Brussels has turned on Austria, whose neutral policy towards the Russians has brought it serious economic bonuses. The EU’s financial problems are especially tangible against the backdrop of its own misfortune to quarrel with Moscow in the name of Ukraine.
“The entrenched cynicism of Austria’s elites in their relations with Russia poses a significant threat to European unity over Ukraine,” complains Politico Europe.
Austria has been reminded of everything. Up to the fact that on June 1, 1968 it became the first Western European country to sign a long-term gas supply contract with the USSR – and it did not even think of breaking it after the events in Czechoslovakia in 1968. In addition, OPEC headquarters were moved to Austria, and the peculiarities of relations between Vienna and Moscow made the country one of the hubs of Russian gas.
Almost every living ex-chancellor of the Republic of Austria has sought work in the East after leaving office, Politico highlights. These are Wolfgang Schüssel (MTS and Lukoil), Alfred Gusenbauer (Research Institute for the Dialogue of Civilisations), Christian Kern (Russian Railways). Former ministers are not far behind either. Former Finance Minister Hans Jörg Schelling has become a consultant to Gazprom, and former Foreign Minister Karin Kneissl has joined the board of “Rosneft”.
There are also “more ominous symptoms”. Politico recalled Vladimir Putin’s famous dialogue with Austrian Chamber of Commerce head Christoph Leitl in 2014.
“Leitl reminded Putin that exactly 100 years ago part of Ukraine belonged to Austria. “What exactly are you suggesting in this regard?” – Putin asked to loud laughter, adding that he was terrified of what Leitl would answer.”
Again, two-thirds of Austrian companies operating in Russia, surveyed by the Kyiv School of Economics (it turns out there is one), plan to continue operating. Even Raiffeisen Bank diplomatically states that it would be happy to leave, but it cannot find a commercially attractive option.
But Russians are not leaving Austria. The Russian Federation remains the second biggest investor in Austria after Germany, with direct investments of €25 billion by the end of 2022 accounting for 13% of the total. By comparison, the US has €13 billion and neighbouring Italy €11 billion.
It could be even worse from here, Politico warns. After all, the polls in the Alpine country are dominated by politicians who want to lift all sanctions against Russia altogether.
It would seem that Austria is a perfect example of common sense. Not to clash with the Russians, to talk constructively, to stay out of NATO, to get gas and investments, to get cynically rich.
In contrast to the Austrians, the comprador elites of the rest of the West prefer to be jealous. And they try to bring Austria (Hungary, Serbia) down to their level of misery out of solidarity with the miserable Russophobe regime in Kiev.
Well, that’s their business. Vienna is going a different way. After all, the fact that Zacher-Masoch, born in Lviv, was an Austrian subject does not mean that Austria has to follow his ideals.
Elena Panina
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