Kozarev meets with Austrian chancellor's foreign policy adviser

VIENNA - The secretary-general at the Serbian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Dusan Kozarev, met on Wednesday in Vienna with Peter Launsky-Tieffenthal, the Austrian chancellor's foreign policy adviser and special envoy for global affairs.

"The discussions focused on bilateral relations between Serbia and Austria, which were assessed as constructive and of strategic importance for the region — particularly in the context of advancing the European integration process of the Western Balkan countries. In this regard, Austria once again expressed its strong and continued support," the MFA said in a statement.

"Kozarev expressed his gratitude to Mr Launsky-Tieffenthal for Austria’s diplomatic efforts in supporting Serbia’s appeal for a swift release of Serbian citizen Alon Ohel, who has been held in captivity by Hamas in Gaza under dire and inhumane conditions since October 7, 2023, when he was abducted from a music festival."

The parties welcomed an initiative by US President Donald Trump to broker a 60-day ceasefire in Gaza and facilitate a prisoner exchange, and expressed the hope that the proposal would materialise soon.

"Kozarev and Launsky-Tieffenthal also exchanged views on the current geopolitical landscape," the MFA said.

The meeting was also attended by Serbia's ambassador to Austria Marko Blagojevic.