Read the latest headlines about bilateral relations in the areas of economy, business, diplomacy, culture and tourism between Austria and its partners
Vienna's Foreign and Bilateral Relations
War in Iran: Austria for EU Mediation Role
In view of the tense situation in the Middle East, Austrian Foreign Minister Schallenberg pleads at a special meeting of EU foreign ministers in Brussels for a return to dialogue, the continuation of the nuclear agreement and a possible mediation role for the EU.
January 10, 2020
Aircraft Crash: Austrian Airlines Cancels Tehran Flights
Austrian Airlines flights to the Iranian capital are cancelled for the time being. The reason is the unclear security situation in Iranian airspace.
January 10, 2020
Foreign Ministry Advises Against Travelling to Iran
There is currently no official travel warning from the Austrian Foreign Ministry, although it advises against travel that is not absolutely necessary.
January 10, 2020
Egyptian Ms. Ghada Fathi Waly Appointed Executive Director of United Nations Agency UNODC
The United Nations announced the appointment of Ghada Fathi Waly of Egypt as the next Executive Director of the Vienna based United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). Ms. Waly will also serve as Director-General of the United Nations Office at Vienna (UNOV). She succeeds Yury Fedotov of the Russian Federation.
December 20, 2019
Austria in Favour of Maintaining Sanctions against Russia
The sanctions against Russia will be extended for a further six months. Although positive developments have been identified, they were not enough to lift the sanctions.
December 12, 2019
High-Level Delegation in Vienna ahead of Parliamentary Elections in Uzbekistan
The Chairman of the Foreign Policy Committee of the Uzbek Senate, Alisher Kurmanov, and the Deputy Foreign Minister of Uzbekistan, Dilshod Akhatov, were received in the Hofburg by the President of the Federal Council, Karl Bader. The talks focused on bilateral economic relations and the forthcoming elections in Uzbekistan on 22 December this year.
December 6, 2019
Vienna Welcomes New Ambassadors from Australia, Israel, UAE, Kenya, Cuba and Libya
Recently Austrian Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen welcomed the six newly accredited Ambassadors of the United Arab Emirates, the Commonwealth of Australia, the State of Israel, the Republic of Kenya, the Republic of Cuba and the State of Libya to Austria to the Presidential Chancellery of the Vienna Imperial Palace for the presentation of their letters of accreditation.
December 3, 2019
Meet the New Ambassador of the Republic of Cuba to Austria, H.E. Ms. Loipa Sánchez Lorenzo
The new Ambassador of the Republic of Cuba to Austria, H.E. Ms. Loipa Sánchez Lorenzo presented Austrian Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen with her letter of accreditation at the Vienna Hofburg.
December 3, 2019
Meet the New Ambassador of the State of Libya to Austria, H.E. Mr. Jalal E. A. Alashi
The new Ambassador of the State of Libya to Austria, H.E. Mr. Jalal E. A. Alashi presented Austrian Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen with his letter of accreditation at the Vienna Hofburg.
December 3, 2019
Meet the New Ambassador of the Republic of Kenya, H.E. Mr. Robinson Njeru Githae
The new Ambassador of the Republic of Kenya to Austria, H.E. Mr. Robinson Njeru Githae presented Austrian Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen with his letter of accreditation at the Vienna Hofburg.
December 3, 2019
Meet the New Ambassador of the State of Israel, H.E. Mr. Mordechai Denis Paul Rodgold
The new Ambassador of the State of Israel to Austria, H.E. Mr. Mordechai Denis Paul Rodgold presented Austrian Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen with his letter of accreditation at the Vienna Hofburg.
December 2, 2019
Meet the New Ambassador of the Commonwealth of Australia, H.E. Mr. Richard Travers Sadleir
The new Ambassador of the Commonwealth of Australia to Austria, H.E. Mr. Richard Travers Sadleir presented Austrian Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen with his letter of accreditation at the Vienna Hofburg.
December 2, 2019
Meet the New Ambassador of the United Arab Emirates, H.E. Ibrahim Salim Mohamed Al Musharrakh
The new Ambassador of the United Arab Emirates to Austria, H.E. Ibrahim Salim Mohamed Al Musharrakh presented Austrian Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen with his letter of accreditation at the Vienna Hofburg. He is also non-resident ambassador to Hungary, the Slovak Republic and the Republic of Slovenia.
December 2, 2019
Grand Opening of the Austro-American Society
At the opening of the renovated premises of the Austro-American Society (ÖAG - Österreichisch-Amerikanische Gesellschaft) in Vienna's Stallburggasse, Chancellor Bierlein, US Ambassador Trevor Traina and live from Washington D.C., Austria's new ambassador to the USA, Martin Weiss congratulated, among others.
November 21, 2019
Viennese Honour for George Soros the Donor of the Central European University
The investor, philanthropist and sponsor of the CEU Central European University, George Soros, has been awarded the Grand Decoration of Honour in Gold for Services to the Province of Vienna.
November 19, 2019
Upward Trend in Foreign Trade Between Uzbekistan and Austria
With 33 million inhabitants, Uzbekistan is the most populous country and Austria's second largest export destination in Central Asia.
