VIENNA, December 28. /TASS/. Since Austria is responsible for the worsening in relations with Russia, Vienna should take the initiative in restoring them, Russian Ambassador to Austria Dmitry Lyubinsky said in an interview with TASS.

"The current Austrian leadership has deliberately chosen to rock the solid foundation of bilateral cooperation, built over decades, for which it is fully and totally responsible, including to its own citizens," the Russian diplomat said. "That’s not our choice, and we have no intention of persuading anybody. <…> The ball is in Austria’s court," he added, when asked if any rapprochement could take place.

Against the backdrop of the hostile policy course being pursued by Vienna, no major breakthrough can be expected in this sphere in the short term, Lyubinsky said. "We are under no illusions about any fundamental rethink of the anti-Russian course being followed by the majority of unfriendly European countries," he emphasized.

While, according to Lyubinsky, it is too early to say if Austria would abandon the anti-Russian course after next year’s parliamentary elections, he cited recent polls showing a voter shift toward a change in the historically neutral Central European country’s policies.

Commenting on the upcoming vote in Austria, the diplomat concluded: "We have always respected and will continue to respect their sovereign choice and we are open to dialogue with all political forces, regardless of whether they sit in the country’s government or in the opposition."

Austria will hold a parliamentary election next fall. The latest opinion polls show that the opposition Freedom Party of Austria, which is against anti-Russian sanctions, enjoys the most voter support.