CERCLE DIPLOMATIQUE - issue 04/2016

4 | 2016 

Dezember - Februar 

Das führende Magazin für das Diplomatische Corps, Internationale Organisationen und Wirtschaft 

The leading magazine for the diplomatic corps, international organisations and the economy 

cercle-diplomatique.com 

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EDITORIAL 

Liebe Leserinnen, liebe Leser! | Dear Readers, 

Managed by 

Exclusive sales agent 

PHOTO: HARALD KLEMM 

Mit 45 Jahren ist man heutzutage ja in den 

besten Jahren. Das empfinden wir genauso 

und freuen uns, denn unser Magazin 

wurde 1971 gegründet und ist somit genauso alt! 

Anfang 2015 hatten wir die Ehre, das führende und 

einzige zweisprachige Magazin Österreichs für das 

Diplomatische Corps, die Internationalen Organisationen 

sowie Entscheidungsträger in ganz Österreich 

zu übernehmen. Der darauffolgende komplette 

optische wie auch inhaltliche Relaunch sowie die 

stetige Optimierung und Intensivierung des Vertriebs 

waren und sind uns ein Anliegen. Denn neben 

der „internationalen Community“ geht unser Magazin 

auch verstärkt an Opinion Leader aus Politik, 

Wirtschaft, Tourismus und Kunst & Kultur in ganz 

Österreich. Diese machen inzwischen den größten 

Teil unserer Leserschaft aus. 

Besonders stolz sind wir auch auf die Tatsache, 

dass Cercle Diplomatique flächendeckend als Suiten-Magazin 

ausgewählter 5 Sterne-Hotels in Wien 

sowie in vielen weiteren Luxus-Hotels österreichweit 

aufliegt. Auch in den Business Class- und Senator-Lounges 

von Austrian Airlines, in den Lounges 

im General Aviation Center und am Flughafen 

Wien sowie an Bord der Privatjets von Avcon Jet AG 

ist CD zu finden. 

Substanzieller wie exklusiver Content ist eine der 

großen Stärken dieses Magazins. Die exklusive und 

hochwertige Leserschaft machen es auch zu einem 

interessanten Partner für die Werbewirtschaft – und 

dafür möchten wir an dieser Stelle ganz herzlich 

Danke sagen. 

Unsere Cover-Geschichte dreht sich diesmal um 

das faszinierende Land Russland. Denn die kommenden 

Monate sind einer sehr starken Kooperation 

gewidmet, dem „Tourismusjahr Österreich- 

Russland 2017“. 

Es wird die Zusammenarbeit zwischen österreichischen 

und russischen Unternehmen, Destinationen 

und Experten intensivieren und neue Impulse 

setzen – besonders unter den derzeit herausfordernden 

Rahmenbedingungen. Die Eröffnung der Initiative 

erfolgt übrigens am 12. Jänner in Wien, mit 

dem folgenden Business Forum Tourismus Österreich-Russland. 

Wir wünschen Ihnen herzlichst ALLES GUTE 

FÜR 2017! 

These days, they say that you’re in your prime 

at 45 years of age. We agree with this and are 

pleased that our magazine which was founded 

in 1971 is now just as old! Early in 2015, we had 

the honour of taking over the leading and only bilingual 

magazine in Austria for the Diplomatic Corps, 

international organisations as well as decision makers 

in all of Austria. The complete overhaul in 

terms of design and content as well as the optimisation 

and increase of distribution were and are very 

important to us. Besides the international community, 

our magazine is also directed at opinion leaders 

from politics, business, tourism and art & culture in 

Austria. They now make up the biggest part of our 

readership. 

We are also particularly proud of the fact that 

Cercle Diplomatique has been selected as a suite 

magazine for a number of 5-star hotels in Vienna 

and is also available in additional luxury hotels 

throughout Austria. Furthermore, CD can be found 

in the Business Class and Senator Lounges of Austrian 

Airlines, in the lounges of the General Aviation 

Center and at Vienna Airport, as well as on board of 

the private jets of Avcon Jet AG. 

Substantial as well as exclusive content is one of 

this magazine’s greatest strengths. The exclusive and 

high-quality readership make it an interesting partner 

for the advertising industry – and for this, we 

would like to very warmly say thank you. 

This time, our cover story deals with the fascinating 

country of Russia. The coming months are dedicated 

to a very strong, upcoming cooperation, the 

“2017 Austria-Russia Year of Tourism”. It will intensify 

the collaboration between Austrian and Russian 

businesses, destinations and experts, and create new 

impetus – especially considering the current conditions, 

which are quite challenging. The opening of 

the initiative is to take place on 12 January in Vienna, 

with the upcoming Austria-Russia Tourism 

Business Forum. 

We wish you ALL THE BEST 

FOR 2017! 

Herzlichst, 

| Yours, 

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Jubiläumsausgabe 

Andrea Fürnweger 

Herausgeber | Editor 

Mag. Alexander Bursky 

Herausgeber | Editor

CERCLE DIPLOMATIQUE – 

ECONOMIQUE et TOURISTIQUE 

Nr. 309 

Ausgabe | Issue 04/2016 

Dezember – Februar 

CONTENTS 

Cover story 

RUSSIA 

Seite | page 30 

Die russische Wirtschaft 

kämpft bereits das dritte 

Jahr mit einer Rezession, 

dennoch unterstützt das 

Volk Präsident Putin bei 

seiner Suche nach Stolz und 

Selbstbewusstsein einer 

mächtigen Nation. 

The Russian economy is 

struggling in the third year 

of recession, yet the 

Russian people support 

President Putin due to his 

quest to restore pride and 

self esteem of a mighty 

nation. 

8 

10 

30 

40 

48 

52 

58 

60 

64 

68 

74 

78 

80 

86 

88 

90 

LE BULLETIN 

Die neuen Botschafter | The new Ambassadors 

Akkreditierungen durch Nationalratspräsidentin Doris Bures. Accreditations by National 

Council President Doris Bures. 

Offizielle Empfänge | Official Receptions 

Die großen Empfänge der vergangenen Wochen. The great receptions of the last few weeks. 

LE MONDE 

Coverstory Russland | Cover story Russia 

Stolz & Wandel. Pride & Prosperity. 

Russland | Russia 

Botschafter Dmitrij Ljubinskij im Interview. Interview with Ambassador Dmitrij Ljubinskij. 

Sudan 

Ein Land mit Hoffnung. A country filled with hope. 

Belize 

Bemerkungen zu einer amerikanischen Schönheit. Remarks on an American beauty. 

Essay 

Langzeit-Vision Freie Handelszone. Long term vision Free Trade zone. 

OSCE 

Der österreichische Vorsitz 2017. Austrian Chairmanship 2017. 

News 

Neuigkeiten aus aller Welt. Latest update from around the globe. 

L‘AUTRICHE 

EU & NATO 

Europas Sicherheit. Security in Europa. 

IIASA 

Int. Institut für Angewandte Systemanalyse. Int. Institute for Applied Systems Analysis. 

Interview 

Stadträtin Renate Brauner. City Councillor Renate Brauner. 

Biotechnologie | Biotechnology 

Die Gen-Zauberer. The wizards of genes. 

Zukunftslabor | Future Lab 

Helmut Fallmanns digitaler Binnenmarkt. Helmut Fallmann on the digital internal market. 

Wirtschaftsnews | Business news 

Neues aus Österreich. News from Austria. 

TIROL Special 

Von Tourismus über Kultur bis Wirtschaft. From tourism to culture and economy. 

120 

122 

124 

126 

130 

136 

140 

144 

148 

150 

152 

156 

160 

162 

166 

184 

Suite Dreams 

Die Schloss Schönbrunn Grand Suite. Schloss Schönbrunn Grand Suite. 

Hideaways 

Entspannung für Ihre kleine Winter-Auszeit. Relaxation for your winter timeout. 

Motor 

Geballte SUV-Power. Raw SUV power. 

Ambassador‘s Drive 

Italiens Botschafter auf CD-Testfahrt. Italy‘s Ambassador on a test drive. 

Lifestyle 

Trends für den kommenden Winter. Trends for the winter season. 

Musik | Music 

Klassik unerhört. Novel classical music experience. 

Zeitgeschichte | Chronicle 

Maria Theresia - Die absolute Herrscherin. The absolute empress. 

Kunst | Arts 

Kulturelle Highlights im Winter. Cultural highlights in winter. 

Botschafter der Musik | Ambassador of Music 

Star Dirigent Gustavo Dudamel. Star conductor Gustavo Dudamel. 

Upcoming 

Wo es uns gefällt. Where we love to be. 

Weekender 

Weimar & Erfurt in Thüringen. Weimar & Erfurt in Thuringia. 

Reise | Travel 

Top-Hotels und -Restaurants aus aller Welt. Top hotels and restaurants around the world. 

Buchempfehlungen | Must read 

Lesenswertes über Österreich. Book tips about Austria. 

Mein Wien | My Vienna 

Die Botschafterin von Pakistan. The Ambassador of Pakistan. 

LES RENDEZVOUS 

Veranstaltungen | Events 

Exklusive Veranstaltungen im Fokus. Exclusive events in focus. 

LE GUIDE 

Adressen | Addresses 

Nützliche Adressen für die internationale Gesellschaft. 

Useful addresses for the international community. 

104 

110 

112 

114 

SAVOIR VIVRE 

Festliche Getränke | Festive beverages 

Edles im Glas. Exquisite drops. 

Connaisseur | Connoisseur 

Essen und trinken mit Stil. Wine and dine in style. 

Museum Visit 

Zu Besuch im Arnulf Rainer Museum, Baden. Visiting the Arnulf Rainer Museum, Baden. 

Immobilien-Trends 

Immobilien als sichere Anlage. Property as a secure investment. 

3 

4 

185 

Titelbild | Cover 

Basilius-Kathedrale in Moskau. | St. Basil's Cathedral in Moscow. 

Editorial 

Inhalt | Contents 

Impressum | Imprint 

COVERPHOTO: FOTOLIA; PHOTO: FOTOLIA/SMOOTH

HUGO BOSS AG Phone +49 7123 940 www.hugoboss.com 

LE 

BULLETIN 

IN LE BULLETIN ERFAHREN 

SIE, WER DIE NEU 

AKKREDITIERTEN 

BOTSCHAFTER IN 

ÖSTERREICH SIND UND 

WELCHE OFFIZIELLEN 

EMPFÄNGE UND EVENTS 

IN DEN VERGANGENEN 

MONATEN STATTGEFUN- 

DEN HABEN. 

LE BULLETIN TELLS YOU WHO 

THE NEWLY ACCREDITED 

AMBASSADORS TO AUSTRIA 

ARE AND WHICH OFFICIAL 

RECEPTIONS AND EVENTS 

TOOK PLACE IN THE PAST 

FEW MONTHS. 

Wien BOSS Store Kärntner Straße 20

LE BULLETIN CREDENTIALS 

Neu akkreditierte Botschafter bei Nationalratspräsidentin Doris Bures 

Newly accredited Ambassadors met National Council President Doris Bures 

Bei NR-Präsidentin Doris 

Bures zur Angelobung 

Inauguration at the National 

Council President Doris Bures 

Bis zur neuerlichen österreichischen 

Bundespräsidenten-Wahl am 4. Dezember 

2016, übernahm Nationalratspräsidentin 

Doris Bures die Empfangnahme der 

Beglaubigungsschreiben der neuen 

Botschafterinnen und Botschafter. 

Until the next election of the Austrian 

Federal President, Doris Bures, National 

Council President, took over the duty of 

accepting the Credentials of the new 

Ambassadors in Austria. 

Omar Amer 

Youssef 

Ambassador of the 

Arab Republic of Egypt 

H. E. H. E. H. E. 

Li 

Xiaosi 

Ambassador of the People‘s 

Republic of China 

Lucía Rosella 

Badía 


Republic of El Salvador 

Credentials: October 2016 Credentials: October 2016 Credentials: October 2016 

Hannu Veikko 

Kyröläinen 


Republic of Finland 

H. E. H. E. H. E. H. E. 

Gréta 

Gunnasdottir 


Republic of Iceland 

Kiyoshi 

Koinuma 

Ambassador of the Democratic 

Monarchy of Japan 

Robert Leigh 

Turner 


United Kingdom 

Credentials: October 2016 Credentials: October 2016 Credentials: October 2016 Credentials: October 2016 

Born on June 11, 1966 

Married, two sons and one daughter 

Education 

1991: Political Science Diploma, Cairo Univ. 

1988: B.A. Mass Communication, Cairo Univ. 

1984: High School, Kuwait 

Secondary & Elementary School, Kuwait 

Professional Career 

2014–2016: Deputy Assistant Minister for 

the Cabinet of the Minister of Foreign 

Affairs, Deputy Chief of Cabinet of the 

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sherpa to the 

2016 Washington Nuclear Security 

Summit, Member of the Delegation of 

Egypt to the NPT Review Conference 

2013–2014: Director, Strategic and Security 

Organizations (NATO-OSCE-CICA) 

2012–2013: Deputy Head of National 

Steering Bureau 

2008–2012: Minister Plenipotentiary, 

Embassy in Washington 

2005–2008: Political Counsellor, Cabinet 

of the Minister of Foreign Affairs 

2001–2005: First Secretary, Embassy in 

Vienna, and Alternative Representative to 

the International Atomic Agency (IAEA) 

1999–2001: Deputy Director, Arms Control 

and Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy 

Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs 

1995–1999: Deputy Consul General, Sydney 

1993–1995: Attaché Deputy Assistant 

Minister Office for Asian Affairs 

1991: Attaché, Ministry of Foreign Affairs 

Born in August 1962 

Married, one daughter 

Education 

University graduate, further education at 

the University of Hamburg in the FRG 


2013-2016: Envoy at the Embassy of the 

PRC in the Federal Republic of Germany 

2009-2013: Vice Section Leader of the 

Department of European Affairs at the 

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the PRC 

2006-2009: Consul General of the PRC in 

Zurich and Consul General in the Principality 

of Liechtenstein 

2001-2006: Counsellor at the Embassy of 

the PRC in the FRG 

1996-2001: Second Secretary, Deputy Head, 

First Secretary and Head of the Department 

of Western European Affairs at the Ministry 

of Foreign Affairs of the PRC 

1992-1996: Third and Second Secretary at 

the Embassy of the PRC in the FRG 

1989-1991: Third Secretary at the 

Department of Western European Affairs at 

the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the PRC 

1986-1989: Delegate and Third Secretary at 

the Embassy of the PRC in the FRG 

1985-1986: Official and Delegate at der 

Department of Western European Affairs at 

the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the PRC 

1983-1985: Translator at the Ministry of Post 

and Telecommunications in the PRC 

Born on August 21, 1984 

Education 

2015: Instituto Europeo Campus Stellae, 

Santiago de Compostela, Spain. 

2012: Middlesex University, London 

2010: Ministry of Industry, Energy and 

Tourism of Spain, Ministry of Economy of 

El Salvador 

2008: Central American Integration System 

2003–2008: Universidad de El Salvador 

2005–2007: Alliance Françoise, El Salvador 

2002: Antonio Rosmini Institute, Italia 


2011–2016: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of 

El Salvador. Embassy of El Salvador to the 

United Kingdom, concurrent to the 

Republic of Ireland. London, United 

Kingdom. Minister Counselor for 

multi lateral and economic affairs. 

2008–2011: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of 

El Salvador. 

2007–2008: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of 

El Salvador. Foreign Policy Directorate. 

PHOTOS: RIGEAUD, CARINA KARLOVITS & DANIEL TRIPPOLT/HBF 

Born on January 9, 1952 

Married, one daughter 

Education 

1976: Master of Social Sciences (International 

Affairs), University of Tampere 


2016: Ambassador of Finland to the 

Republic of Austria 

2015–2016: Senior Expert on Security 

Policy 

2012–2015: Deputy to the Facilitator for 

the 2012 Conference on the Establishment 

of a Middle East Zone Free of Weapons of 

Mass Destruction 

2010–2012: Adviser on Sustainable 

Development to the President of the 

Republic of Finland 

2007–2010: Ambassador of Finland to the 

Czech Republic, Prague 

2003–2007: Director General, Department 

for Global Affairs, Ministry for Foreign 

Affairs 

1998-2003: Deputy Director-General for 

Political Affairs, Ministry for Foreign Affairs 

1995–1998: Director, Division for Western 

Countries and European Union, 

Department for Political Affairs 

1993–1995: Special Assistant to the 

Minister for Foreign Affairs 

1993: Counsellor, Ministry for Foreign Affairs 

Education 

1988: LLM International Legal Studies, 

New York University 

1986: Cand. Juris, University of Iceland 


2016: Ambassador to the OSCE, UNOV 

and other International Organizations in 

Vienna, Ambassador to Austria 

2015–2016: Ambassador for Human 

Rights, MFA, Reykjavik 

2011-2015: Permanent Representative, 

Permanent Mission of Iceland to the UN 

2007-2011: Director General for Intern. and 

Security Affairs, MFA Reykjavik 

2006-2007: Head, Advisory Commission 

Secretariat, UNRWA, East Jerusalem 

2005-2006: Chief, Policy Analysis Unit, 

UNRWA, East Jerusalem 

2004-2005: Deputy Head of Mission, 

Icelandic Mission to the EU, Brussels 

2000-2004: Deputy Permanent 

Representative, Permanent Mission of 

Iceland to the UN 

1997-2000: Counsellor/Minister Counsellor, 

Political Department, MFA Reykjavik 

1994-1997: Officer, Political Department, 

NATO, Brussels 

1991-1989: First Secretary, Icelandic 

Mission to the EU, Brussels, Trade and 

Political Department, MFA Reykjavik 

Born on June 29, 1955 

Education 

1978: Graduated from Keio University, 

Faculty of Economics 


2016: Ambassador Extraordinary and 

Plenipotentiary to Austria 

2013: Ambassador Extraordinary and 

Plenipotentiary to Zambia 

2010: Consul-General of Japan at 

Dusseldorf 

2008: Minister, Embassy of Japan in 

Germany 

2005: Director-General, Sapporo Regional 

Immigration Bureau, Ministry of Justice 

2004: Deputy Director-General, Consular 

Affairs Bureau, Multilateral Cooperation 

Department 

2003: Deputy Director-General, Japan 

Center for Asian Historical, Records, 

National Archives of Japan 

2001-2002: Counsellor and Minister, 

Embassy of Japan in Myanmar 

1999: Counsellor, Permanent Mission of 

Japan to the International Organizations in 

Vienna 

1981-1983: Secretary, Embassy of Japan in 

Vienna 

Born on March 13, 1958 

Married, one son and one daughter 


2016: Her Majesty’s British Ambassador to 

Austria and UK Permanent Representative 

to the UN and other Intern. Organisations 

2012–2016: Consul General and Director 

General UK Trade & Investment, Turkey, 

South Caucasus & Central Asia 

2008–2012: Ambassador to Ukraine 

2006–2008: FCO, Director, Overseas 

Territories Department 

1998–2002: Counsellor, EU/Economic 

1995–1998: FCO, Deputy Head, Hong Kong 

Department 

1992–1995: Moscow, First Secretary, 

Economic 

1987–1991: FCO, Desk Officer, Europe 

Directorate and other FCO jobs 

1984–1987: Second Secretary, Vienna 

1979–1983: HM Treasury, Departments of 

the Environment & Transport 

8 Cercle Diplomatique 4/2016 

Cercle Diplomatique 4/2016 

9

LE BULLETIN REVIEW 

Official receptions 

Find more 

photos online 

cercle-diplomatique.com 

June 2016 

Presentation of the autum issue of „Cercle Diplomatique“ 

at Vienna Marriott Hotel 

Many Ambassadors, officials and company representatives gave the editors, Andrea Fürnweger and Alexander Bursky, 

the honour to welcome the third issue of 2016 with the cover story on Kazakhstan, enjoying delicious food and pleasant encounters. 

The Ambassador of Kazakhstan, H. E. Kairat Sarybay (2nd l.) 

was the special guest of honour, here pictured with CD editors 

Andrea Fürnweger (l.) and Alexander Bursky (r.) as well as 

Angelika Mayer-Horngacher, Market Director of Sales and 

Marketing, who represented the Vienna Marriott Hotel. 

PHOTOS: HARALD KLEMM, CHRISTIAN LEITNER 

From left to right: Paula Jenner, Back office Cercle 

Diplomatique; Honorary Consul of the Philippines in Lower 

Austria and Co-editor Waltraud Steinböck; Wolfgang 

Meixner, Honorary Consul of the Cape Verde and 

H.E. Auday Al Khairallah, Ambassador of Iraq. 



11


CONTINUING 

EDUCATION 

CENTER 

September 2016 

Indonesia 

Independence Day was celebrated with a garden party at the residence. 


Mexico 

To celebrate Independence Day a garden party was held at Palais Schönburg. 

Left: H.E. Rachmat Budiman 

and his wife, Mrs. Riet 

Rietanty, enjoyed music and 

barbecue with their guests at 

the residence. 

Postgraduate MSc Program 

Environmental Technology & 

International Affairs 

H.E. Alicia Buenrostro 

Massieu (r.) 

and Mr. Javier 

Montalvo Wilmot 

(2nd r.) with guests. 

High-flying careers for a better 

environment 


Macedonia 

On the occasion of National Day, a reception was held at Palais Eschenbach. 

PHOTOS: CHRISTIAN LEITNER, GREGOR TURECEK 

PHOTOS: HARALD KLEMM 

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• Political Science & International Relations 

• International & European Law 

• International Economics & Contemporary History 

• Surveillance & Sustainable Development 

• Air, Water & Waste Management 

• Environment & Technology 

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H.E. Vasilka Poposka 

Trenevska (2nd r.) and 

H.E. Kire Ilioski (middle) 

with his wife. 

Technische Universität Wien 

Continuing Education Center 

Operngasse 11 • A-1040 Wien 

T +43/(0)1/58801-41701 

office@etia.at 

www.etia.at 


13



Liechtenstein 

H.H. Maria-Pia Kothbauer invited to a reception at Liechtenstein Garden Palace, 

with speeches of the Ministers H.E. Adrian Hasler and H.E. Thomas Zwiefelhofer. 


Armenia 

On the occasion of Independence Day a garden party was held 

at the Embassy. 

Top, left: H.H. Maria-Pia 

Kothbauer with H.E. Adrian 

Hasler (r.) and H.E. Thomas 

Zwiefelhofer. 

Top, right: H.E. Michael 

Linhart (l.) 

H.E. Arman Kirakossian (2nd l.) and 

Mrs. Susanna Nazaryan (2nd r.) with 

H.E. Dmitrij Ljubinskij (l.) and his wife. 

Home of luxury guns. 


Malta 

A concert at the beautiful St. Anne’s Church was followed by a reception at Restaurant Sole. 

PHOTOS: CHRISTIAN LEITNER, HARALD KLEMM 

PHOTOS: CHRISTIAN LEITNER, BEIGESTELLT 


Great Hungarian honour 

And now he is a Hungarian Senator - Intercultural Understanding President, 

Professor Josef Höchtl was awarded this title by President Victor Orban. 

The celebration took 

place during the 15 

year-anniversary of 

the „German speaking 

Andrassy-University 

Budapest“. 

Premium clothing and equipment 

for hunters and sport shooters. 

Top: H.E. Keith Azzopardi (l.) 

and Mrs. Daoruang Pimpila. 

Flagship Store 

Weihburggasse 27, 1010 Vienna 


Online-Shop 


www.springer-vienna.com 

15



Chile 

National Day was celebrated with a reception at the residence. 


Belize 

On the occasion of Independence Day a reception was held at 

the President Suite at Hotel Imperial. 

INTERNATIONALE 

A P O T H E K E 

Left: H.E. Armin Andereya and 

Mrs. Carmen Varas Andereya. 

Left: H.E. Joel 

Nagel and his 

wife Susan (to 

the very right) 

INTERNATIONAL 

P H A R M A C Y 

—+— 

Commitment 

Service 


Ukraine 

On the occasion of National Day a reception was held at the Embassy. 

Efficiency 

Get well and stay well ! 

Wherever you are ! 

PHOTOS: CHRISTIAN LEITNER 


Top: H.E. Olexander Scherba (l.) and his wife Yaroslava 

(2nd l.) with H.E. Ihor Prokopchuk (3rd l.). 

Opening hours: 

Monday to Friday 

Saturdays 

8:00 am to 7:00 pm 

8:00 am to 6:00 pm 


1010 Vienna, Kärntner Ring 17 

T: +43 (0)1 512 28 25 

F: +43 (0)1 512 28 259 

www.internationale-apotheke.at 

Cercle Diplomatique 4/2016 17



China 

On the occasion of National Day a reception was held at Hotel Savoyen Vienna. 


Saudi Arabia 

Saudi Arabia celebrated National Day with a reception at 

Hotel Intercontinental Vienna. 

Top: Chargé d´Affaires a.i. 

Abdulaziz Al Zaid 

Top: The event was also a good 

possibility to introduce the new Chinese 

Ambassador, H.E. Li Xiaosi and his wife 

Huang Yan (middle and r.), here pictured 

with H.E. Shi Zhongjun. 


PHOTOS: GREGOR TURECEK 



19


October 2016 

Germany 

German Day of Unity was celebrated with a reception at Garden Palace Liechtenstein. 


Spain 

On the occasion of National Day a reception was given at the Embassy. 

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Left: H.E. Johannes Haindl 

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Däuble. 

Left, from right: H.E. Alberto Carnero 

with H.E. Gonzalo de Salazar and 

H.E. Maria Victoria Gonzalez. 


Kazakhstan 

The Republic of Kazakhstan turned 25 and this occasion was celebrated at the Ritz Carlton Vienna. 


Top, from left: H.E. Kairat Sarybay, WKO Vice President Richard Schenz, 

the Kazakh Deputy Minister of Exterior Roman Vasilenko and Lawyer 

Gabriel Lansky, Executive President of the Austrian-Kazakh Society. 

PHOTOS: CHRISTIAN LEITNER, LOBMEYR PUBLIC IMAGE/APA-FOTOSERVICE/MARTIN LUSSER 

PHOTOS: HARALD KLEMM 

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21



Hungary 

A reception was held at the Embassy, to commemorate Independence Day. 


Turkey 

On the occasion of National Day a reception was held at the Embassy, 

EXQUISITE ANTIQUITÄTEN 

UHREN 

SCHMUCK 

EDELMETALLE 

Above: H.E. János Perényi (2nd 

left), the Austrian Ministers 

Andrä Rupprechter (l.) and 

Hans Peter Doskozil (2nd r.) 

and the Hungarian Minister 

of Defence, István Simicskó. 

Top, very left: Chargé 

d´Affaires Ali Kaan Orbay 

with his wife (l.) and the 

Ambassador of Pakistan, 

Ayesha Riyaz. 


Czech Republic 

National Day was celebrated at the Embassy. 

PHOTOS: HARALD KLEMM, BEIGESTELLT VON BOTSCHAFT 

PHOTOS: PARLAMENTSDIREKTION / JOHANNES ZINNER, HARALD KLEMM 


OSCE Parliamentary Assembly 

Marking the 25th Anniversary of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, a reception was held 

at Palais Epstein. 

Top: H.E. Jan Sechter and his wife Michaela Sechterová. 

Top: The President of the OSCE Parliamentary 

Assembly, Christine Muttonen with guests. 

Auktioneum GmbH 

Spiegelgasse 19 

1010 Wien 

Tel: +43 1 890 90 95 

E-Mail: office@auktioneum.com 

Web: www.auktioneum.com 


www.auktioneum.com 


23


November 2016 

Algeria 

National Day was celebrated with beautiful costumes at the residence. 


Panama 

The National Day was celebrated with tenor Juan Pomares from Panama 

at a concert at Ehrbar Hall. 

Left: H.E. Faouzia Boumaiza 

Mebarki with her husband 

Ahmed Mebarki. 

H.E. Paulina Franceschi 

Navarro (2nd l.) with CD 

editor Andrea Fürnweger 

(l.). 


Great Britain 

Bonfire Night was celebrated at the residence. 

PHOTOS: HARALD KLEMM, GREGOR TURECEK 


Für Reisende, die 

das Besondere suchen 

If you are seeking 

the extraordinary 

Top, middle: 

The new Ambassador, 

H.E. Leigh Turner 


Cercle Diplomatique esterhazy.at 

4/2016 25



Tajikistan 

On the occasion of National Day a reception was held at the Federal Ministry of Science, 

Research and Economy. 


Oman 

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HIER FINDEN SIE EINE REIHE 

HOCHINTERESSANTER 

BERICHTE ÜBER DIE 

LÄNDER DIESER WELT UND 

IHRE VERTRETUNGEN IN 

ÖSTERREICH, GESPICKT MIT 

INTERVIEWS UND 

STELLUNGNAHMEN VON 

EXPERTEN AUS DEM IN- 

UND AUSLAND. 

HERE YOU WILL FIND A 

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INTERESTING REPORTS ON 

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OPINIONS FROM AUSTRIA 

AND ABROAD.

LE MONDE RUSSIA 

RUS SIA 

BETWEEN PRIDE & PROSPERI TY 

PHOTO: COURTESY RUSSIAN EMBASSY VIENNA 

The Russian economy 

is struggling in the third 

year of a severe recession. 

But the Russian people 

support their President 

Vladimir Putin with an 

exceptional majority due 

to his quest to restore 

pride and self esteem for 

this mighty nation. 

Text: Rainer Himmelfreundpointner 

Moscow, the capital of Russia, is 

emerging as a new center of 

global politics and features an 

exceptional range of cultural 

attractions and touristic 

highlights. 


Cercle Diplomatique 4 /2016 

31


Sochi, the Olympic City at the 

Black Sea, is still one of the major 

touristic destinations. 

FACTS & 

FIGURES 

Modern Moscow. A vibrant 

metropolis and a major financial 

and business center in 

Eastern Europe. 

Mother Homeland Monument in 

Wolgograd, formerly also known 

as Stalingrad. 

PHOTOS: FOTOLIA, SERGEY SERGEEV, SERGEY LAVRENTEV, ALEXEI DANICHEV, NIKOLAI SOROKIN, COURTESY RUSSIAN EMBASSY VIENNA 

Two anecdotes perfectly fit into Russia’s current 

condition. The first one dates back to the 

mid-1990s, when John Major, the British Prime 

Minister, asked the former Russian President Boris 

Yeltsin to characterise the economy of his country 

in one word. ”Good,“ Yeltsin said. Major was not 

convinced and asked him to try it in two words. Yeltsin 

replied: ”Not good.“ The same is true for today. 

The second story dates back to the end of 1999, 

when Yeltsin was about to leave office and to put all 

the responsibility for the largest country of the world 

into the hands of his successor, Vladimir Vladimirovich 

Putin. On his way out of the Kremlin he left Putin 

with another two famous words: ”Beregite Rossiyu!“ 

for ”Take care of Russia“ or ”Preserve Russia“. 

And that is exactly, what Putin has been trying to do 

in the last 16 years since he took office as President of 

the Russian Federation, which was founded after a 

three-days-revolution in 1991. 

The major questions behind these two episodes 

still are today‘s focal points of Russia‘s role in the global 

community of nations. And some of the responses 

are deeply worrying especially the West – like its 

involvement into the Ukraine conflict or its military 

support for the Assad regime in the war in Syria. The 

answer to the first – did Putin‘s economic politics 

bring economic prosperity to his people? – is: Yes 

and No. The answer to the second – has he taken care 

of the state – is definitely Yes. But: Which state? What 

does Russia with its roughly 146 million people stand 

for? A new country, born from the revolution, having 

lost half of its population and vast territories to 

the former, now independent member states of the 

fallen Soviet Union? Or should the power and pride 

of the old Russia be restored again after the collapse 

of the Soviet regime? As a statesman, Vladimir Putin 

tried to lead Russia on a path that is meandering between 

pride and prosperity. With mixed results. 

By the time Putin took office in 2000, the Russian 

economy was starting to benefit from the transition 

to a Western style market economy, complete 

with coffee shops, the first IKEA superstore and a lot 

of oligarchs. Putin picked Herman Gref, a liberal economist 

and close fellow during his time in St. Petersburg, 

where he has served as deputy mayor, to draft 

an economic programme and lead reforms. ”The centre 

piece of the new social contract is the primacy of 

the citizen over the state,“ Gref, now the chairman of 

Sberbank, Russia‘s largest state bank, wrote. ”The 

RUSSIA 

Official Name: 

Russian Federation 

Capital: Moscow 

Area: 17,075,200 sqkm 2 

(largest country in the world, 

Crimea not included) 

Population: 143,434,154 (2016 

estimate; Crimea not included) 

Ethnic Groups: Russian 

(81.0%), Tatar (3.7%), 

Ukrainian (1.4%), Bashkir 

(1.1%), Chuvash (1.0%), 

Chechen (0.8%), others/ 

unspecified (11.0%) 

Religion: Christian (65-75%), 

without religion (25%), Islam, 

Buddhism, Judaism (rest). 

There is no official census of 

religion in Russia. 

