[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 7 (Wednesday, February 2, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E62]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        RIGHT-WING EXTREMISM HAS NO PLACE IN AUSTRIA'S DEMOCRACY

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. BENJAMIN A. GILMAN

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 2, 2000

  Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, recent elections in Austria produced the 
disturbing result of the far right Freedom Party receiving the second 
most votes among all the parties. The Freedom Party's leader, Joerg 
Haider, has been an advocate of anti-immigrant policies, and has voiced 
supportive opinions regarding certain policies of the Nazi era in 
Austria and Germany. Today, Austrian President Klestil is faced with a 
choice of accepting a governing coalition that would include Mr. 
Haider's party as a partner with the center right People's Party.
  Such a government would call into question Austria's longstanding 
reputation for tolerance, and as a haven for refugees from less 
fortunate countries, its strong championship of human rights, and its 
repudiation of its own unfortunate past history. As someone who has 
viewed himself as a friend of Austria, I believe it is incumbent that 
all of us in this body who value human rights to speak up and urge 
President Klestil and the Austrian people not to follow the extremist 
path represented by Mr. Haider and the Freedom Party's followers.
  We should be mindful that the Austrian Freedom Party is not a unique 
political phenomenon in Europe. There are other nations in which far 
right parties have enjoyed increasing popularity. Our position with 
regard to the next government in Austria will be closely watched by 
leaders of those other extremist parties.
  Our friends in the European Union have taken a strong position, 
indicating that they will take all possible steps to isolate Austria 
within the EU if Haider is part of the Austrian government. As 
Portugal's Prime Minister Gutteres, speaking as President of the EU, 
has said ``There comes times when we have to be faithful to our 
values.'' Our government and the Congress should also be forthright in 
expressing our views on the unacceptability of views such as those 
expressed by Mr. Haider throughout his political career.
  In doing so we must be clear that we respect the Austrian people, and 
believe that Austria's rightful place is among those nations that have 
striven for peace, justice and human rights. We urge them at this 
critical juncture in Austria's history not to depart from the path they 
have followed for more than fifty years. Whatever social or other 
problems they believe they face, the answer does not lie in the kinds 
of policies and beliefs voiced by Joerg Haider. We want to see Austria 
anchored firmly in those trans-Atlantic and European institutions that 
represent a community of shared values and political beliefs, but we 
will firmly defend those very values and beliefs that give our 
community its definition and leadership role in the world today. Right 
wing extremism should have no place in our community of nations.

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