In October 1955, the Federal Assembly passed a constitutional law in which "Austria declares of her own free will her perpetual neutrality."
In recent years, however, Austria has begun to reassess its definition of neutrality, granting overflight rights for the UN-sanctioned action against Iraq in 1991, and, since 1995, contemplating participation in the EU's evolving security structure.
SPÖ and FPÖ, in turn, believe continued neutrality is the cornerstone of Austria's foreign policy, and a majority of the population generally supports this stance.
[1] Sanctions were lifted in September 2000 after a three-member panel assessed human rights and political life in Austria.
Furthermore, the Permanent Secretariat of an international territorial treaty for the sustainable development of the Alps called the Alpine Convention is located in Tyrol's capital Innsbruck.
Austria traditionally has been active in "bridge-building to the east," increasing contacts at all levels with Eastern Europe and the states of the former Soviet Union.
Austrians maintain a constant exchange of business representatives, investment, trade, political leaders, students, cultural groups, and tourists with the countries of central and eastern Europe.
Both countries established diplomatic relations on 25 August 1834 when has been appointed Anton Prokesch von Osten as the first Ambassador of Austria to Greece.