Currency: Russian Ruble (RUB) 

GDP: 1.133 trillion $ (nominal, 

estimate 2016) 

GDP per capita: 7,742 $ 

(nominal, estimate 2016) 

Government: Federal 

semi-presidential constitutional 

Republic 

- President: Vladimir Putin 

- Prime Minister: 

Dmitry Medvedev 

Formation: 

882: Kievan Rus‘ 

1283: Grand Duchy of Moscow 

1547: Tsardom of Russia 

1721: Russian Empire 

1917: Russian SFSR 

1922: Soviet Union 

1991: Russian Federation 

1993: Current Constitution 

Moscow, where old Soviet 

architecture meets modernity. 

The famous Tchaikovsky Festival 

and the Marine Basilica in 

Kronstadt (far right) are perfect 

examples for the vast cultural 

heritage of Russia. 



33


St. Petersburg, the great metropolis in the 

northwest of Russia, attracts millions of 

visitors each year. 

The famous Chess 

Academy in 

Khanty-Mansiysk, the 

breeding ground for 

future grand masters. 

country has a unique chance provided by political 

stability, appetite for reform and rising oil prices to 

renew itself.“ Putin more than agreed with this plan 

and set off for the task to further transform the Russian 

economy. His success during his first eight years 

as President was impressive. The growth rates in average 

were around 7%, market reforms began to have 

an impact, rules became more stable and from the 

mid-2000s the soaring oil prices – commodities still 

account for over the half of Russia‘s GDP – stimulated 

even more growth, mainly in the services and 

construction sectors. As a result, from 1999 to 2008, 

the Russian economy nearly doubled. 

This certainly is on the plus side of Putin‘s years. 

His government – also during the period when he 

swapped seats with Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev 

(President from 2008-2012) – enforced the massive 

change of Russia brought by the collapse of the 

Soviet Union. It supported the principle of private 

ownership – even if today it is sometimes dangerous 

for a single person to own too much – so that new 

industries could be launched that did not exist before. 

People are free to make money, consume and travel 

on a scale never seen before in Russia. The state 

no longer dominates people‘s lives the way it formerly 

used to. Although it still controls parts of television, 

the internet remains largely unconstrained, and 

radio and print have a degree of freedom which was 

unknown only just two decades before. Even the critical 

opposition politician Alexei Navalny says that 

”despite the curtailing of political and civil freedoms, 

the past 25 years have been the freest in Russian history.“ 

But with the outbreak of the financial crisis in 2008, 

the Russian economy crushed, contracting by 

10% by the end of 2009. Like in many Western states 

as well, taxpayers money was used for economic 

emergency relief. Higher government spendings to 

fuel up consumption led to a subsequent recovery, but 

at a much slower track. Between 2010 and 2014 the 

economy grew by only 3% a year, even though revenues 

from oil exports were 70% higher than during the 

oil boom of 2004-08. The massive economic state interventions 

to avoid the worst effects of the financial 

crisis also resulted in the creation of a sort of corporatist 

state. By the end of 2015 the share of state in the 

Russian economy amounted to some 70%, in the year 

2005 it was around 35%, according to statistics from 

the World Bank. 

Story continues on p. 36 ➝ 

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Interior of Catherine Palace. The 

old grandeur of the Imperial 

Russia still attracts millions of 

tourists. 

A ballet performance 

at the Bolshoi Theatre. 

Interior of the Church of 

the Saviour on Spilled 

Blood. 

Space rockets launch site 

Kosmodrom Wostotchny 

(Roscosmos) in the 

Amur region. 

But apart from such charms a lot of people in Europe, 

especially in the Baltic region and in some 

former East Bloc countries like Poland, are watching 

the return of Russia as a political power player in 

most of the global crisis hotspots, from the Ukraine 

to Syria, with mixed feelings. Kremlin watchers are 

talking of a game of muscles and they believe that the 

deeper roots for it can be tracked down to Putin‘s 

quest to reinvigorate what he thinks matters more 

than mere economic success – the pride and self esteem 

of the Russian people. When he became President, 

according to an opinion poll from January 2000, 

only 8% of the population expected him to move Russia 

closer to the West. But some 55% expressed the 

hope, that Putin would transform Russia to a status it 

had lost after the Cold War – that of a great and respected 

”derzhave“, which for many Russians means 

”fear of their country“. 

Ambassador Ljubinskij strongly rejects this interpretation. 

”I think the assumption that people in Western 

or Eastern Europe are in fear of Russia is completely 

wrong“, he says in the interview with Cercle 

Diplomatique. ”Out of a historic perspective I understand 

some remarks by our friends in Poland or in the 

Baltic states that Russian military power might reemerge 

again. ”To avoid such fears“, he says, the Russian 

leaders have started many initiatives to achieve 

”common security from Lisboa to Vladivostok“. Sadly, 

from the Moscow perspective none of these have 

been accomplished and the Western military architecture 

not only remained, but moved closer to 

Russia‘s borders. ”How shall this be accepted by our 

side?“, Ljubinskij asks. 

Still, the outside view of Russia‘s comeback as a 

super power goes well hand in hand with the general 

opinion of the people inside Russia. In a recent poll 

half of the population thinks Putin has indeed restored 

the position of Russia as a great power on the 

world stage and so he himself enjoys an extraordinary 

support of 82%, a remarkable figure. His tool to 

regain this status was the formation of a strong, centralised 

state, just as he already stated in his manifesto 

at the turn of the millennium. He ordered the 

restoration of the Soviet anthem (with new lyrics), 

which had been abolished when the Soviet Union 

collapsed. He eliminated all alternative power cen- 

Lake Baikal is the 

deepest and with an age 

of 25 million years the 

oldest sweetwater lake 

of the world. 

This not only suppresses competition, but also 

provided a severe blow to the economy, when oil prices 

started to fall extremely by mid 2014. Hand in 

hand to the shrinking revenues from oil and gas sales, 

the West installed heavy trade and investment 

sanctions – this also had a very negative effect on the 

Austrian-Russian trade volume, which by the end of 

2015 has declined for 20% to some 4.4 billion dollars 

(see box page 36) – on Russia following its support 

for the rebellion in the Ukraine and the annexion of 

the Crimea in 2014. That year, Russia had a GDP of 

some 2 trillion dollars, 2015 it had fallen by more 

than a third to some 1.32 trillion dollars. In 2016 it is 

estimated to decline to some 1.2 trillion dollars and 

only for 2017 experts again predict a small growth to 

around 1.4 trillion dollars. 

Nevertheless ”the economic situation of Russia is 

totally stable“, says Dmitrij Ljubinskij, the Ambassador 

of the Russian Federation to Austria in an interview 

with Cercle Diplomatique. ”Russia has simply 

learned to live with the current situation“ (the interview 

starts on page 38). The government has also introduced 

many initiatives to overcome this recession. 

One of the major projects is the creation of Eurasian 

Economic Union, which was set up in 2015 and now 

consists of Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan 

and Russia, with the aim of forming a single economic 

area that spreads from the Atlantic to the Bering 

Sea. Another one is to boost international 

tourism to the country. Already the country welcomes 

more than 32 million visitors each year, who are 

generating some 20 billion dollars of revenue and 

feeding over a million jobs in the tourism industry. 

Just last October, Austria and Russia have signed 

a treaty introducing the Austrian-Russian Year of 

Tourism 2017 with the goal ”to support the growth 

of tourism influx in both directions“ and adding to 

the roughly 70,000 Austrian visitors who already enjoy 

the many attractions Russia has to offer – which 

are more than one can imagine with a wide spectrum 

from historic cities and idyllic countrysides to artistic 

riches, epic train rides and unique nightlife. ”It‘s a 

thrill to discover the latest on the dynamic and liberal 

art scene in the major cities or to relish the serene 

countryside around Lake Baikal, for example,“ reports 

Simon Richmond, a travel-writer for Lonely 

Planet. ”Above all, it‘s the encounters and passionate 

conversations with warmly welcoming, highly educated 

and hospitable Russians that make a visit to 

Russia the most lasting impression.“ 

PHOTOS: FOTOLIA, COURTESY RUSSIAN EMBASSY VIENNA 

Evpaty Kolovrat. 

Monument of a 

famous historic 

Russian hero. 

Naval power. Russia has been 

heavily grading up its marine 

fleet in recent years. 



RUSSIA & AUSTRIA 

Russia – a heartland of Austrian exporters 

Basics. Russia, in 2015, despite of its heavy decline of GDP from over 2 trillion dollars down to 1.32 

trillion dollars, due to effects of the shrinking oil price and the severe sanctions imposted by the EU 

and other Western countries, still ranks number 15 of Austria‘s most important trade partners 

(2015). But only in 2015, the trade volume between Austria and Russia fell for some 20% to around 

4.4 billion Euro. Austrian exports to Russia in 2015 summed up to some 1.978 billion Euro. Imports 

from Russia, mainly energy in form of oil and gas, at the end of that year held at 2.436 billion Euro. 

Austrian direct investments in Russia by 2015 had a value of a bit over 5 billion Euro, with some 

43,800 employees working at the companies with Austrian capital shares. Vice versa, Russian 

direct investment in Austria in 2015 had a value of a little bit less than 21 billion Euro, with some 

847 people being employed by the companies Russia is invested in (with Gazprom and Lukoil as 

the most prominent names). 

Latest developments. The first six months of 2016 saw a further decline of Austrian-Russian trade 

volume by 10% to 1.9 billion Euro, a situation which is characterised by the Austrian Chamber of 

Commerce as an arrival at the bottom from where things can only get better. Especially Austrian 

exports, which have declined to some 844 million Euro in the first half of 2016, have been hit due 

to the devaluation of the ruble and the EU sanctions against Russia. Therefore, many Austrian 

business leaders and politicians take a critical position to the sanctions, one of them, the Austrian 

Minister of Agriculture, Andrä Rupprechter, even demanded an immediate termination of the 

sanctions in Cercle Diplomatique‘s last issue (see CD 3/2016). 

Austrian companies in Russia. More than 500 Austrian companies have set up subsidiary 

operations in Russia, with well known banks like Bank Austria or Raiffeisenbank International and 

big industrial groups like the oil and gas company OMV or the construction giant Strabag in the 

lead. Because of their high quality of products and services, they all enjoy an outstanding 

reputation but have to face a privileged treatment of Russian competitors when it comes to public 

contracting. So more and more companies are setting up local production facilities in Russia in 

order to avoid exchange rate risks and to more easily get access to public tenders. None of the 

Austrian companies, according to the Chamber of Commerce, is planning to leave Russia. 

Austrian-Russian Year of Tourism 2017. In October 2016, Alla Manilova, the Russian Deputy 

Minister of Culture, and Elisabeth Udolf-Strobl, Head of the tourism section in Austria´s Ministry, 

of Economy, were hosted by the Russian Ambassador Dmitrij Ljubinskij for the official signing of 

the Austrian-Russian Year of Tourism 2017 treaty. This Year of Tourism is supposed to boost the 

cooperation between Austrian and Russian companies and to intensify the flows of visitors in both 

directions, hopefully adding to the 164,750 arrivals of Russian tourists in Austria and to the roughly 

70,000 Austrian visitors to Russia in 2015. More than a dozen of events in 2017 “shall present the 

touristic attractions and destinations of both countries and improve the cultural exchange“. 

Priraslomnajy oil platform (far left). Elisabeth Udolf-Strobl from the Federal Ministry of Economy (l.), 

Alla Manilova, Russian Deputy Minister of Culture, and Ambassador Dmitrij Ljubinskij. 

ters (and potential rivals), stopped direct regional 

elections, standardised legislation across the whole 

of Russia and appointed his own representatives to 

the regions – not exactly according to the principle 

of federalism, the claim of the Russian Federation. In 

short, he took all logical steps which support his believe, 

that a country of the size and the ethnic complexity 

of Russia can only be kept together by centralising 

its economy and political powers. 

According to a close former advisor of Putin, Andrej 

Illarionov, all these actions have been the results 

of the President‘s fear of disintegration of the whole 

of Russia after the Soviet Union ceased to exist. For a 

better understanding he quotes the core sentences of 

a letter, which was written by Alexander Yakovlev, 

one of the key architects of the reforms ignited by 

Mikhail Gorbachev, to the late communist leader. 

”For a thousand years we have been ruled by people 

and not by laws“, the letter reads. ”What we are talking 

about is not the dismantling of Stalinism but a 

replacement of a 1,000-year old model of statehood.“ 

By regarding the 1990s as a period of chaos rather 

than of freedom, Putin did not set out to abolish this 

old model. More so, he restored it to new power. 

Is this resurgence of Russia a sign of strength or is it 

built on weak pillars? That seems to be the question 

not only for the country‘s future, but for a secure 

world as well. And Russia faces many challenges. Its 

regional diversity, its growing inequality and the 

contrast between the growing urban middle classes 

and the paternalistic periphery may well provide 

causes of tensions. It faces an aging population, 

which is expected to shrink by 10% by 2050. And it 

has to resolve its structural economic problems, first 

of all getting rid of its unhealthy dependence on natural 

resources like oil and gas. 

Already once the attempt to use the windfall from 

the commodity boom to modernise the state and its 

economy did not work. Any similar efforts to try this 

again are in danger to fall flat as well unless hard and 

painful reforms take place. At this point experts love 

to quote the French statesman Alexis de Tocqueville 

(1805-1859), famous for remarks on how to run a 

state. Here is the sequence Putin critics refer to when 

it comes to change management on a state level. According 

to de Tocqueville, the most dangerous moment 

for a government is when it begins to reform. 

He actually said ”bad“ government, but maybe de 

Tocqueville is true for all. 

PHOTOS: COURTESY RUSSIAN EMBASSY VIENNA 

Business Class 

HOCHGENUSS 

Auf Langstrecken in der myAustrian Business Class bereitet der Flying Chef 

mein Gourmet-Menü persönlich zu. Besser als jeder Restaurantbesuch! 

the charming way to fly 


LE MONDE RUSSIA | INTERVIEW 

H.E. Dmitrij Ljubinskij 

“The economic situation in Russia is stable and the overall mood in Russia is positive.“ 

The Ambassador of the Federation talks straight about the current state of Russian economy, 

its ”kaputt“ projects with the NATO and the differences with the US about the war in Syria. 

Plus: he insists on the immediate lifting of the EU-sanctions. 

Interview: Rainer Himmelfreundpointner 

CD: Ambassador Ljubinskij, Russia and Austria signed a 

declaration for the Russian-Austrian Year of Tourism 2017 a 

few weeks ago. What is the background of this? 

Dmitrij Ljubinskij: I have been the Ambassador to 

Austria for a year now. As it became clear to me that I 

would have this honour, already back in Moscow, I 

started to plan which areas would be the best to develop 

our relationship under the given complicated circumstances 

between the European Union and Russia 

and the limits which have not been initiated by us. To 

some areas the sanctions do not apply and these areas 

reflect the interests of both of our countries. Tourism 

– be it in the field of culture, medicine or sports – is a 

perfect example for this. All the Austrian representatives, 

from former President Heinz Fischer to business 

leaders, I presented this idea to, strongly agreed with 

it. The Year of Tourism 2017 can only deepen our bilateral 

relations which are already extremely strong, full 

of trust and based on a long tradition. It is an additional 

opportunity to further enhance the ties between 

Austria and Russia. 

Isn’t the steady decline of the stream of Russian tourists to 

Austria down to some 165,000 arrivals in the first nine 

months of 2016 another reason for this initiative? 

In the last two years, the number of Russian visitors to 

Austria and the amount of money they spent here 

have decreased by some 40%. It‘s a fact. It is a point for 

worry for both sides. So the Year-of-Tourism-project 

aims at various goals. Firstly, to increase the influx of 

tourists in both directions. Russia is not only Moscow 

and St. Petersburg, it has much more to offer. Secondly, 

Russia wants to develop its tourism industry as 

quickly as possible, and there is no better partner than 

Austria. The Olympic Games in Sochi and the many 

Austrian companies which contributed to it have been 

a perfect example for this cooperation. So let the Year 

of Tourism start right away. 

Up to some 1,200 Austrian companies are doing business in 

Russia, and many of them feel the negative impact of the EU 

sanctions. What is the current status of negotiations to end 

the sanctions? 

The sanctions have not been imposed by the Russian 

Federation. But if the EU takes such measures, reaction 

is inevitable. We would never ask to suspend the 

sanctions because that is a decision made by the European 

Union. But we regard the sanctions as not compliant 

with international law because of the lack of the 

confirmation of the UN Security Council. I would 

prefer to have more Austrian companies in Russia as 

there is a high demand for their products and services. 

But the sanctions exist and so do our counter measures. 

Nevertheless not everything is painted either in 

black or white. 

What do you mean by that? 

The label ”Made in Austria“ has always been very popular 

in Russia, for example when it comes to products 

of agriculture. Unfortunately, because of the 

sanctions, ”Made in Austria“ is now rarely found in 

Russian markets. But it could be of huge advantage for 

both sides if ”Made in Austria“ could be changed to 

”Made with Austria“. Not a single one of the many 

Austrian companies active in Russia wants to withdraw 

from the country. Some of them are even more 

active. For example, the production of bread in some 

Russian cities has strongly expanded thanks to the cooperations 

with Austrian technology partners. So 

DMITRIJ LJUBINSKIJ 

PHOTOS: RALPH MANFREDA 

Born on December 1st, 1967, the father of two 

daughters studied International Relations at the 

Moscow State Institute MGIMO and entered 

diplomatic service in 1989. After positions in Germany 

and Russia‘s Foreign Ministry, he became Ambassador 

to Austria in August 2015. 



Meine Bank 

muss da sein, 

wo ich sie brauche. 

“Russia has its own 

interest in neighbouring 

regions, first of 

all in Europe and the 

Near and Middle 

East. Developments 

there have a big 

impact on Russia. 

This has nothing to 

do with flexing the 

muscles.“ 

joint investments with Russian partners could very 

well be successful. Especially if the products are aiming 

not only at the Russian market but are meant for 

re-import into Europe or other international markets 

which would not fall under the sanctions. 

Are you already regarding the sanctions as normal condition? 

We highly appreciate the very pragmatic approach of 

the Austrian Government to this question. But unfortunately, 

the Austrian Government does not have the 

strongest voice in the group of the 28 EU member states 

in which other opinions prevail. 

What is the current status of the negotiations about the 

Minsk Protocol? 

The Minsk Protocol is an agreement made between 

the representatives of Ukraine in Kiev, the Donetsk 

People‘s Republic (DPR), and the Lugansk People‘s 

Republic (LPR), the two regions in the east of Ukraine, 

to halt the war in the Donbass area. Russia, France 

and Germany now act as guarding states for implementing 

it by trying to influence all sides. On the one 

hand, the success of Minsk depends on the implementation 

of all protocol points in chronology. And on the 

other hand, without the political will of all sides there 

can be no results. So we ended up in a one way street. 

If the sanctions are tied to the implementation of the 

Minsk Protocol then we have a No-No-Win situation. 

And there is one more question which I have no 

answer to: Is Kiev interested in ending the sanctions 

against Russia at all? 

The Russian economy has not only been hit by the sanctions 

but maybe more by the sharp decline of oil prices since 

mid-2014. Russia’s GDP has been shrinking for the last two 

years, with only a little growth predicted by experts for 2017. 

How do you judge the economic situation of Russia? 

The economic situation of Russia is totally stable. The 

predictions for 2017 may be not extremely bright but 

positive. The oil prices should recover again and the 

state budget for the next three years is calculated with 

an oil price of well under 60 Euro and very balanced. 

Russia has simply learned to live with the current situation. 

And we have our reserves. If you talk to the people 

in many regions in Russia, nobody is awaiting a 

further deterioration of the economic situation. On 

the contrary, the overall mood is very positive. And 

the recent parliamentary elections have shown that 

our government receives the support of the people. 

President Vladimir Putin, according to a recent poll, even 

enjoys a support of more than 80%. Many experts think this 

is not because of his economic policy but rather due to his 

international muscle games. Only in last fall, nuclear-capable 

weapons have been transferred close to the borders with 

Poland and Lithuania, an aircraft carrier group was sent to 

the North Sea and the English Channel and he threatened to 

shoot down any American plane that attacks the forces of 

Syria’s despot, Bashar al-Assad. While the West is scared by 

these actions, the Russian people support them because they 

regard their country as a strong and respected super power 

again. Is this interpretation correct? 

At first, let me answer the question about popularity. 

Take elections in Austria: how much do international 

politics count? Not so much. This is the same in Russia. 

But of course, Russia has its own interests in international 

politics, not all over the world like the US says 

it has, but certainly in neighbouring regions, first of all 

in Europe and the Near and Middle East. Developments 

there have a big impact on Russia. This has 

nothing to do with flexing the muscles. Take the war 

in Syria, which now nearly lasts longer than the Second 

World War. From the very beginning, our basic 

idea was to unite all the involved forces to avoid all 

sorts of negative consequences, also for Europe. The 

main reason is that Syria should remain a complete 

sovereign state. But there are some players from the 

outside with different interests. One year ago, we were 

able to gather them all at one table here in Vienna 

which alone was a huge success. Two tracks of agreements 

have been reached. A special UN-representative 

should organise negotiations between the Assad 

Government and the opposition. One problem was 

how to define what exactly is the opposition. This was 

only partly successful. The second track of these ag- 

Story continues on p. 44 ➝ 


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LE MONDE EXPERT´S VIEW 

Ambassador Dmitrij Ljubinskij (middle) 

with Cercle Diplomatique‘s publisher 

Andrea Fürnweger and author Rainer 

Himmelfreundpointner. 

„Russia‘s economy slow to recover“ 

Rudolf Lukavsky, Head of Advantage Austria in Moscow, points out the still strong confidence of Austrian businesses in Russia. 

“All personal 

sanctions must be 

lifted immediately. If 

our President of the 

Duma is not allowed 

to visit Austria, then 

there is something 

absolutely abnormal.“ 

reements was at first to define as precisely as possible 

the terroristic structure on Syrian territory and to distinguish 

them or tell them apart from the Syrian opposition. 

Some were easy to identify, the Islamic State 

or Al-Nusra, but this also has not been completely 

successful. Nevertheless, we have reached an agreement 

between the Secretary of State John Kerry and 

Foreign Minister Sergei Lawrow, after months of talks. 

But our American partners did not deliver what they 

promised. 

What exactly? 

The segmentation between terrorists and armed opposition. 

This is the reason why the agreement has finally 

failed. Nevertheless, until now, we are convinced 

that a sustainable solution for Syria is possible. We will 

continue to try to implement this because there is no 

other way than a consensus of all the groups involved. 

But the images the world is watching is Russia throwing 

bombs on Aleppo and the Syrian people and supporting 

Bashar al-Assad. 

Once again, Russia is blamed for everything. If you 

take a look into the Western media, the bombing of 

Mosul seems to be all right but that of Aleppo is not. 

My personal opinion is, that the US is in urgent need 

of a success in this region and this is why the whole 

picture is painted that way. 

Do you think the conflict in Syria can ever be resolved? And 

would the threat of terrorism not only be transferred to other 

regions of the world like Africa? 

That is the core question. Take Afghanistan. Has the 

war in Afghanistan been won? I have great doubts. Secondly, 

where are the roots of IS or Al-Nusra and 

other related structures which threaten the whole of 

the civilised world? The only way is to fight them by 

combining all forces. That is what we have been saying 

for years. But unfortunately, Russia has not got complete 

support in this respect because too many different 

interests – economic and political – are involved. 

But a common understanding has to be reached to 

stop this huge terroristic movement. There have already 

been to many missed opportunities. 

In regard to the US, one might even have the feeling not only 

of missed opportunities but of an outbreak of the old 

hostility between Russia and the United States. Isn’t there a 

Cold War rhetoric coming back because Russia once again is 

not only respected but feared? 

I think the assumption that people in Western or Eastern 

Europe are in fear of Russia is completely wrong. 

Out of a historic perspective, I understand some remarks 

by our friends in Poland or in the Baltic states 

that Russian military power might reemerge again. 

Remember: during the Cold War the perception of the 

world was simple. You had two competing global powers 

and that was easy to understand for everybody. 

Then the Soviet Union disappeared and the sides had 

high hopes of something very positive and peaceful 

coming out of this. Our leaders took many initiatives 

in respect to common security for all from Lisboa to 

Vladivostok. But nothing has been accomplished and 

from our point of view, the opposing military architecture 

remained. And it not only remained, it has 

also been approaching our borders. The facts have 

been put on the ground in Poland, Romania, in the 

Baltic states and elsewhere in the last years. How shall 

this be accepted by our side? There have been many 

positive projects in the last years between Russia and 

NATO but all of them have been suspended. All of 

them are ”kaputt“. Our diplomats – apart from the 

Permanent Representatives – are not allowed to enter 

the NATO headquarters. Personal sanctions against 

some 150 Russian politicians and many businessmen 

involved, for example in Crimea were introduced, 

which had not taken place even during the Cold War 

times. Our Parliament, the Duma, has 450 members. 

And nearly hundred have been punished with sanctions 

for this decision. If things shall become better, 

then one has to start somewhere. And this is: all personal 

sanctions must be lifted immediately. If our President 

of the Duma is not allowed to visit Austria, then 

there is something absolutely abnormal. 

Which effects would a lifting of the sanctions have on the 

current status of Austrian-Russian relations? 

As I said, our ties are already extremely strong, full of 

trust and based on a long tradition. And with a lifting 

of the sanctions the relations between Austria and 

Russia will even get better. 

FOTOS: PHOTOS: XYXXYXYXY 

RALPH MANFREDA 

PHOTO: FRANK HELMRICH 

Buchung und 

Beratung in Ihrem 

Reisebüro! 

Rudolf Lukavsky 

is Austria‘s Commercial 

Counsellor in Moscow 

and also covering 

Armenia, Azerbaijan, 

Belarus and 

Uzbekistan. Prior to his 

position in Russia, 

Lukavsky has been 

serving in Bucharest. 

Russian entrepreneurs are becoming more cost-conscious. 

Trade between Austria and Russia had 

been increasing up until 2013 – in 2013 

Austria registered record exports of €3.5 

bn. The fall in oil prices in 2014/2015 led to a 

strong devaluation of the ruble and a reduction 

in purchasing power. This, along with the sanctions, 

also had a negative effect on Austrian exports, 

as would be expected. Exports to Russia 

fell by 8% in 2014 and by a further 38% in 2015 to €1.98 bn. The 

volatile ruble and financing difficulties severely restricted the 

planning ability of Russian businesses. However, confidence is 

returning to the economy thanks to a more stable oil price as well 

as ruble exchange rate in 2016/2017. The crisis has encouraged 

Russian entrepreneurs to become more cost-conscious, but negative 

experiences with Asian suppliers are making Austrian exporters 

more interesting again. Furthermore, the high quality of 

Austrian goods as well as services such as machine maintenance 

can easily withstand cheap competition from Asia, albeit with a 

lower volume. 

Machines and plants from Austria. While Russia supplies Austria 

with raw materials, more than 85% as fuels, Austria predominantly 

sells machines and plants as well as pharmaceuticals to 

Russia. There has been an import ban on many Austrian foods 

such as meat, sausage and cheese for more than two years. Reduced 

purchasing power and liquidity shortages in companies as 

well as import substitution requirements for tenders from stateowned 

enterprises put foreign suppliers at a disadvantage and 

have led to a growing trend in localising production. Austrian 

business people in Russia, however, remain confident and are 

getting through the crisis – at least they are well-prepared for the 

expected recovery for the next few years. 

Strong Russian investment. Direct investments from Russia currently 

amount to just under €21 bn. whereas Austrian direct investments 

in Russia are €6 bn. Russian companies in the energy 

sector such as Gazprom and Lukoil as well as the tourism sector 

and banks are investing in Austria. Austria mainly invests in the 

Russian real economy such as wood, paper, building materials, 

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Painful decline in Russian tourists. Austria also recorded a significant 

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Vienna‘s Leading Private Hospital 

Welcome to the Rudolfinerhaus 

As one of the most prestigious private hospitals in the country, the Rudolfinerhaus places 

importance not only on outstanding medical care, but also on the professional care and well-being 

of its patients. In one of the most beautiful, quiet and green parts of Vienna, the hospital has a 

long history of providing high quality medical care and skilled treatment options combined with 

excellent hospitality. Offering an exceptionally broad range of medical services with an excellent 

physician team is a priority at the Rudolfinerhaus. 

Info: 

RUDOLFINERHAUS 

Private Hospital 

Billrothstraße 78 

1190 Vienna 

Tel +43 1 36 0 36 - 0 

info@rudolfinerhaus.at 

www.rudolfinerhaus.at 

In the Presence of Tradition 

“The most brilliant surgeon Europe” was the reputation 

that preceded Theodor Billroth (1829-1894) when he established 

the first non-denominational teaching hospital 

in Austria in 1882. The new medical school included a 

small hospital with 20 beds. This was the birth of the 

Rudolfinerhaus, whose patron and protector was none 

other than Crown Prince Rudolf (1858-1889). During 

the First World War (1914-1918), the institution became 

a military hospital and was expanded to 400 beds. Ultimately, 

it became one of the leading hospitals in Europe. 

Wellbeing of Body and Soul 

The incomparable combination of a traditional and an 

innovative private clinic with all the benefits of a good 

hotel puts our patients on the path towards feeling comfortable 

as they devote themselves to their recovery. The 

comfortable hospital rooms include all conceivable amenities: 

internet, private telephone and a television are 

standard in all rooms. The hospital’s excellent hospitality 

is unique in Austria, with the complete range of comfort 

and services run by hospitality professionals with 

excellent dining and room service enjoyed throughout 

Rudolfinerhaus. 

Your Care in the Best of Hands 

The importance of expert care for a positive course of 

treatment was emphasized by Theodor Billroth and, 

accordingly, the institution has placed an emphasis on 

providing stellar care from the time it was founded. 

This special care focus remains an important part of the 

identity and culture of the Rudolfinerhaus, where care 

includes the full range of professional support and counselling. 

The patient’s individual needs and concerns are 

always at the forefront. 

Medical Excellence 

The Rudolfinerhaus is known far beyond the borders 

of the country as a first-class private hospital. The institution 

owes this reputation to its renowned physicians 

and general practitioners, the excellent level of care and 

innovative technical equipment. Thanks to this combination, 

the institute can offer advanced medical care in 

a variety of fields at the highest level. Due to the latest 

refurbishments, Rudolfinerhaus can offer its patients the 

department for Invasive Cardiology / Angiography as 

Austria’s first private hospital. The department for Diagnostic 

Imaging at Rudolfinerhaus provides its patient 

with even more comfort, by offering the new open panorama 

magnetic resonance. 

Outpatient Clinic 

The Outpatient Clinic at Rudolfinerhause in Vienna is the 

linchpin of the private hospital. Here, the patients are 

offered a comprehensive, state-of-the-art diagnostic and 

therapeutic range of treatments. The Outpatient Clinic 

specialises above all in the field of preventative medicine. 

In this way, tailor-made check-ups, which outline a rapid 

and uncomplicated preventive examination, are also a 

particular characteristic at Rudolfinerhaus. The Check 

Up Center thus provides patients with preventive care 

packages which are precisely tailored to their personal 

requirements. Not only basic preventative care has been 

covered, endoscopic and more minor surgical procedures, 

as well as primary care, can also be found at the 

Outpatient Clinic. 

Facts: 

* Approximately 20,000 patients 

* 300 Attending physicians 

* Approximately 7,600 operations 

(inpatient & day clinic) 

* 155 beds 

* Medical institutes & departments: 

– Gynaecology and obstetrics 

– Internal medicine, cardiology and oncology 

– Neurology 

– Orthopaedics 

– Trauma surgery 

– Urology 

* Outpatient Clinic

LE MONDE SUDAN 

Al Kabir Mosque in 

Khartoum. 

A country filled with hope 

FACTS & 

FIGURES 

Sudan is currently engaging in the difficult balancing act of trying to maintain economic stability. 

Several Austrian companies in the country continue to operate very successfully. 

Text: Waltraud Steinböck 

Meroe Pyramids. 

A view of the site in 

al-Bagrawiya, 200 kilometers 

north of Khartoum, Sudan. 

The site once served as the 

principle residence of the 

rulers of the Kush kingdom, 

known as the Black Pharaohs. 

Their pyramids, ranging from 

6-meters to 30-meters tall, 

are some 4,600 years old. 

PHOTOS: WALTRAUD STEINBÖCK, FOTOLIA 

It came as a heavy blow when South Sudan seceded 

from the rest of the country on 9 July 2011. 

The country lost 75% of its operating oil fields 

and thereby its most lucrative source of income, approximately 

25% of its territory and 20% of its population. 

”Although Sudan continues to suffer from the 

economic impact of the South’s secession, the Sudanese 

government is keeping up the extraordinary 

balancing act of maintaining relative stability“ asserts 

Martin Woller, responsible for Sudan in the Advantage 

Austria office in Cairo of the Austrian Economic 

Chamber, in his August report on the country. 

