An Honorable European Union Member
Austria
The European Union considers itself the guardian of democratic values, entrusted with sustaining the peace that has prevailed in Western Europe since World War II ended. In a February 3 resolution signed by 14 member states, the European Parliament condemned the provocative (and, many say, corrosive) rhetoric of Jörg Haider, then chairman of Austria’s Freedom Party. The resolution also said that to form a new government including such a party “legitimizes the extreme right in Europe”( www.sun.com). The signatories imposed sanctions that isolated Austria diplomatically and put the new government in Vienna “under observation.” Few, it seems, recalled that for forty-five years Austria had been a constitutional democracy noted for its political stability. Furthermore, its neutral status made it a haven for political refugees and an important dialogue partner on human rights issues.
In May 2004, the European Union will welcome 10 new......
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Approximate Word Count: 657
Approximate Pages: 3 (260 words per double-spaced page) |