Official: Austria alone cannot lift sanctions from Russia

GORKI, Moscow Region, Feb 3 (PRIME) -- Austria cannot lift anti-Moscow sanctions, as the country acts in the framework of the E.U., which says that only implementation of the Minsk agreements may lead to their lifting, Austrian Vice Chancellor Reinhold Mitterlehner said Wednesday at a meeting with Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev.

“We as Austria cannot lift sanctions. We are acting in the framework of the E.U., we should act in the framework of the E.U. This is connected to development of the Minsk process in the first place. We want to point out that Ukraine plays a very important part in the implementation of the Minsk agreements. And we are trying to develop bilateral relations around the Minsk accord,” he said.

Due to the sanctions, trade relations and mutual investments of Russia and Austria have contracted, and both countries suffer losses, he added.

On Monday, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said that prerequisites for lifting of the sanctions will appear only after implementation of the Minsk agreements. Previously, French Economy, Industry and Digital Affairs Minister Emmanuel Macron said Paris expects the sanctions to be lifted this summer.

Under the Minsk-2 agreements signed in February 2015, Ukraine and self-proclaimed Donetsk and Luhansk republics are to keep a ceasefire and withdraw heavy weapons from the contact line, while Ukraine is to adopt amendments to constitution considering decentralization, taking into account the two regions. The sides are also to agree on elections in the two regions.

The agreements were to be fulfilled by December 31, 2015, but the deadline was extended as all sides failed to implement the agreements in time.

In 2014, relations between Russia and the West deteriorated to their worse since the Cold War due to a military conflict in Ukraine. The West introduced sanctions against some Russian individuals and firms and further against the energy and banking sectors. In response, Russia limited food imports from some countries, including the U.S., the E.U., Canada, Australia, and Norway.

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