Projected growth 

According to the EIU, the Sudanese economy has 

grown by 3.4% in 2015 and is projected to increase 

by another 1.4% in 2016. This marks a slow trend upward 

after initial drops. The African Development 

Bank’s take is even more optimistic, seeing a growth 

of 5.3% in 2015 and projecting a growth of 6.2% in 

2016. The IMF as well as the World Bank also expect 

to see an increase of 3% in 2016. Furthermore, Sudan 

continues to record steady growth in private domestic 

consumption. This is also being encouraged by 

payment transfers from Sudanese migrants (remittances 

worth USD 150 million), according to the report 

by the Austrian Economic Chamber. 

An end to the US-imposed economic and financial 

sanctions in response to South Sudan’s newly 

found independence is not imminent. Although bilateral 

contacts between the US and Sudan are being 

maintained, we will see a continuation of the embargo, 

partly also due to Sudan’s internal conflicts. Legally, 

the sanctions only apply to US companies, but 

they remain significant obstacles particularly for Eu- 

Elegant form: the 

Corinthia Hotel 

Khartoum in the 

capital. 

ropean US-trade partners. What’s more is that European 

banks are growing increasingly wary of transfers 

to and from Sudan due to the fear of penalty fees 

from US authorities for their US branches. US sanctions 

are thus putting immense pressure on payment 

transactions with European banks. 

Economic relations with Austria 

According to the Austrian Economic Chamber, 

Austrian exports have levelled off at around EUR 20 

million since the secession of South Sudan in 2011. 

This puts Sudan just outside the top 10 export markets 

in Africa for Austrian companies. In 2014, Austrian 

exports to Sudan increased by 10% to EUR 22.2 

million, but a reduction of 8.3% in 2015 led to EUR 

20.3 million. A noteworthy counter-reaction was 

that pharmaceutical products saw an export increase 

of 44.9% in 2015. 

Faisal Awadallah has worked for Austrian businesses 

in Sudan since 1987. Since the closure of the 

Foreign Trade Office in 1990, he has been active for 

the Advantage Austria in Cairo. 

Economic ties between Austria and Sudan were 

put into place a long time ago. ”Since Sudan’s independence 

in 1956, timber has been regularly imported 

from Austria. Sudanese importers value the high 

quality of Austrian products“, Awadallah asserts in a 

personal interview. ”Austrian timber exporters, such 

as the Viennese company DABG (Dr. Anna Bauthen 

GmbH) have been dominating the Sudanese market 

for over 60 years despite strong competition from 

Eastern European exporters.“ 

”The second success story is that of Andritz Hydro 

and Andritz Pumps“, Awadallah notes. Andritz 

Hydro (formerly VA-TECH) has been delivering 

machines for the Roseires Dam since 1968. The matrix 

turbines for the Jebel Awlia hydropower plant 

also came from Andritz Hydro. 

”And the fire service has been using fire engines 

from Rosenbauer for several decades, who are 

known all around the world for their special equipment“, 

says Awadallah. 

What very few people know, is that there used to 

be a football team called “Alnemsa“ in Sudan in the 

1950s. The “Austrian“ team wore jerseys in the Austrian 

national colours red-white-red. Economics is, 

after all, not the only thing that connects people, 

sports do too. 

Sudan 

Official name: Republic of 

the Sudan 

Capital: Khartoum 

Official languages: Arabic, 

English 

Ethnic groups: 

Sudanese Arab (approximately 

70%), Fur, Beja, 

Nuba, Fallata 

Government: 

Presidential republic 

Area: 1,879,358 km2 

Population: 36,729,501 

(July 2016 estimate) 


(nominal, 2016 estimate) 

Most important Austrian 

export goods (2015) 

• Pharmaceutical products 

• Boilers, machines and 

mechanical devices 

• Furniture, light fixtures, 

prefabricated buildings 

• Wood and wood-derived 

products; charcoal 

• Electric machines and 

electric appliances 

• Synthetics and 

synthetics-derived goods 

• Optical, photographic 

equipment, measuring 

and testing instruments 

Al-Noor Mosque 

in Khartoum. 

Faisal Awadallah during 

the interview with CD 

Co-publisher Waltraud 

Steinböck. 



49

LE MONDE SUDAN | INTERVIEW 

H.E. Kamal Ismail Saaed 

Sudan – on the way forward 

An interview with Kamal Ismail Saaed, State Minister at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic 

of the Sudan, at the 20th Anniversary of the CTBTO in Vienna. 

Interview: Waltraud Steinböck 

BELIZE! 

ESCAPE THE COLD... 

УБЕЖАТЬ ОТ ХОЛОДА ... 

Kamal Ismail Saaed with Cercle Diplomatique‘s 

co-publisher Waltraud Steinböck. 

KAMAL ISMAIL SAAED 

CD: Sudan has signed and ratified the CTBTO 

treaty on 10th June 2004 and was the 172nd state 

to do so – would you please elaborate on Sudan’s 

stance on the treaty and how you feel about the 

fact that many countries have still not signed and/ 

or ratified it? 

Kamal Ismail Saaed: Sudan was one of 

the early African countries to sign and ratify 

the agreement. 51 out of 54 African countries 

have already signed and ratified it. We 

encourage all countries to sign the treaty 

and do not see any good reason for any 

country not to sign it. This is a crucial matter 

for peace and security in the entire world. 

For those countries that have not yet signed, 

there was a suggestion to create awareness 

by inviting youth groups, parliamentarians, 

women’s groups and NGOs from those 

countries to participate so that they can 

pressure their governments to sign and ratify 

the treaty. It is now only eight countries 

that have yet to sign and I think it is a very 

good thing that much influence is being 

exerted all over the world in order to get these 

countries to sign because if they continue 

to diffuse, they will isolate themselves and 

will gain no benefits from not doing so. 

What are your biggest exports, trading partners 

and international investors? 

Sudan is the second largest country in Africa 

and is endowed with huge natural resources 

such as water, land and minerals such as 

gold, silver and cobalt. Every type of metal 

and mineral possible is available in my 

country. We recently began developing our 

mines and now have more than 37 large 

companies (both national and international 

companies from Russia, China and Morocco 

for example) working in our mines. In 

Sudan we produce over 85 tons of gold per 

year and we are planning to increase our 

gold production steadily. We are now second 

in Africa after South Africa in gold 

production. We export and sell the gold all 

over the world and we have a gold refinery 

and our own stamp. But this is only one aspect 

of our economy. We also have a huge 

agricultural sector and we produce almost 

all of our own food products and have more 

than 100 million cattle. When it comes to oil 

and gas we produce more than 120,000 barrels 

a day and are moving towards increasing 

this. We are in agreements with Chinese 

and Russian companies in order to 

develop our oil fields and are also self-sufficient 

in oil and gas. Our child is now the 

furthering of our infrastructure – we are 

building roads and railways. We are also 

making large efforts in education and training 

and are increasing the number of our 

universities. This is the easiest way of uplifting 

our economy. Now we also have a fiveyear 

plan concentrated on the industrial 

sector. We are also looking for investors 

from countries with advanced technologies 

and know how. Our only requirement is that 

they abide by our rules and regulations. 

Khartoum is a beautiful city with beautiful sites, 

why is incoming tourism to Sudan not promoted? 

Of course, we want tourism, but due to different 

reasons tourism did not flourish during 

the last decades. But now we are putting 

out new plans to attract tourism to Sudan. 

There are direct flights from Rome and for 

example, we have 79,000 tourists coming to 

Sudan. When it comes to sites, we have the 

Pyramids in Sudan, the ruins of old civilisations 

and very rich tourist facilities. We are 

now building more infrastructure, hotels 

and have already connected them to the 

highway. We also have many archaeological 

missions coming to see and excavate the aforementioned 

sites. 

Do you have any cultural projects you would like 

to tell us about? 

Yes, the women in my country play a very 

important role and have full rights to participate 

in social life as well as in politics. Our 

Minister of Justice is a lady as is our Minister 

for Social Affairs and the High Education 

Minister. With a minimum number of 30%, 

33% of our Parliamentarians are women and 

we hope they will exceed this number soon. 

Sudan is celebrating the 60th Anniversary of its 

independence this year – which special events are 

have taken place? 

We are celebrating the anniversary in a very 

different manner – by assessing what we 

have done and not done in the last 60 years, 

and what is the way forward. We invited 

many of our friends to attend this meeting 

and looked to celebrate this in a very creative 

manner – by stopping, thinking, reassessing 

and then going forward. 

PHOTO: HARALD KLEMM 

BELIZE! 

ENTKOMMEN SIE DER KÄLTE 

Für ein Warm-Wetter-Urlaubspaket 

joined the Foreign Ministry in 1989 and worked at the 

Sudanese Embassies in Qatar, Belgium, Nigeria and 

Kenya. He assumed chairmanship of the European, 

Technical, Economic and Training Departments at the 

Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 


LE MONDE BELIZE 

Bella Belize – four remarks on an American beauty 

The butterfly 

falls and the Actun 

Tunichil Muknal cave 

(right) are musts for 

every visitor to Belize. 

FACTS & 

FIGURES 

Belize 

Belize, the Blue Hole. 

Since Jacques Cousteau put 

this ocean landmark on the 

map in the 70s, the over 400 

islands of Belize are one of 

the world‘s diver‘s paradise. 

But the small Central 

American country is offering a 

lot of additional attractions. 

PHOTOS: FOTOLIA, MLARRIEU (2) 

With the size of Slovenia, Belize is one of the smallest countries in Central America. 

But it is putting itself more and more on the map of international tourism thanks to 

many natural blessings. And it is trying hard to get rid of its tax haven image. 


Talking about Belize in most cases means a) 

hailing its underwater diver‘s paradise, b) recalling 

the impressions of the remainings of 

the mysterious Maya civilisation and c) debating if 

this country in Central America is one of last tax havens 

not yet tamed by the OECD raiders of tax evasion 

(to that, later). 

Underscoring a) is the fact that Belize is blessed 

with the second largest barrier reef in the world, after 

Australia‘s. The Belize Barrier Reef with more 

than 100 types of coral and some 500 species of tropical 

fish is pure paradise for scuba divers and snorkelers. 

Swimming through translucent seas, snorkelers 

are treated to a kaleidoscope of coral, fish and 

turtles, while divers go deeper, investigating underwater 

caves and walls and the world-renowned Blue 

Hole. Add to this island living on the over 400 sandy 

cayes, where you can spend your days kayaking, 

windsurfing, stand-up paddleboarding, swimming, 

fishing or lazing in a hammock, and you‘ve got the 

recipe for a perfect tropical vacation. 

Belize, formerly known as British Honduras prior 

to its independence from Great Britain in 1981, has 

b), also been the heartland of the ancient Maya. The 

Cayo District and Toledo‘s Deep South in particular 

are peppered with archaeological sites that date back 

to the Maya heyday (AD 250–1000), where enormous 

steps lead to the tops of tall stone temples, often 

yielding 360-degree jungle views. Visitors can 

explore excavated tombs and examine intricate hieroglyphs, 

or descend deep into natural caves to see 

where the Maya kings performed rituals and made 

sacrifices to the gods of their underworld. 

On top of that, Belize has many more action and 

adventures to offer. You may head to Cayo District 

where you can canoe through darkened river systems 

or hard-core spelunk in renowned Actun Tunichil 

Muknal cave. Zip-lining is virtually an art form 

in Cayo and Southern Belize where you can sail 

through the jungle at half a dozen locations. Horseback 

riding is well organised and hiking is superb in 

national parks, such as Mayflower Bocawina National 

Park, Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary, 

Shipstern Nature Reserve and Río Bravo. ”It‘s a cliché 

to say good things come in small packages,“ travel 

writer Paul Harding sums it up, ”but with Belize 

it just feels right.“ 

But since the EU commission and the OECD have 

geared up their efforts in fighting tax evasion and try 

to dry out all kinds of tax havens, Belize is c) a number 

one topic of discussions in the financial and regulatory 

universe. Following the scandal of the Panama 

Papers, the EU is preparing a black list of 

countries offering suspicious tax jurisdictions and 

allegedly acting as a tax haven for companies or individuals. 

And Belize, apart from a number of other 

Caribbean countries, is also supposed to be on this 

yet unpublished tax haven black list. 

The small country – Belize is just the size of Slovenia 

or Israel – is trying hard to get rid of this image. 

”We don‘t want to be tainted as some backwater tax 

haven“, says Ambassador Joel Nagel. ”It is a priority 

of the government to make sure, Belize does not become 

a black list state“ (see also interview page 54). 

In a first step, it has reformed its financial jurisdiction 

in order to comply with FATCA (US Foreign 

Account Tax Compliance Act) from 2010. And in 

addition, to the International Financial Services 

Commission for non-bank-regulation it has set up 

a Financial Intelligence Unit to detect and 

strengthen reporting on suspicious activity. 

By the way: maybe there is a point d), one should 

consider when talking about Belize. Apart from 

being one of the most peaceful and top tourismfriendly 

countries in the region, Belize is also a dreamland 

for everybody who wants to retire in an environment 

where the average temperature is around 

30 degrees Celsius and the ocean water rarely goes 

under 28 degrees. Thousands of US citizens are already 

spending their retirement days there. And 

Ambassador Nagel reports that he has nearly convinced 

some Austrians as well. 

Official name: Belize 

Capital: Belmopan 

Official language: English 

Ethnic groups: 

52.9% Mestizo 

25.9% Kriol 

11.3% Mayan 

6.1% Garifuna 

3.9% East Indian 

3.6% German 

1.2% Other white 

1.0% East Asian 

1.2% Other 

0.3% Unknown 

Government: 

Unitary parliamentary 

constitutional monarchy 

- Queen: Elizabeth II 

- Governor-General: 

Colville Young 

- Prime Minister: 

Dean Barrow 

Independence 

(from Britain): 1981 

Area: 22,966 km 2 

Population: 368,310 

(2015 estimate) 

GDP: 1.807 billion $ 




Belize, located south of Mexico and 

east of Guatemala, has been the 

heartland of the Maya culture. 

About 70% of Belize‘s 

tourism industry is 

concentrated on the island 

of Ambergris Caye 

and its largest city, San 

Pedro (left). 



53

LE MONDE BELIZE | INTERVIEW 

H.E. Joel Nagel 

“The idea that all the black money of the world is going to Belize is ridiculous.“ 

The Ambassador of Belize, the only Central 

American country where English is the 

official language, is putting the image of his 

country as one of the last tax havens into 

the right perspective and points out the 

many opportunities, Belize has to offer. 



CD: Your Excellency, how did you experience 

Austria in your first year here? 

Joel Nagel: I have been to Austria before 

many times when I studied in Germany. 

So when I presented my credentials here in 

September 2015, it was a kind of long awaited 

comeback for me. 

Can you please give us an overview of the nature 

of the relationship between Belize and Austria? 

Well, Belize is a very small country with 

a population of some 350,000 people and a 

land mass of only four square kilometers 

more than Slovenia. And it is the only English 

speaking country in Central America, 

which is important for tourism or trade. 

Therefore, it may be easier for Austrians to 

do business in Belize than other Central 

American countries. But the main interest 

for Austrians would be tourism. Many tourists 

visiting for example Mexico, take a 

side trip to Belize, first of all to visit the 

beautiful ”Blue Hole“, an ocean landmark 

in Belize which had been put on the map by 

Jacques Cousteau in the 70s. Tourism actually 

is the number one industry for Belize, 

mainly with visitors from the North of 

the US and Canada, whom we call ”snowbirds“. 

They like our average temperature of 

some 30 degrees Celsius and that the water 

never goes below 28 degrees. We have more 

than 400 islands, but 70% of tourism revenue 

of Belize actually happens on the island 

of Ambergris Caye with its main town 

San Pedro. Culturally, Austria and Belize 

share the same religious Christian values 

and politically, unlike other countries in 

Central America, the political spectrum in 

Belize is not extreme. We have two political 

parties which are basically center left and 

center right. The rule of laws are important 

in Belize and this is best basis for a good 

economic relationship. 

The history of Belize goes back some 400 years 

as a colony of Great Britain and Belize still is part 

of the Commonwealth. Does this legacy still 

define the nature of your country´s mainstream 

politics? 

I would say the relationship with British 

common law and the Crown was sort 

of a way that kept political extremism out 

of Belize. The closest country to our status 

today would actually be Canada, certainly 

Australia and New Zealand as well. But 

talking about history – when I presented 

my credentials to now former President 

Heinz Fischer he joked that Belize had 

been part of the Austrian Empire as well. I 

guess you have to go back to the Habsburgs 

when they ruled over Spain. Many 

people don‘t know this. Just like many 

people are not aware of that Belize geographically 

is part of North America. There is 

this famous question in the Trivial Pursuit 

game: What are the 4 countries of North 

America? Everybody knows Canada, the 

US and Mexico. But since Belize is part of 

the Yucatan peninsula which is part of 

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LE MONDE BELIZE | INTERVIEW 

Kurt Hengl, the former Ambassador 

of Austria to Mexico in the 90s, who 

accidently joined the interview, is a close 

friend of Ambassador Nagel and fell in 

love with Belize which he frequently 

visited during his term. 

The first and foremost goal, Ambassador 

Nagel is trying to achieve in Vienna, 

is preparing a direct flight connection 

between Austria and Belize. 

North America we are the fourth North 

American country which nearly nobody is 

aware of. 

To be honest, when discussions here in Europe 

come to Belize, many of them do not start with 

Trivial Pursuit but rather with your country‘s 

reputation as a tax haven and offshore paradise. 

The EU even considers putting Belize on a black 

list of still existing tax havens. What is your 

position on this? 

That‘s a fair question and the right 

answer is: financial services are certainly 

an important aspect of revenue, income, 

jobs and foreign currency inflows for Belize, 

which we need for our imports. And 

yes, Belize does not tax foreign investments 

into Belize, be it bank accounts, insurances, 

trusts or other investments. But 

that does not mean that every crook can 

open a financial account and do business 

in Belize. Since our independence in 1981, 

we have have been trying very constantly, 


phase after phase, to improve our regulatory 

environment. For example, in 2010 

the US enacted the Foreign Account Tax 

Compliance Act (FATCA). And Belize, 

even though it was against its own bank 

secrecy laws, was one of the first countries 

to comply with FATCA and has worked 

with the US Treasury Department from 

the very start. That is going on and excellerating 

quite a bit in the last years. Today 

it is quite difficult to open a bank account 

in Belize. Yes, we want our financial services 

industry to grow and develop. But we 

don‘t want to be tainted as some backwater 

tax haven. 

What measures has Belize taken not to show up 

on the EU tax haven black list? 

We are working closer and closer with 

the US and the OECD in this respect to 

detect and strengthen reporting on suspicious 

financial activity. And we have set 

up a Financial Intelligence Unit, the FIU, 

on the regulatory side. Do not forget: Belize 

has just seven banks. The idea that all 

this black money is going to Belize is ridiculous. 

The entire deposits of our entire 

banking systems are only some 2 billion 

dollars. These banks are also regulated by 

the Central Bank. And then we have got 

the International Financial Services Commission 

which regulates everything except 

the banks. For example, Belize has 

essentially done away with company shares 

which do not actually disclose the true 

owner. Belize has also never allowed numbered 

accounts. So it is certainly a priority 

of the government to make sure, Belize 

does not become a black list country. 

Does Belize, like many countries in the Caribbean 

do, offer citizenship for sale? 

No. The laws in Belize for becoming a 

citizen are very strict and include residency 

and living there for 60 month and so 

on. We used to have an economic citizenship 

like Malta but it was ended ten years 

ago. Today we do not have any fast track 

citizenship. Trying to sell a Belize passport 

would be illegal. 

Apart from putting the financial image of Belize 

into the right perspective what would be your 

major goals of your Ambassadorship in Austria? 

The idea of Belize as an export market 

is probably not existent because it is so 

small. But Belize has got free trade agreements 

with Canada, the US and Europe. So 

any Austrian company setting up a company 

in Belize, would have access to the 

NAFTA market. Secondly, Belize is looking 

for technology and knowhow for sustainable 

forestry which offers opportunities 

as well. And there is tourism. Belize 

and Austria have an ”Open Sky‘s Agreement“ 

for flights which has never been 

used. So one of my major goals is trying to 

convince one of the low cost carriers to at 

least seasonly fly to Belize. 

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LE MONDE ESSAY 

Free Trade from Lisbon to 

Vladivostok – a long-term vision 

Instead of dealing with sanctions, 

political leaders should develop a 

vision and try to implement it. 

Such a vision is the extension of 

free trade in every direction. 

W I E N E R 

PRIVATKLINIK 

Christoph Leitl 

holds a PhD in Economic 

and Social Sciences from 

Johannes Kepler University 

Linz. Since 2000, he is 

President oft he Austrian 

Federal Economic Chamber 

(WKO). 

The EU and Russia are facing the same economic 

challenges at the moment – weak economic 

growth, rising unemployment rates as 

well as increasing budget deficits. It is important to 

work together and not against each other, especially 

regarding these issues, in order to remain competitive 

in a global market. 

• Economy as a bridge builder 

The economy has always been a “bridge builder”. 

It is therefore all the more important, also in times of 

crisis, to promote and encourage closer contacts and 

dialogue in particular because good economic relations 

also provide the basis for political stability. Due 

to the close cooperation of the European and Russian 

economic areas, it is therefore important for both 

sides to handle it with care. 

• Sanctions do not solve problems, they deepen 

the trenches 

We should, consequently, not overlook our visions 

for fear of sanctions! Throughout the debate over 

the current mutual sanctions, we must ask ourselves 

whether they do more harm than good to the people, 

their jobs and affected small, medium-sized but also 

large companies. The trade volume between the EU 

and Russia amounts to around 300 million euros, 

that of the USA – the driving force behind these 

sanctions – with Russia only amounts to one tenth of 

it. The current sanctions therefore have a much more 

far-reaching impact on the European population and 

its companies than on the American. Any negative 

measure taken by one side calls for counter-measure 

by the other and in the end, no-one profits from it – 

such actions rather hurt both parties. The sanction 

policy has by no means achieved the desired success. 

If a good doctor uses a treatment for two years without 

success, he should reconsider the treatment – in 

the same way, those who are politically responsible 

for the sanctions must reconsider their “treatment”. 

Any serious consideration will quickly lead to the 

decision to withdraw these unbearable sanctions and 

return to the path of dialogue. Sanctions don’t solve 

any problems, they deepen the trenches. 

• Free trade in every direction 

Instead of dealing with sanctions, political leaders 

should develop a vision and try to implement it. In 

my opinion, such a vision is the extension of free 

trade in every direction. Free trade has been successfully 

practiced for decades in Europe and is now the 

focus of discussions and negotiations in the West, 

across the Atlantic, between the EU, the USA and 

Canada. However, our immediate partner in the 

East, Russia, should not be omitted from the discussion. 

With regard to an active trade policy, the promotion 

of liberalisation and abolition of protectionist 

measures in particular, we should also look east 

and our long-term aim should be to establish a free 

trade zone stretching from Lisbon to Vladivostok. 

• A market with 700 millon people 

Such a free trade zone in a market with around 

700 million inhabitants would be beneficial for all 

participants and would decisively strengthen 

Europe’s and Russia’s position in global competition 

PHOTOS: WKO, FOTOLIA 

in relation to other world economic areas. Russia 

with its raw materials and Europe with its expertise 

would complement each other perfectly. A common 

economic space creates trust and can improve the 

conditions under which the parties don’t drift apart 

but join forces to an open dialogue that ends the unsatisfactory 

sanctions in the interest of all involved to 

bring about stability and peace. 

• Free trade promotes political reforms 

A free trade agreement could accelerate reforms 

in Russia related to fair competition or the protection 

of intellectual property rights. As a result, Russia 

would strengthen its reputation as a trustworthy and 

reliable trade partner, with positive effects on investments 

and economic growth. The standardisation of 

norms and regulations, the reduction of visa barriers 

and the abolition of customs duties would open up 

new export opportunities for Austrian companies. I 

therefore vehemently support intensifying our ties 

instead of separating them forcefully. Consequently, 

it would be a significant step to connect the economic 

areas that politically are still disconnected. The 

economy always has a vision, it builds bridges and 

paves the way for politics – now it is up to politics to 

follow the economy. 

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LE MONDE AUSTRIAN OSCE CHAIRMANSHIP 2017 

The 3 dimensions of security 

Michael Linhart 

“Encourage immersion, avoid dissipation of OSCE activities.“ 

During 2017, Austria is holding the 

Chairmanship of the OSCE. It is a 

unique chance to gear up the country‘s 

role as an international mediator. 

Text und Interview: Rainer Himmelfreundpointner 

Some months before Frank-Walter Steinmeier, 

the German Foreign Minister, took over the 

Chair of the OSCE in 2016 from his Serbian 

colleague Ivica Dačić, he gave a speech full of red alert 

phrases. The OSCE was in ”turbulent waters on a 

stormy sea“, he said, it was experiencing ”no plain sailing“ 

and he did not know ”whether we will arrive at 

a safe haven in the end of 2016“. 

As Austria has assumed the OSCE Chairmanship 

2017, Foreign Minister Sebastian Kurz has taken over 

the steering wheel as the new official Chairman-in- 

Office (CiO). Due to the fact that decision-making 

within the ”Organisation for Security and Co-operation 

in Europe“ requires a consensus among all 57 

participating states, this seat represents a particular 

diplomatic challenge. The OSCE is the world‘s largest 

regional security organisation, aiming at ”the resolution 

of conflicts, the prevention and combatting of 

transnational threats for domestic security and the 

restoration of trust in a common space for 1.2 billion 

people“ – all of them issues which Kurz has put 

amongst the challenges and priorities of the Austrian 

Chairmanship. ”In this role as a mediator“, he states 

on the Ministry‘s official website, ”Austria can build 

upon the experiences and priorities of its foreign policy 

for strengthening the security in Europe.“ 

Which involves quite a responsibility: The OSCE 

not only employs a staff of 3,000 with over 2,500 experts 

active in 17 field operations in South-Eastern 

Europe, Eastern Europe, the South Caucasus and 

Central Asia, it also has to fight for its budget which is 

facing calls for cuts by some of the member states. 

Experts agree that Kurz will certainly try to enforce 

the diplomatic role of Austria as a builder of bridges 

and the relevance of Vienna as a major location for 

diplomatic negotiations. Kurz and his officers have 

developed a OSCE strategy for the Austrian Chairmanship 

2017 in three dimension – military, domestic 

security and building of confidence. The following 

interview is providing the details. 

PHOTOS: FELICITAS MATERN, MAHMOUD-ASHRAF 

In an interview with Cercle Diplomatique, Michael Linhart, Secretary-General of Austria‘s Federal 

Ministry for Europe, Integration and Foreign Affairs, explains the three dimensions of the OSCE 

Chairmanship of Austria in 2017. 


CD: Mr. Secretary-General Linhart, what will be the main 

issues of the Austrian OSCE Chairmanship in 2017? 

Michael Linhart: Foreign Minister Sebastian Kurz 

has guidelined the priorities of the Austrian Chairmanship 

in a speech to the Permanent Council of the 

OSCE on July 14th, 2016. They shall confront three 

major challenges which threaten security, stability and 

common values in the OSCE region. First: The Austrian 

Chairmanship wants to contribute to defuse existing 

military conflicts which already have resulted in 

thousands of casualties, destruction and displacement. 

Second: The increasing danger to domestic security 

because of intensifying radicalisation of mainly 

younger people and terrorism as a result of the above. 

Therefore we have to fight against radicalisation and 

extremism. And third: The mountening loss of trust 

between states as well as between citizens and national 

institutions which are securing peace and our values. 

It is absolutely essential to restore this trust again. 

Will there be any structural or personal changes? 

Austria, like previous chairs, will draw on the approved 

work of the OSCE Special Representatives, 

such as the Austrian diplomat Marin Sajdik, who 

since 2015 serves as Special Representative in the 

Ukraine conflict. There are also Special Representatives 

in charge of the conflicts in Southern Caucasus, 

in Moldavia/Transnistria or for special issues like 

youth, tolerance or gender. You rely on existing instruments 

and try to enforce them with new ideas for 

the organisation. 

How will the OSCE handle the Ukraine conflict under the 

Austrian Chairmanship? 

The OSCE shall contribute to the restoration of stability 

and security, which has been made more the obvious 

to us by the outbreak of the Ukraine conflict – 

the most recent example for the OSCE‘s relevance. 

Our Special Monitoring Mission and the trilateral 

contact group are major contributions in crisis management. 

Within the trilateral contact group, representatives 

of the OSCE, the Ukraine and Russia are 

meeting in Minsk, forming four working groups 

(political, economic, humanitarian, security) for a 

PERSONAL DETAILS 

H.E. Michael Linhart was 

born in Ankara in 1958 and 

since November 2013 

serves as Secretary 

General at the Austrian 

Federal Ministry for 

European and International 

Affairs. Prior to that, he 

held Ambassadorships in 

Greece and Syria. Between 

1995 and 2000 Linhart 

was Deputy Chief of 

Cabinet of the Federal 

Minister for Foreign 

Affairs, Wolfgang Schüssel, 

and in 2000 he was 

member of the Cabinet of 

the Federal Chancellor and 

Foreign Affairs Advisor to 

Chancellor Wolfgang 

Schüssel. 

Sebastian Kurz, the Austrian 

Federal Minister for Europe, 

Integration and Foreign 

Affairs. 



61

LE MONDE AUSTRIAN OSCE CHAIRMANSHIP 2017 

Alexander Hug (r.), Deputy 

Chief Monitor of the OSCE 

Special Monitoring Mission 

in Ukraine, Luhansk region, 

6 July 2015. 

Fifteen border guard 

officers from the Main 

Directorate of Tajik Border 

Troops, during a two-week 

OSCE patrol winter course in 

the mountainous area of 

Khoja Obigarm, Tajikistan, 

January 2014. 

INFO 

A weapons inspector uses a 

chemical air monitor to 

detect leakage from a 

CS-filled 120mm mortar 

shell in Fallujah, 1992, in 

one of the many fieldmissions 

of the OSCE. 

dialogue about specific problems of this conflict, 

with the possibility of the presence of representatives 

of the self-proclaimed people‘s republics of 

Lugansk and Donezk. Such activities are specifically 

tangible for the people in the Eastern Ukraine who 

have suffered from the consequences of the daily violations 

of ceasefire. Based on the Minsk Protocol, it 

is one of the priorities of our chairmanship to find a 

solution for this conflict but it needs the political willingness 

of both sides. Therefore the cooperation 

within the Normandy format is essential and at this 

point, I want to express my thanks to the German 

Chairmanship for its huge engagement. 

What about other critical hotspots inside the OSCE region? 

They also need solutions. With great concern we 

have observed the outbreak of the armed hostilities 

in Nagorno-Karabakh in April 2016. This conflict 

could be contained with the help of the co-head of 

the Minsk group and the support of the German 

OSCE Chair. But a solution that lasts is needed because 

of the suffering of the region‘s people. The recent 

efforts of the Russian President have been helpful. 

Austria, for example, would be a possible location 

for a meeting of the Presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan. 

We also try hard to find a concrete solution 

for the conflict in Transnistria and Georgia which is 

an additional priority. This is always what we are aiming 

for. The welfare of the people must become the 

primary goal of all political efforts again. 

According to the official website, the OSCE also works 

intensively on transnational threats to domestic security, 

such as terrorism or radicalisation. Could you specify this? 

We are deeply worried by radicalisation und increasing 

violent extremism. The OSCE stands for 

synergy of domestic and exterior security and we 

want to meet the challenges to domestic security 

through prevention and combating radicalisation. 

We have set up four workshops including youth-representatives 

to develop new innovative approaches 

which shall be integrated into the upcoming Anti- 

Terrorism-Conference in May 2017 and to the OSCE 

practice in the next step. We also have to realise the 

backgrounds of enhanced radicalisation, which we 

often do not understand, and retain them. This is an 

issue, Austria already has concentrated on in 2016 as 

Chair of the Mediterranean contact group. We have 

to listen to the youth more closer, and that is what we 

do in these four workshops – asking for their opinions 

and discussing their ideas. 

Isn‘t this directly linked to the issue of migration? 

Increasing migration indeed contributes to the 

fears for the future of the people. The OSCE not only 

is heavily engaged in this debate but tries to tackle 

the roots of migration with our missions and with 

coordination of border security and protection of 

human rights, especially at the Western Balkans. 

One of the most important perspective for the future 

is economic security for which we need jobs, innovation 

and a healthy economy. The training of the more 

than 470 million younger people in the OSCE region 

has to be in our focus. Workshops and conferences 

on economic and environmental issues have already 

started under the Swiss Chairmanship and have enjoyed 

great attention under the German Chair as 

well. 

How will the OSCE under the Austrian Chairmanship confront 

the increasing threat posed by cyber crime? 

Since 2012, the OSCE has devoted more and 

more energy to the issue of cyber security. Since 

then, many agreements on the establishment of confidence 

and security building measures and cooperations 

could be reached. It is our goal to react to these 

national and cross-border threats by using the most 

modern information technologies efficiently. 

Austria will further actively support such confidence 

building measures of the OSCE and is already wor- 

PHOTOS: XYXXYXYXY 

PHOTOS: EVGENIY MALOLETKA, UN PHOTO, HORST STURM 

king on a Cyber Security Conference which shall be 

held on February 15th, 2017. 

