Austria Ex-President Remains Optimistic About EU-Russia Ties

Former Austrian President Heinz Fischer remains optimistic about the future of EU-Russia relations.

SOCHI (Sputnik) — Former President of Austria Heinz Fischer remains optimistic about the future of EU-Russia relations and hopes to see deescalation of the Syrian conflict, which is one of the most problematic issues in bilateral ties, over the next year, Fischer said on Thursday.

"We have several sources for tensions, that is true, but we must accept one challenge after another and try to improve the situation…. I am optimistic about our relations," Fischer, who left presidential post in July 2016. There is the conflict in Syria. I hope that the next year will bring such tension progressing in calming down in Syria," he pointed out adding that if the peace settlement process in Ukraine and Syria makes advances, "the situation between the European Union and Russia will also improve," as he told reporters at Valdai Discussion Club meeting in Sochi.

Anti-Russian sanctions inflict damage on both EU member states' and Russian economies, corresponding political solutions should be found in order to phase them out, Former President of Austria Heinz Fischer said on Thursday.

"Without doubt, sanctions [against Russia] harm not only Austrian economy, but the economy of several European countries, and they harm the economy of Russia," Fischer, who left presidential post in July 2016. It's our duty to find political solutions that will make it possible to reduce and finally lift the sanctions," he added.

He expressed hope that the situation in Syria would not warrant new sanctions form the European Union.

"I hope very much that developments in Syria are not such that in the European Union the conviction is growing that it needs more pressure to improve the situation in Syria…. Sanctions are not the goal and reason for themselves, they are an instrument of policy, and if the situation exists where one or another side believes sanctions are necessary, then something went wrong," Fischer added.

He called to elaborate a policy on Syria that would not involve such measures and to find political solutions for the Ukraine conflict settlement in order to facilitate lifting of those restrictions that have already been imposed on Russia.

"So we have to try to make a policy where sanctions are not necessary…. It's our duty to find political solutions that will make it possible to reduce and finally lift the sanctions," Fischer said.

Since 2014, relations between Russia and the European Union deteriorated amid the crisis in Ukraine. Brussels, Washington and their allies have introduced several rounds of anti-Russia sanctions since Crimea became part of Russia in 2014 and for Moscow's alleged involvement in the Ukrainian conflict. Russia has repeatedly refuted the allegations, warning that the Western sanctions are counterproductive and undermine global stability.

The tensions have exacerbated in light of the situation in Syria, especially in the embattled city of Aleppo, with certain EU politicians, including UK Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson and German Chancellor Angela Merkel, raising the issue of possible Syria-related sanctions against Russia.