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Cold War Founded Research Institute Near Vienna Continues to Address Global Challenges of the 21st Century

The year 2022 marks 50 years since Laxenburg-based research institute IIASA was founded to promote East-West scientific cooperation during the Cold War. Today, the institute continues to address the global challenges of the 21st century through its research. The 50th anniversary provides an opportunity to both take stock of the institute’s achievements and to look forward.
February 8, 2022


Ai Weiwei at the Albertina Modern: "In Search of Humanity"

A new exhibition at the Albertina Modern entitled "In Search of Humanity" will display works by renowned Chinese artist and activist Ai Weiwei. Learn more about the new exhibition and see some of the pieces that will be on display.
February 2, 2022


U.S. Ambassador Laura Holgate Presented Her Credentials to the United Nations Office at Vienna

Professional U.S. diplomat with expertise in nonproliferation, nuclear deterrence, nuclear security, disarmament, nuclear energy and other related areas becomes ambassador at a time when Europe is facing the greatest threat of war since World War II.
February 1, 2022



How Close Are We to War Between Russia and the Ukraine?


Tensions between Russia and Ukraine remain very high, and some have called a Russian invasion imminent. Read what Nina L. Kruscheva, an expert on Russia and international affairs, said about the likelihood of a war between Russia and Ukraine.
January 31, 2022


Austrian Airlines Relaunches Non-stop Flights to Los Angeles in Summer 2022

Starting in mid-May, Austrian Airlines will once again offer a direct flight between Vienna and Los Angeles to the U.S. West Coast. From 20 May, Austrian Airlines will fly five times a week to L.A.
January 31, 2022


Vienna Nuclear Talks: Direct Contacts between Tehran and Washington Possible

Iranian leadership has suggested that Iran may be open to meeting directly with U.S. officials for negotiations to revive the Iran Nuclear Deal. Read about this significant stance change and what it means for the JCPOA.
January 27, 2022


Corruption Index International: Austria Loses Points for the Second Time in a Row

According to Transparency International's global corruption index, Austria has become even more corrupt and now finds itself in 13th place. The U.S. is in 67th place, and South Sudan ranks last, at 180th.
January 26, 2022


C.I.A. Review Finds Mysterious "Havana Syndrome" Unlikely Caused by Enemies

A CIA assessment has found that most of the cases of the "Havana Syndrome" that has been affecting hundreds of diplomats around the world are not likely the result of actions of a foreign power. Read about the CIA's findings and what they believe the cause of Havana Syndrome is.
January 24, 2022

Austria's Position on the Russia-Ukraine Conflict
Despite ongoing diplomatic efforts, tensions between Russia and Ukraine remain high as Russia still has thousands of troops stationed on the Ukrainian border. Read Austria's position on the issue.
January 22, 2022

Schallenberg on Russia's Aggression Toward Ukraine: "Dialogue where possible. Clear lines where necessary."
Foreign Minister Schallenberg gave a speech in the Austrian National Council in which he addressed the current tensions between Russia and Ukraine. Read what the foreign minister warned about the situation.
January 21, 2022


Meet Dr. Michael R. Carpenter, the U.S. Permanent Representative to the OSCE

Ambassador Michael Carpenter, an American diplomat, was nominated by President Biden to serve as the Permanent Representative of the USA to the OSCE - Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, and was confirmed by the United States Senate in November, 2021. On November 29, 2021, he assumed office as ambassador after presenting his credentials at the OSCE in Vienna.
January 20, 2022



Meet the New Italian Ambassador to Austria, H.E. Mr. Stefano Beltrame


The new Ambassador of Italy to Austria, H.E. Mr. Stefano Beltrame, presented his credentials to Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen. Learn more about the new ambassador.
January 17, 2022


Schallenberg Cautions "Ukraine's Sovereignty Is Not Negotiable Under Any Circumstances"

Foreign Minister Schallenberg recently discussed the current tensions between Ukraine and Russia at a meeting with his counterparts from the EU in Brest, France. Read more about Schallenberg's stance on Ukraine and dealing with Russia in the context of Russia's troop buildup and a recent cyberattack on Ukraine.
January 17, 2022