Are there additional efforts to strengthen the role of the 

OSCE intended by the Austrian Chairmanship? 

Our future is based on stronger cooperation for 

which there is enough potential in a region with an 

population of some 1.2 billion people. We want to 

intensify this cooperation during our Chairmanship 

in all three dimensions and thanks to our field-missions, 

we have comprehensive instruments to do so. 

In the politico-military area, existing instruments 

of arms control and confidence and security building 

measures – for example mutual inspections or exchange 

of military information – must be applied 

and revitalised. What we need is a structured dialogue 

to rebuild trust and to really use the forum the 

OSCE is providing. The second dimension – economy 

and environment – is all about economic connectivity. 

There is a lot of potential existing in this 

area to build confidence via common interests. Finally, 

coming to the human dimension, the OSCE 

with its yearly ”Human Dimension Implementation 

Meeting“, the biggest conference on human rights in 

Europe, is offering an important platform for the dialogue 

between the participating states and the civil 

society. 

So the OSCE can and must play a key role in the 

region. We are the biggest regional organisation under 

the roof of the United Nations, with a lot of diversity, 

which we will use as a major advantage when 

it comes to learning and taking profit from the many 

different perspectives of all our stakeholders. Austria, 

already prior to its chairmanship, has taken the 

chair of negotiations for the future OSCE budget 

since October 2016. 

Which currently is around some 440 million Euro. 

We have to find a consensus of 57 member states. 

Our goal is to retain the existing capacities and its 

autonomous institutions and field-missions. Austria 

will uphold its reputation as a builder of bridges, act 

as a faithful mediator and as a trustworthy broker 

open to any kind of dialogue. Because security and 

stability can only be ensured in common. 

In his opening speech Frank-Walter Steinmeier said the OSCE 

is in ”turbulent waters on a stormy sea“, experiencing ”no 

plain sailing“ and that he did not know ”whether we will 

arrive at a safe haven by the end of 2016“. Would you agree 

so far? 

In order to secure the role of the OSCE as a bridge 

between the 57 member states in the future, we want 

to encourage the immersion of our activities and 

avoid an additional dissipation and deplation of its 

activities and resources. We want a reinforcement of 

capacities to meet the cycles of conflict, excellent 

personal and institutions which are supported by the 

participation states. 

Therefore, the participating states are responsible 

to further deepen the fundaments for the role of the 

OSCE within the architecture and order of security 

in Europe. Do we want a common secure and peaceful 

future? Do we want the people inside the OSCE 

region from Vancouver to Vladivostok to live in 

wealth, security and free of conflicts and threats? To 

achieve this, we need more dialogue, specific confidence 

and security building measures and procedures 

leading to a true exchange to reach common 

goals. 

So to preserve the relevance of the OSCE, an immersion 

of the dialogue is needed and ever building 

of confidence is essential. Therefore, it is also highly 

welcomed that there are many ideas for a structured 

security dialogue and for arms control as well currently 

suggested. Austria will attempt to stimulate 

the discussion about the future of the European security 

system. It will put common values before separation 

and will utilise the added value of the OSCE 

in the eyes of threats from extremism and terrorism 

and of the challenges posed to us by migration and 

integration. 

OSCE – a short history 

of Security and 

Cooperation in Europe 

The Organisation for Security 

and Co-operation in Europe 

(OSCE) originates in 1975 with 

the Conference on Security and 

Cooperation in Europe (CSCE), 

when its foundation document, 

the Helsinki Final Act, was 

signed on August 1st of that 57 

states. It contains key 

commitments on politicomilitary, 

economic, environmental 

and human rights issues. It 

also established ten fundamental 

principles (the ”Dedalogue“), 

governing the behaviour of 

states towards their citizens as 

well as towards each other. 

Further main documents are the 

Charter of Paris for a New 

Europe (1990), the Istanbul 

Charter for European Security 

(1999) and the Astana 

Commemorative Declaration 

(2010). The OSCE is a 

cooperative security organisation 

which does not apply 

coercive measures, but must 

seek the host country‘s 

agreement before becoming 

active in the event of a crisis or 

conflict. Since 1995, the OSCE 

secretariat is located in Vienna. 

Currently, Lamberto Zannier 

(Italy) is serving as its 

Secretary-General. In 2017, 

Austria is holding the OSCE 

Chairmanship. 

osce.org 

The historical signing ceremony of 

the Helsinki Final Act on the 1st of 

August 1975. 



63

LE MONDE NEWS 

Latest update from around the globe 

Text: Daniela Pötzl 

OPEC 

World Oil Outlook 

2016 

PHOTOS: GERMAN FEDERAL FOREIGN OFFICE, UNIDO, ESA, OPEC 

The 2016 OPEC World Oil 

Outlook (WOO) was launched 

at the Abu Dhabi International 

Petroleum Exhibition and 

Conference (ADIPEC) 2016 in 

the United Arab Emirates 

(UAE). This year is the tenth 

edition of the WOO, a 

significant milestone for 

OPEC’s flagship publication, 

which offers a thorough 

review and assessment of 

various scenarios related to 

the medium- and long-term 

development of the upstream 

and downstream sectors of 

the oil industry. 

opec.org 

In deep space 

Accurate Milky Way 

The European Space Agency (ESA) launched the Gaia spacecraft with the aim of creating the most complete 3D 

map ever of the Milky Way galaxy and other nearby objects and began observing the sky in 2013. Now the first data 

has been released, including location data on more than 1.1 billion stars in the Milky Way, with an accurancy within 

300 microarcseconds — the apparent width of a human hair from 30 kilometers. 

esa.int 

OSCE 

A stronger voice to young 

people 

As the final event in a series of outreach 

activities to young people across the OSCE 

region in 2016, Germany’s OSCE Chairmanship 

held a two-day youth conference in 

Berlin last November. Thirty participants 

between the ages of 16 and 25 years from 

OSCE participating states gathered to 

debate different notions of security in the 

OSCE region from a youth perspective in 

the presence of German Foreign Minister 

Frank-Walter Steinmeier (pictured above). 

During the conference, the young 

participants also produced teaching 

materials for secondary school students 

that will be made available in the OSCE 

region. 

osce.org 

Free Trade Agreement 

Ecuador joining 

Colombia and Peru 

In November 2016, the EU, its 

member states, Ecuador, 

Colombia and Peru signed the 

protocol of accession of 

Ecuador to the EU‘s free trade 

agreement with Colombia and 

Peru. The common goal is to 

finalise all the remaining 

procedural steps before the 

end of 2016, so as to allow for 

provisional application to 

begin on 1 January 2017. The 

accession of Ecuador to the 

agreement will provide the 

parties with new market 

access opportunities for some 

of their main exports. 

consilium.europa.eu 

UNIDO 

New four-year framework for Angola 

Maria de Jesus dos Reis Ferreira, Angola’s Ambassador to Austria and 

present on behalf of the President of Angola, Jose Eduardo Dos Santos, 

and UNIDO Director General, Li Yong, signed the new Country 

Programming Framework for the Republic of Angola. This Country 

Programming Framework (2016-2020) has been designed to establish 

a sustainable road map for industrialisation and UNIDO’s intervention in 

the country for the coming years. 

unido.org 

Maria de Jesus 

dos Reis Ferreira, 

Angola’s Ambassador 

in Austria, with 

Li Yong, UNIDO 

Director General 

www.advantageaustria.org 

Our worldwide network, your advantage 

ADVANTAGE AUSTRIA, with its about 110 offices in over 70 countries, provides a broad range of intelligence and 

business development services for both Austrian companies and their international business partners. Around 800 

employees around the world can assist you in locating Austrian suppliers and business partners. We organize about 

1,200 events every year to bring business contacts together. Other services provided range from introductions to 

Austrian companies looking for importers, distributors or agents to providing in-depth information on Austria as a 

business location. 



65

L'AUTRICHE 

DER NAME IST 

PROGRAMM. IN 

L’AUTRICHE DREHT SICH 

ALLES UM DEN STANDORT 

ÖSTERREICH, SEINE 

WIRTSCHAFT UND SEINE 

BEDEUTUNG AUF DEM 

INTERNATIONALEN 

PARKETT. 

THE NAME SAYS IT ALL. 

IN L’AUTRICHE THE FOCUS IS 

ON AUSTRIA, ITS ECONOMY 

AND ITS ROLE ON THE 

INTERNATIONAL STAGE. 

Walfischgasse 8, 1010 Wien 

01/512 00 46 

office@linnerth.com

L’AUTRICHE SECURITY IN EUROPE 

Im Gleichschritt, marsch? 

Forward march? 

Schloss Laxenburg. 

Xyxyxy yxyxy. 

Nicht-NATO- 

Mitglieder der EU 

EU-non-NATO-states 

USA 

Island 

000.000 

000 

00 

0 

Grossbritannien 

153.730 

268 

253 

251 

Norwegen 

26.500 

188 

52 

52 

Baltische Länder 

19.499 

75 

88 

0 

Rumänien 

69.556 

1,286 

725 

48 

Russland 

771.000 

ca. 14.400 

ca. 15.398 

ca. 2.200 

Seit der neue US-Präsident Donald 

Trump mit dem Rückzug aus der NATO 

gedroht hat, wird der Ruf nach einer 

EU-Armee laut. Schafft das Europa? 

Since Donald Trump, the new US President, 

has threatened to withdraw from 

NATO, many call for a European army. 

Irland 

9.280 

0 

0 

0 

Finnland 

8.275 

1.400.000 

ca. 4.550 

8.848 

2.308 

Legende | Key 

Landstreitkräfte (aktiv | Ground forces (active) 

Schwere Artillerie | Heavy artillery 

Kampfpanzer | Main battle tanks 

Kampfflieger | Combat aircraft 

NATO-Mitgliedsstaaten | 

NATO member countries 

Quelle: Europäische 

Verteidigungsagentur, 

Zahlen für das Jahr 2014, 

GlobalFirepower.com, CIA 

World Factbook 

Source: European Defence 

Agency, all figures for 2014, 

GlobalFirepower.com, CIA 

World Factbook 

Portugal 

30.302 

000 

220 

31 

Spanien 

121,848 

829 

476 

148 

Frankreich 

Niederlande 

207.000 

505 

484 

242 

42.102 

131 

114 

89 

Italien 

183.465 

1.086 

1.168 

227 

Luxemburg 

821 

0 

0 

0 

Deutschland 

178.800 

345 

816 

233 

Slowenien 

Dänemark 

6.765 

k.A. 

k.A. 

0 

15.034 

31 

56 

60 

Slowakei 

13.338 

67 

30 

19 

Kroatien 

Polen 

15.380 

18 

44 

12 

99.500 

852 

984 

112 

Tschechien 

20.222 

179 

123 

31 

Ungarn 

22.667 

30 

74 

14 

Griechenland 

113.517 

1.890 

1.621 

255 

Bulgarien 

25.188 

950 

314 

15 

Albania 

8.500 

100 

721 

0 

Turkey 

639,.551 

ca. 1.350 

ca. 2.500 

ca. 410 

PHOTOS: AUSTRIAN MINISTRY OF DEFENSE 


Zuerst war es nur ein „Geheimpapier“: Ende 

Mai 2016, wenige Wochen vor dem Brexit- 

Referendum, meldete die Londoner „Times“, 

die EU plane „Schritte in Richtung der Schaffung 

einer europäischen Armee“. Das offizielle Dementi 

der EU-Kommission folgte umgehend: „Es gibt absolut 

keinen geheimen Plan mit der globalen Strategie, 

eine EU-Armee aufzustellen.“ Die Außenbeauftragte 

Federica Mogherini habe bloß den Auftrag, 

„eine globale EU-Strategie zur Außen- und Sicherheitspolitik“ 

zu erarbeiten. 

Gut drei Monate später war es bereits ein ziemlich 

konkreter Plan: Mitte September 2016, nachdem das 

Austritts-Votum der Briten halbwegs verdaut war, 

legte EU-Kommissionspräsident Jean-Claude Juncker 

beim Gipfel in Bratislava ausführliche Vorschläge 

für eine engere militärische Zusammenarbeit in 

Europa vor, an deren Ende eine gemeinsame EU- 

Armee stehen könnte. Unterstützt wurde er von der 

deutschen Kanzlerin Angela Merkel und dem französischen 

Präsidenten Francois Hollande mit jeder 

Menge Ideen: Aufbau gemeinsamer Kampftruppen 

koordiniert von einem Hauptquartier; stärkere Abstimmung 

von Waffen und Ausrüstung der Mitgliedsländer; 

Aktivierung der 1.500 Mann starken 

„Battle Groups“. Denn angesichts der Risiken durch 

Terrorismus und Krisenherde wie in Syrien und 

Nordafrika befinde sich die EU gerade „in einer entscheidenden 

Situation“, so Merkel. „Auch wenn Europa 

stolz darauf ist, dass wir eine ‚Soft Power‘ von 

globaler Bedeutung sind, dürfen wir nicht naiv sein“, 

fasste Juncker zusammen. „Soft Power reicht nicht 

aus in unserer immer gefährlicheren Welt.“ 

Doch seit Donald Trump Anfang November 2016 

zum 45. Präsidenten der USA gewählt wurde, zeigt 

sich, wie unausgereift Europas Pläne einer gemeinsa- 

732 

200 

62 

Schweden 

15.570 

k.A. 

120 

204 

Zypern 

11.747 

114 

134 

0 

Malta 

1.662 

k.A. 

k.A. 

0 

Österreich 

22.689 

200 

56 

15 

Kampftraining. 

Bereits jetzt sind EU-Soldaten 

auf 15 Mission im Einsatz. 

Combat training. Today, EU 

soldiers are deployed to 15 

missions in and outside Europe. 



69


Fallschirmsprung-Übung. Derzeit halten alle 28 

EU-Länder etwa 1,84 Millionen Soldaten im Sold. 

Theoretisch wäre das die zweitgrößte Armee der Welt. 

Currently, the EU member states have some 1.84 million 

soldiers employed. In theory, an EU army this size would 

be the second biggest in the world. 

Panzerfahrzeug. Die 28 EU-Länder gaben 2015 etwa 220 Milliarden Euro für 

Verteidigung aus. Eine EU-Armee würde wegen einer besseren Koordination der 

Investitionen viel Einsparungsmöglichkeit eröffnen, sagen Experten. 

All EU member state spent some 220 billion euro on defence in 2015. Experts 

suggest that a common EU army would open a lot of cost cutting opportunities 

because of a better coordination of investments in military hardware. 

„Erfüllt die 

(NATO)-Verpflichtungen 

oder tragt 

die Konseqeuenzen.“ 

”Fulfill your obligations 

to us or face consequences.“ 

„Es ist nicht an der 

Zeit, die Partnerschaft 

zwischen 

Europa und den USA 

in Frage zu stellen.“ 

”It is not about time 

to question the EU-US 

partnership.“ 

Donald Trump 

45. Präsident der USA 

Jens Stoltenberg 

NATO-Generalsekretär 

„Eine Soft Power 

zu sein, reicht in 

unserer gefährlichen 

Welt nicht aus.“ 

”Being a soft power 

is not enough in our 

increasingly dangerous 

world.“ 

Jean-Claude Juncker 

EU-Kommissionpräsident 

men Verteidigungspolitik in Wahrheit sind. Trump 

hat angekündigt, unter seiner Führung würde sich 

die größte Militärmacht der Welt aus dem nordatlantischen 

Verteidigungsbündnis NATO zurückziehen, 

sollten die europäischen NATO-Staaten ihre 

Militärbudgets nicht drastisch erhöhen. Übersetzung: 

Die Europäer sollen gefälligst selbst für ihre 

eigene Sicherheit zahlen. Aus den bisherigen Planspielen 

ist so plötzlich bitterer Ernst geworden. Und 

NATO-Generalsekretär Jens Stoltenberg hat vorsorglich 

den für das Frühjahr 2017 geplanten Gipfel 

der 28 Bündnis-Mitglieder – darunter 22 EU-Staaten, 

die USA, Kanada, die Türkei, Norwegen, Albanien 

und Island – auf kommenden Sommer verschoben. 

Botschaft: Wir brauchen mehr Zeit. 

Gelegenheit für eine kurze Bestandsaufnahme, 

die 66 Jahre zurückreicht. Bereits Ende 1950 hatte 

der französische Ministerpräsident René Pleven eine 

einzige Armee unter einem europäischen Verteidigungsminister 

vorgeschlagen. Diese „Europäische 

Verteidigungsgemeinschaft“ scheiterte aber am Veto 

des französischen Parlaments. Wiederbelebungsversuche 

gab es zuhauf. 1991 wollte Helmut Kohl eine 

länderübergreifende Armee. 1996 forderte der französische 

Premier Alain Juppé nach solchen Truppen. 

1998 plädierte Tony Blair für eine gemeinsame Militärstruktur 

der EU. Und auch Wolfgang Schäuble 

warb zuletzt dafür. 

Inzwischen hat die EU im Rahmen ihrer „Gemeinsamen 

Sicherheits- und Verteidigungspolitik“ 

(GSVP) multinationale Korps in Stettin und Münster 

gegründet und 15 Missionen in zwölf Länder Europas 

und Afrikas geschickt. Die EU-Soldaten beobachten, 

überwachen, bilden aus und sind in 

Afghanistan, Bosnien und Herzegowina, im Kongo, 

in Georgien, im Irak, in Moldau, im Niger, in Palästina, 

in Somalia und im Südsudan im Einsatz. Aber 

jede wichtige Militärmission der GSVP, also der 

Quasi-EU-Armee, muss von den nationalen Regierungen 

der EU einstimmig beschlossen werden, und 

das ist oft ein langwieriger Prozess. Wenn es wirklich, 

wie in einem Ernstfall üblich, schnell gehen soll, 

unternehmen die militärisch starken Länder kurzerhand 

Alleingänge, wie etwa in Syrien, Libyen, der 

Ukraine oder in Mali, wo Frankreich nach dem Militärputsch 

2012 militärisch eingriff. 

Trotz dieser nur rudimentären Einigkeit wäre 

eine theoretische EU-Armee die zweitgrößte der 

Welt. Derzeit dienen in allen EU-Mitgliedsländern 

rund 1,84 Millionen Soldaten, lediglich China verfügt 

mit etwa 2,25 Millionen Kämpfern über eine 

stärkere Truppe. Die US-Armee hat zirka 1,4 Millionen 

Soldaten, Russland 1,04 Millionen. Auch hinsichtlich 

der Militärausgaben liegt die EU eigentlich 

gar nicht so schlecht. Allein die 28 EU-Staaten ließen 

sich ihre militärische Sicherheit laut Angaben der 

PHOTOS: AUSTRIAN MINISTRY OF DEFENSE, NATO, BEIGESTELLT 

Europäischen Verteidigungsagentur im Jahr 2015 

etwa 220 Milliarden Euro kosten. Und die europäischen 

Mitgliedsländer der NATO – also 22 EU-Staaten, 

Norwegen, Island, die Türkei und Albanien – 

kamen in diesem Jahr sogar auf über 250 Milliarden 

Euro Verteidigungsausgaben. Allerdings trugen die 

USA zum NATO-Gesamtbudget von etwa über 879 

Milliarden Euro mit gut 600 Milliarden Euro mehr 

als das Doppelte der Europäer bei. 

Genau hier liegt der Grund für Trumps Ärger. 

Denn alle NATO-Mitglieder haben sich vertraglich 

dazu verpflichtet, mindestens zwei Prozent ihrer 

Wirtschaftsleitung für Verteidigung aufzuwenden, 

sind davon aber weit entfernt. Laut Berechnungen 

des Stockholmer Friedensforschungsinstituts Sipri, 

haben sich 2015 lediglich sieben NATO-Staaten an 

diese Vorgabe gehalten: Die USA mit einem Verteidigungsetat 

von 3,3 Prozent des BIP, Griechenland 

(2,6%), Polen (2,2%), Frankreich und die Türkei (je 

2,1%) sowie Großbritannien und Estland (je 2,0%). 

Allein in Deutschland, das sich seine Verteidigung 

2015 „nur“ 43 Milliarden Euro oder 1,2 Prozent seines 

BIP kosten ließ, würde der Fehlbetrag zum Zwei- 

Prozent-Ziel rund 24 Milliarden Euro betragen. 

Man kann sich also an einer Hand ausrechnen, 

welche finanziellen Hürden bis zu einer gemeinsamen 

EU-Armee, die einen Rückzug der USA auch 

nur halbwegs ausgleichen will, zu überwinden wären. 

Doch nicht nur die allseits klammen Kassen 

sprechen gegen die rasche Verwirklichung einer gemeinsamen 

EU-Armee. Die wahrscheinlich noch 

größere Hürde dürfte in der Abtretung der nationalen 

Militärhoheit an ein gemeinsames Oberkommando 

darstellen. Schon im Zuge der Bewältigung 

der Finanzkrise mussten die EU-Staaten viele ihrer 

Zuständigkeiten an zentrale Institutionen abtreten – 

die Aufsicht über große Banken, einen gut Teil ihrer 

Fiskal-Freiheiten, sogar etwa 60 Prozent der nationalen 

Gesetze gehen auf Richtlinien aus Brüssel zurück. 

Wie bereitwillig die Länder auch ihre Verteidigung 

– den letzten heiligen Gral staatlicher 

Souveränität – aufgeben würden, steht in den Sternen. 

Der österreichische Bundeskanzler Christian 

Kern hat dazu bereits klargestellt: „Eine österreichische 

Armee, die nicht unter österreichischem Kommando 

steht, kann ich mir nicht vorstellen.“ 

End of May 2016, a few weeks ahead of the Brexit 

referendum, the ”Times“ reported that the 

European Union plans to take steps towards a 

European army. Immediatly, the EU Commission issued 

a dementi: ”There is absolutely no secret plan to 

install an EU-army.“ Federica Mogherini, the High 

Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and 

Security Policy, is only doing her job of carving out a 

”common global EU strategy for Foreign Affairs and 

„Eine europäische 

Armee ist nichts, 

was in nächster Zeit 

passieren wird.“ 

”An army of Europe is 

not going to emerge in 

the near future.“ 

Federica Mogherini 

EU-Außen- und 

Sicherheitsbeauftragte 



71


Katastrophenhilfe. Österreichische Soldaten beim 

Hilfseinsatz nach dem Hochwasser in Nord-Bosnien – 

ein möglicher Beitrag zu einer potentiellen EU-Armee? 

Soldiers from the ”Austrian Forces Disaster Relief Unit“ 

during emergency help after the floods in northern Bosnia 

– a possible contribution to a future EU army? 

„Eine österreichische Armee 

unter nicht-österreichischem 

Kommando kann 

ich mir nicht vorstellen.“ 

”An Austrian army which 

is not under Austrian command 

is something I can not 

imagine.“ 

Christian Kern 

Bundeskanzler 

„Mehr (militärische) 

Kooperation: ja. 

Eine EU-Armee 

lehne ich ab.“ 

”More (military) cooperation: 

yes. But I 

reject the idea of an 

EU army.“ 

Hans Peter Doskozil 

Verteidigungsminister 

Security Policy“ in full cooperation with all member 

states. 

Only three months later, at the EU summit in Bratislava, 

Jean-Claude Juncker, the President of the EU 

Commission, presented a very detailed plan for military 

cooperation in Europe, ultimately leading to a 

common European army. This involved the creation 

of new troops under a unified command, common 

investments for military hardware as well as the deployment 

of the 1,500-strong EU battle troops. Given 

the risks of terrorism and the crisis hotspots like 

Syria or Northern Africa, the EU is living ”in a crucial 

situation“, the German Chancellor Angela Merkel 

said. And Juncker added: ”Even if Europe may be 

proud of being a ‚soft power’ of global influence, we 

should not be naive. A soft power is not enough in 

our increasingly dangerous world.“ 

But since Donald Trump has been elected 45th 

President of the United States, it is more and more 

obvious how immature the plans of Europe for a 

common security strategy actually are. Trump has 

threatened to withdraw the US from NATO, if the 

European NATO states would not increase their military 

budgets. Translation: If you want security you 

have to pay (a lot more) for it yourself. In a first reaction, 

Jens Stoltenberg, the NATO Sectretary General, 

has delayed the spring summit of all 28 Nato member 

states – which consist of 22 EU countries, the US, 

Canada, Turkey, Albania and Iceland – to next summer. 

Message: We need time. 

So let‘s take stock of what happened so far and go 

back to the end of 1950 when René Pleven, the former 

Frech Prime Minister, first presented his idea of 

a single army under the command of a to be installed 

European Secretary of Defense. This plan was cancelled 

after a veto by the Frech parliament but often 

recalled. In 1991 Helmut Kohl again proposed an 

common army for Europe, the French Prime Minister 

Alain Juppé did so in 1996. Two years later, Tony 

Blair suggested a ”common military structure“ for 

Europe and recently Wolfgang Schäuble also advocated 

this project. 

In the meantime, the EU has set up a ”Common 

Security and Defense Policy“ (CSDP) with multinational 

troops which have been deployed in 15 missions 

in Europe itself and Africa. EU soldiers are observing, 

surveying or training in Afghanistan, Bosnia 

and Herzegovina, Kongo, Georgia, Irak, Moldavia, 

Niger, Palestine, Somalia or South Sudan. But every 

action of this quasi-army needs the consent of all national 

EU governments. This often is very complicated 

and takes endless time, so in case of emergency 

the military strong countries take souvereign action, 

like in Syria, Libya, Ukraine or Mali. 

Nevertheless, apart from this lack of unity, in theory 

a European army would be the second biggest of 

PHOTOS: AUSTRIAN MINISTRY OF DEFENCE, RICARDO HERRGOTT, BEIGESTELLT 

Vienna supports business. 

the world. Today, all EU member states have some 

1.84 million soldiers employed, only China has more 

(2.25 million). The US have some 1.4 million soldiers, 

Russia 1.04 million. In 2015, according to the 

European Defense Agency, Europe‘s military expenditure 

of all member states summed up to some 220 

billion Euro. And the member states of NATO in Europe 

– all 22 EU countries, Norway, Iceland, Turkey 

and Albania – even have spent more than 250 billion 

Euro that year. But this was less than half than the 

600 billion Euro the US have contributed to the overall 

NATO budget of some 879 billion Euro. 

This exactly is the reason for Trump‘s fury. All 

NATO members have committed themselves to allocate 

at least 2% of their national GDP for defense. 

But according to the Stockholm Peace Insitute Sipri, 

only five countries are meeting this goal: the US with 

its defence budget of 3.3% of GDP, Greece (2.8%), 

Poland (2.2%), France and Turkey (each 2.1%) and 

Great Britain and Estonia with 2% each. Germany, 

for example, in 2015 had a defense budget of ”only“ 

43 billion Euro which equates to 1.2% of its economic 

strength. To catch up with the 2-percent-benchmark, 

it would have to spend an additional 24 billion 

Euro. 

So obviously, the financial obstacles towards a 

unified European army, which is capable of compensating 

a potential retreat of the US from NATO, are 

numerous. But another hurdle has to be cleared as 

well – the loss of national sovereignty in case of a 

unified European military command. In the aftermath 

of the financial crisis, European countries already 

have surrendered many responsibilities to central 

institutions like the European Banking Authority. 

They are also limited in their fiscal policy due to current 

EU austerity politics. And today, nearly 60% of 

the EU countries national jurisdictions are actually 

following guidelines set up by Brussels. As a result of 

this, many experts are full of doubts that EU countries 

are prepared to give up this last Holy Grail of 

national sovereignty. At least, the Austrian Chancellor, 

Christian Kern has made clear that he will not: 

”An Austrian army which is not under Austrian 

command is something I can not imagine.“ 

© Vienna Business Agency 

Eurofighter der österreichischen 

Luftwaffe. 

Eurofighter of the Austrian airforce. 

Fast, unbureaucratic, in many languages, free of 

charge: this is how the Vienna Business Agency team 

advises international companies who want to settle 

in Vienna or are already here. The topics range from 

site selection, fundings, starting a business, personnel 

search to advice on administrative questions. The Expat 

Center is the Vienna Business Agency‘s center in the 

city, offering free consulting to international specialists 

and managers. The Expat Club connects expatriates 

with numerous activities and events, creates the 

opportunity to get to know Viennese people and to 

make Vienna their home. 

Entgeltliche Einschaltung 

Recently with the Vienna Business Agency’s Expat Club: 

a grape harvest in the middle of the city. 

Vienna Business Agency 

Schmerlingplatz 3 

1010 Vienna 

viennabusinessagency.at 


L’AUTRICHE INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR APPLIED SYSTEMS ANALYSIS 

Frag, nach in Laxenburg 

Better ask Laxenburg 


Inside Laxenburg Castle. 

INFO 

PHOTOS: CHRISTOPH PERGER | IIASA, MATTHIAS SILVERI (3), BEIGESTELLT 

Warum es hoch an der Zeit ist, das 

„Internationale Institut für Angewandte 

Systemanalyse“ in Laxenburg vor den 

Vorhang zu holen. 

Why it is about time to cheer for the 

”International Institute for Applied 

Systems Analysis“ in Laxenburg. 


Manchmal gehen die wirklich wichtigen 

Botschaften im Getöse anderer Spektakel 

unter. So geschehen Anfang November 

2016, als die Augen aller Welt auf die USA gerichtet 

waren, in den Bann gezogen vom Kopf-an-Kopf 

Rennen um die neue Präsidentschaft. Dabei geriet 

eine andere, womöglich weitaus entscheidendere 

Veranstaltung, in den Schatten – die „COP22“, die 

UN-Klimakonferenz in Marrakesch in Marokko, auf 

der die umjubelten Beschlüsse des Klimagipfels in 

Paris 2015 in konkrete Maßnahmen gegossen werden 

sollten. Ziel: Die gefährliche Erderwärmung soll 

auf „deutlich unter zwei Grad“ begrenzt werden. 

In Paris wurde die Einigung der 195 Länder noch 

als Durchbruch gefeiert. In Marrakesch indes war 

erstmal Ernüchterung angesagt. Und das ist einem 

Mann zu verdanken, der innerhalb von Expertenkreisen 

zwar höchstes Ansehen genießt, außerhalb 

aber weithin unbekannt ist – Pavel Kabat, dem Leiter 

des „International Institute for Applied Systems 

Analysis“ (IIASA), dem Internationalen Institut für 

Angewandte Systemanalyse in Laxenburg bei Wien. 

Sein wenig erfreulicher Befund: „Selbst wenn alle 

Verpflichtungen des Paris-Gipfels realisiert würden, 

steigt die Erderwärmung immer noch um 2,6 bis 3,1 

Grad Celsius.“ Gar nicht gut. 

Die Warnung ist umso gewichtiger, denn das IIA- 

SA gilt als eine der besten unabhängigen Forschungseinrichtungen 

der Welt. Immerhin hat der Think- 

Tank in Laxenburg, der mehr als 300 Mathematiker, 

Sozial- und Naturwissenschafter, Ökonomen und 

Systemtechniker direkt und weitere 2.500 assoziierte 

Forscher in 65 Ländern indirekt beschäftigt, bereits 

vier Nobelpreisträger hervorgebracht. Wann immer 

es um die wirklich großen Fragen der Menschheit 

geht – von der Bevölkerungsentwicklung über deren 

IIASA – der kurze 

historische Überblick 

IIASA – a short history 

Das Internationale Institut für 

Angewandte Systemanalyse 

wurde im Oktober 1972 von den 

USA, der ehemaligen 

Sowjetunion und zehn weiteren 

Nationen auf neutralem Boden 

im österreichischen Laxenburg 

gegründet. Ihr ursprüngliches 

Ziel, die wissenschaftliche 

Zusammenarbeit zwischen dem 

Westen und dem Ostblock 

aufrecht zu erhalten, wurde mit 

dem Ende des Kalten Krieges 

weiterentwickelt. Heute widmet 

sich das IIASA hauptsächlich 

komplexen Fragen wie 

Bevölkerungswachstum, 

Klimawandel und Energie. 

The International Institute for 

Applied Systems Analysis was 

founded in 1972 to promote 

scientific cooperation between 

the East and the West. After the 

Cold War, it broadened its goals 

and today the IIASA is addressing 

the big challenges of the 21st 

century like population growth, 

climate change or energy supply. 

Oben: historische IIASA-Treffen. 

Unten: IIASA-Chef Pavel Kabat. 

Top: historic IIASA meetings. 

Bottom: Pavel Kabat, Head of IIASA. 

STARS-Project Tansania. 

IIASA-Feldforschung zum 

Einsatz moderner Landwirtschafts-Technologien. 

STARS project Tanzania. A field 

research named ”Spurring a 

Transformation for Agriculture 

through Remote Sensing“. 


Seit fast 35 Jahren der noble Sitz des 

Internationalen Instituts für Angewandte 

Systemanalyse. 

Noble headquarters. For nearly 35 years, 

Schloss Laxenburg near Vienna serves as 

the headquarters of IIASA. 



75

L’AUTRICHE INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR APPLIED SYSTEMS ANALYSIS 

Feldforschung Urmia-See, Iran. 

Versalzung und Austrocknung des Sees 

von Urmia bringen wichtige Erkenntnisse 

in der Klimawandelforschung. 

