Austrian-Croatian year of culture opened in Vienna

Austrian-Croatian year of culture opened in Vienna

https://eblnews.com/news/croatia/austrian-croatian-year-culture-opened-vienna-56225

The Austrian-Croatian year of culture, officially opened in Vienna on Tuesday, is more than just an opportunity to intensify cultural relations between the two countries but has a strong integration character as well, Croatian Foreign Minister Davor Ivo Stier said at the opening.

"This is a special year for our relations because in 2017 we are marking 25 years of both Croatia's international recognition and the establishment of diplomatic relations between Croatia and Austria," Stier said at the "Porgy and Bess" jazz club.

This is an excellent opportunity to once again reiterate that we share common values and, even more importantly, that we share the present and the future within the European Union, Stier said.

The year of culture 2017 was initiated by the Austrian Foreign Ministry in cooperation with the Croatian Foreign Ministry. Under the motto "Together in culture", the two countries will intensify each other's presentation in the partner country.

"This year we will have over 100 different activities which will additionally connect Croats and Austrians," Stier said, adding that the programme of cultural cooperation wanted to underscore women's role in culture.

The opening was attended by Austrian Foreign Minister Sebastian Kurz.

Stier said Croatia remembered well Austria's support during its the most difficult times in the 1990s, notably then foreign minister Alois Mock, who strongly pushed for Croatia's recognition. "Today I had an excellent meeting with Sebastian and... Alois Mock has a worthy successor," he said.

Croatian, Austrian foreign ministers talk migrants, bilateral relations

https://eblnews.com/news/croatia/croatian-austrian-foreign-ministers-talk-migrants-bilateral-relations-56197

A negligible number of migrants is arriving in Europe along the Balkan route which was closed a year ago, but a big problem is the Mediterranean, where the number of migrants has markedly increased, Austrian Foreign Minister Sebastian Kurz said in Vienna on Tuesday after talks with his Croatian counterpart Davor Ivo Stier.

"We can be happy that we managed to close the Balkan route. At the beginning of 2016, we had 15,000 people coming by that route daily. After it was closed, we managed to reduce the number to less than 1,000. I think that's a big success but we must continue to fight against smugglers and human trafficking so as to further decrease the number of the people arriving," Kurz said in a joint statement to the press.

"The key problem now is the Mediterranean, the Italian route. There we have 20% more people arriving than before. The numbers are rising on that route and I think we must change the policy there," Kurz said.

Anyone who arrives illegally must be stopped on the external EU border and sent back, he added.

If Europe wants to exist without internal borders, it must control the external borders, and the best way to control the border is to have police and military control and technical equipment, Kurz said.

Stier said the mechanism of cooperation with the states on the Balkan route established before it was closed should not only be maintained but advanced. "I think that's extremely important for the Balkan route to stay closed."

Speaking of Austrian-Croatian relations, the two ministers said the two countries had a lot in common.

Stier mentioned the developed economic relations, the increasing number of Austrian tourists coming to Croatia, and the Burgenland Croats and the Croatian emigrants in Austria, saying they were an excellent bridge between the two states.

Kurz said economic cooperation was excellent, with Austria as the second biggest investor in Croatia, and that cultural ties were strong. He also mentioned the big Croatian community in Austria.

In order to further advance relations, the two countries tasked the state secretaries with the development of economic relations. On the security front, the two countries will sign an agreement on the protection of secret data.

"I'm glad we can project our excellent bilateral cooperation in joint projects in Southeast Europe," Stier said.

In the evening, he and Kurz attended the official opening of the year of cultural cooperation between Croatia and Austria at the "Porgy and Bess" jazz club in Vienna.

https://www.wien-ticket.at/de/service/house/83/Porgy--Bess?gclid=CjwKEAiAlZDFBRCKncm67qihiHwSJABtoNIgRmKVcgmkD4RDwLuYQ8f3-9dMwbMlFlmphe3FJg0JxRoClVPw_wcB

Foreign Minister Sebastian Kurz travels to Macedonia and Serbia

https://www.bmeia.gv.at/en/the-ministry/press/announcements/2017/02/foreign-minister-sebastian-kurz-travels-to-macedonia-and-serbia/

Foreign Minister Kurz visited OSCE projects against human trafficking and people smuggling On 12 February, Foreign Minister Sebastian Kurz travelled to Macedonia for bilateral talks and meetings held in the context of the Austrian Chairmanship of the OSCE. The main focus of the trip was the migration crisis which continues to remain one of the major challenges faced by the EU.

