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Vienna's International Organizations, Missions & Institutes
Review of the State Visit of Iranian President Hassan Rouhani to Austria
After the visit in March 2016, which was cancelled at short notice, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani was on a state visit to Vienna this week, accompanied by massive anti-Iran protests. The aim of the visit was a joint commitment to the Iran nuclear deal after the deal was approved in Vienna three years ago. The visit was overshadowed by a diplomatic case involving an employee of the Iranian embassy in Vienna, who had been arrested last weekend by the German judicial authorities on the basis of a European arrest warrant on suspicion of terrorism.
July 5, 2018
Nuclear Deal: Iranian President Rouhani Lobbies for Austria
The Federal Chancellery has now officially confirmed that Iranian President Hassan Rouhani will come to Vienna on 4 July for an official visit. Of course, the visit is mainly about the nuclear deal. After the USA's exit, there is considerable pressure on Rouhani.
June 19, 2018
UNIDO: Achieving Sustainable Development Goals through Chemical Leasing
In 2004, with the support of the Government of Austria, UNIDO launched its Global Chemical Leasing Programme, promoting a business model that marks a paradigm shift from increasing the sales volume of chemicals toward a value-added approach. The fourth Global Chemical Leasing award ceremony will take place on 6 November 2018 in Vienna, Austria. It will be part of the Green Chemistry Conference 2018 within the Trio Presidency of the Council of the European Union (EU) programme, "Smart and Sustainable Europe", held during Austria's EU Presidency.
June 8, 2018
15th Anniversary of UN Convention Against Corruption: Tackling Corruption From the Top Down Essential
Corruption and complicity know no geographical boundaries, and it is society’s most vulnerable who get hurt the most, senior United Nations officials say, calling on Government leaders to fight the scourge, “from the top down”.
June 6, 2018
Vienna Energy Forum and the R20 Austrian World Summit 2018: Feedback of a Participant
At the Vienna Energy Forum and the R20 Austrian World Summit recently held in Vienna, Beatriz Mayor of IIASA - International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis also participated, who shares her interesting insights as follows.
June 6, 2018
Austria Prepares for the Presidency of the Council of the European Union: ‘A Europe that protects’
On 1 July 2018 Austria takes over the EU Presidency for six months. The Austrian Presidency of the Council of the European Union will focus on three topics: the fight against illegal migration, digitalisation and stability in the neighbourhood.
June 5, 2018
Environment Day: The World Must Unite to Beat Plastic Pollution
The world is being ‘swamped’ by harmful plastic waste says United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres, marking Environment Day. Microplastic particles in the ocean, now outnumber stars in our galaxy.
June 5, 2018
Austrian Development Agency Supports WHO in Palestine
To improve health care in Gaza, the Austrian Development Agency (ADA) is supporting the World Health Organization (WHO) with 300,000 euros.
June 5, 2018
Austrian Military Investigation into the Golan Heights Ambush: Soldiers' Actions Correct
In September 2012, Austrian UN soldiers on the Golan did not prevent Syrian security forces from entering a deadly ambush. The disciplinary assessment concludes that the conduct of Austria's soldiers had been stressful, but correct, so that the soldiers do not need to be prosecuted.
June 5, 2018
Love, Respect and Solidarity: "Diplomats for Equality" and "Vindobona.org" Support Vienna Pride 2018
The festival "Vienna Pride" is a two-week event of the LGBTI community with the highlight of the Vienna Pride March (Rainbow Parade) on 16 June 2018 and intends to promote human rights for everybody and achieve equality for LGBTI persons. More than 30 Vienna-based embassies and diplomatic missions have come together under the banner "Diplomats for Equality" to support this initiative. Vindobona.org also supports a worldwide non-discriminatory society.
May 31, 2018
Van der Bellen in Estonia: Child of Refugees Back in the Motherland of Parents
Austrian Federal President Van der Bellen is on an official visit to the Estonian capital Tallinn. As a child of Russian-Estonian refugees born in Vienna, some melancholic emotions cannot be excluded.
May 30, 2018
Migration Policy Agency Celebrates 25th Anniversary and Welcomes New Members Malta and Turkey
With Malta and Turkey both joining Vienna based ICMPD in May, the International Centre for Migration Policy Development welcomes two new Member States. ICMPD has now 17 Member States all across Europe. In 2018 ICMPD is also celebrating the 25th anniversary of its founding and is looking into the future to try to see what it may hold in terms of migration and mobility of people.
May 29, 2018
Meet OPEC's Secretary General Mohammad Sanusi Barkindo
HE Mr. Mohammed Sanusi Barkindo is the current Secretary General of OPEC. He recently received a prestigious Energy Award for Lifetime Achievement for helping to stabilize the oil price again. He also gave an insight into how OPEC has regained its former strength under his guidance.