U.S. and EU Establish "Transatlantic Coordination" Against Russia
Europe and the U.S. are closing ranks in the face of feared Russian aggression against Ukraine. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and EU High Representative Josep Borrell are determined to "form a strong, clear and united transatlantic front," European Union External Action announced after a phone call between the two. According to the statement, they expressed their commitment to Ukraine's sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity.
January 16, 2022


Meet the Reappointed U.S. Ambassador to the U.S. Mission in Vienna, Laura S.H. Holgate

Laura Susan Hayes Holgate, an American diplomat who was already accredited as the United States Ambassador to the United Nations International Organizations in Vienna and to the IAEA for six months between 2016 and 2017, is back under President Joe Biden.
January 16, 2022



Vicki Kennedy Accredited as U.S. Ambassador to Austria


Victoria Kennedy presented her credentials to Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen, officially making her the new Ambassador of the United States to Austria. Learn more about the new ambassador.
January 12, 2022



NATO and Russian Leaders Say Differences "Will Be Hard to Bridge"


Representatives from NATO and Russia met in Brussels at the NATO-Russia Council to try to de-escalate the tensions between Russia and Ukraine and NATO. Read what each side is demanding and why the leaders say the differences "will be hard to bridge."
January 12, 2022


Joint Statement of the Leaders of the Five Nuclear-Weapon States: Austria's Foreign Minister Calls for Concrete Action

"We finally need concrete progress towards nuclear disarmament according to the obligations of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, but unfortunately the development is going in the wrong direction", says Alexander Schallenberg.
January 10, 2022


United States Ambassador Designate to Austria Kennedy Landed in Vienna: "Good morning, Austria!"

Ambassador-designate Victoria Kennedy has landed in Vienna to assume her role as ambassador of the United States to Austria. Read about Ambassador-designate Kennedy's arrival, her plans for her ambassadorship, and her background.
January 10, 2022


Austrian Government Opposes Boycott of the China Winter Olympics

The Austrian government has expressed its opposition to a boycott of the 2022 Winter Olympics in China. Read which countries support the boycott and what the Austrian government has said about it.
December 16, 2021




Portrait: Who Is Robert Malley, the Old and New U.S. Lead Negotiator of the Iran Nuclear Talks?




In 2021, Robert Malley was appointed U.S. Special Envoy for Iran, which means he is once again the lead negotiator for the U.S. in the Iran nuclear talks. Read about Mr. Malley's career and his efforts to limit Iran's nuclear activities.
December 15, 2021


Austria Offers to Build Bridges in the Russia-Ukraine Conflict

In the EU Main Committee in the Austrian Parliament, Chancellor Nehammer offered for Austria to be a "bridge-builder" in the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Read about the escalating tensions between Russia and Ukraine and Austria's efforts at de-escalation.
December 14, 2021


International Organizations Continue to Favor Austria as Their Seat

The hosting of international organizations is of great importance for Austrian foreign policy, secures 19,000 jobs and has a gross value added effect of € 1.35 billion per year.
December 13, 2021


Who Is Kazem Gharib Abadi, Iran's Former Permanent Representative to the International Organizations in Vienna?

After serving for over three years as Iran's Permanent Representative to the International Organizations in Vienna, Kazem Gharib Abadi is now the Vice-President of Iran’s Judiciary for International Affairs and Secretary-General of Iran's High Council for Human Rights. Read more about Mr. Gharib Abadi's career path.
December 13, 2021


After Pandemic Shock, Strong Upturn in Foreign Trade: China +26.4 %, USA +18 %

New data for January to September 2021 shows that Austria's foreign trade is returning to pre-pandemic levels. Read about Austria's improving trade figures.
December 10, 2021


Vienna Opera Ball 2022: Canceled Twice in a Row

The Austrian government has announced that the 2022 Vienna Opera Ball has been canceled due to COVID-19 concerns. However, the Viennese Opera Ball in New York City is still scheduled to take place. Read more about the two popular events.
December 9, 2021


