‘Austria should not turn its back on Turkey’: Lawmaker

VIENNA, AUSTRIA - JANUARY 23: Martha Bissman, an independent member of the Austrian parliament speaks in an interview in Vienna, Austria on January 23, 2019. Austria should not turn its back on an important ally like Turkey but seek to boost bilateral ties, according toBissman. Speaking to Anadolu Agency, Martha Bissman said: “A fair and equal level of dialogue should be established to improve bilateral relations.” “We should not turn our back to an important ally like Turkey due to various reasons,” Bisman added, pointing around 250,000 Turkish-origin people currently living in Austria. She said Turkey hosts around 5 million refugees from Syria and neighboring countries and added that it “has a position of stability for the region and a safe castle for Europe.” “It is not an honest approach when you need something, you establish good relations [with Turkey], but, saying ‘I do not accept this’ when Turkey wants something from you,” Bisman stressed. Praising Austrian Foreign Minister Karin Kneissl’s steps to boost ties with Turkey, she expressed her desire to accompany Kneissl during her next visit to Turkey and hold political talks there. The ties between the two countries had soured due to restrictions imposed by Austrian authorities in 2017 on Turkish politicians who wanted to campaign in the country ahead of a key referendum in Turkey. However, the relations have been improving since the two top diplomats of Turkey and Austria pointed to “a new era” beginning in bilateral relations last year during mutual visits and the two countries agreed to take some decisions to normalize relations. On Turkey’s EU bid, Bismann said, “I think negotiations with Turkey should restart. … Such negotiation processes could last for a long time but it should be handled with patience, good diplomacy, and sensitivity.” “Restarting the negotiations would be very true signal to normalize the relations with Turkey, particularly in these days,” she added.
VIENNA, AUSTRIA - JANUARY 23: Martha Bissman, an independent member of the Austrian parliament speaks in an interview in Vienna, Austria on January 23, 2019. Austria should not turn its back on an important ally like Turkey but seek to boost bilateral ties, according toBissman. Speaking to Anadolu Agency, Martha Bissman said: “A fair and equal level of dialogue should be established to improve bilateral relations.” “We should not turn our back to an important ally like Turkey due to various reasons,” Bisman added, pointing around 250,000 Turkish-origin people currently living in Austria. She said Turkey hosts around 5 million refugees from Syria and neighboring countries and added that it “has a position of stability for the region and a safe castle for Europe.” “It is not an honest approach when you need something, you establish good relations [with Turkey], but, saying ‘I do not accept this’ when Turkey wants something from you,” Bisman stressed. Praising Austrian Foreign Minister Karin Kneissl’s steps to boost ties with Turkey, she expressed her desire to accompany Kneissl during her next visit to Turkey and hold political talks there. The ties between the two countries had soured due to restrictions imposed by Austrian authorities in 2017 on Turkish politicians who wanted to campaign in the country ahead of a key referendum in Turkey. However, the relations have been improving since the two top diplomats of Turkey and Austria pointed to “a new era” beginning in bilateral relations last year during mutual visits and the two countries agreed to take some decisions to normalize relations. On Turkey’s EU bid, Bismann said, “I think negotiations with Turkey should restart. … Such negotiation processes could last for a long time but it should be handled with patience, good diplomacy, and sensitivity.” “Restarting the negotiations would be very true signal to normalize the relations with Turkey, particularly in these days,” she added.
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DETAILS

Restrictions:
NO SALES IN AZERBAIJAN, TURKEY, MIDDLE EAST AND THE BALKANS.
Editorial #:
1098274564
Collection:
Anadolu
Date created:
23 January, 2019
Upload date:
Licence type:
Rights-ready
Release info:
Not released. More information
Clip length:
00:06:04:09
Location:
Austria
Mastered to:
QuickTime 8-bit H.264 HD 1920x1080 25p
Source:
Anadolu Agency Video
Object name:
aa_17452702.mov