Austrian Foreign Minister Leopold Gratz told a group of prominent Jewish leaders that his government supported the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination, and, if needed, the establishment of a Palestinian state in order to reach a settlement of the Arab-Israeli conflict.
Gratz added that Austria advocates the mutual recognition of all parties to the Middle East conflict, and the right of all states in the region to live within secure and internationally recognized borders. Without naming any other foreign forces in Lebanon, he called on Israel to withdraw its “occupation forces” from that country.
Gratz was responding to a question on the Austrian Mideast policy. Austrian-Israel relations, although reportedly improving, reached a low point during the leadership of Chancellor Bruno Kreisky, who although Jewish, had been consistently critical of Israeli policies and maintained cordial relations with Arab countries and with Palestine Liberation Organization chief Yasir Arafat.
Some two dozen prominent Jewish leaders met with Gratz here yesterday in the Seagrams Building under the auspices of the American Section of the World Jewish Congress. Edgar Bronfman, president of the WJC, hosted the 90-minute meeting. Gratz is in New York for the 39th session of the United Nations General Assembly.
When asked about Kreisky’s Mideast policies, Gratz pointed out that Austria’s current policy does not necessarily reflect a continuation of the former Chancellor’s policy, although he praised Kreisky’s role as Austria’s leader. He stepped down last year and was replaced by Fred Sinowatz.
However, Gratz, a former Mayor of Vienna for II years until he was recently named Foreign Minister, stressed that Kreisky’s concern for the Palestinian people as well as Jews in the Soviet Union, was based on humanitarian needs. “He was not motivated by any ulterior motives,” the Austrian official said.
FAVORS INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON THE MIDEAST
With regard to the proposal of an international conference on the Middle East, to include the U.S. the USSR, the Arab states, Israel and the PLO, Gratz said Austria has in the past favored this concept. He said Austria was not concerned about any one particular group’s participation, but viewed the conference as a means to break the impasse in the Arab-Israeli dispute.
Asked about what one Jewish leader described as the “cozy” relationship between the PLO and Austria, Gratz rejected the term cozy to describe their relations. But he seemed to suggest that the PLO has emerged as the only viable representative of the Palestinian people and should be involved in negotiations.
Bronfman, at the conclusion of the meeting, thanked Gratz for his views on the Middle East, but noted that he disagreed with the Austrian leader on his views toward the establishment of a Palestinian state. According to Bronfman, the Camp David process with its outline for a plan granting autonomy is the “only way to peace.”
One Jewish leader raised the topic of Austrian anti-Semitism. Gratz noted that a recently concluding scientific survey said that some 20 to 25 percent of Austrian youths have anti-Semitic views. He noted that many of those youth in this category came from communities where there are few, if any, Jews.
Leon Zelman, the director of the Jewish Welcome Service, noted that Austria has begun an intensive educational effort to offset anti-Semitic sentiments in Austria. He pointed out that more than 350,000 Austrian students last year visited the Mauthausen concentration camp.
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