"Current Challenges to Neutrality: Lessons Learned from Austria"

In collaboration with the Embassy of Austria in Lebanon, IFI held a discussion on “Current Challenges to Neutrality: Lessons Learned from Austria” on June 12. The discussion featured International Law Expert and Legal Advisor to the Austrian Foreign Ministry Ambassador Helmut Tichy, with the participation of Austrian Ambassador to Lebanon René Paul Amry, former Lebanese Foreign Minister and IFI Associate Fellow Nassif Hitti, and moderated by Institute Director Joseph Bahout. 

The discussion explored the challenges faced by Austria’s current neutralist policy and analyzed the difficulties involved in defining and adopting neutrality in Lebanon. Tichy provided a historical background on neutrality in Austria, highlighting its continued relevance as a significant issue both in the past and present. He emphasized that Austria's model of neutrality primarily revolves around military neutrality, rather than political neutrality. He also mentioned Austria's status as a neutral state within the European Union and expressed the country's commitment to demonstrating full solidarity with Ukraine in the face of Russian aggression. From his end, Hitti emphasized the importance of diplomacy in protecting small countries. He argued that small nations require robust diplomatic efforts to safeguard their interests effectively. Hitti stressed the need for political pro-active neutrality in Lebanon to ensure stability for its people.