May 28, 2018
Trevor Traina Accredited as New US Ambassador in Vienna
The new US Ambassador to Austria Trevor Traina presented President Alexander Van der Bellen with his letter of accreditation at the Vienna Hofburg.
May 25, 2018
Who is Johannes Peterlik, Secretary General Designate at the Austrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs?
The current Deputy Head of Section V for Cultural Foreign Relations of the BMEIA Federal Ministry for Europe, Integration and Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Dr. Johannes Peterlik will take over the function of Secretary General for Foreign Affairs on 1 June 2018. The current Secretary General Dr. Michael Linhart becomes Ambassador in Paris.
May 25, 2018
Meet the New Ambassador of the Republic of Panama to Austria: H.E. Ms. Annabella Guardia Escoffery de Rubinoff
The new Panamanian Ambassador to Austria Annabella Guardia Escoffery de Rubinoff presented President Alexander Van der Bellen with her letter of accreditation at the Vienna Hofburg.
May 24, 2018
Meet the New Ambassador of the Republic of Angola to Austria: H.E. Ms. Teodolinda Rosa Rodrigues Coelho
The new Angolan Ambassador to Austria Teodolinda Rosa Rodrigues Coelho presented President Alexander Van der Bellen with her letter of accreditation at the Vienna Hofburg.
May 24, 2018
Meet the New Ambassador of the Republic of Tunisia to Austria: H.E. Mr. Mohamed Mezghani
The new Tunisian Ambassador to Austria Mohamed Mezghani presented his letter of accreditation to President Alexander Van der Bellen at the Vienna Hofburg.
May 24, 2018
US Embassy Opening in Jerusalem: Palestinian Ambassador to Austria Called Back to Palestine in Protest
The Austrian Ambassador to Israel, Martin Weiss, was one of only four EU Ambassadors (Hungary, Czech Republic, Romania) who participated in the celebrations surrounding the US embassy relocation to Jerusalem. The Palestinian leadership pointed out some time ago that not only the act but also the timing is a violation of international law and relevant UN resolutions, as well as arrogant disrespect. Therefore, the Palestinian Ambassador to Austria, Salah Abdel Shafi, has been called back to Palestine for an indefinite period of time.
May 16, 2018
Vienna Energy Forum 2018: Sustainable Energy Provision as a Key to Tackling Poverty
The sixth Vienna Energy Forum 2018 was held from 14 to 16 May, 2018, at the Vienna International Centre (VIC) and the Hofburg Imperial Palace. It was attended by over 1,800 participants from 130 countries, including prime ministers, ministers, high-level government officials, permanent mission representatives, chairs of the regional groups, donors, as well as representatives of the EU, the private sector and development finance institutions.
May 16, 2018
Soros Foundations Relocate from Budapest to Berlin
The first Open Society Foundations, founded in Hungary in 1984 by George Soros, also of Hungarian origin, with a founding budget of US$3 million, is now actually withdrawing to Berlin.
May 15, 2018
The Future of the EU: Europe Day Is To Be Given Greater Importance
On Europe Day, one pupil from each member state of the European Union came to the Hofburg for a discussion. More political education in schools and a more comprehensive climate policy are their main demands. "We are 20 percent of the population, but 100 percent of the future."
May 11, 2018
Meet the Ambassador of the Principality of Liechtenstein to Austria: H.S.H. Maria-Pia Kothbauer, Princess of Liechtenstein
Her Serene Highness Maria-Pia Kothbauer, Princess of Liechtenstein is the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Principality of Liechtenstein to Austria and the Czech Republic. She also serves as Liechtenstein's Permanent Representative to the OSCE and to the United Nations. She would explain the country of Liechtenstein to a stranger as follows: "One of Austria's eight neighbours, closely related to Vorarlberg in terms of landscape and character, a German-speaking constitutional hereditary monarchy with a highly-developed system of direct democracy, economically liberal, business-friendly and innovative, simultaneously urban and rural, debt-free, a country with a very high quality of life."
May 2, 2018
New Forum for Deepening German-Austrian Relations: Österreichisch-Deutsches Länderforum
Recently the Österreichisch-Deutsches Länderforum e.V. was founded in Vienna by Dr. Harald Wögerbauer with the intention of offering a platform for deepening German-Austrian relations.
May 2, 2018
Vienna's Attractiveness as a Location for Business Continues to Grow
For the sixth year in a row, Vienna recorded the highest number of companies settling in the city. After Vienna had already achieved a record figure in the previous year with 178 international new additions, this was again exceeded last year with 191 new companies, which is an increase of 13%. These business establishments together are responsible for investments totalling €537 million and 1,087 new jobs. There are 344 new foreign invested businesses throughout Austria. German companies remain the number one investors in Austria.