November 18, 2019
Schallenberg in St. Petersburg: Art, Culture and Human Rights
Alexander Schallenberg travelled to Saint Petersburg to sign a declaration with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Medinsky on the programme of the "Year of Literature and Theatre Austria".
November 18, 2019
EXPO 2020 Dubai: Groundbreaking Ceremony at the Austria Pavilion
Preparations are in full swing for the first world exhibition in an Arab country. The construction phase of the Austria Pavilion has also begun.
November 18, 2019
OPEC Headquarters Vienna: World Oil Market Outlook 2019 Launched
OPEC's Chief Mohammad Sanusi Barkindo released its 2019 World Oil Outlook, in which the OPEC states that the oil market may have upside potential in 2020.
November 17, 2019
Another Electric Rental Scooter Has Arrived in Vienna
"Emmy", a Berlin-based start-up and electric scooter sharing company is rolling into Austria. The scooters are now also available for short-term rental in Vienna in addition to major German cities. Further Austrian cities are to follow.
November 15, 2019
Extradition of Oligarch Firtash to United States Remains "Suspended"
Although Austria has already agreed to the extradition of Dmytro Firtash, the latter may remain in Austria, as the resumption application submitted by his lawyers has a suspensive effect. During the meeting with his Ukrainian counterpart Vadym Prystaiko, Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg was confronted with the question of the state of affairs regarding Dmytro Firtash.
November 14, 2019
Ukraine: Schallenberg Meets New Ukrainian Foreign Minister Prystaiko
During his visit to the Ukrainian capital Kiev, Austria's Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg met the new Ukrainian counterpart Vadym Prystaiko, and highlighted the good bilateral relations between the two countries.
November 14, 2019 · Updated: November 14, 2019; 16:09
Security Gaps in the Austrian Secret Service
The security safeguards of the Austrian secret service BVT (Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution and Counterterterrorism) were reviewed by their British (MI5) and German (BfV) peers and serious deficiencies were identified (Security assessment of BVT), as reported by the local media ORF, "Österreich" and Ö1. Specifically, this involves four security risks.
November 12, 2019
Paris Peace Forum: "Protecting Civilians in Populated Areas"
At the Peace Forum, Austrian Chancellor Brigitte Bierlein met French President Emmanuel Macron, several Heads of State and Government and directors of international organisations. She also presented the initiative "Protecting Civilians in Populated Areas".
November 12, 2019
Repatriation: Round-Table with Representatives of African Embassies at the Ministry of the Interior
Embassy representatives from French-speaking African countries, representatives of the French Office for Immigration and Integration and representatives of the Austrian Ministry of the Interior met in Vienna to strengthen cooperation in the field of return and reintegration.
November 12, 2019
Prorussian Alexander Lukashenko Meets Van der Bellen
The President of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko, who has been in office since 1994 (now in his fifth term of office), was received by Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen during an official visit with military honours.
November 12, 2019
Nuclear Deal: Austria Disappointed at Iran's Behaviour
The result of a meeting of the Council of EU Foreign Ministers on regional developments in the Gulf States and Iran is to get Iran to comply again with the agreements of the Vienna Agreement.
November 12, 2019
Austria Acquires Extraordinary Estate of Star Photographer Yoichi Okamoto
The Austrian National Library recently scored a special coup by purchasing the personal photographic estate of Yoichi R. Okamoto. The Japanese-American, who was promoted to official photographer of the White House under President Lyndon B. Johnson, was head of the American photography service in Austria from 1948 to 1954 and thus had the opportunity to capture post-war Austria directly with his camera.
November 7, 2019
Martin Weiss Accredited as New Austrian Ambassador in the United States
The newly appointed Austrian Ambassador Martin Weiss presented the copies of his credentials to U.S. Chief of Protocol Cam Henderson.
November 7, 2019
Reopening of the Vienna Office of the Konrad-Adenauer Foundation
200 guests celebrated the opening of the new office of the Konrad-Adenauer-Foundation in Vienna at the Grand Hotel on Kärtner Ring. The presence in Vienna should strengthen multilateralism and strengthen functioning partnerships with serious democracies. Claudia Crawford becomes head of the Vienna office.
November 7, 2019
Current Austrian Ambassador to Israel to Become Top Diplomat in the United States
Ambassador Martin Weiss, the current Ambassador in Tel Aviv and former Speaker of the Austrian Foreign Ministry, will become the new Austrian Ambassador in Washington D.C., USA.
January 24, 2019 · Updated: November 7, 2019; 09:12
French "Ordre National du Mérite" Awarded to Major General Dorfer
François Saint-Paul, French Ambassador to Austria, has elevated Major General Martin Dorfer, Director in the Cabinet of the Minister of Defence, to the rank of Knight of the French National Order of Merit "Ordre National du Mérite".
November 6, 2019
Austro-Arab Chamber Secretary General Receives “Decoration of Merit in Gold of the Province of Vienna”
The AACC Austro-Arab Chamber of Commerce in Vienna announced that Secretary General Dipl.-Ing. Mr. Mouddar Khouja was awarded the "Decoration of Merit in Gold of the Province of Vienna", in recognition of his dedication and devotement to the province of Vienna through his personal initiatives and in his professional capacity as Secretary General of AACC.
