Austria finds a friend

Swiss protests greeted Austria's foreign minister earlier this week

By Claire Doole in Geneva

Austria's Chancellor Wolfgang Schuessel has been welcomed on an official visit to Switzerland - in effect ending Austria's diplomatic isolation in Western Europe.

It is Mr Schuessel's first official bilateral visit since his government was diplomatically snubbed by the European Union.

EU member states limited contacts with Vienna after the far-right Freedom Party joined the governing coalition.

Good neighbour

Switzerland, which is not a member of the EU, is traditionally the country which first receives new Austrian ministers, but the Chancellor's visit has split public and political opinion.

The inclusion of the Freedom Party, known for its hardline policies on immigration, in his government, is expected to feature highly in Mr Schuessel's talks with the Swiss president, foreign and finance ministers.

But, despite Swiss reservations about the make-up of the new government, the foreign ministry insists it is following a tradition of good neighbourly relations.

Protests

However, the talks will be held outside the capital, Bern, in an attempt to keep Wolfgang Schuessel away from demonstrators.

Left-wing groups, including the Social Democrats and Greens, are strongly opposed to the visit.

Jewish organisations have warned that Switzerland risks becoming an accomplice to right-wing extremism by not following the EU example and shunning Austria.

But Switzerland has its own domestic reasons for hosting the visit - Bern wants to appease the increasingly popular nationalist right before a key vote in May on closer ties with the European Union.

It hopes that by asserting its independence over the Austrian Chancellor's visit, it can ensure a package of improved economic links with the EU is approved.