Zambia to facilitate Austria’s diplomatic comeback

ZAMBIA is ready to facilitate a diplomatic come back for the republic of Austria, Foreign Affairs Minister Joseph Malanji has said. Mr Malanji said, through his permanent secretary for administration Ronald Simwinga during a high-level meeting with a diplomatic and business delegation from Austria, Zambia provides a better environment for physical diplomatic escalation in the region largely due to its location and associations. “We belong to SADC and COMESA which are crucial for economic diplomacy and we are also surrounded by eight countries which makes us the ideal location for diplomatic representation,” said Dr Simwinga. Dr Simwinga reminded the delegation of the warm history Zambia enjoyed with Austria before they ceased having an embassy in Zambia and Zimbabwe about 1989 due to logistical concerns. “I have travelled to Austria a number of times myself as a Treasury Official and I know that we worked well together,” he said. And Zambia’s Ambassador to Germany and Austria, Anthony Mukwita who facilitated the back to back meetings that commenced with a top call to the Vice President, Inonge Wina on Wednesday said the gesture was a milestone that could lead to greater and closer relations with Austria, a triple A rated European country with a GDP of almost US$500 billion. “We are grateful to the ministry for facilitating these meetings as we seek to escalate economic diplomacy and we also are grateful to Austria and Dr Peterlik and Mr Messinger for making the long trip here,” Mr Mukwita said. The Austrian delegation was led by the most senior diplomat in the Foreign office Dr Johannes Peterlik accompanied by honorary consul of Zambia to Austria and businessman Heinz Messinger along with a business delegation. AME International, an Austrian company, is seeking to upgrade the Cancer Centre and the paediatric ward at UTH through the facilitation of Heinz Messinger who visited the hospital in July and has access to zero rated financing from the government of Austria in order to save lives. Dr Peterlik said once Austria makes the decision to expand its foot print in Africa, Zambia would definitely be the country to consider on the top of the list largely due to its unparalleled history of 55 years of peace. The delegation is expected to leave Zambia by the weekend after Mr Mukwita also meets the Secretary to the Cabinet Dr Simon Miti who has an interest in the proceedings.