AUSTRIA, January 18 - Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg participated in the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, on 18 and 19 January 2023. Under the event’s motto “Cooperation in a Fragmented World”, the core issues that the Foreign Minister addressed were the globally felt negative effects of the Russian war of aggression and the EU integration of the Western Balkan states. In addition to numerous bilateral meetings and conversations with representatives of international organisations, his schedule also included a panel discussion about the dialogue in the Western Balkans and a fireside chat with American news channel CNBC.

Despite all the difficulties, Foreign Minister Schallenberg advocated setting aside the desire for fatalism:

The prophets of doom are once again having their day in Europe. We should look at European integration as a whole and consider the 90% of everything that is going well, not the 10% that isn’t working.

Alongside the forum, the Foreign Minister also met with Volker Türk, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights; David Beasley, the Executive Director of the United Nations World Food Programme; and Odile Françoise Renaud-Basso, the President of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development to discuss their essential work on humanitarian matters, not just in Ukraine, but worldwide. For instance, last year Austria significantly increased its contribution to humanitarian aid, specifically in the context of the Russian aggression, and is also making important contributions to help reduce suffering worldwide.

The war may be taking place in Europe, but it is not a European war – its effects are being felt globally, especially by the poorest of the poor. The work of the United Nations is essential here, and Austria will continue to support it in the future – with financial as well as human resources. However, our clear goal must be not only to treat the symptoms, but to put an end to the cause of the suffering,

said the Foreign Minister.

Now more than ever, he said, it is important to show solidarity with all the countries that are committed to creating a rule-based world order in a fragmented world. Foreign Minister Schallenberg repeatedly called for this solidarity, including during meetings with his counterpart from South Africa, Naledi Pandor, and his counterpart from Iraq, Fuad Hussein. In his dicussions, he also made it clear that inflation and food insecurity were the result not of European sanctions, but of the Russian attack.

The discussion format “Diplomacy Dialogue on the Western Balkans”, in which Foreign Minister Schallenberg took part, was dedicated to the task of further supporting dialogue in the region.

We cannot afford to have instability in a region that is surrounded by EU member states. Geopolitics abhors a vacuum – either our European, rule-based value system will prevail, or another system that is influenced from the outside. However, the trajectory of the Western Balkans is moving in a clear direction: towards Europe. Given the goals of upholding our values and implementing reforms, they deserve credible accession prospects that will bind them more closely to the EU,

affirmed Foreign Minister Schallenberg.

In this context, the EU Special Representative for the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue, Miroslav Lajčák, will play an especially important role. During a brainstorming session with him, Foreign Minister Schallenberg mentioned that de-escalation measures were essential right now, and that both sides needed a clear timetable and a willingness to compromise in order to make a rapprochement possible.

The annual World Economic Forum in Davos is taking place for the 53^rd time; each year, it brings together leading economic experts, scientists, and political decision-makers to discuss current global issues.