VIENNA, March 29. /TASS/. Washington is seeking to disintegrate relations between its European allies and Moscow, Russian Ambassador to Austria Dmitry Lyubinsky said in an interview with TASS.
Commenting on media reports that the US recently threatened the Vienna-based Raiffeisen Bank International (RBI) banking group with sanctions because of its business operations in Russia, the ambassador said that he did not wish to speculate on this issue. "The fact that Austria's largest banking group, RBI, is under scrutiny by foreign and European regulators is no secret. The reasons for such heightened interest and regular inspections are also, I think, clear to everyone. Washington makes no secret of the fact that it aims at the maximum disruption of relations between its own European, supposedly, partners and allies, and Moscow. For its own benefit," he said.
The recent arrival in Vienna of a representative of the US Treasury Department, followed by Secretary of State Antony Blinken, have had a negative impact on the Austrian bank’s stock price.
"As it seems, this is being done to finally induce ultra-cautious [Austrian] bankers to give up their lucrative Russian business. There are not enough arguments and reasons, because there are many Western companies and banks, including American ones, that continue to operate in our country - that (Western pressure - TASS) includes other mechanisms, including by means of public pressure," the diplomat said.
Lyubinsky pointed out that the US "has never been particularly shy" in selecting the means for solving its own problems.
Situation with Raiffeisen Bank
Earlier, EUObserver reported that the US Treasury Department had warned Austria-based Raiffeisen Bank International (RBI) that it risks being cut off from the US financial system if it continues to operate in Russia, thus, according to Washington, helping the Russian army. US Deputy Assistant Treasury Secretary for Global Affairs Anna Morris discussed the issue with Austrian government officials and RBI management in Vienna, the media said. The bank itself denied reports that it had been threatened by the US Department of the Treasury.