Iran Nuclear Talks In Vienna To Be Continued

Negotiations regarding Iran's nuclear program and a return to compliance with the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) are set to continue in Vienna. Read about the ongoing effort to save the Iran Nuclear Deal.
December 9, 2021


OSCE Summit in Stockholm: Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov Meets Austria's Linhart

Amid growing tensions between Russia and Ukraine, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov is meeting with Foreign Minister Linhart at the annual Ministerial Council of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) in Stockholm, Sweden. Read about their meeting as well as Linhart's agenda for the summit.
December 2, 2021



Blinken Thanks Austria for Hosting Iran Nuclear Deal Talks


U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken thanked Austria for hosting the Iran nuclear deal talks on his first call with his Austrian counterpart, Foreign Minister Linhart. Read about this and what else Blinken and Linhart talked about on their first call.
December 1, 2021

Naturalizations in Austria Up 21.1% Year on Year in the First Three Quarters of 2021
In the first nine months of 2021, Austrian citizenship was granted to 7,676 persons, including 1,131 persons residing abroad. With 368 naturalizations, the United States ranks fourth. Find out which other countries the new citizens come from.
November 26, 2021

Everything You Always Wanted to Know About the America House in Vienna
The America House in Vienna is a beautiful mix of architecture and history. Learn more about the exquisite building at Friedrich-Schmidt-Platz 2 and the historical America House inside.
November 26, 2021


Meet Leslie Hayden the Acting Deputy Chief of Mission of the U.S. Mission to International Organizations in Vienna

The Acting Deputy Chief of the U.S. Mission to International Organizations in Vienna is currently Leslie Hayden. Ms. Hayden has had a distinguished career as a member of the foreign service. Learn more about her and her impressive accomplishments.
November 25, 2021


U.S. Senate Confirmed Victoria Kennedy to Be Ambassador to Austria

The U.S. Senate has confirmed Victoria Reggie Kennedy (67), the widow of the late senator Edward M. Kennedy, to be the US ambassador to Austria, sending her to Vienna to continue a Kennedy family diplomatic tradition. Read about Ms. Kennedy's memories as a descendant of Lebanese immigrants, about her first trip to Austria as a college student in the 1970s, and about what she wants to do to further strengthen and deepen U.S.-Austrian relations.
November 24, 2021


US Embassy: Visit of the Chargé d'affaires Strengthens Economic Ties between USA and Upper Austria

The Chargé d'affaires of the US Embassy in Vienna Mario Mesquita visited Linz and met with Upper Austrian Governor Thomas Stelzer and Voestalpine CEO Herbert Eibensteiner. Read about Mesquita's visit and what was discussed.
November 11, 2021

Travel: Vaccinated Austrians Allowed to Enter the U.S. Again
Fully vaccinated foreign nationals, including Austrians, are now allowed to enter the United States again without requiring a "national interest exemption." Read about the latest update to US entry requirements and find out who qualifies for an exception.
November 9, 2021

Travel: Airlines Bring Foreign Nationals to the U.S. Again
After more than one and a half years, the US has ended the entry ban for travelers from the European Union on Monday, 8 November. This also allows for Austrians to finally fly to the United States again.
November 9, 2021


Iran Nuclear Talks to Resume November 29 in Vienna

The Joint Commission of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) talks between China, France, Germany, Russia, the United Kingdom and Tehran on reviving the Iran nuclear deal will convene in a physical format on 29 November 2021 in Vienna, the EU says.
November 5, 2021

Update: Travel from the United States to Austria
As a result of the increased spread of the COVID-19 Delta variant in the United States, Austria recently removed the US from its list of countries with low epidemiological risk. Here is an update of what this means for travelers from the United States coming to Austria.
September 24, 2021


Iran Nuclear Talks to Continue in Vienna

Discussions regarding the future of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, also known as the Iran Nuclear Deal, are set to continue in Vienna. This has been confirmed by Austrian Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg and Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian. The Director General of the IAEA, Rafael Mariano Grossi, also announced to the IAEA Board of Governors that Iran has agreed to allow IAEA inspectors to service the agency’s monitoring and surveillance equipment in Iran and replace their storage media. These developments come as US President Joe Biden has publicly expressed interest in returning to the agreement that his predecessor unilaterally withdrew from.
September 24, 2021