The drought-stricken hypersaline Lake 

Urmia in Iran is providing important 

insights for IIASA‘s climate change 

research. 

Entwicklungsprojekt Kenia. 

Im Rahmen einer Vergleichsanalyse landwirtschaftlicher 

Entwicklung sollen neue Pflanzungsmodelle 

entwickelt werden. 

An IIASA field-operation named ”Agricultural Model 

Intercomparison Project“ is about to develop new crop 

planting models for sustainable agriculture. 

Internationales Wirtschaftsforum 

in St. Petersburg. 

Dieses jährliche Forum zählt zu den wichtigen 

Plattformen, auf denen das IIASA seine 

Expertise präsentiert. 

The St. Petersburg International Economic 

Forum serves as one of the platforms for IIASA 

to present its highly welcomed expertise. 

INFO 

IIASA – Eckdaten 

in Kürze 

IIASA – facts & figures 

Im IIASA in Laxenburg arbeiten 

etwas über 300 Wissenschafter 

aus 49 Ländern und allen 

Disziplinen, weitere rund 2.500 

Forscher aus 69 Ländern 

kooperieren mit dem Institut. 

Die 24 Mitgliedsländer haben 

das IIASA 2016 mit etwa 30 

Millionen Euro Budget 

ausgestatten, zwischen 2010 

und 2015 konnten zusätzliche 

Drittmittel in der Höhe von 51 

Milllione eingeworben werden. 

The IIASA with its more than 

300 scientist and over 2,500 

scientific contributors has a 

yearly budget of some 30 

millionen euros (2016) which is 

provided by its 24 member 

states. Additional outside 

funding accounted for 51 million 

euros between 2010 to 2015. 

Rio-Grande-Projekt. 

Verbesserter Einsatz von 

Kommunikationstechnologien 

soll die nachhaltige 

Nutzung des Grenzflusses 

zwischen den USA und 

Mexiko vorantreiben. 

At the Rio Grande/Bravo the 

IIASA is trying to improve the 

sustainable use of the river 

bordering the US and Mexico. 

Versorgung mit Nahrung, Wasser und Energie bis 

hin zu den großen ökologischen Herausforderungen, 

um die Welt weiterhin lebenswert zu erhalten, 

fragt alle Welt in Laxenburg nach. Beispiele gefällig? 

Bereits 2030 – in nur 13 Jahren – werden weit über 

acht Milliarden Menschen den Planeten bevölkern, 

von denen 2,5 Milliarden bereits heute keinen Zugang 

zu Elektrizität, 800 Millionen nicht genug 

Frischwasser und 1,2 Milliarden Arme nicht genug 

Geld zum Überleben haben. Auf solche überaus 

komplizierten Megaprobleme versucht man in Laxenburg 

ganz konkrete Antworten zu geben. 

Die große Stärke des IIASA liegt in den von ihm 

entwickelten integrierten Analysemodellen, in die 

Unmengen von Daten und Informationen aus den 

verschiedensten Disziplinen einfließen und an deren 

Ende dann regelrechte Handlungs-Leitlinien für die 

Politik stehen. „Es ist fast wie ein How-to-do-Handbuch 

für komplexe Vereinbarungen“, sagt Kabat. 

„Wir sitzen zwar nicht am Tisch und verhandeln mit, 

aber wir sind im Hintergrund mit dabei.“ 

Und zwar seit beinahe 35 Jahren. Ursprünglich ist 

das IIASA 1972 unter der Ägide der USA, der damaligen 

Sowjetunion und zehn anderen west- und osteuropäischen 

Ländern gegründet worden, um auch 

während des Kalten Krieges die wissenschaftliche 

Zusammenarbeit zwischen den beiden feindlichen 

Blöcken aufrecht zu erhalten. Mit dem Ende dieser 

Periode erfolgte eine Neuorientierung hin zu den 

„großen wissenschaftlichen Aufgaben des 21. Jahrhunderts“, 

mit einer Konzentration auf den immer 

bedrohlicheren Klimawandel, dessen Auswirkungen 

auf die Biosphäre und all die Fragen, die sich durch 

das rasante Weltbevölkerungswachstum ergeben. 

Inzwischen sind die Mitgliedstaaten der IIASA, 

das in Östereich den Status einer internationalen Organisation 

genießt, auf 24 Länder angewachsen, die 

den Think-Tank mit einem jährlichen Budget von 

etwa über 30 Millionen Euro (2016) ausstatten. Zusätzliche 

Drittmittel in der Höhe von etwas über 50 

Millionen Euro zwischen 2010 und 2015 stammen 

von externen Forschungsaufträgen, Grants etwa für 

EU-Projekte oder Stiftungszuwendungen. Bleibt eigentlich 

nur noch die Frage, warum das IIASA angesichts 

dieses Leistungsspektrums in der heimischen 

Öffentlichkeit kaum wahrgenommen wird. „Wir haben 

halt einen sehr komplizierten Namen“, schmunzelt 

Kabat darüber. „Aber hinter den Kulissen hört 

man sehr wohl auf uns – hier und in der Welt.“ 

In early November 2016, one of the major issues 

for human mankind has fallen short of attention 

due to a major spectacle – the US Presidential 

Elections. Maybe it should have not. On November 

7th this year, the UN Climate Change Summit started 

in Marrakesh, Morocco. Its goal was to define the 

PHOTOS: SOMAYEH SHADKAM, AMANDA PALAZZO, LUZMA NAVA JIMENEZ, MATTHIAS SILVERI, BEIGESTELLT 

best measures to put into place, the historic climate 

agreement achieved by 195 countries last year in Paris 

”to limit future climate change to well below the 

2°C“. But the message of one highly respected expert, 

Pavel Kabat, head of the ”International Institute 

for Applied Sysems Analysis“ in Laxenburg, only 

spreaded disillusion, ”Even within the current commitment 

of countries, the global warming will still 

grow by 2.6 to 3.1°C by the end of the century“, Kabal 

said. 

A serious warning, since it origins from one of the 

world‘s leading independent research institutions. 

The IIASA near Vienna employs more than 300 mathematicians, 

social scientists, natural scientists, economists, 

and engineers from 49 countries, its networks 

consist of over 3,000 associated and visiting 

researchers from 65 countries, and four Nobel Prize 

laureates have worked at IIASA. They all try to give 

answers to the real big questions of human mankind 

that are too large or complex to be solved by a single 

country or academic discipline – world population 

growth, climate change, global energy supply. 

Examples? By 2030 – only 13 years ahead – the 

world’s population will have increased by one billion 

to over 8 billion. 2.5 billion people already are without 

access to modern energy like electricity, nearly 

800 million people have inadequate access to safe 

freshwater, while 1.2 billion people are still living in 

extreme poverty. Such are the mega-problems, you 

better call Laxenburg for solutions. The big strength 

of this thinktank lies in its integrated models of analysis 

which look over the boundaries of a single scientific 

discipline and integrate data from all kinds of 

knowledge areas. The results are kinds of how-to-doguidelines 

for complex political agreements. ”We 

don‘t sit on the negotiation table“, Kabat says, ”but we 

always take part in the background.“ 

To be exact, for nearly 35 years. IIASA was founded 

back in 1972 by the Soviet Union, United States, 

and 10 other countries from the Eastern and Western 

blocs in order to promote and continue East- 

West scientific cooperation during the Cold War. 

After this period it began to reinvent itself setting out 

addressing the global challenges of the 21st century. 

In the meantime, this international organisation in 

Austria has grown to 24 member states which in 

2016 provided an annual budget of some 30 million 

euros. Additional funding comes from contracts, 

grants, and donations from governments, international 

organisations, academia, businesses and individuals. 

Between 2010 and 2015 this additional funding 

reached €51 million. So why doesn‘t the IIASA 

enjoy more attention by the Austrian public given its 

wide range of expertise? ”Well“, Kabat smiles, „we 

have a very complicated name. But behind the curtains, 

the world is listening to us.“ 

Die Teilnahme an den jährlichen 

Forum Alpbach-Treffen gehört zu 

den Fixpunkten der Aktivitäten des 

Internationalen Insituts für 

Angewandte Systemanalyse. 

Every year, scientists from the IIASA 

take part at the meeting held at the 

Forum Alpbach in Tyrol. 


L’AUTRICHE INTERVIEW 

Renate Brauner 

Eine Stadt der Qualität 

A city of quality 

Die Stadt Wien ist als eine der lebenswertesten Städte der Welt bei diversen Studien stets top gereiht. 

Nun soll sie verstärkt als Stadt der Forschung und Innovation positioniert werden. 

The city of Vienna has in various studies always been ranked amongst the highest in the world when it 

comes to quality of life. Now, the city wants to strengthen its position as a location of research and 

innovation. 

CD: Frau Stadträtin, wie dürfen wir uns Ihre 

Arbeit vorstellen, was neue Betriebsansiedlungen 

betrifft? Wie wird Wien international 

positioniert? 

Renate Brauner: Wien ist in jedem 

Bereich eine Stadt der Qualität. Das gilt für 

den Tourismus, den Unternehmensstandort, 

Wissenschafts-, Forschungs- und Innovationsstandort. 

Wir wollen uns mit dieser 

Qualität im internationalen Wettbewerb 

durchsetzen. Wir können und wollen nicht 

die billigsten sein, wir müssen und werden 

die besten sein. Das gilt in allen Bereichen. 

Mein Ziel ist, Wien als eine hochqualitative 

Wirtschaftsmetropole im Herzen Europas 

noch besser zu positionieren, auch 

als Forschungs- und Innovationshauptstadt 

Europas. Trotz schwieriger wirtschaftlicher 

Rahmenbedingungen hatten wir 2015 einen 

Rekord von 175 neuen Betriebsansiedlungen, 

die in der Stadt Wien von Wirtschaftsagentur 

Wien und Austrian Business 

Agency gemeinsam angesiedelt wurden. 

Die Unternehmen kommen nach Wien, 

weil sie hier top-qualifizierte Arbeitskräfte 

und die Nähe zu den Hochschulen, aber 

auch die höchste Lebensqualität vorfinden. 

Wir konzentrieren uns auf Forschung und 

Innovation, auch bei den für die Unternehmen 

angebotenen Förderungen. 

Aber auch die Stadt selbst ist sehr innovativ 

– unter der Innovationsstrategie „Innovatives 

Wien 2020“ entwickeln beispielsweise 

die Wiener Linien neue Techniken 

im öffentlichen Verkehr. 

Stichwort Stadtentwicklung – eines Ihrer ersten 

Projekte ab 1996 als damals verantwortliche 

Stadträtin war das große Areal „Schlachthof St. 

Marx“ im 3. Bezirk. Wie wird sich Wien noch 

weiterentwickeln? 

Ich bin seit einigen Jahren wieder für 

AD PERSONAM 

Renate Brauner ist studierte Ökonomin und in Wien 

amtsführende Stadträtin für Finanzen, Wirtschaft und 

Internationales sowie Präsidentin des Wiener 

Tourismusverbandes. Renate Brauner studied economy 

and is the current Viennese Executive City Councillor of 

Finance, Economic and International Affairs as well as 

President of the Vienna Tourist Board. 

das Areal, nun mit dem Namen Neu Marx, 

zuständig. Meine Zukunftsvision ist, dieses 

bestehende Zentrum der Kreativität und 

der Wissenschaft und Forschung um das 

Thema Start-Ups zu erweitern. Denn was 

uns noch fehlt, ist eine Verortung dieser 

Szene. Und diese wunderschöne alte Rinderhalle 

in St. Marx steht für Wien und 

bietet sich an, unter dem Motto „Innovativer 

junger Geist in schöner alter klassischer 

Industrie-Architektur“. Das ist ein Gedanke, 

der mir sehr gut gefällt. 

Ein anderer Schwerpunkt ist die Seestadt 

Aspern, die für Ganzheitlichkeit in 

der Stadtentwicklung steht. Die Stadt Wien, 

gemeinsam mit der Firma Siemens, betreibt 

dort die Forschungsgesellschaft „Aspern 

Smart City Research“. Die Seestadt fungiert 

in vielen Bereichen als „Living Lab“. Zudem 

entstehen in den kommenden Jahren rund 

um den Hauptbahnhof, den Nordbahnhof 

und den Nordwestbahnhof neue Stadtteile. 

Sie sind auch Präsidentin des Wiener Tourismusverbandes: 

Welche Impulse setzen Sie für 

den Tourismusstandort Wien? 

Im Herbst war u.a. gerade eine Delegation 

aus Chengdu da, mit denen wir auch ein 

Kooperationsabkommen unterzeichnet 

haben. Der chinesische Markt wächst und 

er ist vor allem sehr groß. Wir haben auch 

enge Kontakte mit Austrian Airlines, denn 

wir spüren bei den privaten Touristen und 

vor allem bei den Kongress-Touristen, 

wenn eine neue Destination eröffnet wird. 

Die Stadt Wien ist ja auch am Flughafen 

Wien Schwechat beteiligt, aber, gemeinsam 

mit dem Land Niederösterreich, ausschließlich 

langfristig strategisch, weil er 

eine zentrale Bedeutung für uns hat. 

Wenn Sie Gäste aus dem Ausland haben – wo 

führen Sie diese hin, was zeigen Sie Ihnen von 

der Stadt Wien? Und verraten Sie uns Ihr 

Lieblingsplatzerl? 

Ich zeige Ihnen sehr gerne das Weingut 

Interview: Daniela Pötzl 

Cobenzl, mit wunderbarer Aussicht und 

die Stadt, deren Hälfte der Gesamtfläche 

Grünflächen sind, liegt einem zu Füßen. 

Was mein Lieblingsplatzerl betrifft, fällt die 

Auswahl schwer. Aber ich schätze das Haus 

des Meeres, eine Top 10-Touristenattraktion 

Wiens und zudem ein Zentrum der gut 

vernetzten Forschung mit spannenden 

Projekten und Vorträgen. Und ganz oben 

kann man beim Kaffee ebenso den sehr 

schönen Blick über Wien genießen. 

CD: How can we picture your work in terms of new 

business establishment? How is Vienna 

positioned internationally? 

Renate Brauner: Vienna is, in every 

area, a city of quality. This is true for tourism, 

as a location for business, science, 

research and innovation. With this level of 

quality, we want to establish ourselves 

against the international competition. We 

cannot and will not be the cheapest; we 

must and will be the best. This applies to all 

areas. 

My aim is to position Vienna even better 

than as the high-quality business metropolis 

in the heart of Europe but also as a 

research and innovation capital of Europe. 

Despite difficult economic conditions, we 

had a record breaking 175 new business setups 

here in Vienna in 2015. These businesses 

were an accomplishment of the Vienna 

Business Agency and Austrian Business 

Agency for the city of Vienna. Companies 

come to Vienna because they have access to 

a highly skilled workforce and the proximity 

to the universities, but also because of 

the superior quality of life here. We focus 

on research and innovation, even with the 

subsidies offered to companies.The city itself 

is also quite innovative. Wiener Linien 

for example is developing new technology 

for public transport as part of the innovation 

strategy “Innovative Vienna 2020”. 

Urban development – as the responsible 

councillor in 1996, one of your first projects was 


the large complex „Schlachthof St. Marx“ in the 

3rd district. How will Vienna continue to evolve? 

First of all, the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, 

Forestry, Environment and Water 

Management, together with the Austrian 

Foreign Ministry and the Austrian Economic 

Chamber refers to this know-how in 

all presentations abroad. Usually, a business 

delegation with experts accompanies 

us on our visits, also recently in Iran or 

Egypt. We drew attention there to these issues 

and the existing expertise in Austria. 

Appropriate cooperation arrangements are 

mapped out at a political level at the same 

time. 

You are also president of the Vienna Tourist 

Board. How will you stimulate the tourist 

destination of Vienna? 

This autumn, we welcomed a delegation 

from Chengdu for example which led to 

the signing of a cooperation agreement. 

The Chinese market is growing and it is 

also quite large. We also have close contacts 

with Austrian Airlines, because we notice 

whenever a new destination is accessible 

due to private tourists and especially congress 

tourists. The city of Vienna is involved 

in the Vienna International Airport 

operation, together with the province of 

Lower Austria, but only as a long-term 

strategy because the airport is of central 

importance to both. 

When you receive guests from abroad – where do 

you take your guests to? What do you show them 

during their stay in Vienna? And will you reveal 

your favourite place to us? 

I love to show them the Cobenzl winery 

with its wonderful view. From there, the 

city of which half of the total area is covered 

with greenery lies at your feet. As for my 

favourite place; that is a difficult decision. 

But I guess the House of the Sea (Haus des 

Meeres), one of the top 10 tourist attractions 

in Vienna and also a centre of wellconnected 

research with exciting projects 

and presentations. And at the top floor you 

can enjoy the beautiful view across Vienna 

while having a cup of coffee. 

Stadträtin Renate Brauner im Interview 

mit CD-Chefredakteurin Daniela Pötzl. 

Councillor Renate Brauner during the 

interview with Daniela Pötzl, CD´s 

Editor in Chief. 



79

L’AUTRICHE BIOTECHNOLOGY IN AUSTRIA 

Die Gen-Zauberer 

The wizards of genes 

Gut zehn Milliarden Euro Umsatz, weit über 400 Spitzenbetriebe und 20 Prozent 

Forschungsquote – Österreichs Biotech-Industrie kann sich echt sehen lassen. 

10 billion Euro plus in sales, more than 400 highly successful companies, and a 

research quota of 20% – a flashlight on Austria‘s biotech industry. 


Zukunft passiert. 

Future happens now. 

PHOTOS: MICHAEL PARAK, BIONORICA SE 

Vielleicht haben Sie schon einmal von Josef 

Penninger gehört – Österreichs bekanntestem 

Gentechniker. Schlacksige Figur, Wuschelkopf, 

ständig mit seinen großen Händen gestikulierend. 

Wer Penninger auf der Straße, etwa vor 

dem Wiener „Institut für Molekulare Biotechnologie“ 

(IMBA), das er seit 2003 leitet, begegnet, käme 

vielleicht nie auf die Idee, dass einem gerade einer 

der besten Biotechnologie-Forscher der Welt über 

den Wege gelaufen ist. Denn Penninger, ist jener 

Mann, der den Krebs bezwingen könnte. Er hat eine 

Reihe von Genen entdeckt, die bestimmte Krebsarten 

auslösen und auch etliche weitere Gene identifiziert, 

die das menschliche Immunsystem selbst zur 

Bekämpfung von tödlichen Krebszellen aktivieren 

können. Diese Autoimmun-Therapie gilt momentan 

als eine der vielversprechendsten Strategien im 

Kampf gegen die Geißel der Menschheit, Krebs. 

Penninger, der wegen seiner bahnbrechenden Arbeiten 

auf diesem Gebiet immer wieder als Nobelpreis-Anwärter 

genannt wird, ist zweifellos die Galionsfigur 

der Biotechnologie-Szene in Österreich. 

Und er hat dieser Disziplin hierzulande zu einer 

neuen Bedeutung verholfen, die vielleicht nur mit 

dem goldenen Zeitalter der medizinischen Forschung 

in Wien um 1900 vergleichbar ist. Vor allem 

die Bundeshauptstadt gilt heute als Hochburg jener 

Branche, in der unter dem Überbegriff „Life Sciences“ 

– Lebenswissenschaften – die Bereiche Biotechnologie, 

Pharmazie und Medizintechnik eng miteinander 

verwoben sind. Kleinere Zentren sind auch an 

der Fachhochschule Krems und in der steierischen 

Landeshauptstadt Graz angesiedelt. 

Allein in Wien, wo gut zwei Drittel aller Biotech- 

Aktivitäten konzentriert sind, widmen sich 18 einschlägige 

Forschungseinrichtungen mit 12.000 Mitarbeitern 

den Life Sciences, die heute von der 

Querschnitts-Materie Biotechnologie dominiert 

werden. Im Bereich der Grundlagenforschung sind 

vor allem die Universitäten für Medizin, Veterinärmedizin 

und Bodenkultur, aber auch die Technische 

Universtiät Wien zu nennen. „Die etwa 33.000 Studenten 

in den Life Sciences“, sagt Walter Ruck, Präsident 

der Wirtschaftskammer Wien, „sind ein starkes 

Versprechen für die Zukunft.“ 

Wenn es um die Erforschung konkreter Anwendungen 

geht, konzentriert sich vieles auf den Nukleus 

„Vienna Biocenter“ in NeuMarx. In diesem 90.000 

Quadratmeter großen Komplex im dritten Wiener 

Gemeindebezirk forschen mehr als 20 Biotech-Unternehmen 

mit rund 2.100 Beschäftigten an neuen 

Therapien und Medikamenten oder versuchen wie 

beispielweise Penningers IMBA oder das nicht weniger 

bedeutende „Forschungsinstitut für Molekulare 

Pathologie“, ganz prinzipiell den Geheimnissen des 

Lebens auf die Spur zu kommen. 

Um dieses Biocenter herum haben sich weitere, 

deutlich über 400 Biotechnologie-, Pharma- und 

Medizintechnik-Firmen gruppiert, die es mit insgesamt 

22.000 hochqualifizierten Mitarbeitern auf 

jährlich etwa zehn Milliarden Euro Umsatz bringen. 

Der Hauptanteil des Geschäftes wird mit Produkten 

der sogenannten „roten Biotechnologie“ – gemeint 

sind damit vor allem pharmazeutische Wirkstoffe, 

Diagnostika und neue Therapien – erwirtschaftet. 

Knapp unter zehn Prozent des Branchenvolumens 

wiederum gehen auf das Konto der „weißen Biotechnologie“ 

– also die Entwicklung und den Einsatz beispielsweise 

von Enzymen oder Lebensmittelzusatzstoffen. 

Allein die Wiener Unternehmen investieren 

jedes Jahr etwa 600 Millionen Euro – im Schnitt 

rund 20 Prozent des Umsatzes – in ihre Forschung 

und Entwicklung, eine der höchsten F&E-Quoten 

im Vergleich mit anderen Branchen. 

Geht es nach Unternehmensgröße, sind zweifellos 

zwei Konzerne führend in Einsatz und Weiterentwicklung 

von Biotechnologie. Zum einen die große 

Niederlassung des deutschen Pharma-Riesen 

Boehringer Ingelheim, der die globale Krebsforschung 

der Gruppe und damit eines seiner vier weltweiten 

Forschungszentren in Wien angesiedelt hat. 

Boehringer Ingelheim Wien ist ebenfalls für die ge- 

Mit Wien an der Spitze hat 

sich Österreich zu einem 

führenden Biotechnologie- 

Land entwickelt. 

Led by Vienna, Austria has 

developed into a leading 

biotechnology country. 

Pflanzenkultivierung. 

So wie bei Bionorica Research 

basieren viele Biotech-Produkte 

auf pflanzlichem Ursprung. 

Plant cultivation. Bionorica‘s 

research is based on plants. 



81

L’AUTRICHE BIOTECHNOLOGY IN AUSTRIA 

Bionorica Research. 

Das Tiroler Unternehmen 

beschäftigt sich mit der 

Erforschung und Entwicklung 

von pflanzlichen 

Arzneimitteln. 

Located in Tyrol, this private 

research institute is 

dedicated to the development 

of so called ”Phytopharmaceuticals“ 

derived 

from plants. 

Institut für Molekulare Pathologie. 

Das IMP ist Teil der Boehringer Ingelheim Gruppe und war 

eines der Gründungsinstitute des heutigen Biocenter Vienna. 

The IMP is part of the German Boehringer Ingelheim Group and 

was one of the original research hubs around which the 

Biocenter Vienna subsequently emerged. 

Austrian Center of Industrial Biotechnology. 

Das ACIB ist ein Kompetenzzentrum, das das Knowhow von 19 

Biotech-Instituten für industrielle Anwendungen transferiert. 

The ACIB acts as research partner and scientific hub for research 

activities in industrial biotechnology in Austria. 

Fachhochschule Krems. 

Mit dem Masterlehrgang „Medizinische und Pharmazeutische 

Biotechnologie“ hat sich die FH Krems in Niederösterreich zu 

einem der Biotech-Zentren in Österreich entwickelt. 

Thanks to its ”Medical and Pharmaceutical Biotechnology“ 

course the Krems University has emerged as a biotech nucleus. 

figure of Austria‘s biotechnology community. But 

under his shadow and thanks to his contributions, 

this scientific discipline – which today is an integral 

part of all Life Scienes – has reached a level not seen 

in Austria since the ”Golden Age of Medicine“ 

around the year 1900. Especially Vienna, followed by 

smaller centers like Krems or Graz, has emerged as a 

towering nucleus of the European biotech industry. 

In the capital alone, five universities are offering 

studies in Life Sciences for some 33,000 students. In 

addition, more than a dozen highly specialised research 

entities like the IMBA oder the „Institute for 

Molecular Pathology“ are devoted to biotechnology. 

According to the Vienna Chamber of Commere, there 

are over 430 companies with around 22,000 employees 

active in this industry, many of them located 

in or around the Vienna Biocenter in the 3rd district, 

a huge complex with a crowd of some 2,000 scientists 

developing new drugs or therapies. The yearly turnover 

of Austria‘s biotech industry, which is offering a 

wide range of pharmaceutical products based on 

biotechnological research or medical devices to support 

such activities, now sums up to more than 10 

billion Euro and its research & development quota 

averages at some 20% of company revenues, one of 

the highest compared to other economic sectors. 

In terms of size, there are certainly two companies 

in the lead. On the one hand, Boehringer Ingelheim, 

a subsidiary of the huge German pharmaceutical 

giant. Vienna is home to the global cancer 

research center within the Boehringer Ingelheim 

Group and one of four biopharmaceutical research, 

development and production sites. The company is 

also responsible for clinical research and sales in 

more than 30 countries in Central and Eastern Europe, 

Central Asia, Israel and Switzerland. Baxalta 

Austria, arising from Baxter BioScience on the other 

hand, is one of the most important active biotechnology 

companies in Austria, and focuses on recombinant 

proteins as well as plasma-based therapeutics 

for hematology, immunology and oncology. The global 

biopharmaceutical group runs one of three R&D 

units in Vienna. Austria is also home to Baxalta’s largest 

production facilities worldwide. 

Nevertheless most of Austria‘s biotech companies 

are small and medium sized, they are coming up 

with some remarkable products like a common cold 

nasal spray as well as an anti-viral lozenge targeting 

viral infections, both developed by Marinomed Biotechnologie 

and a huge success at drugstores. Just 

recently, a promising drug named APN311, basically 

an antitumor antibody to fight a rare form of cancer, 

has been released. Apeiron, the company which developed 

it, has also got two additional drugs in the 

pipeline undergoing last clinical testing. They are aiming 

at more widespread forms of cancer. And if 

they succeed, Josef Penninger, the founder of Apeiron, 

is maybe one step closer to the Nobel Prize. 

Josef Penninger, 

Institut für Molekulare 

Biotechnologie. 

Der österreichische 

Genetiker (im Bild unten) 

gilt als der Mann, der 

wahrscheinlich den Krebs 

besiegen könnte. 

The Austrian genetics 

engineer (pictured below) is 

regarded as one of the few 

scientists that might actually 

defeat cancer. 

samte klinische Forschung – also angewandte Biotechnologie 

– sowie die Betreuung von über 30 

Märkten in Zentral- und Osteuropa, Asien und dem 

Nahen Osten zuständig. Und zum anderen der US- 

Konzern Baxalta, der vor etwa 15 Jahren den Wiener 

Blutplasma-Konzern „Immuno“ übernommen hat 

und hier seine weltweiten Forschungsaktivitäten auf 

die Bereiche Hämatologie, Immunologie und Onkologie 

konzentriert. 

Die meisten Biotech-Unternehmen sind jedoch 

kleinere Forschungsbetriebe, die allerdings bisweilen 

erstaunliche Produkte auf den Markt bringen. 

Die Nasensprays und Anti-Viren-Lotionen etwa, die 

„Marinomed Biotechnolgie“ entwickelt hat, sind ein 

absoluter Renner in allen Drogerien. Und das inzwischen 

nach jahrelangen klinischen Tests vor wenigen 

Monaten freigegebene Krebs-Medikament APN311 

der Biotech-Schmiede „Apeiron Biologics“, das das 

körpereigene Immunsystem aktiviert, könnte einen 

der weltweit so dringend benötigten Durchbrüche 

im Krieg gegen den Krebs darstellen. Zwar ist 

APN311 nur auf die Bekämpfung einer eher selten 

auftretenden Krebsart zugeschnitten. Aber Apeiron 

hat mit APN401 und APN411 zwei weitere vielversprechende 

Krebs-Medikamente in der Pipeline, deren 

Breitenwirkung viel größer ist und deren klinische 

Tests in zwei, drei Jahren abgeschlossen sein 

dürften. 

Übrigens: Apeiron wurde von Josef Penninger gegründet. 

Wenn dessen Wundermittel tatsächlich so 

wirken wie versprochen, dann ist er seinem großen 

Ziel, Wien zu einem Weltzentrum der Biotechnologie 

zu machen, einen großen Schritt näher gekommen. 

Und dem Nobelpreis wohl auch. 

He is Austria‘s leading genetic engineer, head 

of Vienna‘s ”Instiute of Molecular Biotechnology“ 

(IMBA) and the man, who has developed 

a potential formula of victory over cancer. 

Josef Penninger, without any doubt, is the leading 

PHOTOS: BIONORICA SE , GEORG LEMBERGH , MICHAEL GRAF, BEIGESTELLT 



83

L‘AUTRICHE VIENNA 

PROMOTION 

Top-Level Administration Meeting 

Top-level local administration representatives from 16 

countries intensively discussed Administration 4.0, 

Smart City, Know-How Exchange and Security Issues. 

Their biggest challenges were: digitalisation, public and 

political demands, but also to offer contemporary 

services despite budget constraints. 

Once a year, the top heads of local administration meet in one of the 

European cities. What began in Tallinn in 2011 and in Paris in 

2012 as an informal gathering of people interested in the exchange 

of experiences, has since become an annual institution among the municipal 

directors of Europe. At this year’s European meeting in Vienna, 16 cities 

discussed how modern administration is set up and operated in the current 

digital age, what security questions are to be taken into account in the case 

of terrorist attacks, what distinguishes a Smart City, and how knowledge 

transfer can be carried out more efficiently domestically as well as across the 

borders. 

PHOTOS: CITY OF VIENNA/ CHRISTIAN JOBST • ENTGELTLICHE EINSCHALTUNG 

Municipal challenges 

Host and keynote speaker Erich Hechtner, Chief Executive Director of 

the City of Vienna, noted that the role of municipal authorities in the digital 

age has evolved further. “It is no longer enough to keep a city running. Today, 

the expectation is that everything has to work smoothly – we need to 

be customer-friendly, punctual, fast and at the highest level.” In addition to 

the demand for a modern administration in which qualified employees 

work in the interest of the citizens, there are still the great complex global 

problems that test the lives of the heads of administration on a daily basis,” 

Hechtner said. 

“We all have similar problems in Europe. Cities are the engines of business 

and development in their regions. Cities like Vienna are very attractive 

and grow steadily, but generally with a shortage of financial resources. Society 

becomes more diverse, expectations become higher, there is a desire for 

more transparency while at the same time issues such as digital disruption 

or longer life expectancies and other life models with massive effects on the 

health and labour market politics present new challenges for the economy 

and administration. But the sharing economy or the anticipation of a terrorist 

situation are also complex challenges that we have to face,” Hechtner 

pointed out in a conversation with his colleagues. 

Citizens´participation & communication 

Virtually all the municipal directors of the 16 cities represented – ranging 

from Amsterdam to Zurich – called the topic of participation an integral 

part of their daily work. In many projects, citizens’ participation is automatically 

included. Politicians are often called upon to be “more creative 

and smarter” in the competition between the European cities – in this case, 

the opportunity to learn from each other presents itself throughout this 

municipal directors’ meeting. 

Internal communication is of key importance in order to involve employees 

in these new developments. Vienna received a great deal of interest 

with the lecture on knowledge management – internationally as well as 

within the administration. Networking with universities and cooperation 

with companies also plays an important role in “rethinking institutionalised 

processes”. 

The field report from Brussels was also eagerly awaited after the terrorist 

attack in March this year: how a living organism is led back to everyday life 

from a state of emergency and which measures are important to rebuild 

trust and to relieve latent fears – those were the core issues addressed by the 

Secretary General of the Brussels region, Christian Lamouline. 

Next year’s meeting of the European municipal directors will be held in 

Berlin. 

Top: Erich Hechtner (first row, right), Chief Executive Director of the City 

of Vienna, hosted his international colleagues from 16 European 

countries. 

Left page, top: At the meeting, challenging topics of modern municipal 

organisation were covered. 

Left page, below, from left to right: 

University Professor Renate Meyer (Vienna Business University). 

Cruising on a nostalgic tramway through Vienna. 

Left to right: CED of Vienna, Erich Hechtner with GS of Madrid, Luis Cueto 

and CED of Tallinn, Toomas Sepp. 

Visit of city owned vineyard “Cobenzl“. 

