This June, China’s foreign minister Wang Yi in Beijing, on Tuesday US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Washington – the Austrian Foreign Office chief Beate Meinl-Reisinger continues its travel diplomacy consistently. Goal: Before the start of her term of office on the UN Security Council from January 2007, she wants to meet with important players.
“We had a very good and substantial conversation,” said the chief diplomat in a Zoom conversation. Austria’s role in the world is valued, and above all “Vienna is valued as a place of negotiation”.
Three topics were specifically discussed: The situation in the Western Balkans. Because people in this region know how “quickly a fire can spread,” she pointed out to Rubio the important role of the USA in the region. The second complex is this Russian war of aggression on Ukraine been. She agreed with the US Secretary of State that “Putin is playing for time.”
The USA would therefore currently not “see a window for negotiations”. The third focus is this Iran war been, here in particular the opening of the Strait of Hormuz. But Rubio didn’t have good news. The negotiations are extremely difficult and a deal is not imminent. But Meinl-Reisinger insisted on “freedom of navigation” and wants to speak to the Iranian foreign minister on the phone about this issue soon.
Those too Customs problem The Foreign Minister addressed the “second meeting with Rubio within a year”: “We need clarity. The back and forth is poison for economic cooperation.” She did not discuss the US annexation plans for Greenland with her counterpart because “this matter is a matter for the White House”. However, their position is clear: international law must be adhered to.
Goals in the UN
After an intensive advertising campaign, Austria clearly prevailed over Germany in the race for a seat in the most important UN body in June: only 104 countries voted for our neighboring country in a secret ballot in the UN General Assembly, and 131 for Austria – a surprisingly clear result. “It was truly a team effort,” said Meinl-Reisinger enthusiastically at the time.
Immediately after the election, the Austrian chief diplomat outlined the priorities for the two-year term of office in the UN Security Council: regulation of AI weapon systems, protection of civilians, fight against climate change. The upcoming membership in the committee is the fourth after 1973/1974, 1991/1992 and 2009/2010. And at one point Austria also provided the UN Secretary General, Kurt Waldheim (1971-1981).
Austria has had access to all Security Council documents since August, and from October representatives of the Alpine republic will also take part in the Council meetings as observers. The big moment will come in July next year. Austria takes over the monthly rotating chairmanship of the most important UN body. WF