Feeling pressured
December 21, 2009
The US Ambassador to Austria, William Eacho, has responded to comments made by Austria's defense minister that Washington was placing "improper" pressure on Vienna to boost its troop numbers in Afghanistan.
In an interview published Friday by the Austrian daily Der Standard, defense minister Norbert Darabos complained that Eacho had repeatedly and publicly urged Austria to send more troops.
"The pressure from the Americans is relatively strong. Sometimes it is a little improper," he said. "He (Eacho) should accept that Austria is a sovereign state. We will not give in to this pressure."
In response, Eacho wrote a letter to Der Standard, which was published Monday. In it he wrote "It is the duty of any ambassador to defend the interests and policies of his or her country. This is in no way 'improper'."
He also said Austria did not necessarily have to contribute militarily but could instead provide support in areas such as "development, governance, and rule of law".
In 2002, Austria sent 60 soldiers to the NATO-led Afghanistan mission, of whom only three remain stationed in Kabul. Darabos says Austria plans to focus its military attention in the Balkans and the Golan Heights, on the border between Israel and Syria.
mk/AFP/AP
Editor: Ranty Islam