SERVICE INFORMATION 

CITY OF VIENNA 

Chief Executive Director’s 

O ffi c e 

Email: post@mdgb.wien.gv.at 

Tel: +43 1 4000-75156 

www.wien.gv.at

L’AUTRICHE FUTURE LAB 

Helmut Fallmann 

„Der digitale Binnenmarkt muss Wirklichkeit werden.“ 

”The digital internal market has to become reality” 

Europäische 

Software 

European software 

Der Linzer Cloud-Unternehmer über seine Vision von Europa. 

The cloud entrepreneur from Linz talks about his vision of Europe. 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR 

Helmut Fallmann 

studierte Informatik an der 

Johannes Kepler 

Universität Linz. 1988 

gründete er mit Leopold 

Bauernfeind das 

Unternehmen Fabasoft, 

dessen Vorstandsmitglied 

er ist. 

He studied Computer 

Science at Johannes Kepler 

University in Linz. In 1988, 

he with Leopold 

Bauernfeind, founded the 

company Fabasoft in 1988 

and still is Member of the 

Board. 

Das gemeinsame Europa ist das größte Projekt 

der Weltgeschichte, das den Kontinent 

nach den Katastrophen des 20. Jahrhunderts 

in Frieden vereint hat. Viele Völker beneiden 

uns um diese beispiellose Aussöhnung. 

Im vergangenen Jahrzehnt ist dieses Zukunftsmodell 

jedoch gehörig in Bedrängnis geraten. Die 

global anhaltende Wirtschaftskrise hat ab 2008 auch 

die europäischen Volkswirtschaften erfasst und in 

Folge wieder Gräben auf dem vereinten Kontinent 

aufgerissen. 

Zeitlich parallel wurden die ethischen Fundamente 

der Union vor allem im Datenraum angegriffen. 

Und in den letzten zwei Jahren haben Krieg und 

Verwüstung an den Rändern Europas tausende 

Menschen bei uns Zuflucht suchen lassen. Diese 

neue Flüchtlingswanderung hat in vielen Ländern 

des Kontinents „bekannte“ Ressentiments gegen das 

Fremde wieder aufleben lassen. 

Für ein Europa der Menschen 

Wie können wir in den entscheidenden Jahren 

vor uns den europäischen Zusammenhalt, der über 

Jahrzehnte so unantastbar schien, von neuem stärken? 

Wir müssen gemeinsam an einem Europa der 

Menschen bauen. Das erfordert eine Strategie gegen 

Egoismus und Isolierung, die vor allem über die 

Bande der vernetzten europäischen Wirtschaft gelingen 

kann. 

Die Fortschreibung des europäischen Wohlstandes 

wird davon abhängen, wie sehr es uns gelingt, die 

noch bestehenden nationalen Fragmentierungen aufzubrechen 

und das Jahrhundert-Vorhaben des Binnenmarktes 

zu verwirklichen. Bei seiner Umsetzung 

ist die digitale Wirtschaft unser größter Verbündeter. 

Bits und Bytes kennen nämlich keine Grenzen. 

Die Union hat erkannt, dass ein wieder stärkeres 

Zusammenrücken Europas nur dann von Erfolg gekrönt 

sein kann, wenn die Herausforderung der Digitalisierung 

gemeinsam angenommen wird. 2015 

wurde daher von der Kommission ein Aktionsprogramm 

ausgerufen, mit dem die Vision „Digital Single 

Market“ bis 2020 Wirklichkeit werden soll. 

Abbau von Handelsbarrieren 

Künftig soll es keine Hindernisse mehr im grenzüberschreitenden 

digitalen Warenverkehr geben. 

Dazu brauchen wir ein verbessertes Vertragsrecht 

und einen harmonisierten Konsumentenschutz. 

Und wir benötigen eine in ganz Europa kompatibel 

anwendbare elektronische Identität zur Abwicklung 

von Rechtsgeschäften. Weiters müssen wir das Urheberrecht 

reformieren, damit Geo-Blocking der Vergangenheit 

angehört. 

PHOTOS: FOTOLIA, ERWINRACHBAUER.AT 

Digitale Hochleistungsinfrastrukturen 

Daten sind das neue Öl. Damit sie in Europa ungehindert 

fließen können braucht es zweierlei. Einerseits 

eine kapazitätsstarke Breitbandinfrastruktur 

und andererseits rechtliche Regelungen zum Schutz 

von Informationen sowie der Privatsphäre der Bürger. 

Bei der Umsetzung der Zielvorgaben für schnelle 

Internetzugänge hinkt Europa sowohl bei Glasfaseranschlüssen 

als auch bei mobilen Netzzugängen der 

letzten Generation den führenden Ländern Südostasiens 

noch hinterher. Hier braucht es deutlich mehr 

Willen und Elan. 

Den Datenschutz und die Informationssicherheit 

hat die Union jedoch auf den Weg gebracht. Ab 2018 

werden in der EU Daten nach hohen Schutzkriterien 

verarbeitet. 

Europa ist eine Wertegemeinschaft 

Die Wirtschaftsgroßmacht Europa muss letztlich 

jedoch immer die Menschen und ihre Lebensbedürfnisse 

als letztes Korrektiv vor Augen haben. Aus 

diesem Grund sind unsere europäischen Werte nicht 

nur niemals veräußerbar, sondern das Fundament 

für die Gestaltung einer menschenwürdigen Gesellschaft. 

Jetzt und in der Zukunft! 

T 

he European Union is the largest project in 

world history. It has united the continent in 

peace after the great conflicts during the 20th 

century. Many nations are envious of this unprecedented 

reconciliation. 

However, over the past decade a lot of strain has 

been put on this model of the future. Since 2008, the 

global economic crisis has also engulfed European 

economies and has torn trenches through this union. 

At the same time, attacks on the Union’s ethical 

foundations have been mainly carried out in data 

space. War and devastation on the borders of Europe 

have, for the last couple of years, forced thousands of 

people to seek refuge here. In many countries this 

new refugee movement has revived old resentment 

towards the foreign. 

A Europe for the people 

In these important years ahead of us, how can we 

reinvigorate the European bond that seemed unassailable? 

We must work together to establish a Europe for 

the people. This requires a strategy against egotism 

and isolation which can succeed especially via the 

bonds of networked European economy. 

The continuation of European prosperity will depend 

on how we manage to break the still existing 

national fragmentation and to realise the project of 

the century: the internal market. 

The digital economy is our greatest ally in its implementation. 

Bits and bytes know no boundaries. 

The Union has recognised that Europe will only 

succeed at banding together again if the challenge of 

digitalisation is confronted as one. The comission 

therefore implemented an action programme in 

2015 to carry the vision of the „Digital Single Market“ 

into effect by 2020. 

The reduction of trade barriers 

In the future, there shall be no more obstacles for 

the digital trade of goods. But for this we need an 

improved contractual law and harmonised consumer 

protection. 

For legal transactions, we also need an electronic 

identity that is compatible throughout Europe. Copyright 

laws need to be reformed so that geo-blocking 

can finally be a thing of the past. 

Digital high performance infrastructures 

Data is the new crude oil. Two things are necessary 

for it to flow unhindered through Europe: a solid 

high bandwidth infrastructure and legal regulations 

for data protection and to secure privacy of its citizens. 

Europe is trailing on set bandwidth targets. This 

applies both to fibre-optic connections and the latest 

mobile access network technologies in comparison 

to the leading countries in Southeast Asia. Considerably 

more zest and will is needed. 

Data protection and information security, however, 

have been achieved by the Union. From 2018 

onwards, data will be processed in the EU according 

to high criteria regarding protection. 

Europe is a community of values 

Europe, as an economic power, must ultimately 

always keep its people and their necessities of life in 

mind. For this reason, our European values must not 

only never be sold, but the foundation for the preservation 

of a decent, humane society. Now and in the 

future! 

Fabasoft Softwareprodukte und 

Cloud-Produkte sorgen für das 

einheitliche Erfassen, Ordnen, 

prozessorientierte Bearbeiten, 

sichere Aufbewahren und 

kontextsensitive Finden aller 

digitalen Geschäftsunterlagen. 

Fabasoft digitalisiert und 

beschleunigt Geschäftsprozesse, 

sowohl im Wege in-formeller 

Zusammenarbeit (Collaboration) 

als auch durch strukturierte 

Workflows – unternehmensintern 

und über Organisationsund 

Ländergrenzen hinweg. Die 

entwickelte Fabasoft eGov-Suite 

ist die führende Anwendung für 

elektronische Aktenführung im 

öffentlichen Sektor im 

deutschsprachigen Raum. 

Fabasoft software products and 

cloud services ensure the 

consistent capture, sorting, 

process-oriented handling, 

secure storage and contextsensitive 

finding of all digital 

business documents. Fabasoft 

digitalises and accelerates 

business processes in the course 

of informal collaborations and 

structured workflows both 

within companies and beyond 

organisational limits and 

national frontiers. The 

eGov-Suite, which was 

developed by Fabasoft, is the 

leading application for 

electronic records management 

in the public sector within the 

German-speaking region. 

fabasoft.com 



87

L‘AUTRICHE BUSINESS 

Neues aus Österreich 

News from Austria 


Holzindustrie | Wood industry 

Innovatives Skivergnügen | 

Innovative ski fun 

Ausbildung | Education 

Für eine bessere Umwelt | For a better environment 

Im Herbst 2017 startet wieder die postgraduale Ausbildung „Environmental 

Technology & International Affairs“. Der interdisziplinäre 

englischsprachige Masterstudiengang besteht bereits seit 10 Jahren als 

Kooperation zwischen der TU Wien und der Diplomatischen Akademie 

Wien und beschäftigt sich in vier Semestern mit Fragestellungen zur 

internationalen Politik, zu internationalen umweltpolitischen Themen 

und zum Umweltmanagement. MSc ETIA Absolventin Isabel Mank (im 

Bild) wurde heuer bei der Jahrestagung der Österreichischen 

Vereinigung für das Gas und Wasserfach (ÖVGW) für ihre Masterarbeit 

mit dem auf 2.000 Euro dotierten Studienpreis ausgezeichnet. 

The postgraduate degree “Environmental Technology & International 

Affairs” will start again in the autumn of 2017. The interdisciplinary 

Master‘s degree, taught in English, has been running for 10 years as a 

cooperation between TU Wien and the Diplomatic Academy of Vienna 

and deals with international politics, international environmental 

policies and environmental 

management. MSc ETIA alumna 

Isabel Mank (in picture) received 

an award with 2000 euros prize 

money for her Master‘s thesis at 

this year‘s annual conference of 

the Austrian Association for Gas 

and Water (ÖVGW). 

etia.at 

SCHOOL. 

ARTS. 

BOARDING. 

Die Österreichische Skiindustrie nimmt mit ihren 

weltweit bekannten Marken Atomic, Blizzard, 

Fischer und Head Top-Positionen am Markt ein. 

Der Skifahrer-Trend geht nun in Richtung 

„Vergnügen und Komfort“. Breitere Konstruktionen 

in Verbindung mit der sogenannten Rocker 

Technologie (Schaufelbereich ist nach oben 

gezogen), sollen dabei optimalen Fahrspaß bei 

harter Piste, aber auch weichen Verhältnissen 

garantieren. 

Thanks to the world famous brands Atomic, 

Blizzard, Fischer and Head, the Austrian ski 

industry is a market leader. Current ski trends 

are “fun and comfort”. Wider constructions 

combined with rocker technology (tip curves up) 

ensure maximum skiing fun on pistes with both 

firm and soft conditions. 

wko.at 

Tourismus | Tourism 

Neue Reiseziele | New destinations 

Austrian Airlines nimmt mit dem Sommerflugplan 2017 

wieder eine neue Langstrecken-Destination in Nordamerika 

auf. Ab 10. April 2017 geht es bis zu sechs Mal pro Woche 

mit einer Boeing 777 nach Los Angeles. Der Winterflugplan 

2017/18 bietet ab 25. Oktober 2017 jeden Mittwoch non-stop 

Flüge von Wien auf die Seychellen. Und in der neuen 

„Premium Economy“ für die Langstrecke, werden die 

Fluggäste ab Sommer 2018 eigene Sitze mit größerem 

Neigungswinkel, mehr Sitzabstand und breiterer Sitzfläche 

genießen können. 

Austrian Airlines will be adding another new long-haul 

destination to North America to its summer 2017 schedule. 

As of 10 April 2017, a Boeing 777 will be flying to Los 

Angeles up to six times a week. Starting 25 October 2017, it 

will also offer non-stop flights from Vienna to the Seychelles 

every Wednesday in its winter 2017/18 schedule. And from 

summer 2018, passengers will also be able to enjoy the new 

“Premium Economy” on long-haul routes, which includes 

wider seats with a greater tilt angle and more seat pitch. 

austrian.com 

Immobilien | Property 

Büromarkt im Aufwind | 

Office market on the rise 

Die Vermietungsleistung übertraf im 

November 2016 bereits alle Erwartungen, 

die Leerstandsquote ist deutlich 

gesunken. Zu diesem Ergebnis kommt 

der aktuelle Büro- und Investmentmarktbericht 

der Wiener Otto Immobilien 

Gruppe, die ihren neuen Standort nun in 

der Riemergasse hat. 

Rental performance exceeded all 

expectations in November 2016, the 

vacancy rate has dropped significantly. 

These are the findings of the current 

Office and Investment Market Report by 

Otto Immobilien Gruppe, whose new 

office is now located on Riemergasse in 

Vienna. 

otto.at 

PHOTOS: ATOMIC, AUSTRIAN AIRLINES GROUP/DICHLER, TU WIEN/ETIA 

Jungunternehmer | Young entrepreneurs 

Nach den Sternen greifen | 

Reach for the stars 

Mithilfe des neuen Business Incubation Center Graz (BIC) der 

Europäischen Weltraumorganisation ESA, sollen in den kommenden 

fünf Jahren 50 Jungunternehmer mit ihren Start-ups über das Zentrum 

an der Grazer TU, Ideen und Innovationen auf den Markt und zur 

Anwendung bringen können. 

The new Business Incubation Centre Graz (BIC), run by the European 

Space Agency ESA and located at the Graz University of Technology, is 

looking for 50 young entrepreneurs in the next five years to help their 

start-ups launch their ideas and innovations. 

esa.int 

Amadeus International School Vienna would like to open its campus 

to the community and celebrate the end of the school year with 

hosting its very own street festival ! The event will be held outdoors 

and include food, performances, games and fun activities for all. 

Come and celebrate summer with AV! 

– Where: Amadeus Vienna Campus 

– When: 25 June 2016 | 14:00 – 18:00 

– Cost: Free entry ! 

AMADEUS VIENNA – WHERE EXCELLENCE MEETS PASSION 

INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL – MUSIC & THE ARTS – SUPERIOR BOARDING 

Bastiengasse 36 – 38 | 1180 Vienna | Austria 

+43 1 35 80 492 | info@amadeus-vienna.com | www.amadeus-vienna.com 


TIROL 

Special 

Grußworte 

Greetings 

international fair for contemporary art & 

antiques 19 - 21 century 

1 – 4 december 2016 

edition 21 

12 – 15 may 2017 

edition 22 

Liebe Leserinnen und Leser! 

Tirol genießt zu Recht weit 

über die Landesgrenzen hinaus 

den Ruf einer großartigen 

Tourismusdestination. Sowohl 

unsere intakte Natur und die 

atemberaubende Bergwelt als 

auch kulturelle Highlights ziehen 

Gäste aus aller Welt nach Tirol. 

Aber nicht nur der Tourismus, 

sondern auch die Handelsbeziehungen 

ins Ausland sind für den 

innovativen Wirtschaftsstandort 

Tirol von großer Bedeutung. Als 

Landeshauptmann ist es für mich 

ein großes Anliegen, mich mit 

Wirtschaftsdelegierten aus der 

ganzen Welt zu treffen, um ihnen 

unsere heimischen Betriebe zu 

präsentieren oder ihnen in ihrer 

Heimat unser Land mit seiner 

Produktvielfalt vorzustellen. So 

war ich im Herbst dieses Jahres 

auch in Russland unterwegs, um 

neue Kontakte zu knüpfen. 

Es würde mich freuen, wenn 

ich Sie neugierig auf unsere schöne 

Heimat Tirol gemacht habe 

und ich Sie hier bei uns begrüßen 

darf. 

Dear readers, 

Tyrol rightly enjoys the 

reputation of a great tourist 

destination far beyond the 

country‘s border. Our pristine nature, 

the breathtaking mountain 

scenery and cultural highlights attract 

guests from around the world 

to Tyrol. Not only tourism, but 

also trade relations abroad are of 

great importance for the innovative 

business location of Tyrol. As 

governor, I also take great interest 

in meeting with business delegates 

from around the world, introducing 

them to our domestic enterprises 

and throwing the spotlight 

on the variety of local products. 

During my business trip to Russia 

this autumn, I was establishing 

further contacts. 

I sincerely hope that I was able 

to raise your curiosity and interest 

so that I may soon welcome you 

here to our beautiful Tyrol. 

Günther Platter 

Landeshauptmann 

von Tirol 

Governor of Tyrol 

Der Politiker und ehemalige 

Verteidigungs- und 

Innenminister ist seit 2008 

Landeshauptmann des 

Bundeslandes Tirol und u.a. 

für die Ressorts Tourismus 

und Finanzen zuständig. 

The politician and former 

Minister of Defence and the 

Interior has been the 

Governor of Tyrol since 

2008 and is also responsible 

for the departments of 

tourism and finances. 

fairground innsbruck ∙ mainhall A ∙ austria 

www.art-innsbruck.com 

Ihr | Yours sincerely, 

Günther Platter 


TIROL TOP 10 HIDEAWAYS 

Luxus, bitte! 

Luxury, please! 


Für eine winterliche Auszeit sollte immer Zeit sein um Kraft zu tanken. 

For a winter break there should always be time to recharge batteries. 

In immer geschäftiger werdenden Zeiten sollte man auch immer 

wieder zwischendurch innehalten und sich Zeit nehmen für 

sich selbst. CD hat 10 Top-Hideaways für Sie entdeckt, die außergewöhnlich 

sind – Luxus, wie man ihn sich wünscht, mit vielen 

Extras und ganz speziellen Angeboten. Dort, in den Fluchten, fern 

vom Alltag, lässt es sich hervorragend genießen – alleine, zu zweit 

oder auch mit der ganzen Familie. 

As the world increasingly grows hectic, one should always 

strive to find at least some time for oneself. CD has discovered 

10 extraordinary hideaways for you – the kind of luxury 

we all need from time to time, with various extras and special 

offers. There, you Text: can Rois & finally Stubenrauch rest, far away from everyday stresses 

and enjoy life to the fullest – by yourself, with somebody else or 

even with the entire family. 

JAGDSCHLOSS KÜHTAI 

Für Winterhochzeiten | For winter weddings 

Das Jagdschloss ist eine beliebte Location für stimmige 

Familien- und Firmenfeiern. Nach wie vor als Geheimtipp gilt es 

als Location für außergewöhnliche weiße Winterhochzeiten, 

Anfahrt im Schlitten inklusive. Die denkmalgeschützten Mauern 

auf 2.020 m Höhe beherbergen ein komfortables und exklusives 

Wintersporthotel mit aristokratischer Seele. 

The Jagdschloss is a favourite location for atmospheric family and 

corporate events. It continues to be an insider tip as a location for 

extraordinary white winter weddings, including arrival via sledge. 

The heritage walls at 2,020 metres above sea level surround a 

cosy and exclusive winter sports hotel with an aristocratic feel. 

jagdschloss.at 

ZILLER LODGE 

Am Abschlag | By the tee 

Die Ziller Lodge mit vier Edel-Suiten ist wohl der Traum jedes 

leidenschaftlichen Golfers. Das idyllische Juwel liegt gleich beim 

Abschlag zum Loch 4 des Golfplatzes Zillertal in Uderns. Der 

hervorragende Blick reicht über die malerische Anlage bis ins 

hintere Zillertal. Aber auch Wintersportfreunde können sich hier 

erfreuen, liegt es doch zwischen den beiden Skigebieten 

Hochzillertal-Hochfügen und Spieljoch. 

The Ziller Lodge is, with its four noble suites, probably the dream 

of every passionate golfer. The idyllic jewel lies right by the tee of 

hole number 4 of the Zillertal Uderns Golf Course. The excellent 

view spans across the picturesque course to the back of Zillertal 

valley. Winter sports enthusiasts can also rejoice, as the lodge is 

located between the two ski areas Hochzillertal-Hochfügen and 

Spieljoch. 

zillerlodge.at 

PHOTOS: FOTOLIA, MICHELLE HIRNSBERGER, RUDI WYHLIDAL, BEIGESTELLT 

BENTLEY LODGE KITZBÜHEL 

Edle Ausfahrt | A classy exit 

Umgeben von atemberaubenden Gipfeln und Tälern, bietet die 

luxuriös ausgestattete Berghütte einen optimalen Rückzugsort 

mitten in Kitzbühel. Für Gäste steht jederzeit ein Modell der 

neuesten Bentley Generation zur Verfügung. Darüber hinaus 

werden verschiedenste individuell abgestimmte Aktivitäten wie 

Jagen, Reiten, Skifahren, Golf und Spa-Behandlungen angeboten. 

Surrounded by breathtaking summits and valleys, this luxuriously 

equipped mountain cottage offers an optimal refuge in the centre 

of Kitzbühel. A model of the latest Bentley generation is available 

for guests at all times. Beyond that, a range of customised 

activities including hunting, horseback riding, skiing, golfing and 

spa treatments are offered. 

bentleymotorslodge.com 

HOTEL CENTRAL 

Herausragende Kulinarik | Outstanding cuisine 

Das Central ist das einzige 5-Sterne Hotel in Sölden und vereint 

legeren Luxus, stilvolle Zimmer und Tiroler Herzlichkeit mit Spa & 

Wellness auf höchstem Niveau, der imposanten Bergwelt der 

Ötztaler Alpen und Hauben-Kulinarik. Gottfried Prantl ist der 

vielfach ausgezeichnete Chef de Cuisine, unter anderem mit dem 

„Toque d’Honneur“, der ewigen Haube von Gault Millau. 

The Central is the only 5-star hotel in Sölden and unites casual 

luxury, stylish rooms and Tyrolian warmth with spa & wellness 

into the highest possible standard. Furthermore, it boasts a 

location near the imposing mountain landscape of the Ötztal Alps 

as well as award-winning cuisine. Gottfried Prantl is the 

multi-award winning chef de cuisine, who, among other things, 

won the “Toque d’Honneur“, the everlasting Hauben-award by 

Gault Millau. 

central-soelden.com 

HOCHLEGER DELUXE CHALETS 

Köstliche Kredenz | Delicate Credenza 

Vier Luxus-Chalets für je bis zu 10 Personen bieten in Aschau im 

Zillertal neben einer voll ausgestatteten Küche auch eine Kredenz. 

Diese Anrichten aus alten Tagen sind liebevoll restaurierte 

Zillertaler Originale und mit hochwertigen Grundnahrungsmitteln 

bestens gefüllt. Zum Frühstück gibt´s frisches, knuspriges 

Bauernbrot, Bergbutter, Eier, Milch, Speck und Käse von Bauern 

der Umgebung sowie eine Auswahl handgefertigter Bio-Marmeladen 

und regionalen Waldhonig. 

Four luxury cottages for up to 10 people in Aschau im Zilltertal 

offer a completely equipped kitchen as well as a credenza. These 

old fashioned pantries are lovingly refurbished Zillertal-originals 

and are filled to the brim with a variety of delicacies. For 

breakfast, there is fresh, crunchy farmhouse bread, locally sourced 

butter, eggs, milk, bacon and cheese from nearby farmers as well 

as a selection of homemade organic jams and regional wild 

honey. 

hochleger.at 


TIROL TOP 10 HIDEAWAYS 

ELISABETH HOTEL 

Gemütliche Stube | Cosy dining room 

Eines der Tophotels in Mayrhofen im Zillertal hat sich neu 

erfunden: Die Gastgeberfamilie Moigg erneuerte und erweiterte 

2014 ihr bereits bestehendes Haus. Heute hat es 70 Zimmer und 

einen erweiterten, luxuriösen Spa mit großzügigem Freiluftbereich. 

Und die gemütlichen Stuben im Restaurant bilden eine 

perfekte Symbiose aus alt und neu. Hier können Erwachsene eine 

ungestörte Auszeit genießen und neue Kraft tanken. 

One of the top hotels in Mayrhofen in the Zillertal valley 

reinvented itself: the Moigg family renewed and expanded its 

already existing house in 2014. Today, the hotel has 70 rooms and 

an extended, luxurious spa with a generous open-air area. The 

cosy dining rooms in the restaurant form a perfect symbiosis of 

old and new. Here, guests can enjoy an undisturbed time out and 

recharge their batteries. 

elisabethhotel.com 

INTERALPEN-HOTEL TYROL 

Fast wie in Wien | Almost like Vienna 

Das klassische Wiener Kaffeehaus ist längst Legende: Bugholzstühle, 

Marmortischchen, eine Auswahl an Tageszeitungen und 

natürlich der „Herr Ober“, der über sein Café wacht. Im 

Interalpen-Hotel Tyrol weht der Wiener Kaffeehaus-Geist, 

wohltuend gemischt mit Tiroler Herzlichkeit und dem Fünf- 

Sterne-Service, der jeden Aufenthalt zum Erlebnis werden lässt. 

GRADONNA MOUNTAIN RESORT 

Erholung garantiert | Guaranteed relaxation 

Eingebettet in die imponierende Berglandschaft Osttirols, lässt 

das Gradonna Mountain Resort Châlets & Hotel das Herz jedes 

Skisportlers und Wanderers höher schlagen. Ein SPA-Bereich in 

jedem einzelnen Châlet, eine großzügige Wellness-, Bade- und 

Saunalandschaft im Hotel, ein kostenloses Anfängerskigelände 

sowie die direkte Anbindung an die Wanderwege und das 

Großglockner Resort Kals-Matrei verleihen den Gästen im 

autofreien Resort eine einzigartige Umgebung zum Wohlfühlen 

und Entspannen. 

Embedded into the impressive mountain landscape of East Tyrol, 

the Gradonna Mountain Resort Châlets & Hotel is guaranteed to 

make every ski enthusiast’s and hiking fan’s heart skip a beat. A 

spa area in every single cottage, a generous wellness, bath and 

sauna area in the hotel, freely accessible beginner’s ski premises 

as well direct connections to hiking routes. The Grossglockner 

Resort Kals-Matrei allow the car-free resort’s guests to enjoy 

themselves and relax in a unique environment. 

gradonna.at 

DAS POSTHOTEL 

Feines Ambiente | Exquisite ambiance 

Unbehandelte Hölzer, hochwertige Einrichtung und die 

ausgewählten Materialien sowie Farbgebung vermitteln im 

Posthotel in Zell im Zillertal moderne Behaglichkeit. Im 

hoteleigenen Restaurant HeLeni kochen Christian Grobeis und 

Gian Paolo Pacchiele auf. Von der Natur inspiriert, verarbeiten die 

beiden mit ihrem Team frische, regionale Zutaten in Bio-Qualität 

zu feinen À-la-carte-Menüs. 

Untreated wood, high-value furnishing and the selected materials 

and colours provide the Posthotel in Zell im Zillertal with modern 

comfort. Christian Grobeis and Gian Paolo Pacchiele run the 

kitchen of the in-house restaurant HeLeni. Inspired by the natural 

world, the two, together with their team, transform fresh, organic 

local ingredients into an exquisite a la carte menu. 

dasposthotel.at 

Follow us on Facebook 

facebook.com/TYROLIT 

The classic Viennese café has long since become legendary: 

bentwood chairs, small marble tables, a selection of daily 

newspapers and, of course, the waiter watching over his café. 

There’s a certain Viennese café spirit in the air at Interalpen-Hotel 

Tyrol mixed with cordiality typical for Tyrol for five-star service 

making every stay a special experience. 

interalpen.com 

HOTEL JUNGBRUNN 

Alpiner Lifestyle | Alpine lifestyle 

Einst sorgte Raimund Gutheinz mit seinem runden Liftcafé-Dach 

für einen Skandal im Tannheimer Tal. Heute prägt die alpine 

Lebensart die Atmosphäre des über fünf Jahrzehnte gewachsenen 

Familienbetriebs, der markante Akzente setzt wie etwa mit 

riesigen Gletscher-Findlingen um den eiskalten Jungbrunn-Quellteich. 

Verwöhnung pur bieten innovative Bädern und Saunen und 

vielfältigen Massage-Therapien. 

Not too long ago, Raimund Gutheinz caused a bit of a stir with his 

round Liftcafé roof in Tannheimer Tal. Today, the alpine way of life 

governs the atmosphere in the over five-decade-old family 

business, giving it a number of local touches, such as huge glacial 

boulders surrounding its ice-cold spring pond. Innovative baths 

and saunas, as well as a variety of massage therapies offer pure 

relaxation. 

jungbrunn.at 

PHOTOS: CATHRINE STUKHARD, PETRA STADLER, PETER VON FELBERT, BEIGESTELLT 

TYROLIT – High quality products 

TYROLIT is a world leading manufacturer of bonded grinding, cutting, sawing, drilling and dressing tools as well as machines for the 

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In 2015 more than 4,400 employees in 29 production locations in 12 countries and on five continents generated a turnover of 643 million euros. 

More information on www.tyrolit.com 


A Company of the SWAROVSKI Group 

www.tyrolit.com

TIROL CULTURE 

Von Wunderkammer bis Contemporary 

From Renaissance Chamber of Curiosities 

to contemporary art 

Kulturhighlights Tirol | Cultural Highlights Tyrol 

Oben: Sigrid Hutter „Gefälle“, 2015 

Unten rechts: Gunter Damisch „Weltweglochfeld“, 

2009. 

Unten links: Fachsimpeln auf der ART 

Innsbruck. 

Top: Sigrid Hutter “Gradient“, 2015 

Below, right: Gunter Damisch “Worldpathholefield“, 

2009. 

Below, left: Talking shop at the ART 

Innsbruck. 

Der dichte Kulturkalender der Tiroler 

Landeshauptstadt besticht auch diese 

Saison mit zahlreichen Highlights. 

The capital of Tyrol is set to impress 

with a tightly packed culture calendar 

next year. 

Text: Rois & Stubenrauch 

2017 wird das große Jahr von Ferdinand II. 

(1564-1595) – er war eine der bedeutendsten 

Sammlerpersönlichkeiten der Renaissance. Die 

hochkarätige Jubiläumsausstellung aus Anlass des 

450. Jahrestages seines Amtsantrittes als Tiroler Landesfürst 

in Innsbruck, vereint zahlreiche einzigartige 

Objekte seiner weltberühmte Kunst- und Wunderkammer 

erstmals wieder in Schloss Ambras Innsbruck. 

Auch sehr spannend: Die virtuelle Rekonstruktion 

der Kunstkammer Ferdinands II. an ihrem 

ursprünglichen Ort im Kontext des 21. Jahrhunderts. 

Szenenwechsel. Messegelände Innsbruck: In den 

ersten Dezembertagen drängen sich Kunstinteressierte 

zwischen Jugendstil Designstücken, klassischer 

Moderne und spannender Gegenwartskunst. 

Die ART Innsbruck ist in die Vorweihnachtszeit vorgerückt. 

„Mit vielen Höhepunkten wie „interpretations 

of nude“ mit Positionen von Elke Krystufek 

oder Egon Schiele und erstmals auch Russischen 

Ikonen – absolute Kostbarkeiten,“ wie Messeleiterin 

Johanna Penz ausführt. Im Mai 2017 steht dann die 

neue ART Innsbruck Complementary am Kalender. 

Daneben machen Festivals wie die Innsbrucker 

Festwochen der Alten Musik, hochkarätige Museen 

und eine tolle Galerienszene ein Eintauchen in Innsbrucks 

Kulturszene zu einem sehr lohnenden Unterfangen. 

2017 is going to be the great year of Ferdinand 

II. As the Tyrolian Archduke from 1564 to 

1595, Ferdinand was one of the most significant 

art collectors of the Renaissance period and remains 

inseparable from Ambras Castle in Innsbruck 

due to his world-renowned Chamber of Art and Curiosities. 

The exquisite jubilee exhibition commemorates 

the 450th anniversary of his assumption of office 

in Innsbruck and unites countless of unique 

PHOTOS: ART INNSBRUCK; ART GALERIE AM HOFSTEIG WOLFURT; KUNSTHANDEL STOCK WIEN; KHM-MUSEUMSVERBAND 

objects from the Chamber of Art for the first time at 

Ambras Castle in many years. The virtual reconstruction 

of Ferdinand’s Chamber of Art in the context 

of the 21st century is surrounded by particular excitement. 

Change of scenery. Exhibition site Innsbruck: during 

the first days of December, art enthusiasts hustle 

around art nouveau design pieces, classically modern 

as well as exciting contemporary artworks. The 

ART Innsbruck exhibition has been moved into the 

pre-Christmas period. “The many highlights, such as 

the “interpretations of nude” with exhibits by Elke 

Krystufek or Egon Schiele, and, for the first time, various 

Russian icons – are absolute treasures,” explains 

exhibition manager Johanna Penz. Moreover, 

the newly created Art Innsbruck Complementary is 

set to launch in May 2017. 

