Austria to ‘stay neutral’, says chancellor
By Nikolaus J. Kurmayer | EURACTIV.de
Mar 8, 2022
Austria will remain neutral, said Chancellor Karl Nehammer, calling the debate on the country’s neutrality that erupted following the invasion of Ukraine pointless.
“Austria was neutral, Austria is neutral, Austria will remain neutral,” Nehammer tweeted on Monday (7 March) while visiting Qatar to secure shipments of liquified natural gas (LNG) from the country in a bid to replace the Russian gas Austria is heavily reliant on.
“Austrian neutrality has served it well in the past and continues to do so. It is not up for debate,” he added.
Nehammer’s comments came in response to a statement made by leading Austrian MEP Othmar Karas, a fellow conservative of the European People’s Party (EPP), who said that Austria’s neutrality would have to be discussed on Sunday.
Continue reading at www.euractiv.com
The Swedish Prime Minister “cut off” the opposition for NATO
Mar 8, 2022
The Swedish Prime Minister Magdalena Anderson on Tuesday rejected opposition calls to consider joining NATO after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
According to her, such a request would destabilize security in EuropeReuters reported.
Sweden has not been at war since 1814 and has built its foreign policy on non-participation in military alliances, but has built ever closer ties with NATO in recent years as tensions have risen with Russia in the Baltic region.
Russia’s invasion, which Moscow calls a “special military operation,” renewed calls for Sweden’s accession to NATO, along with Finland, which also remained outside the bloc.
“If Sweden chooses to apply to join NATO in the current situation, it will further destabilize this area of Europe and increase tensions,” Anderson told reporters. I have been clear all along, saying that the best thing for Sweden’s security and for the security of this region of Europe is that the government has a long-term, consistent and predictable policy, and that is my constant belief.
Continue reading at darik.news
We remind our readers that publication of articles on our site does not mean that we agree with what is written. Our policy is to publish anything which we consider of interest, so as to assist our readers in forming their opinions. Sometimes we even publish articles with which we totally disagree, since we believe it is important for our readers to be informed on as wide a spectrum of views as possible.
