Ukraine | Message to Austria

[Vaka]

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Encryption: Top Secret
Recipient: Michael Spindelegger, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Austria
Sender: Oleksiy Hnatyuk, Ukrainian Ambassador to Austria. Merzia
Subject: Opening diplomatic relations.

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Your Excellency,


On behalf of the Government of Ukraine, I extend respectful greetings to the New Government of Austria and the return of the Imperial Monarchy.

Ukraine recognizes Austria as a nation with a long history of neutrality, economic power, and critical importance to the overall wellbeing of Europe. As both of our countries have recently began the long process of rebuilding our structures of government, we believe that the establishment of official diplomatic relations between our two nations would be of great mutual benefit.

With that being said, I have been recently appointed the Ukrainian Ambassador to Austria. With hopes to not remain idle, I email you today in hopes of setting up a meeting at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the near future in hopes of exploring cooperation across several key sectors. These key sectors for cooperation, including but not limited to:

• Economic and industrial cooperation
• Trade and investment facilitation
• Energy dialogue and infrastructure development
• Financial sector engagement
• Cultural and institutional exchange

Ukraine approaches this meeting in a spirit of deep respect for Austria’s traditions of neutrality and comprehensive international engagement. We have the full intention of building a relationship grounded in practical cooperation and mutual benefit.

We would be grateful for your consideration of this proposal and stand ready to coordinate this meeting at your earliest convenience.



Respectfully,

Oleksiy Hnatyuk
Ukrainian Ambassador to Austria
Republic of Ukraine

 

[Merzia]

Encrypted & Classified​

Staat Österreich
Ministerium für Internationale Angelegenheiten​

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To: Oleksiy Hnatyuk, Ukrainian Ambassador to Austria Vaka

From: Michael Spindelegger, Minister of Foreign Affairs

Subject: Re: Opening diplomatic relations

Dear Ambassador Hnatyuk,

On behalf of the State of Austria, I extend my sincere appreciation for your courteous message and kind remarks regarding our new Government.

We welcome you to Vienna on your recent appointment and thank you for reaching out to establish official diplomatic engagement and explore avenues for bilateral cooperation. We share your view that dialogue grounded in mutual respect and collaboration will serve the interests of both our nations and contribute positively to the wider European landscape.

We are pleased to accept your proposal for discussions. I would be honoured to receive you for a meeting, and invite you here to the Ministry at your earliest convenience. In the meantime our diplomatic team will make the necessary preparations to ensure a productive exchange on the areas you have outlined.

We look forward to welcoming you and to the beginning of a constructive and mutually beneficial dialogue between Austria and Ukraine.

Sincerely,

Michael Spindelegger

Minister of Foreign Affairs
State of Austria

 

[Vaka]

Location: Ukrainian Embassy, Vienna.
Date: June 3, 2008
Time: 0930

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The embassy was neatly situated in the Hietzing district (Vienna’s 13th district), one of the city’s most prestigious and secure diplomatic-residential areas. It was a restored 19th-century villa in Viennese classical style. The morning sun illuminated the stone façade with a Ukrainian flag being displayed prominently.

Oleksiy Hnatyuk sat in the courtyard of the Ukrainian embassy in Vienna. He was sitting in an ornate wooden chair just inside the elaborate garden reading this morning's copy of The Kiev Independent. His pipe sat in the crook of his mouth as he glanced over the international section. Here were stories of recent breakthroughs with both the Turkish and the Iranians. New trade deals and closer overall ties for the future they explained. He took a long puff off the old Soviet style pipe and quickly folded up the paper. “I’ll have to do them one better.” he said aloud.

Ambassador Hnatyuk was an older man. Nearly 45 years since he went to work for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, although when he started it was called the People's Commissars of Foreign Affairs. He grinned to himself thinking about his younger years. But as he stood to meet the embassy security team moving toward him, his knees started with their usual dull throbbing.

“Ambassador Hnatyuk, Alpha team is ready to transport you to the Austrian Foreign Ministry.” a younger woman dressed in a dark suit explained.

“Yes, Yes.” the ambassador mumbled as he gathered his things. “It's time for diplomacy and an ounce of the realpolitik!”

Both of the security personnel discretely rolled their eyes as the man started towards the entryway. “Do you need your cane sir?” one of them asked as he was almost in the car now.

“Leave it!” the ambassador shouted with a hint of a laugh and closed the door.

They made their way to the Austrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs without any issues. When they arrived, the ambassador waited just outside the entrance and prepared to be greeted.

Merzia​