AUSTRIA, December 12 - On 13 December 2021, Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg took part in the Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels. The meeting of EU foreign ministers addressed the tense situation in Ukraine, the conflict surrounding the city of Varosha on the island of Cyprus, and the security situation in the Sahel Region and EU-African relations. The ministers also discussed the Winter Olympics in China, which are under a diplomatic boycott by some nations due to human rights violations.

A major topic was the intensifying conflict in Eastern Ukraine. For several weeks, there has been increased Russian troop movement along the Russian-Ukrainian border. The threat of military escalation is an ominous development that the EU foreign ministers are watching with great concern.

Just the fact that there is speculation about a possible invasion by Russian troops shows how tense the situation is. What is needed now is de-escalation, but also a clear line – defusing the words and actions on both sides,

stated Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg.

The Foreign Minister called for transparent dialogue in dealing with Russia, sending a clear signal about where the EU stands. Russia needs to be aware, he said, that if it takes action, the EU will respond with economic sanctions.

Another topic was the Winter Olympics in China. After the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom announced that they would cancel their political participation in the Olympic Games in Beijing, the EU foreign ministers discussed the next steps for the EU member states. Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg advocated for a unified approach here.

I would be a great fan of a common EU line on this issue, and I am personally sceptical about the artificial politicisation of the Winter Games,

said Alexander Schallenberg.

Ahead of the Council, Alexander Schallenberg also addressed the politically unstable situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina, where the Bosnian-Serbian Republika Srpska region is attempting to secede.

Our position is very clear: We want Bosnia and Herzegovina to be a viable, unified state with which all three ethnic groups can identify,

said the Austrian Foreign Minister.

On the evening before the EU ministers’ meeting, Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg took part in an informal meeting with representatives of the Belarussian opposition, the EU and European foreign ministers. In this context, Foreign Minister Schallenberg recently noted that Austria would always support a democratic, independent, and stable Belarus.