Tom Lantos: “last week I called the attention of my colleagues to the rise of neofacism in Austria. The deed is now done. The…”

“last week I called the attention of my colleagues to the rise of neofacism in Austria. The deed is now done. The extremist, racist, xenophobic FPO party has entered the Government of Austria. I want to thank all of my colleagues on both sides of the aisle who have joined me in supporting this resolution expressing our regret and dismay. Joerg Haider, the leader of this party, had ample praise for Adolf Hitler and for SS veterans whom he described as ``decent people with character who stuck to their beliefs.'' I want to commend the European Union, all 14 nations, which have chosen to downgrade their diplomatic relations with Austria. I want to commend our own State Department for recalling our Ambassador to Austria and for promising to watch developments carefully. At a time, Mr. Speaker, when the European Union, the United States, and other democratic nations are working actively to discourage ethnic hatred in the republics of the former Yugoslavia and elsewhere, Joerg Haider and his neofascist allies are appealing to racist sentiment and xenophobia. Haider learned this lesson early on. His father joined the Nazi Party in 1929. His mother was an active and enthusiastic Nazi Party member as a teacher. Haider has surely learned the lesson well. We recognize the right of the Austrian people to elect anybody they choose. However, we reserve the right to express our views when people elect Communist totalitarian regimes or Fascist totalitarian regimes.”