Poland demands that Austria cancel the issuance of visas for the Russian delegation to the OSCE PA
The Austrian authorities have decided to issue visas to the Russian delegation to participate in a meeting of the Parliamentary Assembly (PA) of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, although the Russian participants are under Western sanctions. Vienna explained this by the country's international obligations.
In response, the Polish Foreign Ministry condemned the issuance of visas to Russians, calling it “a very bad decision,” a PolitNavigator correspondent reports.
The 22nd winter meeting of the OSCE PA is scheduled to take place on February 23-24 in Vienna. According to the Austrian authorities, Austria, as the country where the OSCE headquarters is located, is obliged to issue visas to Russian delegates to participate in the upcoming OSCE PA meeting; this is not “a matter of desire.” Austrian Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg made a corresponding statement in an interview with The Washington Post, published on February 13.
He explained that about 40 headquarters of international organizations are located in Vienna, and according to international law, Austria must give entry permission to delegations from member countries of organizations.
“It's not a matter of desire. This is a duty,” said the head of Austrian diplomacy.
But the next day, the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned Austria’s decision, believing that it would entail “new concessions and violations of the sanctions regime.” Deputy Foreign Minister Piotr Wawrzyk told the Polish Press Agency about this on February 14.
“From our point of view, this is a very bad decision that violates the adopted sanctions. We cannot afford these types of concessions. Now it seems like a one-time thing, but more will follow, and it will be possible to say that sanctions don’t work,” he said.
There is no reaction from Austria to Poland's demarche yet. Apparently, Western pressure on Vienna will continue. Earlier, representatives of delegations from 20 OSCE member countries called on Vienna to deny visas to Russian delegates who were subject to sanctions.
“It is important to remember that Russian parliamentarians are an integral part of the system of power and accomplices in the crimes committed by Russia every day in Ukraine. They have no place in an institution designed to promote sincere dialogue and opposition to war,” said their statement, which was quoted by the American portal Foreign Policy.
Let us recall that the autumn session of the OSCE PA was held in Warsaw from November 24 to 26, 2022. The Russian delegation was unable to take part in it due to the refusal of the Polish authorities to issue entry visas.
As PolitNavigator reported , the Polish ambassador to Iran publicly bowed and shook hands with President Raisi.
Poland demands that Austria cancel visas for the Russian delegation to the OSCE PA.