West's Eastern Gate

"Austrian-Yugoslav relations have great prospects, because the two countries had been good partners in the past, which forms the basis for good relations in the future. It is true Austria and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia no longer share a border, but this is no reason for us not to understand each other as neighbors and develop our relations in that way. Yugoslavia will be a significant European partner and we believe Austria is important for Yugoslavia and vice-versa. In any case, I'm an optimist," Austrian Charge d'Affaires, Michael Wenninger, in Belgrade told Vreme in an interview last week.

Wenninger responded to a series of questions posed by Vreme journalists about: the two countries' relations, Vienna's foreign policy, Austria's international position, the prospect of resolving the crisis in ex-Yugoslavia, etc.

As you have already mentioned the future, could you tell us something about the current level of mutual relations, bearing in mind the restrictions imposed on the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia by the international sanctions?

"Over 300,000 people with your passport are currently residing in Austria, and about one hundred Yugoslav firms are registered in Vienna alone. The former figure, however, is much greater because a lot of Yugoslav citizens are living in Austria illegally. Most of these people first came with valid documents and decided to stay on when their visas expired. This creates problems for us, but more for them, because, unfortunately, they are exposed to various sorts of abuse by others, mostly their fellow-countrymen (who are forcing them to work illegally, not paying them enough, not paying the necessary taxes for them, and so on). However, I must reiterate that the vast majority of those (Yugoslav citizens) residing in Austria are contributing to our overall good relations in the most positive way. All in all, I want to underscore that there are no major problems."

Let's return to relations with Belgrade, particularly from the aspect of some prejudices, but also of real temptations through which these relations have passed over the recent years. I above all mean some convictions here that, out of "successors" of the former Yugoslavia, Austria has favored Slovenia and Croatia at the expense of Serbia and Montenegro, for instance.

"Recently, Belgrade has extremely seriously worked on finding a peaceful solution to the crisis in the former Yugoslavia. This now represents a good basis for me to be a cautious optimist. I think that the chances for finding a peaceful solution have never been so good, although opinions differ, even contradictory on many details. But the chances of overcoming them peacefully are now greater than before."

Speaking about that, we would like to recall that the US has recently assumed the key role in resolving this issue, which is European in all respects. Has Europe in this way been suppressed, how and why did this turnabout take place?

"I am not competent to comment on the U.S. foreign policy, of course. The complexity of the Yugoslav crisis should, however, be borne in mind. Or, let's just list the names of all the people who tried to reach a solution here - from Lord Carrington, to the Contact Group and now the US mediator Richard Holbrooke, including a number of Europeans - Stoltenberg, Lord Owen and now Bildt. This proves the huge effort Europe has been making. If peace is finally restored, it will then be more a result of a joint, collective effort and work of a number of partners. I would compare it to a bicycle team race - the one who makes it to the finish first is usually not the one who leads the race most of the track."

When do you expect Vienna and Belgrade to completely restore their relations to normal?

"We would like this to happen not tomorrow, but already today. This, however, primarily depends on the further political developments in Yugoslavia. And this, of course implies that the swift conclusion of the peace process, the speedy mutual recognition of all states created on the territory of the ex-Yugoslavia, the division of property abroad, as well as the issue of succession are the chief elements for regulating all questions regarding the international recognition of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.