April 30, 2018
What does the Vienna-based ICMPD and its Director General Michael Spindelegger do?
The International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD) was founded in 1993 in Vienna on the initiative of Austria and Switzerland with the aim of making migration and mobility of people orderly, safe and regular, including through the implementation of planned and well managed migration policies. The aim is to counteract the often short-term thinking of governments so that sustainable solutions can be found and implemented in the medium and long term to combat and overcome the migration crisis. From this point of view, the tasks of the ICMPD have become extremely topical and important due to the refugee crisis.
April 26, 2018
New Appointments of Austrian Diplomatic Posts Abroad
At its meeting of 25 April 2018, the Austrian Council of Ministers decided to entrust the following Foreign Ministry officials with the direction of Austrian Missions.
April 25, 2018
Austria Participates in World EXPO 2020 Dubai Investing €16.5 Mln
Austria's participation agreement for the World Expo 2020 from 20 October 2020 to 10 April 2021 in Dubai has been signed by Government Commissioner Beatrix Karl as part of the "Austria Connect Gulf 2018" event of the WKO Foreign Trade Center (Außenwirtschaftscenter).
April 25, 2018
Goals for Austria's Presidency of the Council of the European Union
On 1 July 2018, Austria will take over the Presidency of the Council of the European Union from Bulgaria. During its Presidency of the Council of the European Union (1 July to 31 December 2018), guided by the motto "A Europe that protects", Austria will focus on three key areas: security and the fight against illegal migration, retaining competitiveness through digitalisation, and stability in the neighbouring regions (particularly the accession of the Western Balkans to the EU).
April 25, 2018
International Congresses: Vienna Worldwide Number Two - UN Events Contribute 7% of Conference Nights
The Vienna meetings industry progresses from record to record. With 186 meetings, Vienna remains behind Paris with 196 meetings, number 2 in the Worldwide Ranking of the ICCA (International Congress and Convention Association). In the year prior to that, Vienna was still in fifth place. The proportion of congresses that can be allocated exclusively to the United Nations is enormous and accounts for around 7% of overnight stays.
April 24, 2018
Austria's Role in Brussels' Syria Conference Rather Modest
Austria's recent efforts regarding Syria to make only 4 million additional euros available on the one hand, and Lawrow's clear rejection of Austria's possible mediation role in the Syrian conflict on the other, cannot be classified as a success. Rather than Vienna, the Brussels Conference will seek to resume the UN peace talks in Geneva.
April 24, 2018
Austria Center Vienna Unveils Largest Modernization Concept in Its History
Austria's largest congress centre, the Austria Center Vienna, recently presented its modernisation concept until 2022. This will make completely new event formats possible and at the same time make the space around the house more attractive to the public. This is the largest construction project in the company's 30-year history.
April 20, 2018
Soros's Central European University is to Remain in Budapest
The Central European University (CEU) donated by US billionaire George Soros does not plan to move to Berlin or Vienna, but expects the Hungarian government to sign the agreement with the State of New York as soon as possible so that the CEU can remain in Budapest.
April 20, 2018 · Updated: April 20, 2018; 19:10
Austrian Minister of Education Demands Clarification from Islamic Community
In connection with the affair over children as soldiers playing war games in a Viennese mosque, Minister Blümel demands further information and clarification of the incidents from the Islamic Religious Community in Austria (IGGÖ - Islamische Glaubensgemeinschaft in Österreich).
April 20, 2018
Top Energy Events Put Vienna in the Focus of the Global Clean Energy Economy
The Vienna Energy Forum 2018 in May in Vienna brings together a multitude of people and institutions to discuss and solve the key questions of the present on the topic of energy. Among them are heads of state, ministers, energy experts, representatives of international and non-governmental organizations, academia, civil society and the private sector. The PFAN Climate and Clean Energy Investment Forum and the R20 Austria World Summit are also part of this huge event. This event, sponsored by Arnold Schwarzenegger, is a high-level summit about leadership on implementing the Paris Climate Agreement and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
April 19, 2018
Meet the Ambassador of the Republic of Ecuador to Austria: H.E. Mr. Carlos Alberto Játiva Naranjo
The new Ambassador of the Republic of Ecuador to Austria H.E. Mr. Carlos Alberto Játiva Naranjo presented President Alexander Van der Bellen with his letter of accreditation at the Vienna Hofburg.
April 16, 2018
Meet the Ambassador of the Republic of Iraq to Austria: H.E. Mr. Jabir Habeb Jabir Hemaidawi
The new Ambassador of the Republic of Iraq to Austria: H.E. Mr. Jabir Habeb Jabir Hemaidawi presented President Alexander Van der Bellen with his letter of accreditation at the Vienna Hofburg.