American Photography at the Albertina: Trevor Traina Back in Vienna

Former U.S. Ambassador to Austria Trevor Traina was at the opening of the new exhibition "American Photography" at the Albertina Museum in Vienna. Mr. Traina holds one of the largest private collections of photographs in the world, and he loaned some of these pieces to the Albertina for the exhibition. "American Photography" includes photographs from 1945 to the present and focuses on everyday motifs that had previously been considered unworthy of portrayal. Read more about the exhibition and view a selection of photographs included in the exhibit.
September 22, 2021

Travel from Austria to the U.S. - Biden's New Policy Will End the Need for National Interest Exceptions
As announced by Biden and the White House around the UN General Assembly, as of early November it will again be possible for all adult foreign nationals, i.e. including Austrians and other foreign nationals entering the U.S. via Vienna, to enter the U.S., thus also eliminating the need for national interest exemptions (NIE). More details in the article.
September 22, 2021

Number of Naturalizations in Austria Continues to Rise Despite Covid
Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, naturalizations in Austria have increased in the first half of 2021. During this time Austria granted citizenship to 5,057 people. In the same period, however, Vienna experienced a decrease in the number of naturalizations. Read more about the details of this trend and how they vary among the federal states of Austria.
September 3, 2021

17,000 Descendants of Nazi Victims Demand Austrian Citizenship
In the one year since the change in the Citizenship Act allowed the descendants of victims of Nazi persecution the right to Austrian citizenship, the Vienna Municipal Department 35 (MA 35) has received nearly 17,000 applications. Around 10,000 of these applications still need to be processed. Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg and the President of the Jewish Community Oskar Deutsch reflected on the program on its one-year anniversary.
August 31, 2021


Importance of Economic Relations Between the United States and Austria

The American Chamber of Commerce in Austria (AmCham Austria) presented a new study on the importance of economic relations between the United States and Austria. AmCham also provided a position paper with five key recommendations to the Austrian Minister for Digital and Economic Affairs Dr. Margarete Schramböck and Secretary-General of the Austrian Foreign Ministry Peter Launsky-Tieffenthal. Read about the findings of the study and AmCham's recommendations.
August 23, 2021

Woom to Double Workforce by 2022: Merging European and US Operations
The Austrian children's bicycle manufacturer woom has merged its operations in Europe and the USA. The company is also expected to double its workforce by 2022, creating more jobs in the manufacturing industry. Read more about woom and its recent merger.
August 20, 2021


Rich History of the U.S. Mission to the International Organizations in Vienna

The U.S. Mission to the International Organizations in Vienna has a very rich history. Learn more about it.
July 5, 2021 · Updated: August 12, 2021; 18:00


Austria and Afghanistan: The Dilemma with Deportations

While the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR), human rights organizations and the Afghan ambassador to Austria, H.E. Ms. Manizha Bakhtari, plead for a stop to deportations, Austria continues to adhere to repatriations to Afghanistan. Read more why.
August 6, 2021 · Updated: August 9, 2021; 08:08


Austrian Airlines: Tourist Destinations in the Mediterranean Region Pilot Airline in the Right Direction

With a focus on destinations in the Mediterranean region, Austrian Airlines’ summer flight schedule gave the company an important upward boost. Also, AUA’s flights from the US destinations New York, Washington and Chicago to Vienna were well booked. But what will become of the coming fall/winter season?
August 6, 2021



Restitution of Austrian Citizenships to Shoah Survivors and Descendants


One Holocaust survivor and 5 descendants of victims of Nazi terror received Austrian citizenship at the Consulate General in New York City. The restitution of 4,621 Austrian citizenships based on the new special procedure has already been successfully completed.
July 27, 2021


Arab-Israeli Rapprochement in Vienna: Israel and Morocco Plant Friendship Tree

Ambassador of Israel to Austria, Mr. Mordechai Rodgold, hosted the Ambassador of Morocco to Austria, Mr. Azzeddine Farhane, for the planting of a friendship cedar tree at the Embassy of Israel in Austria.
July 23, 2021