Austria disapproves withdrawing soldiers from UN forces in Golan

Austrian President Heinz Fischer expressed his disapproval of withdrawing his country's forces from the UN peacekeeping mission in the Golan Heights, Syria. Fischer told the Austrian Broadcasting Corporation, Tuesday, that despite rising concerns over the safety of the troops in the conflict-torn Syria, it was very important that the Austrian forces remain in the Golan Heights. He noted that if his country withdrew its soldiers, it would put the rest of the 380 UN peacekeepers in danger. Nonetheless, the President called on sending more reinforcements to Syria as the tension is increasing. He also urged for finding solutions regarding the ongoing conflict. The president's statement came in response to the Chancellor of Austria Werder Faymann's threat to withdraw Austrian soldiers from the Golan Heights, if the EU lifted the arms embargo on the Syrian Opposition. The UN peacekeeping mission in the Golan Heights has been separating both Syrian and Israeli forces since 1974.