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Chancellor Sebastian Kurz (ÖVP) and French President Emmanuel Macron are planning joint European initiatives in the fight against terrorism after the attack in Vienna. I briefly called Macron on Tuesday night, he told the APA from the Federal Chancellery. The Chancellor had thanked the French president for visiting the Austrian Embassy in Paris and for entering the book of condolences.
Other topics of conversation were the fight against political Islam, the treatment of foreign terrorist fighters and the adequate protection of Europe’s external borders. The two had agreed to jointly establish European initiatives in these areas and to continue discussing them in the coming days.
Schallenberg speaks at the Council of Europe
Meanwhile, Chancellor Alexander Schallenberg (ÖVP) addressed his ministerial colleagues on Wednesday at the 130th Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, which is held virtually. Initially he wanted to talk about the “great burden that the global Covid-19 pandemic placed on all of us” with “travel warnings, closure measures and the negative social and economic effects,” the foreign minister said in his speech at the APA. .
“On Monday night, however, we were struck by a different global virus. A virus that affects our societies in Europe and beyond. A virus that is spreading even faster than Covid-19, is spreading to the speed of a thought, the virus of hatred, the virus of intolerance and the virus of total disregard for human life, ”Schallenberg said in view of the terrorist attack in Vienna.
While the investigations were still ongoing and all the details were not yet known, it was clear why “this heinous act of terrorism” was the result. “The aim was to divide our society and sow fear and terror in the hearts and minds of our citizens, destroy our confidence in a free and open society and attack the true nature of Austria as a nation of diversity, dialogue and mutual respect,” he explains. Schallenberg.
However, that will not be successful, the answer is “equally clear”. Austria “will not be intimidated by any form of terrorism or violent extremism,” said the foreign minister. Rather, this plague will be fought with all available constitutional means.
Saudi Arabia: in contradiction with all religions
Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir has condemned the terrorist attack in Vienna as a “heinous crime”. Such attacks are “contrary to all religions and human values, and it underscores to us that terrorism has no religion or race,” al-Jubeir said Tuesday night on the short message service Twitter.
“We share our grief with friends in the Republic of Austria for the terrorist crime that has been directed against innocent people in Vienna,” wrote the chief diplomat of Saudi Arabia.
The government of Austria resolves three days of state mourning
In its special session after the terrorist attack in Vienna, the Austrian government decided on a three-day “state duel”. Public buildings will be marked with mourning until Thursday inclusive. Also, there should be a minute of silence on Tuesday at 12 noon. Schools must also commemorate the deaths at the start of classes on Wednesday, according to the Ministerial Council conference.
“The Republic of Austria was, is and will always be a nation of diversity, dialogue and mutual respect. The events of November 2, 2020 have shaken and affected our country even more,” says the government resolution. With the national mourning, the flags of federal buildings are raised at half mast and governors are asked to do the same in their area.
Also, on Tuesday at 12 noon a “minute of silent remembrance” should be observed. Schools are also required to observe a minute of silence at the beginning of Wednesday lessons. A wreath ceremony by the federal president, the government, the presidents of the National Council, as well as representatives of the clubs of the parliamentary parties and the mayor is scheduled for Tuesday in the center of Vienna.
The government describes the attack as an “attack on freedom and democracy.” The government will work with all available resources to further clarify the situation. And: “The Republic of Austria and we as the Federal Government will defend freedom, democracy and the values of our coexistence with determination and with all necessary means. In addition, we will fight together with our international friends and partners against terrorism and extremism.” .
The last time there was an official state mourning four days after the death of Federal President Thomas Klestil in 2004. Klestil died shortly before handover to his already elected successor, Heinz Fischer. Even after the death of the president of the National Council Barbara Prammer (SPÖ) in August 2014, the government imposed the state mourning.
FPÖ Lower Austria calls for a security summit
Udo Landbauer, FPÖ Lower Austria club and state president, has asked Governor Johanna Mikl-Leitner (ÖVP) to convene a blue-yellow security summit. “We want a complete and unadorned picture of the situation of all threat scenarios and possible terrorist cells in the state,” Landbauer said Wednesday. “Secrecy and political efforts alone will take us no further.”
According to the FPÖ politician’s ideas, members of the state government and all representatives of the state parliament clubs should participate in the security summit. Also on board are representatives of the State Police Directorate and the State Office for the Protection of the Constitution and Against Terrorism (LTV).
“Various house searches and arrests in Lower Austria are proof enough that we do not live in the land of the blessed,” Landbauer emphasized in a broadcast. Potential killers, sleeper cells, and terrorist networks would also be found in the state. “Against this we must proceed with all the rigor of the rule of law.” (apa)
