

— The EU presidency doesn't directly affect the EU foreign policy, but rather gives you a chance to draw attention to certain issues. One of them is securing EU's external borders. It's an important project with the slogan "A Europe That Protects." We're going to suggest strengthening Frontex, the European Border and Coast Guard Agency. I'm talking about reinforcing borders, which will require at least 10,000 people. We can't have the EU's border states deal with the problem of illegal immigration on their own. We need to block illegal channels that immigrants use to enter the European Union. It requires a sequence of restrictive measures and someone who will stop and send back African boats with illegal immigrants. It's time to invest in the areas bordering the European Union. This includes opening refugee centers, where potential immigrants would receive help before even entering the European Union. But that's only part of the plan. The Balkan policy is also of great importance to us. Austria has close historical ties with the region and, naturally, we'd like the Balkan states to closely cooperate with the European Union. We intend to promote this trend.

— Does it mean nothing will change in relations with Russia?

— Another important issue is the principle of subsidiarity. We'd like to preserve the diversity that exists within the European Union. It's called "United in diversity." Finally, yes, Austria is ready to contribute to expanding relations with Russia and relaunch rapprochement. Austria welcomes cooperation in diplomacy, economy, and culture. We'd be happy if this became a trend.

— Recently, Angela Merkel paid a working visit to Sochi. Earlier, two German ministers visited Russia as well. Italy and Hungary seem favorably disposed toward Moscow. Are we witnessing a paradigm shift in European politics or is it too early to speak about it?

— At the very least, we've started a conversation on what matters and what's the right thing to do. As you said, several countries recently held elections and many of the new governments are often critical of the sanctions. They frequently initiate discussions on ways to overcome the sanctions together. It would be a positive step. But for our efforts to have an effect, Russia must also engage in the process. It's important to discuss this and take steps toward reconciliation. Eventually, we'll be able to find a solution that would allow us to lift the sanctions. We think we're ready to do our part in this process. President Putin and I had a constructive discussion about this in Vienna. We touched upon various subjects, including cooperation between OMV and Gazprom, the company for which we organized a wonderful celebration ceremony at the Hofburg Palace in Vienna. We extended our contracts to 2040 and intend to continue our cooperation. We're still waiting for Denmark's response to the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline project. As for the broad-gauge railway, we support this ambitious project, in particular, because the railroad will be extended to Vienna.

What else would we like to see? I hear that OMV plans to support one of the Russian soccer teams, while Gazprom would like to invest in an Austrian team. I really like this idea too. We should work on this kind of contacts. Let me also point out the large economic delegation and the hard work of the Russian-Austrian Council ahead of the Russian president's visit. For many years, hundreds of companies have been working for the good of the two countries.

— You mentioned the Nord Stream 2 project. What's Austria's position on the matter, given that the project is facing a storm of criticism coming from Washington and Brussels?

— This project is interesting not just for Austria, but for Europe as a whole. It's in Austria's and Europe's best interest to support the project. For example, Sweden has already signed the agreement. It's now Denmark's turn. I think that the European Union should remain free to make independent decisions, even if somebody outside the EU may not like it. Especially, decisions aimed at ensuring long-term, sustainable development. Besides, Russian gas isn't the most expensive and that's another argument in favor of the Nord Stream 2 project.

– Mr. Strache, thank you for the interview.

– Thank you.