On the sidelines of the LDC conference of the world’s 46 poorest countries in Doha, Qatar, the “Krone” spoke with Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg about gas resources, Putin, the difficult role of diplomacy and Israel’s shift to the right.
“Krone”: Mr. Foreign Minister, why is the trip to the Conference of the Least Developed Countries in Qatar so important?
Alexander Schallenberg: In addition to the consequences of the pandemic, Russia’s war of aggression is a fire accelerator for crises – 1.7 billion people are affected by the triple crisis of food, energy and finance. It is all the more important that we at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs have once again greatly increased our commitment to the poorest. We have never released as much money as this year: almost 215 million euros. We must support those who need help the most.
A visit to Doha naturally smells very strongly of talks about gas supplies…
Talks with Qatari Prime Minister Al Thani focused on challenges and developments in the region. Qatar is a small country, but as one of the richest countries in the region, it plays a major political and economic role. Look at Afghanistan: by evacuating thousands in the summer of 2021, they have made a valuable contribution to the international community. Developments in Afghanistan are going in the wrong direction, so open dialogue channels between Qatar and the Taliban are of great importance. We also discussed the role of Iran, where the regime is now on a fast track to the abyss.
But isn’t our dependence on Russian gas still too great?
Since last February, we have made tremendous efforts to reduce our dependence on Russian energy and reduce energy consumption. We can only be satisfied when Russia can no longer use energy as a weapon. This is hard board drilling and cannot be done overnight.
Laughed on the sidelines of the G20 summit, Russia’s Lavrov continues to claim that the West is responsible for the war. As a diplomat: how hard can you laugh at that?
Putin and his accomplices have unleashed an unacceptable war in violation of international law. They commit heinous crimes. There’s nothing to laugh about here.
What diplomatic steps are currently possible?
Russia is still trying to create facts on the battlefield. So now is not the time for peace talks. Of course, the channels of conversation must remain open – for the time when diplomacy can be given space again. Ukraine decides when and how.
Will Austria maintain its neutrality in the event of a possible escalation of the war (for example in Moldova)?
We are not politically neutral. We stand with Ukraine without ifs or buts. It’s about helping them restore their territorial integrity and sovereignty. International law is our protective cloak, especially for countries like Austria. The same goes for Moldova. It is no secret that Russia can also have a destabilizing effect in other regions.
Other topic: In Israel, the rule of law appears to be in danger. How hard will it be to maintain a conversational base?
We are closely monitoring the situation in Israel. The very good relations between our countries allow us to handle disagreements without blinders, as I recently did with the Israeli Foreign Minister. Israel is a stable democracy in a region characterized by enormous tensions. I trust they won’t risk that reputation lightly.
Source: Krone
I am Ida Scott, a journalist and content author with a passion for uncovering the truth. I have been writing professionally for Today Times Live since 2020 and specialize in political news. My career began when I was just 17; I had already developed a knack for research and an eye for detail which made me stand out from my peers.
