Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić, by awarding high decorations on the occasion of Statehood Day to two Austrian officials, is showing that he is continuing to intensify relations with Austria, and especially with the far-right Freedom Party of Austria (FPOe), the Profil newspaper writes today.
The weekly on the website profil.at writes that this year, among the numerous recipients of the order were the head of the Vienna branch of the FPOe, Maximilian Kraus, and the director of the Austrian Federal Police, Michael Takacs, who personally came to Belgrade to receive the Order of the Serbian Flag, Second Class.
Kraus explained the awarding of the order by saying that in Vienna there is "constructive dialogue with mutual respect with the Serbian community", and that "between Austrians and Serbs, unlike some other immigrant groups from Islamic countries, there is a common basis of values and a binding Christian foundation".
Takač also personally received the medal and said that he advocates "for the strengthening and peaceful cooperation between Serbia and Austria," and when asked by Profil, he did not want to comment further.
"The fact that Kraus and Takač received the order shows that Vučić is further intensifying his ties with Austria, and especially with FPOe politicians," writes Profil, recalling that last year Vučić even awarded the first degree Order to the head of the FPOe parliamentary group in the European Parliament, Harald Vilimski, "who proudly writes on social media about his ties with Serbia and above all Vučić."
This decision, writes Profil, was harshly criticized by the vice president of the Freedom and Justice Party, Borko Stefanović, stating that Vilimski is a representative of a party that opposes the social rights of Serbs in Austria.
When it comes to Serbian state decorations, other controversial Austrians are also listed alongside the FPOs, such as Nobel Prize winner Peter Handke, "whose pro-Serbian stance during the breakup of Yugoslavia attracted attention and criticism throughout the world," who was awarded the "Star of Karađorđe" of the first order, the portal writes.
Among the recipients of Serbian decorations is the former president of the Austrian Chamber of Commerce (WKO), Christoph Leitl, writes Profil.
"This year, the cycle continues. The list of this year's winners sounds like an absurd 'Who's Who', which Vučić uses for his own symbolism. Hanko Balaš, the Hungarian Minister of Culture, is the recipient of the highest award, the Order of the First Degree. In Hungary, Balaš is the target of harsh criticism for his restrictive policy towards minorities," writes Profil.
The left-liberal weekly adds that a Chinese entrepreneur was also awarded for investments in Serbia, as well as the father of a woman who died in the collapse of the railway station canopy in Novi Sad, which triggered a wave of mass protests.
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