I was shocked to read your staff editorial "Austrian Isolation a Mistake" (Opinion, Feb. 8), in which you accuse the EU member states of a "reactionary frenzy" against the new government coalition between the Social Democratic Party and the Austrian Freedom Party (FP). Your argument leaves it unclear in which way the EU countries' decisions to "downgrade Austria's diplomatic status" could lead to a backlash strengthening the support for the FP. The EU's reaction has instead strengthened the backs of the thousands of Austrians marching in protest against the new government in Vienna. The fact that the two coalition parties were both "democratically elected" also does not mean that the majority of the voters agree with the FP, which in fact holds little more than 20 percent of the seats in parliament, and there was no opportunity for voters to express their opinion about the decision to form a coalition.

This diplomatic downgrade furthermore does not imply complete isolation--a purely political measure is not an economic embargo. Neither does this mean that the other EU member states will cease to "attentively watch Austrian political developments"; a diplomatic downgrade does not imply averting one's eyes from the issue but rather is a signal of serious concern.

Furthermore, the "downgrade" is entirely in line with the laws of the European Union. Under the title "Threats to Democracy Through Extreme Parties and Political Movements," the EU unanimously passed a bill which "appeals to the Members of the European Union to deny all support to extreme parties of a racist or xenophobic character, including the refusal to cooperate with any elected representatives from such parties."

I would rather not wait until the new government "has done anything tangibly wrong" or used "any extra-democratic means" and then try and remedy a situation beyond redemption. As a citizen of Germany, I am painfully aware that waiting and hoping is not the right approach.

Cathrin B. Bauer '00

Feb. 8, 2000