Austrian official disappointed over EU decision to extend Russian sanctions

The president of the Austrian Economic Chambers Christoph Leitl on Tuesday expressed his disagreement over the European Union's decision to prolong sanctions against Russia until early 2017.

"Following positive signals from Russian President Vladimir Putin, this reaction is a disappointment for me," he told the APA in an interview.

Leitl said he would have preferred the 28 EU member states to instead opt for an approach to sanctions that could have been more selective, such as to phase a part of them in or out as would be appropriate.

He lamented that throughout Europe it is now "acceptable that we engage in mutual harm," and that suggestions by some Austrian and German officials to ease back on the sanctions a little should have been followed.

"An easing of tensions can only happen when both sides move together progressively," he added. Enditem