In addition, various internationally renowned 

festivals, such as the Innsbruck Festival of Early Music, 

top-class museums, as well as a bustling gallery 

scene, make a plunge into the pulsating cultural 

scene of the Tyrolian provincial capital a more than 

rewarding experience. 

Ferdinand II. 450 Jahre Tiroler Landesfürst 

Jubiläumsausstellung Schloss Ambras 

Innsbruck 

Ferdinand II. 450 Years Sovereign Ruler of Tyrol 

Jubilee Exhibition Ambras Castle Innsbruck 

15.6.2017 - 8.10.2017 

schlossambras-innsbruck.at 

21. ART Innsbruck 

21st ART Innsbruck 

1.12. - 4.12.2016 

art-innsbruck.at 

ART Innsbruck Complementary 

12.5. - 15.5.2017 

art-innsbruck.at 

Innsbrucker Festwochen der Alten Musik 

Innsbruck Festival of Early Music 

18.7. - 27.8.2017 

altemusik.at 

Tiroler Landesmuseum Ferdinandeum 

Tyrolian State Museum Ferdinandeum 

Museumsstrasse 15 

6020 Innsbruck 

tiroler-landesmuseen.at 

Galerie im Taxispalais 

Galerie des Landes Tirol 

Maria-Theresien-Straße 45 

6020 Innsbruck 

galerieimtaxispalais.at 

Hoch. Genuss. Pur. – Vom Winter verzaubern lassen. 

Schloss Ambras 

Innsbruck; Erzherzog 

Ferdinand II. um 1544, 

zugeschrieben Guillaume 

Scrots. 

Ambras Castle 

Innsbruck; Archduke 

Ferdinand II, around 

1544, attributed to 

Guillaume Scrots. 

Wenn sich der Schnee über die Tiroler Landschaft breitet, kehrt bei uns 

eine ganz besondere Ruhe ein – der richtige Moment für eine kleine 

Auszeit. Freuen Sie sich auf unser großzügiges Spa, unsere ausgezeichnete 

Küche und den behaglichen Luxus unseres 5-Sterne-Superior-Hotels. 

Erleben Sie „Wintergenuss pur“: 3 Übernachtungen ab € 753. Mehr unter www.interalpen.com 


Interalpen-Hotel Tyrol GmbH, FN 45088 g, Dr.-Hans-Liebherr-Alpenstrasse 1, A-6410 Buchen/Seefeld, Tel. +43 (0) 50809-30, reservation@interalpen.com

TIROL WINTERFUN 

Ein Bergwinter der Superlative 

No ski holiday like this one 


Kein anderes Bundesland kann 

so viele Tourismus-Nächtigungen 

verzeichnen wie Tirol. Weitere 

Superlative findet man auch 

diesen Winter wieder. 

Cercle Diplomatique hat die 

TOP 5 für Sie entdeckt. 

No other province attracts as 

many overnight stays by tourists 

as Tyrol does. Once again, the 

winter is ready to boast with 

countless of highlight attractions 

guaranteed to impress visitors. 

Cercle Diplomatique has 

picked the TOP 5 for you. 

Heute zählt der Alpenraum 158 Mio. Skifahrer, 

knapp 50% des Aufkommens weltweit. Jeder 

dritte Euro wird in Tirol direkt oder indirekt 

in der Tourismus- und Freizeitwirtschaft verdient. Die 

Wertschöpfung im Land wird auf 4,5 Milliarden Euro 

geschätzt. Mit durchschnittlich 30% höheren Tagesausgaben 

als im Sommer ist der Winter Wertschöpfungstreiber. 

The Alpine region counts 158 million skiers 

today, which is just around 50% of the enthusiasts 

globally. Every third Euro in Tyrol is 

earned either directly or indirectly through the tourism 

and leisure industries. The estimated value thereby 

created in the province is around 4.5 billion 

Euros. With 30% more daily expenditures than summer, 

winter is it the main value-driving period in the 

region. 

1 

Das größte Skigebiet 

The biggest ski area 

Das größte zusammenhängende Skigebiet Österreichs liegt ab 

der heurigen Wintersaison in St. Anton am Arlberg. Durch die 

Eröffnung der 1,8 km langen Flexenbahn zwischen Stuben/Rauz 

und Zürs sowie der beiden Trittkopfbahnen, können Wintersportler 

somit im Arlberg-Gebiet 305 Kilometer markierte Abfahrten 

mit 87 Liften und Bahnen erobern. Die Arlberg-Arena erstreckt 

sich nun von St. Anton in Tirol über Lech und Zürs bis nach Warth 

und Schröcken in Vorarlberg. 

The biggest continuous ski area in Austria this winter season is 

located in St Anton am Arlberg. With the opening of the 1.8 km 

long Flexenbahn cableway between Stuben/Rauz and Zürs, as 

well the two Trittkopfbahn cableways, winter sports enthusiasts 

conquer 305 kilometres of marked slopes with 87 lifts and 

cableways in the Arlberg region. The Arlberg arena now spans 

from St Anton in Tyrol over Lech and Zürs all the way to Warth 

and Schröcken in Vorarlberg. 

stantonamarlberg.com 

PHOTOS: FOTOLIA, ARCHIV MAYRHOFEN/FRANK BAUER PHOTOGRAPHY TIROL WERBUNG/ VERENA KATHREIN, JUERGEN SKARWAN, JOSEF MALLAUN, WOLFGANG ZAJC 

2 

Das höchstgelegene Kaffeehaus 

The most highly elevated café 

Kaffee trinken am Gletscher gefällig? Das Café 3440 bezeichnet die 

Höhe der Lage am Pitztaler Gletscher. Und begeistert mit frischen 

Torten und Kuchen, die eine „Etage“ tiefer von Konditormeister 

Norbert Santeler auf 2.800 Metern hergestellt werden. 

How about drinking coffee at a glacier? Café 3440’s name refers 

to the height of its location at the Pitztal Glacier. It delights with 

fresh cakes and pies, which are made “one floor below” by pastry 

chef Norbert Santeler 2,800 metres above sea level. 

gletscherpark.com 

Die steilste Piste 

4 The steepest slope 

Die Harakiri-Piste in Mayrhofen, mit 78% Gefälle, ist nichts für 

Angsthasen. Insgesamt ist die Abfahrt zwei Kilometer lang, der 

eigentliche Steilhang erstreckt sich über 400 Meter. 

The Harakiri slope in Mayrhofen, with a descent of 78%, is 

nothing for wimps. Altogether, the slope is 2 kilometres long, and 

the actual steep slope spans 400 metres. 

mayrhofen.at 

5 

3 

Die größte Live-Performance am Berg 

The biggest mountain live performance 

Am 21. April 2017 wird am Rettenbachferner die Geschichte des Kriegsherren Hannibal gezeigt, 

der mit 60.000 Soldaten und 37 Elefanten die Alpen überquerte. Das Künstlernetzwerk lawine 

torrèn inszeniert die moderne Parabel um Machtstreben, Intrigen und Weltpolitik mit mehr als 

500 Teilnehmern. 

On 21 April 2017, the story of the warlord Hannibal will be shown at the Rettenbach Glacier, who 

crossed the Alps with 60,000 soldiers and 37 elephants. The artist network lawine torrèn will 

stage the modern parable about the strive for power, various schemes and world politics with 

more than 500 participants. 

hannibal.soelden.com 

Länger, schneller, leistungsstärker 

Longer, faster, stronger 

Im Stubai ist die neue Eisgratbahn mit 4,7 km nun die längste 

3S-Bahn der Alpen und transportiert Gäste in knapp elf Minuten zur 

Bergstation – in topmodernen Kabinen mit Echtledersitzen von 

Pininfarina, mit WLAN und Panoramaglasfenstern. 

134 Kabinen, 4.500 Personen pro Stunde und eine Fahrtdauer von 

knapp neun Minuten – das ist die neue Giggijochbahn in Sölden. 

The new Eisgrat Gondola in Stubai is with its 4.7 km now the 

longest tricable gondola in the Alps and transports guests to the 

top station in just 11 minutes – highly modern cabins with real 

leather seats by Pininfarina, wireless internet and new panorama 

windows. 134 cabins, 4,500 people per hour and a journey time of 

just nine minutes – that is the new Giggijochbahn cableway in 

Sölden. 

stubaier-gletscher.com 

soelden.com 


TIROL NACHGEFRAGT | ENQUIRED 

INTERVIEW TIROL 

Martha Schultz 

„Es macht viel Sinn, sich einzubringen und aktiv zu sein.“ 

“It makes much sense to get involved and to be active.” 


Hans Unterdorfer 

Die Förderung kultureller und wirtschaftlicher Beziehungen 

The promotion of cultural and economic relations 

Interview: Daniela Pötzl 


Martha Schultz leitet mit 

ihrem Bruder Heinz die 

Schultz Gruppe, die mehrere 

Schigebiete in Tirol, Osttirol 

und Kärnten, Bergbahnen und 

Hotels umfasst. Weiters sind 

der erste Golfplatz im Zillertal 

(Uderns), eine Baufirma, ein 

Versicherungsbüro, ein 

Incoming Reisebüro und eine 

Werbeagentur im Besitz der 

Schultz Gruppe. Martha 

Schultz ist Vizepräsidentin 

der Wirtschaftskammer 

Österreich und Vizepräsidentin 

von EUROCHAMBRES, 

dem Dachverband der 

Europäischen Industrie- und 

Handelskammern. 

Together with her brother 

Heinz, Martha Schultz runs 

the Schultz Gruppe, which 

covers several ski areas in 

Tyrol, East Tyrol and Carinthia, 

mountain lifts and hotels. 

Furthermore, the Schultz 

Gruppe has ownership of the 

first golf course in Zillertal 

(Uderns), a construction 

company, an insurance office, 

an incoming travel agency as 

well as an advertising agency. 

Martha Schultz is the vice 

president of the Austrian 

Economic Chamber and the 

vice president of EURO- 

CHAMBRES, an umbrella 

organisation of the European 

chambers of industry and 

commerce. 

schultz-ski.at 

Wie sieht eine typische Arbeitswoche bei Ihnen aus? 

Ein Pflichttermin ist der Sonntagabend. Da nehme ich mir Zeit für mich 

und bereite meine Arbeitswoche „im Kopf“ vor. Ich mache auch meinen 

Terminkalender selbst. Diese Eigenständigkeit ist mir ganz wichtig. 

Jeder Arbeitstag beginnt bei mir um 5.30 Uhr. Ich frühstücke in Ruhe 

und lese dabei die Zeitungen. Um 7.15 Uhr bin ich dann in meinem Büro 

in Kaltenbach, außer ich bin in Wien bei der WKÖ oder in Brüssel tätig. 

Sie leiten die Schultz Gruppe, gemeinsam mit ihrem Bruder 

Heinz. Wie funktioniert die geschwisterliche Zusammenarbeit? 

Mein Bruder und ich sind wie siamesische Zwillinge. Wir kennen 

einander sehr gut, unsere Beziehung konnte seit der Kindheit sehr gut 

wachsen. Unsere berufliche Zusammenarbeit begann 1994, als wir das 

Hotel Post in Fügen gekauft und es dann gemeinsam auf Vordermann 

gebracht haben. Unsere Aufgabenbereiche sind strikt getrennt: Heinz 

macht das Kaufmännische, ich die Bereiche Werbung & Marketing. 

Heinz und ich treffen einander, wenn es die Zeit erlaubt, sogar 

mehrmals wöchentlich zum Gespräch. 

Mit welchen Aufgaben beschäftigen Sie sich zurzeit in 

Ihren Funktionen, international wie national? 

In der Interessensvertretung auf internationaler Ebene, bei Eurochambres, 

vertrete ich die duale Ausbildung ganz stark, vor allem in Ländern 

wie Serbien und Rumänien. Wir müssen etwas gegen die Jugend- 

Arbeitslosigkeit tun. In Österreich muss Unternehmer sein attraktiver 

gemacht werden. Und als Frau in der Wirtschaft sehe ich, dass wir bei 

der Kinderbetreuung und der Arbeitszeitflexibilisierung noch hinten 

nach sind. Ich bin eine leidenschaftliche Interessensvertreterin. Es 

macht viel Sinn, sich einzubringen und aktiv zu sein. 

Wobei spannen Sie am besten aus? 

Wenn ich in Tirol bin, gehe ich in der Nacht noch gerne raus – mit 

Stirnlampe ab in den Wald, für mindestens eine halbe Stunde. Ich hätte 

gerne mehr Zeit, um noch mehr Berge zu besteigen. Ich war bereits mit 

Bergführer auf dem Großglockner. Aber ich habe noch vor, von 

unserem Gradonna Resort bis zu meiner Haustüre zu wandern. Das 

wird dann zwei bis drei Tage dauern, weil es einen klassischen Weg für 

diese Strecke nicht gibt. 

What does your typical work week look like? 

Sunday evening is crucial. That’s when I take time for myself and plan 

my work week “in my head”. I also handle my appointment schedule 

myself. I value my independence a lot. Every work day starts at 5.30 

am. I calmly eat breakfast and read the papers. At 7.15 am, I am already 

in my office in Kaltenbach, except when I’m busy in Vienna at the 

Austrian Economic Chamber or in Brussels. 

You run the Schultz Gruppe, together with your brother Heinz. 

What is it like working with your sibling? 

My brother and I are like conjoined twins. We know each other very 

well and our relationship has grown since childhood. Our work 

collaboration officially began in 1994, when we bought the Hotel Post 

in Fügen and then renovated it together. Our areas of responsibility are 

strictly divided: Heinz handles everything commercial, I run advertising 

& marketing. Heinz and I meet several times a week to discuss things if 

time allows. 

Which tasks does your work currently cover, both internationally 

and nationally? 

In terms of international representation of interests, at Eurochambres, I 

strongly represent dual training, especially in countries like Serbia and 

Romania. We have to do something against youth unemployment. We 

also have to make entrepreneurship more attractive in Austria. And as a 

woman in business, I can see that we are lagging behind when it comes 

to child care and work flexibility. I am a passionate spokesperson. It 

makes a lot of sense to get involved and to be active. 

What helps you relax? 

When I’m in Tyrol, I like to go out at night – with a headlamp straight 

into the forest, for at least half an hour. I would love to have more time 

to do more mountain climbing. I was once a mountain guide in the 

Grossglockner. But I still plan on hiking from our Gradonna Resort to 

my own doorstep. That will probably take two to three days, because 

there isn’t a typical path for that route. 

PHOTOS: WKÖ 

PHOTOS: TIROLER SPARKASSE BANK AG, FLUGHAFEN INNSBRUCK 

Der erste Honorarkonsul der Russischen Föderation in 

Österreich über sein Amt, das er seit Anfang 2014 in 

Innsbruck ausübt. | The first honorary consul of the Russian 

Federation in Austria on his office which he has held in 

Innsbruck since the beginning of 2014. 

Wie ist Ihr Bezug zu Russland entstanden? 

Begonnen hat alles mit dem Slawistik-Studium. Nachdem mich die 

Geschichte des Europäischen Kulturraumes schon immer interessiert 

hat, war es sicher zuerst vor allem aus Neugierde und dann 

Begeisterung für die Geschichte und Kultur Osteuropas. Als jahrelanger 

Lehrbeauftragter habe ich mich dann auf die Wirtschafts-, Kultur- und 

Sozialgeschichte der Slawen der Donaumonarchie spezialisiert. Das 

Studium der Russischen Sprache sowie des Altkirchenslawischen – das 

leider schon lange her ist – war sicher ein Schlüssel zum Verständnis 

Russlands. 

Mit welchen Aufgaben und eventuellen Herausforderungen 

ist Ihr Amt verbunden? 

Die Aufgabe vor Ort in Tirol ist vor allem geprägt von der täglichen 

Hilfestellung im Zusammenhang mit Fragen, verlorenen Dokumenten, 

und in der Wintersaison verstärkt Hilfe bei Unfällen und Krankheit. Es 

geht hier vor allem um die Kommunikation mit Behörden und 

öffentlichen Einrichtungen wie z.B. Krankenhäusern. 

Darüber hinaus ist die Förderung kultureller und wirtschaftlicher 

Beziehungen mein Hauptanliegen. Dies beginnt mit der Unterstützung 

der wirklich ausgezeichneten Hochschul-Zusammenarbeit zwischen 

den Tiroler und Russischen Hochschulen in Moskau und Kasan und 

insbesondere aktuell mit dem gemeinsamen Russland-Österreich 

Tourismusjahr 2017. 

Können Sie ein besonderes Beispiel für Ihre Tätigkeit als 

Honorarkonsul nennen? 

Im März 2014 konnten zwei schwer verunfallte russische Staatsbürger 

in einer koordinierten Aktion in einer Antonow AN-148-Maschine von 

Innsbruck in ihren Heimatort nach Sibirien ausgeflogen werden. Dies 

war übrigens die Erstlandung eines solchen Modells am Flughafen 

Innsbruck. Die Zusammenarbeit und Koordination von Krankenhaus, 

Flugdienst, Flughafen, Behörden am Flughafen und den russischen 

Stellen klappte wirklich vorbildlich. 

How did your relationship with Russia begin? 

It all started with a degree in Slavic studies. After always having had a 

keen interest in the history of the European cultural sphere, I became 

very curious and then excited about the history and culture of Eastern 

Europe. As a long-time lecturer, I then specialised in the economic, 

cultural and social history of the Slavs in the Danube Monarchy. 

Studying Russian and Old Church Slavonic – now unfortunately a long 

time ago – was certainly one of the keys to understanding Russia. 

What kind of responsibilities and possible challenges does 

your office deal with? 

The responsibilities in Tyrol are notably shaped by daily support in 

relation to questions, lost documents, as well as help concerning 

accidents and sickness, which increase during the winter season. We 

especially handle the communication with officials and public 

institutions, such as hospitals, for example. 

Beyond that, the promotion of cultural and economic relations is my 

main concern. This begins with the truly excellent cooperation between 

the Tyrolian and Russian universities in Moscow and Kazan and 

especially the current 2017 Austria-Russia Year of Tourism. 

Could you name a particular example from your activities as 

an honorary consul? 

In March 2014, a coordinated action in Innsbruck enabled two heavily 

injured Russian citizens being flown out to their home town in Siberia. 

It was incidentally the model´s first landing at Innsbruck Airport. 

The cooperation and coordination between hospital, air service, airport, 

airport officials and the Russian authorities worked extraordinarily well. 

Der Abflug der Antonow AN-148 bei der Rettungsaktion. 

The Antonov AN-148 during the rescue operation. 


Hans Unterdorfer studierte 

Politikwissenschaft und 

Slawistik (Studienzweig 

Russisch) sowie Rechtswissenschaften 

und Public 

Health und hat einen MBA- 

Abschluss (California State 

University, Imadec 

Programm). Seit 2011 ist er 

Vorstandsvorsitzender der 

Tiroler Sparkasse Bank AG 

(Erste Gruppe) und seit 2013 

nicht geschäftsführendes 

Mitglied im Aufsichtsrat der 

Bank Center Invest, Rostov 

am Don. 

Hans Unterdorfer studied 

Political Science and Slavic 

Studies (focus on Russian) as 

well as Law and Public Health 

and holds an MBA degree 

(California State University, 

Imadec Program). Since 2011, 

he has been the chairman of 

the Tiroler Sparkasse Bank AG 

(Erste Gruppe) and since 

2013, he has been a member 

of the board of directors of 

the Center Invest Bank, 

Rostov-on-Don. 



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uphold international standards and are born in our own atelier. This is true for unusual one-of-a-kind 

items as well as for our diverse assortment of classic pieces with brilliant-cut diamonds. And a century-old 

friendship links us with the world’s foremost watch manufactories. You will find WEMPE showrooms 

at the loveliest locations in great European metropolises and in New York City. Each shop also 

offers service or advice whenever you require it, so you can be certain that we will always be available 

to meet your individual needs. We cordially invite you to discover an abundance of interesting new 

items and exclusive special models at one of Europe’s leading jewellers. We look forward to your visit! 

1010 Wien Kärntner Straße 41 Tel. 01.512 33 22 

HAMBURG LONDON PARIS MADRID VIENNA NEW YORK 

WWW.WEMPE.COM 

We accept all credit cards. 

abc-Job#: 554038 · Kunde: Wempe · Motiv: Tax Free Wien (November 2016) · Adresse: Wien · Sprache: englisch · Format: 230 x 297 mm + 3 mm Beschnitt · Farbe: CMYK 

abc-opix#: 1602-240 · Titel: Cercle Diplomatique · DU: 18.11.2016 · Das Dokument ist ohne Überfüllung/Trapping angelegt, vor weiterer Verarbeitung diese anlegen! 

SAVOIR 

VIVRE 

IN „SAVOIR VIVRE“ DREHT 

SICH ALLES UM DIE SCHÖNEN 

DINGE DES LEBENS WIE KULTUR 

& REISEN, KULINARIK & HOTELS, 

AUTO & SPORT, UHREN & 

SCHMUCK, MODE & DESIGN, 

WELLNESS & GESUNDHEIT 

UND VIELES MEHR. 

"SAVOIR VIVRE" FOCUSES ON 

THE BRIGHT SIDE OF LIFE SUCH 

AS CULTURE & TRAVELLING, 

HOTELS & RESTAURANTS, CARS & 

SPORTS, WATCHES & JEWELLERY, 

FASHION & DESIGN, WELLNESS 

& HEALTH AND MUCH MORE.

SAVOIR VIVRE FESTIVE BEVERAGES 

Edles im Glas 

Exquisite drops 


Besonders zu Festivitäten und in 

geselliger Runde lässt sich das 

Glas gut erheben. Neben beliebten 

Schaumweinen werden nun auch edle 

Spirituosen gereicht. 

The glass will frequently be raised 

especially during the festivities and in 

good company. Next to popular sparkling 

wines, enjoyment of fine spirits is 

also generating more enthusiasm. 

Österreich ist ein Land der Sekttrinker. Ob 

Hochzeit oder Geburtstag, zu Weihnachten 

und vor allem zum Jahreswechsel kommen 

perlende Inhalte ins Glas. Der Gesamtkonsum an 

Sekt beträgt 23,5 Mio. Flaschen in Österreich (inkl. 

internationaler Produkte, 2015). Regionalität zählt: 

Davon entfallen mit rund 7 Mio. Flaschen schon beachtliche 

30 Prozent auf Österreichischen Sekt. 3.000 

heimische Winzer liefern die „Rohstoffe“ dafür – 

Trauben und Grundwein. Im Vergleich dazu werden 

1,4 Mio. Flaschen Champagner, aber 14 Mio. Flaschen 

Perlwein und Frizzante getrunken. 

Perlende Trinkgewohnheiten 

Um sicherzugehen, dass man ein heimisches Spitzenprodukt 

einschenkt, raten Sekthersteller zur kritischen 

Prüfung der Bezeichnung auf der Flasche: 

Denn „Sekt hergestellt in Österreich“ ist nicht gleich 

„Österreichischer Sekt“. Nur dann, wenn 100 Prozent 

des verwendeten Weins aus Österreich kommen 

und die Versektung in Österreich stattfindet, darf 

das Produkt die Bezeichnung „Österreichischer 

Sekt“ tragen. 

Je nach Charakter eines Sekts verschieben sich die 

Konsumentengruppen ein wenig: bei extra brut und 

brut eher in Richtung männlich und älter. Trocken 

und mild hingegen wird etwas stärker von weiblichen 

und jüngeren Konsumenten bevorzugt. Zu beobachten 

ist derzeit auch ein Trend zu reinsortigen 

Sektspezialitäten, wie Grüner Veltliner, Muskateller 

oder Riesling. Auch Rosé erfreut sich seit mehreren 

Jahren sowohl in Österreich als auch international 

steigender Beliebtheit. Das gilt übrigens auch für 

Champagner, der in der Rosé-Variante immer öfter 

PHOTOS: FOTOLIA, FARBANTRIEB MORAK & SZUTTA OG, STUDIO KAIL 

104 Cercle Diplomatique 4/2016 

KATTUS BROKAT BRUT. 

Elegante, fruchtige Cuvée, zu 

gleichen Teilen aus den Rebsorten 

Grüner Veltliner und Welschriesling 

gefertigt. Elegant, fruity 

cuvée, to equal parts made from 

Gruner Veltliner and Welschriesling 

grapes. 

kattus.at 

SCHLUMBERGER GRÜNER 

VELTLINER BRUT. 

Sortenreiner Sekt aus Grünem 

Veltliner. Sparkling wine made 

from only Gruner Veltliner grapes. 

gruppe.schlumberger.at 



Getränke-Experte Roland 

Graf betreibt seinen 

eigenen Blog „Trinkprotokoll“. 

Beverage expert 

Roland Graf runs his own 

“Trinkprotokoll“ blog. 

auf den Getränkekarten der heimischen Gastronomie, 

aber auch im Handel zu finden ist. 

Als schöner gastfreundlicher Brauch gilt es, in 

Gesellschaft zunächst ein Glas Sekt als Willkommensgetränk 

anzubieten. Aber nicht nur als Aperitif 

ist Sekt ideal, er ist auch imstande, ein mehrgängiges 

Menü zu komplettieren. So harmonieren Weißer 

Sekt und Rosé-Sekt vortrefflich mit Fingerfood, Vorspeisen, 

Fischgerichten, hellem Fleisch und schließlich 

mit Desserts. Auch in Cocktails lässt sich Sekt 

vielfältig einsetzen. 

Die Renaissance der Spirituosen 

Ein wichtiger Absatzkanal der Spirituosenbranche 

ist die Gastronomie. Hier werden Trends gesetzt 

und Markenwelten aufgebaut. Gut geschulte Barkeeper 

kreieren innovative Cocktail-Varianten und lieben 

es, zu experimentieren. Einerseits findet so eine 

Individualisierung bei Drinks und Cocktails statt, 

andererseits ist eine Rückkehr zu Klassikern, wie 

dem „Old fashioned“, festzustellen. Und wer an manchen 

Drinks und Cocktails in der Bar Gefallen gefunden 

hat, kann das Trink-Erlebnis ganz leicht auch 

ins eigene Wohnzimmer holen. Der Handel ist bestens 

gerüstet, Getränke-Großhändler werden nicht 

nur von Gastronomen frequentiert, sondern auch 

von Privatleuten. 

Rein mengenmäßig haben die Österreicher 2015 

zwar weniger Hochprozentiges eingekauft als im 

Jahr davor. Dem steht im gleichen Zeitraum ein Umsatzplus 

von 3,1% gegenüber (laut Nielsen, Total Spirits 

2015). Es wurden hierzulande weniger, dafür 

aber teurere Spirituosen konsumiert. Experten sprechen 

dabei von „Premiumisierung“. Neuer Dauerbrenner 

auf dem Markt: Die Wacholder-Spirituose 

Gin belegt Platz neun auf dem heimischen Gesamtmarkt, 

doch weist sie mit einem Plus von 46,4% ein 

ganz enormes Umsatzwachstum auf. Vor allem in 

Kombination mit Tonic genossen, wurde bei so 

manchem gar eine Sammel-Leidenschaft von diversen 

Gins und Verkostungen verschiedener Gin-Tonic- 

Kombinationen initiiert. Nach wie vor deutliche 

Nr. 1 im Spirituosen-Sortiment ist übrigens der 

Wodka. 

Aufsteiger Rum 

„Bis vor einiger Zeit fand man ihn auf keiner Digestiv-Karte, 

aber die 5*-Hotellerie hat den Rum 

nach vorne gebracht“, stellt Roland Graf fest. Der 

Getränke-Experte, der einst selbst hinter der Bar 

PHOTOS: BEIGESTELLT, BEN SAUER 

stand, betreibt seinen eigenen Blog „Trinkprotokoll“. 

„Rum ist die Spirituose, die am Weg zum Premium- 

Bereich ist“, sagt er weiters. „Die Top-Qualitäten finden 

langsam ihren Weg nach Europa, in den USA 

gibt es bereits mehrere gute.“ Graf sieht Rum übrigens 

auch als Wertanlage: „Noch sind die Top-Produkte 

leistbar und es macht Sinn, in „Rare Rums“ zu 

investieren.“ 

Produkte aus Österreich 

„Österreich ist top im Bereich der Fruchtbrände, 

vor allem bei Apfel und Birne“, sagt Graf, auch wenn 

diese zurzeit nicht so gefragt seien. „Im Trend liegen 

Gin und vor allem Whisky aus Österreich, der am 

Markt am sichtbarsten ist. Die Lernprozesse haben 

länger gedauert, die ältesten Produkte sind zwischen 

acht und 12 Jahre alt. Bei den Rohstoffen gibt es in 

Österreich ja keine Limitierung – sei es Roggen aus 

dem Waldviertel oder Riebel Mais aus Vorarlberg“, 

so Graf. Und empfiehlt zum Abschluss als Kostprobe 

einen getorften Whisky aus Österreich. 

Austria is the land of sparkling wine. Whether 

at weddings or birthdays, during Christmas 

and especially at the turn of the year, bubbling 

beverages always find their way into the glass. 

The overall consumption of sparkling wine was 23.5 

million bottles in Austria (including international 

products, 2015). Local origin is important: around 7 

million locally sourced bottles make up 30 per cent of 

the Austrian sparkling wine market. 3,000 domestic 

wine makers provide their ”raw materials“ for these 

beverages – grapes and base wine. To compare, 1.4 

million bottles of champagne, but 14 million bottles 

of sparkling wine and frizzante are consumed yearly. 

Bubbly drinking habits 

In order to make sure that you’re pouring a domestic 

quality product, sparkling wine producers recommend 

to critically read the bottle description, 

because ”sparkling wine made in Austria“ is not the 

same as ”Austrian sparkling wine“. Only if 100% of 

the wine used originates from Austria and the sparkling 

process is also conducted in Austria, the product 

is allowed to be described as “Austrian sparkling 

wine“. 

Depending on the character of the wine, consumer 

groups fluctuate a little: ”extra brut“ and ”brut“ 

tend to be preferred by male and older customers. 

RON ZACAPA ROYAL. 

Rum-Master-Blenderin Lorena 

Vasquez mag Vanille-, Karamellund 

Mandel-Noten. Rum Master 

Blender Lorena Vasquez prefers 

vanilla, caramel and almond notes. 

zacaparum.com 

HIGHLAND PARK ODIN. 

Der Whisky von der nördlichsten 

Destillerie der Welt auf den 

Orkneyinseln. Whisky from the 

northernmost distillery, the Orkney 

Islands. 

highlandpark.co.uk 



GREY GOOSE VODKA. 

Wodka aus französischem Weizen 

und Quellwasser. Vodka made from 

French wheat and spring water. 

greygoose.com 

Dry and mild, on the other hand, is favoured by female 

and younger customers. One should also note 

the trend towards pure varieties of sparkling wine 

specialities, such as Grüner Veltliner, Muskateller or 

Riesling. Rosé also continues to enjoy increasing popularity 

in Austria as well internationally. This incidentally 

also applies to champagne, which increasingly 

can be found in its rosé variation in the drink 

menus of domestic restaurants, but also in retail. 

It is considered a hospitable custom to offer a 

glass of sparkling wine as a welcome drink when socialising. 

Sparkling wine is not only ideal as an aperitif, 

but is also capable of complementing a multicourse 

menu. Therefore you can match sparkling 

wine as well as rosé wine excellently with finger food, 

starters, fish dishes, white meats and desserts. It can 

also be used in a variety of ways for cocktails. 

The renaissance of the spirit 

Gastronomy is an important sales channel for the 

spirits industry. This is where new trends are set and 

brand images are created. Well trained bar keepers 

create innovative cocktail variations and love to experiment. 

On the one hand, it leads to individualisation 

in drinks and cocktail creations, on the other 

hand, it means the return of many classics such as the 

”Old Fashioned“. And those who get used to enjoying 

certain drinks and cocktails in the bar may want 

to bring the drinking experience back home. Retail is 

well equipped, as beverage wholesalers are no longer 

visited exclusively by restaurateurs but also by the 

public. 

In terms of quantity, Austrians have purchased 

less strong spirits in 2015 than in the year before, 

when there was an increase in sales of 3.1% in the 

same time frame (according to Nielsen, Total Spirits 

2015). Domestically, less but instead more expensive 

spirits were consumed. Experts are speaking of a 

”premiumisation“. A new hit on the market: the juniper 

berry based Wachholder Spirit Gin scored ninth 

place in the overall domestic market, and it also 

boasted an enormous increase of 46.6% in turnover. 

Especially enjoyed in combination with tonic, a following 

of passionate enthusiasts of gins have organised 

tastings of various gin and tonic combinations. 

Incidentally, vodka continues to be the spirit 

industry’s clear number one. 

