AUSTRIA CELEBRATES 50 YEARS OF SOVEREIGNTY

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 VIENNA 001669

SIPDIS

STATE FOR EUR/AGS - VIKMANIS-KELLER

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV AU
SUBJECT: AUSTRIA CELEBRATES 50 YEARS OF SOVEREIGNTY

REF: VIENNA 1484


1. On May 15, Austria commemorated the 50th anniversary of
the signing of the Austrian State Treaty. The recreation of
the proclamation of Austrian freedom at the baroque Belvedere
Palace had all the emotional significance of the U.S.
bicentennial, but on an Austrian scale. Key to the event was
the presence of representatives of the four powers which
occupied Austria from 1945 and signed the State Treaty in

1955. Former Senator Rudy Boschwitz headed a U.S. delegation
that included Vincent Obsitnik, Alfred Hoffman and Davis
Phillips, in addition to Ambassador Brown. Russian Foreign
Minister Sergey Lavrov, French Foreign Minister Michel
Barnier, and British Minister of State for Europe Douglas
Alexander participated in the events.


2. The center of the official celebration was a festive
program in the Belevedere's Marble Hall, the site of the
signing of the State Treaty fifty years ago. With the
original document present in the room (on loan from Russia,
the depository country),Senator Boschwitz called the State
Treaty "a triumph of principle," noting that the Western
allies and Austrian leaders insisted that a sovereign Austria
had to be free and democratic. Senator Boschwitz said all
countries which share those values had to work actively to
extend their benefits throughout the world. Alexander spoke
of the British contribution to Austria's political and
economic development in the post-war years. Barnier stressed
the importance of Austria's participation, along with France
and the other members of the EU, to European integration. He
also noted the need for a strong transatlantic relationship.
Lavrov noted the contributions of Austrian neutrality to
peace in Europe during the Cold War. Austrian Chancellor
Wolfgang Schuessel, Foreign Minister Ursula Plassnik, and
President Heinz Fischer recalled the difficult process of
negotiating the State Treaty, thanked the Four Powers for
their role in defeating Hitler's Germany and bringing about a
free and democratic Austria, and celebrated Austria's success
in achieving democratic and economic development. They noted
the importance of "active neutrality" as permitting
engagement in efforts to bring peace to areas such as the
Balkans and the Middle East (where Austria has long
participated in the UN's peacekeeping mission in the Golan
Heights). Austrian speakers made special reference to the
Marshall Plan, CARE packages, and other U.S. efforts to
relieve Austria's desperate economic situation during the
immediate post-war years.


3. The emotional high point of the program was a re-creation
of the moment when the signers of the State Treaty emerged
onto the balcony outside the Marble Hall. As in 1955 -- but
without the treaty itself, which remained safely under glass
inside -- the Austrian dignitaries and the representatives of
the four powers stepped out to greet cheering crowds below.


4. In a city in which three world-class opera companies and
their associated orchestras can play to full houses on the
same night (as was the case on the night of May 14),staging
is as important as substantive content. The Austrians had
equal-sized delegations with the same vehicle configuration
arrive at the front steps of the Belvedere in precise
choreography. The Marble Hall was full, but not packed --
only a minimum of press, security and protocol personnel
could remain around the fringes of the room. Three musical
interudes during the program were all Mozart. First,
Angelika Kirschlager and the Vienna Choir Boys opened the
program with the cantata "Dir, Seele des Weltalls" (You, Soul
of the Universe). The Vienna "Young Orchestra" then
performed the "Religious March" from The Magic Flute after
Chancellor Schuessel's speech, and a Sonata in A after
Foreign Minister Plassnik's remarks. After the "balcony
scene," the delegations joined the President, Chancellor and
Foreign Minister for a private tour of the Belevedere's
exhibit on the war, the occupation and the State Treaty.
President Fischer's wife, Margit, who studied art history at
the University of Vienna, accompanied Mrs. Boschwitz through
the exhibit.


5. After the events at the Belvedere, Chancellor Schuessel
hosted a luncheon at the "House of Industry," the seat of the
Austrian Industrialists' Association. As with most elements
of the program, this replicated the events of fifty years
ago. During the luncheon, the delegation (including the
Ambassador) met with President Fischer to deliver
congratulations on behalf of the United States.


6. Public events surrounded the official program. The
Belvedere opened its newly-restored baroque gardens to
thousands of visitors, who enjoyed various artistic programs
as they awaited the "balcony scene." Crowds lined the
streets to see the passing motorcades, and the appearance of
the U.S.-flagged limousine brought uniformly happy waves and
eager attempts to catch photographs. The reaction among
ordinary Austrians to Senator Boschwitz's presence was
friendly and appreciative.
Brown