Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken discussed possibilities for further bilateral and multilateral cooperation with Austrian Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg.
The two leaders touched on topics such as support for Ukraine and holding Russia accountable for its war, according to a Feb. 7 statement. Blinken acknowledged Austria’s contributions to the Western Balkans and highlighted the significance of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe as a platform for discussion.
“Productive meeting today with Austrian Foreign Minister @a_schallenberg. We discussed our close bilateral coordination, shared support for Ukraine and its people and the importance of the @OSCE. We appreciate Austria's leadership role in the Western Balkans,” Blinken said in a post on Twitter.
Blinken named Austria as a strong and deeply valued partner for the U.S. and a pivotal player in European security and stability, according to a State Department news release. He said that is seen in the support Austria has provided to Ukraine and its critical leadership in the Western Balkans, where he said it has a unique leadership role.
“My basic point is I believe in times of crisis you need to know who are your partners, and my aim is really to strengthen this also bilateral relationship – to have the strategic partnership we have as strong as possible, irreversible as possible,” Schallenberg said in the release. “For too long we have taken each other for granted, maybe, the European Union and the United States. For too long we have stood back-to-back instead of shoulder-to-shoulder. And I believe, if anything, the last 11 months have shown if we stand together if we are united, we are a formidable force. And that is, I believe, the biggest task of the coming year.”
OSCE, based in the Austrian capital, is a regional security organization comprising 57 participating states from Europe, Central Asia and North America, according to its website. It was established in 1975 with the signing of the Helsinki Final Act and is the world's largest security-oriented intergovernmental organization.
The OSCE's main objectives are to enhance stability and security, promote human rights and democracy and facilitate economic and environmental cooperation, the website reported. The organization operates through various mechanisms, including the Permanent Council, field operations and special monitoring missions, to address security, human rights and economic development issues.
Austria places great importance on its relationships with the Western Balkans, a region that includes Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia, according to the Austrian Embassy’s website. Austria's goal is to support the transformation of the Western Balkans into a stable region through European integration. EU membership negotiations with Montenegro and Serbia are underway.