April 16, 2018
Meet the Ambassador of Malaysia to Austria: H.E. Dato’ Ganeson A/L Sivagurunathan
The new Ambassador of Malaysia to Austria H.E. Dato’ Ganeson A/L Sivagurunathan presented President Alexander Van der Bellen with his letter of accreditation at the Vienna Hofburg.
April 16, 2018
Meet the Ambassador of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta to Austria: H.E. Sebastian Prinz von Schoenaich-Carolath
The new Ambassador of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta (Souveräner Malteser Ritterorden) to Austria H.E. Sebastian Prinz von Schoenaich-Carolath presented President Alexander Van der Bellen with his letter of accreditation at the Vienna Hofburg.
April 16, 2018
Meet the Ambassador of the Czech Republic to Austria: H.E. Ms. Ivana Cervenková
The new Ambassador of the Czech Republic to Austria H.E. Ms. Ivana Cervenková presented President Alexander Van der Bellen with her letter of accreditation at the Vienna Hofburg.
April 16, 2018
Meet the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Norway to Austria: H.E. Ms. Kjersti Ertresvaag Andersen
The new Ambassador of the Kingdom of Norway to Austria H.E. Ms. Kjersti Ertresvaag Andersen presented President Alexander Van der Bellen with her letter of accreditation at the Vienna Hofburg.
April 16, 2018
David Goodhart at the IWM: Dilemmas of Post-Liberalism
David Goodhart, a British journalist, commentator, author and the director of the Demos thinktank discusses immigration and liberalism with Ivan Krastev at the IWM Institute of Human Sciences.
April 13, 2018
Opening of the Austrian Consulate General in Chengdu
Austria has set up a consulate general in Chengdu, capital of southwest China's Sichuan Province, with President Alexander Van der Bellen, Chancellor Sebastian Kurz and Foreign Minister Karin Kneissl attending the opening ceremony during their state visit to China. Van der Bellen also expressed his wish for a new male panda bear.
April 12, 2018
Minister of Economy Visited Huawei and Alibaba During State Visit to China
Federal Minister of Digitization and Business Location Margarete Schramböck signed an agreement to facilitate access to Chinese trading platforms for Austrian companies during the current state visit to China at the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation (MOFCOM) in Beijing. Global experience shows, however, that one should be cautious with regard to technical cooperation with Chinese and copyright issues.
April 12, 2018
Meet the Ambassador of Japan to the International Organizations in Vienna: H.E. Mr. Mitsuru Kitano
H.E. Mr. Mitsuru Kitano is the Permanent Representative and Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to the International Organizations in Vienna. Just recently Ambassador Kitano together with the host, UNIDO's Director-General Li Yong, attended a joint event for launching UNIDO projects in Etiopia, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Liberia, Nigeria, Somalia, and Syria, after the government of Japan has confirmed that it will contribute over US$5.2 million to projects in these 8 countries.
April 4, 2018
Arnold Schwarzenegger in Vienna: The Prodigal Son's Interim Visit
Shortly before his planned heart operation Arnold Schwarzenegger visited Vienna to prepare the second R20 Austrian World Summit, scheduled to take place on May 15, 2018 in Vienna’s Hofburg Palace. Among others the former Governor of California met Austrian Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen and Federal Chancellor Sebastian Kurz to discuss the upcoming summit. Last week Schwarzenegger had undergone emergency open-heart surgery following complications that arose during a planned heart valve replacement.
April 4, 2018
Meet the Ambassador of Japan to Austria: H.E. Mr. Kiyoshi Koinuma
H.E. Mr. Kiyoshi Koinuma is the Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of Japan to Austria as well as the Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of Japan to Kosovo and Macedonia.
April 3, 2018
14,000 International Scientists Meet in Vienna to Discuss Earth-related Topics
The largest geosciences meeting in Europe will take place from 8 to 13 April in the Austria Center Vienna (ACV). The EGU (European Geosciences Union) 2018 General Assembly brings together more than 14,000 geoscientists from all over the world into one meeting covering all disciplines of the Earth, planetary and space sciences. This year, for the first time, the EGU is organising an event for the wider public in Vienna.
April 3, 2018
Vienna Based UN Agencies Join Forces to Combat Migrant Smuggling
At the United Nations in Vienna, IOM, the United Nations Migration Agency, and UNODC organized an event centring on a Joint Platform on Countering Migrant Smuggling. The aim of the initiative is to deny criminal traffickers the means and opportunity and end the impunity of smugglers.
March 30, 2018
Repatriation of Austrian Gold Reserves Nearing Completion
This year, and not in 2020, the OeNB Austrian National Bank is already concluding its repatriation campaign for half of its gold reserves. By the end of the year, 140 tonnes of gold are to be stored in Austria, with the other 140 tonnes remaining in London (84 tonnes) and Switzerland (56 tonnes).
March 30, 2018
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