Austria to Start Golan Pullout Wednesday
Austrian troops in the U.N. monitoring force on the Golan Heights will begin pulling out on Wednesday, the defense ministry said, just days after Vienna's controversial decision to quit the mission.
"Between 60 and 80 troops will return to Austria tomorrow afternoon," defense ministry spokesman Andreas Strobl told Agence France Presse Tuesday.
"This will be the first of several groups... we will gradually bring the soldiers back to Austria," he added.
The alpine state, which has been a cornerstone of the U.N. force monitoring a ceasefire between Syria and Israel since 1974, announced on Thursday that it would withdraw its peacekeepers because of deteriorating security on the strategic plateau.
Defense Minister Gerald Klug said the pullout of Austria's soldiers on the Golan would take between two and four weeks.
Some 380 are currently stationed there, according to the ministry.
A top Israeli government official told AFP Tuesday that several dozen Austrian troops had already left the mission's headquarters. Israeli public radio said they were administrative staff.
"But the majority of soldiers will remain in place until the U.N. has found a country that can send troops to replace the Austrian ones," said the Israeli official, who asked not to be named.
The UN is trying to persuade Austria to slow down its withdrawal.
Foreign Minister Michael Spindelegger said however Tuesday that he wanted it to happen "as quickly as possible."
On Monday, he defended the country's move in the face of criticism by Israel and some Austrian opposition parties, and concerns at the United Nations.
"We took this decision in the government and we are going to implement it," he said after a national security council meeting.
The Austrian pullout will leave the U.N. Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF), headquartered in Quneitra, with just 341 troops from the Philippines and 193 from India.
Japan and Croatia have also withdrawn in recent months as battles between Syrian government and opposition forces spread into the ceasefire zone.
President Vladimir Putin said last week that Russian troops could replace the Austrians but under the terms of the 1974 accord that created the force, members of the U.N. Security Council are not allowed to take part.
The U.S. ambassador to Vienna voiced regret Tuesday over the Austrian decision and called for it to be reviewed.
"Austria should have called for a wider discussion at the U.N. about improving the weapons and equipment for the troops," he was quoted as saying in Die Presse.
Source: Agence France Presse
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