Having arrived in Macedonia, the Foreign Minister travelled on to Gevgelija where he was received by his Macedonian counterpart Foreign Minister Nikola Poposki. During his visit, Foreign Minister Kurz was able to gain a personal impression of the migration-related work being carried out by the local OSCE Mission. The Head of the OSCE Mission to Skopje, Ambassador Nina Suomalainen, explained the activities launched by the OSCE, which focus primarily on strengthening border management and on combating human trafficking.

Macedonia played a key role in managing the migration crisis about a year ago. Austria supports Macedonia on the ground by seconding 20 police officers. Cooperation among all partner countries is of decisive importance in this context,

Foreign Minister Kurz stressed.

The Austrian law enforcement officers made an important contribution towards enabling the effective and sustainable closing of the Western Balkans route. The main focus of their activities consisted in supporting Macedonian police forces in protecting the border.

The Federal Minister then travelled on to Mrsenski Rid, where the law enforcement officers supporting the Mission reported on their work.

Since the closing of the Western Balkans route, migration flows have dropped by 98%. This means that over a four month period fewer people have set out than within two days back in 2015,

Foreign Minister Sebastian Kurz emphasised during the joint press conference with Foreign Minister Nikola Poposki.

A special highlight of the trip was the discussion with the OSCE Mission’s Youth Advisory Group on countering youth radicalisation and extremism. Combating radicalisation and violent extremism, especially among young people, are also among the priorities defined by Austria for its term as chair of the OSCE. Austria is convinced that it will only be possible to prepare effective solutions and approaches towards tackling these issues by gaining better insights and engaging in exchange with young people.

Außenminister Kurz traf Premierminister Vucic in Belgrad

On 13 February 2017, Foreign Minister Sebastian Kurz continued his trip, travelling on to Serbia. Alongside a number of meetings held in his capacity as OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, the second day of the Minister’s trip was mainly dedicated to topics related to managing the migration crisis and the closing of the Balkans route.

After having arrived in Belgrade, Foreign Minister Sebastian Kurz met the Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic and his Serbian counterpart Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic.

Together with our partners in the Western Balkans we were able to close this route to migration flows a year ago. The Western Balkan states have undertaken enormous efforts towards protecting the borders. Only by taking coordinated approaches and joint action will it be possible to ensure that illegal migration is combated successfully and in a sustainable manner,

Foreign Minister Sebastian Kurz stressed during a joint press meeting with Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic.

OSZE CiO Sebastian Kurz übergibt OSZE finanzierte Fahrzeuge und IT Equipment an Task Force gegen Schlepperei in Anwesenheit von Innenminister Nebojša Stefanović

The next item on the agenda related to the Austrian Chairmanship of the OSCE. In his capacity as Chairperson-in-Office, Federal Minister Sebastian Kurz handed over vehicles and IT equipment to the Serbian Task Force. Financed by the OSCE, the vehicles and equipment are to be used in combating human trafficking and people smuggling. The event was attended by the Serbian Minister of the Interior Nebojsa Stefanovic and the Head of the OSCE Mission to Serbia, Ambassador Andrea Orizio.

The final item on the agenda was a visit Foreign Minister Sebastian Kurz paid to the OSCE project on strengthening regional cross-border cooperation in combating organised crime exploiting the migration crisis. The OSCE project deals specifically with the role of regional cooperation in the efforts aimed at putting an end to the activities of human smugglers and traffickers.

Together with Interior Minister Stefanovic and Public Prosecutor Dolovac as well as the Head of the OSCE Mission, the Austrian delegation was able to gain more detailed insights into the training of police forces with a special focus on combating people smuggling.