Austria Not Prepared to Sacrifice Good Relations with Israel

Chancellor Bruno Kreisky said today that Austria was not prepared to sacrifice good relations with Israel for good relations with the Arab countries. At a dinner, given in honor of visiting Premier Mahmoud El Ayyoubi of Syria, Kreisky said Austria wanted good relations with all countries. “But we cannot imagine any such relations, if they would harm relations with other countries.”

Kreisky said Austria wanted to maintain the same good relations with the Arab countries as 1: has had with Israel, “but we are not prepared to sacrifice our good relations with Israel.” He told his Syrian guest that thousands of Austrian-born people found new homes in Israel and hundreds of thousands of them could save themselves from persecution only by escaping there. “Moreover, Israel has created a modern state in the Middle East.” Kreisky said. “It would be incompatible with our civilization, if we would not recognize that fact.”

Kreisky told Ayyoubi he had to make these statements because he was sure the Syrian Premier would also explain his stand. “Therefore, Mr. Premier, please allow me to tell you mine.” Ayyoubi arrived in Vienna yesterday for a three-day official visit. He had talks with Kreisky on Syrian-Austrian relations, the situation in the Middle East and Arab-European relations. Ayyoubi also paid a courtesy visit to President Rudolf Kirch-Schlaeger. Ayyoubi will visit tomorrow the nationalized Voeest steel mill in Linz, Austria’s biggest nationalized industrial complex.