"Austria has always been a country of immigration" «DiePresse.com

The Press: Mr. President, what makes Austria so special?

Alexander Van der Bellen: An essential feature of the Second Republic is: "When people come to talk, they come." "The ability to speak, which characterizes Austrian diplomacy." Listening skills. a compromise that satisfies both parties in a reasonable way.It is an essential difference for the First Republic, where it was not so pronounced, which then led to the corresponding catastrophe.

The other side of the coin has always been the Mauschelei, the auxiliary government of the social partners.

I have never felt so much about social partnership as a parallel government. But as a meaningful employee-employer discussion forum. It worked well for a long time.

During your speech on the occasion of this year's national holiday, you also referred to the Austrian, in the typical Middle Eastern way. But now, it is so that you can organize it in the middle so completely comfortable and you avoid making decisions that can be painful, but also necessary.

That's right, what you say. Each medal has two sides. But being prepared to speak does not mean that you make a decision until you are half dead from exhaustion. But the irreconcilable, the insistence on his own point of view – as in the First Republic – I mean when I speak of the Austrian, who overcame that.

This government has decided to restrict migration. It was a medium term, a kind of laissez-faire, so you do not have to watch very closely who comes, either legally or illegally. He has now become more restrictive. You do not seem to like that.

The year 2015 was characterized by uncontrolled immigration. Neither we nor the Germans nor the Swedes knew who would enter the country. Identification was possible only over time. In the future, we will have to better solve this problem.

The question was whether a less restrictive migration or asylum policy would be right for you.

Realism on all sides would be appropriate. Austria has always been a country of immigration in recent decades. Austria was already a country of immigration in the monarchy. And we have benefited greatly.

Now, one could say that Czechs – or Estonians – are easier to integrate than Afghans.

But this is not an impossible task. Especially with young people. We will have a lot more to do with people of average age. But it is soluble. With confidence

They criticized the government's failure to sign the UN compact on migration. If you read it well, you will notice that its tone is already very positive in terms of migration, there is a lot of talk about the immigrants' demands, the necessary accommodation of the host societies. Do not you think that this could eventually lead to a so-called effect of attraction, that people are more likely to try their luck in Europe?

Do you really believe? This paper did not fall from the sky. It has been negotiated for years, negotiations began when the current Federal Chancellor, Sebastian Kurz, Minister of Foreign Affairs. In June, they were completed. And the pact is so general that about 190 states have been able to join. I would not want to dramatize it now.

Proponents of the pact argue that this is not binding anyway. Then you might ask: why are you signing something that is not binding anyway?

But we are talking about the United Nations. It is therefore important to meet, discuss, discuss and discuss. In an individual case, once a state complains. It is not unusual that UN statements are not binding in international law. The most important thing is that you have here a forum in which you discuss. It's also fascinating about the UN General Assembly: that you can easily meet here for different rounds of discussions.

Do not you think that kind of non-binding law takes effect in the Migration Pact?

Personally, I do not do it. But I understand the argument that, over the years, something might develop that leads to greater engagement – in quotation marks. This is a legitimate argument. But I do not share it.

Have you had discussions with the leaders of the turquoise blue coalition?

There have been discussions before. My last word, however, was that we would proceed in the same way as in Switzerland: accept – with some reserve. Austria then abstained. I think that Austria, in its specific situation, is a small country turned to export – the reputation in the world is important, do not underestimate that! – do not risk his reputation. An important question is: are we reliable partners in the world or not?

It can be said that participation in the FPÖ government is by no means an instrument to increase the reputation of the world.

The same could be said, but I do not do it today.

How satisfied are you with the government?

We get along very well, I think. There is a good basis for discussion, we talk on the phone, we talk to each other again and again. We meet here at the office. Or when traveling abroad. I have traveled a lot with Foreign Minister Karin Kneissl. I believe that there is a mutual appreciation here – without anticipating. And there is of course a remnant of what the French call "cohabitation". It is no secret that the government's electoral base is not the one that voted for me, but it overlaps considerably.

What do you think of the growing polarization – with us in the debate on a right-wing government, a center-right government – which, however, is also a global phenomenon?

I'm hesitant to call everything as it should be. In the United States, there is a polarization under different conditions. A widespread frustration in Germany. But it's far from the situation in the First Republic of Austria, while there was a global economic crisis, a high unemployment rate. All this is not true for Europe today. I'm trying to understand what lies behind this widespread dissatisfaction among part of the population.

On the other hand, a vast survey recently revealed that the desire of a strong leader had decreased and that satisfaction with regard to democracy had increased.

It's gratifying, the dissatisfaction obviously has other causes.

Now popular comparisons with the interwar period will seem so inappropriate.

This can not be compared for Austria. But the old militarization on both sides – the Heimwehr here, the Schutzbund there: this can not be compared to today.

One of the Austrian values ​​that every schoolboy learns in this country is NEUTRALITY. Are they still there?

They already exist. Clear in military terms. This does not prevent us from peace missions. The clbadic definition is still valid: no military pact, no deployment of foreign troops, no participation in wars. But we cooperate with NATO.

But we do not want to join NATO?

There are no aspirations in this regard.

What do you say about the espionage case going on in the military?

Spying is unacceptable. The case is of course enlightened.

On the economic side, should we reconsider sanctions against Russia?

Russia must also take a step forward. We all know that there are two problems: Crimea and East of Ukraine. If there is no indication on how to remedy the situation, it is difficult to release sanctions.

How are relations with the United States currently?

I am really sorry that the relationship with the United States has developed as under the Trump administration. This is not our mistake. This is because of the current US government.

What do you think of Donald Trump?

Do you really want to hear that? Look, Europe has a lot to thank the United States. Without the entry of the United States in the Second World War: who knows how long it would have taken and how would that have happened? The Marshall Plan has enabled Western Europe to resuscitate in a very short time. Every year after, we had the best relations with the United States. Now, I do not want to say that US foreign policy was excellent in all parts of the world – I am only talking about the European Union today. So it is really tragic that today we are facing an American administration that sometimes does not treat us as a friend. This does not promote friendly relations.

Let's go back to Austria: would you ever want to live anywhere other than here?

As a young man, I could imagine a lot. I've also been living in West Berlin for years, it was an interesting time. I could have imagined a lot. Not anymore

You think that in the next presidential election, we will once again be competing with each other.

Well, look! Well, it's fun for me. So much fun is perhaps the bad expression. How did Winfried Kretschmann (Prime Minister of the Greens of Baden-Wuerttemberg, he commented) formulate this? He was asked, "Does politics make you funny?" And he replied: "Politics is not fun, it makes sense." In any case, I hope you will realize that I like that. You go out, meet people, women, men, children,,,

and the dogs …

In addition, they realize then that I am their friend. All this will give you energy, of course. And the trust that I do well and that everything is not bad.

("Die Presse", printed edition, 10.11.2018)