November 4, 2019
Argentine Ambassador to Austria Rafael Grossi Appointed New IAEA Director General
Ambassador Rafael Mariano Grossi is set to take office as Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency in early December, following his appointment to the post by the Agency’s Board of Governors.
November 1, 2019
30th Anniversary Celebrations of Austro- Arab Chamber of Commerce
The AACC Austro-Arab Chamber of Commerce held a gala in the ballroom of the Vienna City Hall on the occasion of its 30th anniversary and on the occasion of the 11th Arab-Austrian Economic Forum & Exhibition.
October 25, 2019
Austria Connect Greater China: Digital Transformation and Tomorrow's Customers
The Austrian Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong hosts the largest Chinese-Austrian networking event in Asia.
October 22, 2019
Enthronement of Emperor Naruhito in the Presence of Van der Bellen
Guests from around 200 countries attended the ceremony of the enthronement of Emperor Naruhito in the Japanese Imperial Palace in Tokyo, including Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen and Doris Schmidauer.
October 22, 2019
Belgrade and Vienna Sign Cooperation Agreement
Not only the Danube connects Vienna with the Serbian capital Belgrade, but now also a new city cooperation agreement with a focus on urban development, affordable housing, smart city, digitisation, open government and culture.
October 21, 2019
Counter-Terrorism in the Focus of UN and Interparliamentary Cooperation
Reinhold Lopatka elected Chairman of the High-Level Advisory Group on Combating Terrorism and Violent Extremism.
October 21, 2019
Celebration of the Imperial Accession to the Throne in Tokyo with Van der Bellen
President Van der Bellen takes part in the ceremony for the accession of the new "Tenno", Emperor Naruhito, to the throne in Tokyo and in the bilateral economic forum "Austria Connect Japan". Other items on the agenda include talks with the Presidents of Georgia and Estonia.
October 21, 2019
How to Marry an Austrian Millionaire?
According to Credit Suisse's Global Wealth Report published today, 4.4 percent or 313,000 of Austrians are dollar millionaires, and each adult Austrian has an average of 247,000 euros ($274,919) in assets.
October 21, 2019
Politburo Member of Communist Party of China Courted by Austria's Top Leaders
Yang Xiaodu, member of the Politburo of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and Chairman of the National Supervisory Commission of the PRC, visited Vienna and met with Alexander Van der Bellen, Wolfgang Sobotka, Clemens Jabloner and UNODC, among others.
October 17, 2019
Salzburg Festival: Awarded Festival of the Year by Musical America
The specialist journal "Musical America" has named the Salzburg Festival "Festival of the Year". The Musical America Awards will be presented for the 59th time in December at Carnegie Hall in New York City.
October 17, 2019
Austrian Art and Culture as a Means of Foreign Policy
Austrian reception on the occasion of the Frankfurt Book Fair (Frankfurter Buchmesse) 2019.
October 17, 2019
Worldwide Parliamentary Meeting: Presidents from 178 States Expected in Vienna
Austria will host the 5th World Meeting of the Interparliamentary Union (IPU) from August 19 to 21, 2020. Presidents of parliaments from 178 states and around 1,200 delegates are expected. This is the first time that a national parliament, the Austrian Parliament, has hosted this conference. The World Meeting will be organised in cooperation with the IPU and the United Nations.
October 16, 2019 · Updated: October 17, 2019; 14:45
Vienna's UNODC and China Sign Agreement on Combating Corruption
The United Nations and China, represented by the Chairmen of the National Supervisory Commission of the Peoples Republic of China, Yang Xiaodu - currently visiting Vienna - signed a memorandum of understanding on cooperation in combating corruption.
October 17, 2019
Turkey: Schallenberg Calls for an End to EU Candidate Status
The meeting of EU foreign ministers in Luxembourg focused on the Turkish military offensive in Northern Syria. In the run-up to the meeting, Foreign Minister Schallenberg emphasised that the military action was "simply wrong" and that it was now the EU's turn to take clear decisions.
October 16, 2019
EU Once Again Fails to Reach Deal on North Macedonia and Albania
The two Western Balkan states must continue to wait for the hoped-for start of EU accession negotiations. France, the Netherlands and Denmark blocked an EU decision in support of the two Balkan states and justified it with doubts about the progress of reforms. Austria has pledged its support until the last minute and has tried to turn the tide.
October 16, 2019
Overseas Investments: Number of Austrian Subsidiaries Abroad Increased By 2%
The number of foreign subsidiaries of Austrian companies that were part of a domestic group or owned by Austrian shareholders rose by 2.0% to around 6,000 in 2017.
October 14, 2019
Visit of the President of the Republic of North Macedonia to Austria
While the North Macedonian President Stevo Pendarovski pays his respects to Austria and the Federal President continues to strongly support the accession of North Macedonia into the European Union, it becomes known from Paris that France's President Emmanuel Macron is vetoing EU accession negotiations with the Balkan states of North Macedonia and Albania, as he apparently considers the progress made so far in the two countries to be insufficient.
October 11, 2019
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