Difficult repatriation operations from Israel, spectacular child kidnappings, a tough tug-of-war over a Hamas prisoner – red-white-red crisis teams are currently on a permanent diplomatic mission for the well-being of citizens abroad. In addition, the coming travel season will also take its toll on the consular ‘Wailing Wall’.
There are few signs of the quietest time of year at the State Department at home. Ambassador Georg Stillfried, head of the consular department, is currently in demand at Minoritenplatz.
Whether planning repatriation operations from Israel or Gaza in the crisis team, handling 15 cases of child abduction abroad, from Brazil to Bangladesh to Russia, or providing rapid consular assistance to Austrians in need abroad – you must not forget: “Christmas time is travel time.”
The consummate diplomatic professional is steadfast: “We also care for 600,000 Austrians living abroad. As a ‘consular wailing wall’, we try to keep a cool head in small and large problems and, if necessary, offer our citizens who live abroad or are on holiday – around 36,000 are currently registered with us – quick solutions as necessary.” , Stillfried explains. He never tires of emphasizing that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ crisis teams can best help if you register in advance when traveling abroad!
However, quick help is not always possible. For example, the hostage taking of Israeli-Austrian Tal Shoham with dual nationality in Gaza has been causing headaches for months. Red-white-red diplomacy is working tirelessly to secure his release. “Of course we will stick to it,” said the expert.
Difficult negotiations in Egypt
On behalf of Chancellor Karl Nehammer (ÖVP), the former Secretary General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Peter Launsky-Tieffenthal, is also in Egypt from Qatar to try to secure the release of the last Austrian hostage in Gaza.
The heads of Hamas were also in Cairo as a new hostage swap is currently being negotiated behind the scenes with Israel. “It is important to ensure that the Austrians are also involved in such a hostage exchange,” the ambassador explained in an interview.
Launsky-Tieffenthal also points to Austria’s continued good relations with Arab states such as Qatar, Egypt and Oman (with whose help two Austrians were liberated from Iran). The ambassador about his talks in Doha and Cairo: “There was not a word about Austria’s voting behavior in the UN.”
Passports for descendants of Nazi victims
A special issue close to the heart of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is the granting of Austrian citizenship to descendants of those persecuted by the Nazis. Nearly 26,500 passports have already been issued. Much to the delight of domestic diplomacy.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