Rum, the achiever 

”Until recently, you couldn’t find it on any digestif 

PHOTOS: BEIGESTELLT 

menu, but the 5-star hotel industry has made it more 

popular,“ asserts Roland Graf. The beverage expert, 

who himself used to work behind a bar, runs the 

”Trinkprotokoll“ blog. ”Rum is the spirit that is on its 

way to becoming premium,“ he continues. ”The 

great brands are slowly finding their way to Europe, 

there are already several good ones in the US.“ Graf 

also sees rum as an investment, ”As of right now, the 

great brands are still affordable and it makes sense to 

invest in rare rums.“ 

Products from Austria 

”Austria is great when it comes to fruit spirits, especially 

apple and pear,“ says Graf, even if those happen 

to not be that popular right now. ”Gin and especially 

whisky from Austria are rather hip at the 

moment, which is reflected in the market. The learning 

process took a while, the oldest products are 

between eight and 12 years old. Of course, there is no 

limit in regard to resources in Austria – whether rye 

from Waldviertel or riebel maize from Vorarlberg,“ 

says Graf. And finally, he recommends to sample a 

peated whisky from Austria. 

VECCHIA ROMAGNA. 

Der Nummer 1 Brandy in Italien, 

als Digestif oder zum Kaffee. 

Italy´s number one brandy, served 

as digestif or with coffee. 

vecchiaromagna.it 

CHAMBORD. 

Brombeer-Likör, gefertigt 

im französischen 

Chambord. Black 

raspberry liqueur, crafted 

in the French province of 

Chambord. 

chambordchannel.com 

WELCOME TO THE 

VIENNESE BALL SEASON 

The city of waltzes exuberantly celebrates Carnival in January and 

February each year. This old tradition of balls continues to thrive in the city. 

While some dancers enjoy following the three-quarter time of waltzes, 

others may prefer letting loose to a disco beat. 

Complement and combine an exceptional ball night experience with an 

extraordinary stay and culinary highlights – a special created menu for the 

ball season – at the Hotel Bristol in the heart of Vienna. Spoil yourselves! 

STAR OF BOMBAY. 

Premium Gin, in kleinen Mengen 

in Südengland produziert. 

Premium gin, produced in small 

quantities in the South of England. 

bombaysapphire.com 

RESERVATION & INFORMATION: 

FOR OVERNIGHT STAYS: 

TEL. +43 (1) 515 16 305 

RESERVATIONS.BRISTOLVIENNA@LUXURYCOLLECTION.COM 

FOR CULINARY BOOKINGS: 

TEL. + 43 (1) 515 16 553 

RESTAURANT.BRISTOL@LUXURYCOLLECTION.COM 


HOTEL BRISTOL 

A LUXURY COLLECTION HOTEL 

KÄRNTNER RING 1 . 1010 VIENNA . AUSTRIA 

WWW.BRISTOLVIENNA.COM 

FOLLOW US 

#bristolvienna

SAVOIR VIVRE CONNOISSEUR 

Essen und trinken mit Stil 

Wine and dine in style 


Besonderes Aroma 

Special aroma 

Dieser Kochlöffel ist etwas ganz Besonderes: Er wurde aus Weinfässern ausgewählter österreichischer Weingüter in österreichischer 

Handarbeit hergestellt. Besonders ist die individuelle Aromaschicht, die durch den Reifungsprozess im Fass gebildet wurde 

und z.B. Risotti eine besondere Note verleiht. Top-Koch Toni Mörwald hat seinen eigenen Kochlöffel in Kooperation mit Winzer 

Toni Bauer kreiert. This cooking spoon is something very unique: it’s handcrafted from of wine barrels from selected Austrian 

wineries. The individual aroma is particularly notable, which results from the ripening process inside the barrel and can give 

dishes, like risottos, for example, a very particular touch. Star-chef Toni Mörwald has created his own cooking spoon in 

collaboration with wine maker Toni Bauer. 

barriqueaffairs.com 

Frisch aus dem Garten | 

Fresh from the garden 

Edle Nuss | An exquisite nut 

Das österreichische Unternehmen Noan erweiterte sein Sortiment 

exklusiver und biologischer Olivenprodukte um Macadamia-Nüsse aus 

Australien. Als gesunder Snack zwischendurch, zur Ergänzung von Salaten 

oder für Gerichte mit Lamm oder Lachs und im Dessert, ist die edle Nuss 

vielseitig einsetzbar. Und in den Variationen geröstet sowie geröstet & 

gesalzen erhätlich. 

The Austrian company Noan is expanding its selection of exclusive and 

organic olive-derived products with macadamia nuts from Australia. As a 

healthy snack for in between, as an ingredient in salads or for lamb or 

salmon dishes, this exquisite nut is extremely versatile in its use. Available 

in the flavours roasted and roasted & salted. noanoliveoil.com/noan-shop 

Renate Polz ist ein umtriebiges Mitglied der bekannten 

südsteirischen Winzer-Familie. Sie verarbeitet beste 

Zutaten aus ihrem eigenen Garten und von der 

Bienenwiese. Die Produkte sind handgemacht, werden 

(wie etwa die Fruchtmuse aus Zwetschken und Birnen) 

frisch verarbeitet und kommen ohne Transportwege 

und künstliche Zusätze aus. 

Renate Polz is a “busy bee” and member of the 

well-known south Styrian winemaker family. She unites 

the best ingredients from her own garden and the bee 

pasture. Her products are handmade, are freshly 

processed (like, for example, fruit sauces from plums 

and pears) and get by without transport routes and 

artificial additives. 

polz-garten.at 

Das perfekte Frühstück | 

The perfect breakfast 

Eleganz am Graben | Elegance at Graben 

Als modernes Restaurant der gehobenen Klasse konzipiert, wartet das Graben 30 auch mit Frühstück, Business-Lunch, Abendessen 

und After Work Partys auf. Die Innenarchitektur wurde vom kroatischen Duo Dean Franić und Sasa Šekoranja kreiert. Am 

Herd steht Jürgen Ederer, der sich der saisonalen Menü-Küche widmen will. Gemütliches Herzstück ist die Lounge mit stylisher 

Bar. Probieren Sie die Eigenkreation „Graben Mule“, eine Kombination von hochwertigem Wodka, Grapefruitsaft, Zitronengras 

und Ingwerbier. 

Conceptualised as a modern, high-class restaurant, the Graben 30 also offers breakfast, business lunch, dinner and after work 

parties. The interior design was created by the Croatian duo Dean Franić and Sasa Šekoranja. Jürgen Ederer heads the kitchen, 

dedicating himself to seasonal, menu-based cuisine. The cosy heart of the place is the lounge with a stylish bar. Give their 

in-house creation, the “Graben Mule”, a try – a blend of high-quality vodka, grapefruit juice, lemon grass and ginger beer. 

graben30.at 

PHOTOS: LUKAS SCHRAML, BARRIQUE AFFAIRS, CAMILLA KAISER, KARIN BERGMANN, 

PARK HYATT VIENNA, PICHLER VERLAG 

Flüssige Währung | Liquid currency 

Abgestimmt auf die Zeit als das heutige Restaurant und The Bank Bar im 

Park Hyatt Vienna noch eine Kassenhalle waren, präsentiert Barchef 

Stefan Bauer nun 11 neue Signature Cocktails als „flüssige Währung“ wie 

Peso, Quetzal, Euro oder Pfund. So präsentiert sich der „Yen“ zum Beispiel 

mit Zutaten wie Pflaumenwein, Yuzusaft, Nori Algen Tinktur, Reismilch 

und Wasabi Ingwer. Ein Abenteuer im Glas für Reisefreudige! 

Reflecting the days when a banking hall still stood in the place of today’s 

restaurant and The Bank Bar in the Park Hyatt Vienna, bar chef Stefan 

Bauer has introduced 11 new signature cocktails and calls them “liquid 

currency”, such as Peso, Quetzal, Euro or Pound Sterling. The “Yen”, for 

example, is made of ingredients such as plum wine, yuzu juice, nori algae 

tincture, rice milk and wasabi ginger. Adventure in a glass for travel 

enthusiasts! parkhyattvienna.com 

TOP 5 OPENINGS 

Neu in Wien | New in Vienna 

Brunch Location 

twentyone.wien 

Fisch & Meeresfrüchte 

/ Fish & seafood 

vikas.wien 

Spanische Tapas 

/ Spanish tapas 

pacorestaurant.at 

Hummer-Hochburg 

/ Lobster stronghold 

crazylobster.eu 

Die Foodblogger von Because 

You Are Hungry (Antonia Kögl 

& Benedikt Steinle) & Die 

Frühstückerinnen (Dani Terbu 

& Barbara Haider) teilen 70 

köstliche Rezepte für den 

Frühstückstisch in diesem 

Kochbuch und haben dafür die 

besten Produzenten 

Österreichs besucht. Inspirierend und macht Lust auf 

die „Morgenstund“! 

The food bloggers from Because You Are Hungry 

(Antonia Kögl & Benedikt Steinle) & Die Frühstückerinnen 

(Dani Terbu & Barbara Haider) visit the best food 

producers in Austria and share 70 delicious breakfast 

recipes in this magnificent cookbook. Very inspiring, 

especially for getting up early in the morning! 

Pichler Verlag, ISBN 978-3-85431-733-3 

styriabooks.at 

Im Zeichen der Nuss 

/ Gone nuts 

chestnutvienna.com 



111

SAVOIR VIVRE MUSEUM VISIT 

Expressive Pinselstriche 

Expressive brush strokes 

Arnulf Rainer Museum, Baden bei Wien | Baden near Vienna 

Text & Interview: Rois & Stubenrauch 

DIRECTOR’S TALK 

Tag der offenen 

Türen 

Freier Eintritt ins Museum zu 

Arnulf Rainers Geburtstag 

am 8.12.2016 

Die aktuelle Ausstellung widmet sich der malerischen Handschrift Arnulf Rainers. 

The current exhibition is dedicated to Arnulf Rainer´s pictorial hand. 

Das dem vielschichtigen Werk des Künstlers 

Arnulf Rainer gewidmete Museum gehört zu 

den jüngsten Neuzugängen in Österreichs 

blühender Museumslandschaft: Seit 2009 gibt das – 

behutsam adaptierte – historische Frauenbad von Baden 

den kongenialen Rahmen für das vielfach ausgezeichnete 

Oeuvre des 1929 hier geborenen Malers, der 

zu den wichtigsten Vertretern der österreichischen 

Gegenwartskunst zählt. Dem interdisziplinären Charakter 

Arnulf Rainers Arbeiten entsprechend, die Malerei, 

Zeichnung und Skulptur ebenso einschließen, 

wie Druckgraphik und Photographie, werden die 

wechselnden Ausstellungen regelmäßig von Performances, 

Konzerten und Kunstevents begleitet. 

One of the most recent additions to Austria’s 

renowned museums is devoted to the multifaceted 

works by the artist Arnulf Rainer. 

The historic women’s spa in Baden, adapted in 2009, 

offers a perfectly suited setting for the oeuvre by the 

critically acclaimed painter who was born here in 

1929. He is also considered one of the most important 

representatives of contemporary art in Austria. 

In accordance with the interdisciplinary nature of 

Arnulf Rainer’s works including his paintings, drawings, 

sculptures, prints and photography, the varying 

exhibitions are regularly accompanied by live 

performances, concerts and art events. 

PHOTOS: ARNULF RAINER MUSEUM / COBRA / KOLLEKTIV FISCHKA 

Rüdiger Andorfer 

Direktor Arnulf Rainer Museum | Director Arnulf Rainer Museum 

Nach dem Studium der Kunstgeschichte, Restaurierung & Konservierung und Kulturmanagement war Rüdiger Andorfer als Kurator am 

Österreichischen Museum für Angewandte Kunst MAK und der Österreichischen Galerie Belvedere, sowie als Projektmanager bei der 

Vienna Design Week tätig. Seit 2012 leitet Rüdiger Andorfer das Arnulf Rainer Museum in Baden. 

After completing his studies in the history of art, restauration & conservation and cultural management, Rüdiger Andorfer worked as the curator at the 

Austrian Museum for Applied Arts, MAK, and the Austrian gallery Belvedere as well as project manager for the Vienna Design Week. Since 2012, he has 

been general director at the Arnulf Rainer Museum in Baden. 

Das Arnulf Rainer Museum zählt zu den raren Häusern, die 

einem noch produktiven Künstler gewidmet sind. Welche 

Chancen und Möglichkeiten ergeben sich daraus? 

Wir arbeiten mit einem der weltweit größten, lebenden Künstler. Die 

Ausstellungen wie das gesamte Programm des Museums sind dadurch 

lebendiger und wir erreichen ein breites internationales Publikum. 

Die aktuelle Ausstellung „Pinselrausch“ zeigt eine dichte 

Auswahl von Arbeiten Rainers – völlig ohne Beschriftungen. 

Welche Intention steckt hinter dieser außergewöhnlichen 

Hängung? 

Die Ausstellung konzentriert sich auf die aktuelle malerische 

Handschrift Arnulf Rainers. Die komponierte Hängung entspricht seiner 

Arbeitsweise, die immer thematisch konzentrierte, große Serien 

entstehen lässt. Der Fokus liegt dabei auf der Wahrnehmung des 

Betrachters. Ohne ablenkende Texte tritt die Kunst in den Vordergrund: 

Formen, Details und Nuancen werden sichtbarer. Alle Informationen 

dazu sind gut zugänglich in Büchern und Infomaterialien verstaut. 

Haben Sie ein persönliches Lieblingswerk in der Ausstellung? 

Nein, denn erst die Fülle und der Reichtum an Variationen machen den 

Genuss. Je nach Stimmung tauche ich in das eine oder andere Bild ein. 

Baden liegt ja ein wenig abseits der Kulturzentren – welche 

Strategien verfolgen Sie, um das Publikum ins Arnulf 

Rainer Museum zu bringen? 

Vor allem durch ein breit gefächertes Vermittlungsprogramm, das für 

alle etwas anbietet: Wildes, freies Malen im hauseigenen Atelier mit 

Kindern und Jugendlichen, Kunstgenuss kombiniert mit feinem 

Abendessen oder einem Casinobesuch, sowie Führungen durch das 

denkmalgeschützte Gebäude. Darüber hinaus veranstalten wir 

regelmäßig Konzerte, Lesungen und Performances. 

Das Museum zeigt Arnulf Rainers Werk immer wieder 

zusammen mit Arbeiten künstlerischer Weggefährten wie 

Damien Hirst oder zuletzt Markus Lüpertz. Welche Größen 

der Kunstwelt darf man als Nächstes in Baden erwarten? 

Es gibt eine lange Liste an Künstlern und Stiftungen, die gerne hier mit 

Rainer ausstellen würden. Konkret bereiten wir für Herbst 2017 eine 

sehr spannende künstlerische Konfrontation zwischen Donald Judd 

und Arnulf Rainer vor. 

The Arnulf Rainer Museum is one of the few houses devoted to an 

artist who is still productive to this day. What kind of possibilities 

and opportunities arise from this fact? 

We are working with one of the greatest living artists in the world. The 

exhibition and the whole programme at the museum is livelier thanks 

to this and we reach a broad international audience. 

The current exhibition “Pinselrausch” shows a dense selection of 

Rainer’s works – completely without markings or descriptions. 

What intention lies behind this unusual set-up? 

The exhibition focuses on Arnulf Rainer’s current style. The composed 

placement conforms with his working methods that always focuse on a 

main theme that leads to a large series. The emphasis is put on the 

perception of the beholder. Without any distracting text, the art in its 

pure form is in the foreground. Shapes, details and nuances become 

more visible. All information is easily accessible in books and 

information material. 

Do you have a personal favourite within the current exhibition? 

No, because the entire range and wealth of variations creates the big 

appeal. I dive into this or that picture on a whim – depending on my 

mood at the time. 

Baden is located a little bit away from the cultural centres – what 

strategy do you use to attract visitors to the Arnulf Rainer 

museum? 

Especially through a varied programme that offers something for 

everybody: wild and free painting in the in-house atelier with kids and 

youths, art enjoyment combined with fine dining or a visit to the 

casino. And last but not least, we offer architectural-historical guided 

tours of the listed building. Of course we also organise regular concerts, 

readings, philosophic evenings and performances. The museum shows 

Arnulf Rainer’s work time and again together with works by artistic 

companions such as Damien Hirst or most recently Markus Lüpertz. 

Which greats of the international arts scene can one expect next 

in Baden? 

There is a long list of artists and foundations who would like to exhibit 

here with Rainer. We are preparing a very exciting artistic confrontation 

between Donald Judd and Arnulf Rainer for autumn 2017. 

Open house day 

Free entry to the museum 

on Arnulf Rainer’s birthday 

on 8 December 2016. 

Arnulf Rainer. 

Pinselrausch 

Bis 30.4.2017 

Until 30.4.2017 

Architektur Tour 

Einführung in die außergewöhnliche 

Architektur des 

ehemaligen Frauenbades. 

Jeweils am 1. Freitag des 

Monats, 15.00 Uhr 

Architecture Tour. An 

introduction to the extraordinary 

architecture of the former 

women’s spa. Every first Friday 

of the month at 3 pm. 

Badener Museentour 

Rundgang durch das Arnulf 

Rainer Museum, Beethovenhaus 

und Kaiserhaus mit 

abschließendem Lunch im At 

the Park Hotel. Jeden ersten 

Sonntag im Monat 

A tour through the 

museums in Baden. Round 

tour through the Arnulf Rainer 

museum, the Beethovenhaus 

and Kaiserhaus, ending with 

lunch on the premises of At the 

Park Hotel. Every first Sunday of 

the month. 

Kunst und Spiel 

Entspannte After Work 

Führung durch das Museum 

mit anschließendem Besuch 

im Casino Baden. 

Jeweils Mittwoch, 18 Uhr 

Art and games. A relaxed 

after work tour through the 

museum ending with a visit to 

the Casino Baden. Every 

Wednesday at 6 pm. 

Kunst und Genuss 

Eine genussvolle Kombination 

aus Kunst und Kulinarik. 

Jeden Donnerstag, 19 Uhr. 

Art and pleasure. A delightful 

combination of art and culinary 

pleasure. Every Thursday at 

7 pm. 

Das Werk Rainers findet seinen 

kongenialen Rahmen im ehemaligen 

Frauenbad von Baden, einem 

klassizistischen Architekturjuwel. 

Rainer´s work find s a kindred context at 

the former 

INFO: 

ARNULF RAINER MUSEUM 

Täglich von 10 bis 17 Uhr 

Josefsplatz 5 

2500 Baden 

arnulf-rainer-museum.at 



113

SAVOIR VIVRE PROPERTY 

Wohntrends 2017 

Living trends 2017 

Positiver Trendausblick: Österreichische 

Immobilen erleben als sichere Anlage 

und lebenswertes, nachhaltiges Umfeld 

weiterhin eine positive Wertsteigerung. 

Positive trend: Austrian property 

continues to appreciate as a secure 

investment and a sustainable environment 

with a high quality of life. 

PALAIS SCHOTTENRING VIENNA. 

Repräsentative Allgemeinbereiche, 

Luxusausstattung, Terrassen mit 

Wienblick sowie Concierge- und 

Security-Dienste sind hier wertsteigernde 

Argumente. 

Representative general areas, luxury 

fittings, terraces with a view of Vienna 

as well as concierge and security 

services are factors that will enhance 

the value. 

Text: Michaela Hocek 

PHOTO: SRE SCHOTTENRING 18 REAL ESTATE GMBH/ JP MOLYNEUX STUDIO 

Der Jahreswechsel ist traditionell die richtige 

Zeit, um Bilanz zu ziehen und Prognosen für 

die nahe Zukunft anzustellen. Cercle Diplomatique 

hat mit einigen Experten gesprochen, um im 

Bereich Immobilien eine analytische Basis für das 

kommende Jahr geben und interessante Projekte vorstellen 

zu können. Die Stimmung auf dem Wohnungsmarkt 

ist positiv, wenn auch die Nachfrage – 

gerade im urbanen Bereich – größer ist, als das 

Angebot. Dafür sorgen das dynamische Bevölkerungswachstum 

und hochinteressierte, gut informierte 

Anleger. Die liquiden Mittel, die für Investitionen 

mit Fokus auf nachhaltige Renditen bereitstehen, 

sind vorhanden. So auch die Einschätzung von Daniel 

Riedl, CEO der Buwog Group: „Der gesamte Immobilienmarkt 

steht aktuell und auch in nächster 

Zukunft einer immensen Nachfrage gegenüber – sei 

es durch steigende Bevölkerungszahlen, eine stetige 

Zunahme von Single-Haushalten oder den anhaltenden 

Trend der Urbanisierung. Wohnimmobilien sind 

und bleiben also in den unsicheren Zeiten, die wir 

gerade durchleben, eine sichere Investition.“ 

Vorteile des heimischen Immobilienmarktes 

Inländische wie internationale Investoren schätzen 

Österreich aufgrund der hohen Lebensqualität, 

dem hohen Sicherheitsfaktor und des soliden 

Rechtssystems. Der Immobilienmarkt wird mit einem 

seriösen, positiven Image verbunden. Die Attraktivität 

der Lagen wird hoch bewertet. Während 

Wien als Spitzenreiter der Begehrlichkeit, vor allem 

mit den Bezirken innerhalb des Gürtels, nachfragetechnisch 

weiterhin ganz vorne rangiert, holen auch 

die anderen Bundesländer auf. Hier verlegt sich das 

Hauptaugenmerk von der besten Rendite in Richtung 

Nachhaltigkeit und Langfristigkeit. Planung auf 

höhere Zeitspannen ist für den Vermögensaufbau 

ein wesentlicher Aspekt. Dazu Riedl: „In Österreich, 

aber vergleichsweise auch in Deutschland, zeichnet 

sich neben dem Trend zur Urbanisierung auch eine 

Fokussierung der Bevölkerung auf einzelne, wirtschaftlich 

und sozial starke Metropolregionen ab. 

Das betrifft vor allem die von der Buwog Group als 

Kernmärkte definierten Städte Berlin, Hamburg und 

Wien sowie deren Einzugsgebiete. Die Wohnkosten 

sind dementsprechend in städtischen Gebieten wie 

diesen höher als auf dem Land. Bei weiterhin starker 

Nachfrage und konstantem Preisniveau eignet sich 

daher eine Immobilie im urbanen Bereich als langfristige 

Investition.“ Die ungebrochene Nachfrage 

und das aktuell hohe Preisniveau sowie der durch 

Bevölkerungszuwachs hohe, weiterhin steigende 

Wohnungsbedarf in urbanen Gebieten lässt darauf 

schließen, dass die Preise sich entsprechend weiterentwickeln 

werden. 

Moderne Ansprüche 

Die Anforderungen an Immobilien steigen. Je flexibler 

und skalierbarer ein Wohnprojekt ist, desto 

besser. Wohnungen, die sich an sich im Laufe der 

Jahre verändernden Bedürfnissen anpassen können, 

stehen hoch im Kurs. Nachhaltigkeit und Energieeffizienz 

sowie digitale Vernetzung sind bestimmende 

Faktoren im Wohnbau. Immobilienunternehmer, 

Bauträger, Entwickler und renommierte Architekten 

gehen mit großer Sorgfalt auf diese Ansprüche ein, 

um wettbewerbsfähig zu bleiben. So gibt es z.B. Partnerschaften 

im Rahmen des „klima:aktiv pakt2020“, 

die positive Entwicklungen wie die Reduktion von 

Heizung-, Kühl- und Stromkosten für Eigentümer 



115

SAVOIR VIVRE PROPERTY 

CITY APARTMENTS AN 

DER WIEN. 

Meidling wird mit diesem 

Wohnprojekt zum urbanen 

Hotspot für Anleger. 

This housing project will turn 

Meidling into an urban 

hotspot for investors. 

und Mieter mit sich bringen. Riedl nennt hier ein innovatives 

Beispiel: „Im kommenden Geschäftsjahr 

beginnen die Bauarbeiten für unser internationales 

Vorzeigeprojekt ‚ERnteLAA‘ im 23. Bezirk in Wien. 

Dabei kommen nicht nur nachhaltige und energieeffiziente 

Baustoffe zum Einsatz; die Anlage wird auch 

über eine der größten ‚Urban Gardening‘-Anlagen 

Europas verfügen und damit nicht nur die naturnahe 

Versorgung, sondern auch die Gemeinschaftsbildung 

der künftigen Bewohner fördern.“ 

Trend Revitalisierung 

In den Innenstadtlagen sind es vor allem Revitalisierungen, 

die von sich reden machen. Eines der 

Wiener Vorzeigeprojekte ist das Palais Schottenring 

Vienna. Dieses exklusive Wohnobjekt (Eigentümer 

SRE, Generalplaner Cuubuus Architects ZT GmbH) 

ist eine „Win-Win-Situation“ für zukünftige Besitzer 

und Bewohner. Die allgemeinen Bereiche, mit 200 

m 2 großer Empfangshalle, Vestibül, Meeting- und 

Office-Räumen, wurden von Star Interior Designer 

Juan Pablo Molyneux konzipiert und lassen das imperiale 

Palais in neuem Glanz erstrahlen. Der in 

Chile geborene Kreative, der von New York und Paris 

aus, weltweit agiert, war bereits für die Restaurierung 

des Russischen Salons im UN-Hauptsitz in 

Genf und eines Pavillons im Konstantinpalast bei St. 

Petersburg mitverantwortlich. Er designte den Palast 

für einen Scheich in Katar und weitere herrschaftliche 

Residenzen. Auch die Einbindung solcher Koryphäen 

ist ein wertsteigerndes Argument für eine lohnende 

Investition. Die High-Class-Wohnungen 

erstrecken sich über vier Etagen plus vier Penthouses. 

Das Penthouse bietet Außergewöhnliches 

mit Raumhöhen bis zu 5,2 Metern. Neben der luxuriösen 

Ausstattung und den Terrassenlandschaften 

mit einem Rundumblick auf Wien, zählt zusätzlich 

ein Concierge- und 24-Stunden-Security-Service auf 

internationalem Niveau zum Gesamtkonzept. Die 

Fertigstellung ist für Mitte 2018 geplant. Käufer dürfen 

sich auch an der Adresse Schottenring 18 auf die, 

bereits als heutzutage unumgänglich erwähnte, 

größtmögliche Flexibilität freuen. „Von der individuellen 

Grundrissgestaltung bis hin zur kompletten 

Inneneinrichtung, erfüllen wir alle Wünsche“, versichert 

Nemat Farrokhnia, Hauptgesellschafter der 

SRE Schottenring 18 Real Estate GmbH. 

Trend Neubau 

Ein weiteres, völlig anders fokussiertes Projekt 

wird Anfang 2018 in Wien für Aufsehen sorgen. Es 

kann Investoren schon jetzt ans Herz gelegt werden: 

„City Apartments an der Wien“ der Buwog. Nur 

zehn Gehminuten vom Schloss Schönbrunn entfernt, 

entsteht hier ein Paradebeispiel für leistbares 

und durchdachtes Wohnen. Die Standortwahl in 

Meidling ist geprägt vom Facettenreichtum moderner 

Menschen. Das dahinterstehende Konzept könnte 

man folgendermaßen zusammenfassen: Urbanes 

Flair mit Raum für kleine Oasen in Form von Balkonen, 

Loggien, Gärten und Terrassen trifft auf gute 

Infrastruktur, sobald man vor die Haustür tritt. Die 

schnelle Erreichbarkeit von Alltäglichem durch ideale 

Verkehrsanbindung, diverse Einkaufsmöglichkeiten, 

Gesundheitsinfrastruktur mit Ärzten in der 

Nachbarschaft sowie Schulen sind Investitions- und 

Kauf-/Mietargument gleichermaßen. Die 144 Eigentumswohnungen, 

die hier entstehen, haben all das zu 

bieten. Die Breite der anvisierten Zielgruppen lässt 

ebenfalls auf eine langfristige Rendite für Anleger 

schließen: Junge und älterer Paare, Alleinerziehende 

sowie Pendler werden hier angesprochen. 

The turn of the year is traditionally a time to 

take stock and make forecasts for the near future. 

Cercle Diplomatique has spoken to seve- 

PHOTO: BUWOG 

ral experts in order to provide an analytical overview 

of property for the next year and to present some interesting 

projects. The mood in the housing market is 

positive although demand – especially in urban areas 

– outstrips supply due to dynamic population growth 

and very interested, well-informed investors. Liquid 

assets, which have been set aside for investments with 

a focus on sustainable returns, are available. Daniel 

Riedl, CEO of the Buwog Group, agrees, “The entire 

property market is facing a huge demand, now and in 

the near future – be it because of the growing population, 

a steady increase in single households or the 

continuing trend of urbanisation. Housing property 

is and will always be a secure investment in uncertain 

times, such as we are experiencing at the moment.” 

Advantages of the domestic property market 

Domestic as well as international investors appreciate 

Austria because of the high quality of life, the 

high level of safety and the sound legal system. The 

property market here has a serious and positive 

image. Importance is placed on the attractiveness of 

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popularity, especially in the districts within the belt, 

still has the highest demand, the other provinces are 

catching up. Focus has switched from the best return 

to sustainability and a long-term approach. The key 

aspect in creating wealth is to plan for longer periods 

of time. According to Riedl, “In Austria, but it is also 

similar in Germany, there is not only a trend of urbanisation 

but people are also focusing on individual, 

economic and highly social metropolitan regions. 

This is especially true of Berlin, Hamburg and Vienna 

as well as their catchment areas, which the Buwog 

Group has identified as key markets. Living costs in 

urban areas are consequently higher than in rural 

areas. Thanks to the consistently high demand and a 

constant price level, property in urban areas is an 

ideal long-term investment.” Sustained demand and 

the current high price level as well as the increasing 

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growth suggests that prices will continue to develop 

accordingly. 

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The demands on property are increasing. The 

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PROPERTY SAVOIR VIVRE 

PRESIDENT’S TALK 

HOHE NACHFRAGE. 

Revitalisierung in Innenstadtlagen ist ein anhaltender Trend in 

Wien. Star Interior Designer Juan Pablo Molyneux ist am 

Palais Schottenrig Vienna federführend beteiligt. 

High demand. Revitalising inner-city locations is a continuing 

trend in Vienna. Star interior designer Juan Pablo Molyneux 

plays a leading role in the project Palais Schottenring Vienna. 

BREITE ZIELGRUPPE. 

Leistbares Wohnen in modernem Umfeld ist ein wichtiger 

Aspekt für langfristige Rendite von Anlegern. 

Wide target group. Affordable living in a modern environment 

is important to investors for a long-term return. 

Klares Ja für Investment im innerstädtischen Bereich 

A resounding “yes” to investments in inner-city areas 

Interview mit Georg Flödl, Präsident des ÖVI (Österreichischer Verband der Immobilienwirtschaft) 

| Interview with Georg Flödl, President of the ÖVI (Austrian Association of Real 

Estate Trustees) 

Wie steht es um den heimischen Immobilienmarkt, 

wo lässt es sich in naher Zukunft am 

besten investieren? 

Der österreichische Immobilienmarkt ist seit Jahren 

von einer hohen Nachfrage im Wohnungssektor 

dominiert. Das Angebot kann mit dieser 

Entwicklung aber nicht immer Schritt halten. Wer 

nicht muss, verkauft seine Immobilie(n) nicht, 

sondern behält diese. Auch wenn die Steuerreform 

2016 zum Teil gewisse Verschlechterungen für den 

Immobilienanleger gebracht hat, ist ein Investment 

in Immobilien nach wir vor angesagt und attraktiv. 

Wer auf Wohnimmobilien setzt, wird auf den 

richtigen Mix von Lage, Ausstattung, Wohnungsgröße 

achten, wenn es um die Auswahl der 

Immobilie geht. 

Stadt oder Land: Welche Immobilie eignet 

sich am besten als langfristige Geldanlage? 

Offensichtlich ist heute wieder ein klarer Trend hin 

zu den Ballungsräumen und zur Urbanität zu 

erkennen. Die demographische Entwicklung (mit 

einer Überzahl von Ein-Personen-Haushalten im 

städtischen Bereich) und die spürbare Tendenz zur 

Landflucht sprechen ganz klar für ein Investment im 

großstädtischen Bereich. 

Welche Prognose stellen Sie im Hinblick auf 

Preisentwicklung bei Immobilien 2017? 

Die Preise werden 2017 ähnlich wie im heurigen 

Jahr stabil bleiben. In nachgefragten Teilmärkten 

kann es aber durchaus weitere Steigerungen geben. 

Wir sprechen hier von Durchschnittspreisen im 

Neubau von 4.500,- EUR/m2 in Wien, etwa 

4.000,- EUR/m2 in Salzburg, Tirol und Vorarlberg, in 

den anderen Bundesländern deutlich darunter. 

Top-Lagen und ideale Projekte erzielen in Salzburg, 

Wien und Innsbruck aber durchaus Spitzenpreise. 

Welche weiteren Aspekte würden Sie als 

wesentlich für den Immobilienmarkt im 

kommenden Jahr herausstreichen? 

Rechtssicherheit ist das oberste Gut, wenn es um 

Investitionsentscheidungen geht. Diese Sicherheit 

sollte vor allem der Gesetzgeber gewährleisten. 

Noch ist unklar, ob es 2017 nicht doch schon 

vorgezogene Neuwahlen geben wird. Das erhöht 

die Gefahr der Vergabe von „Wahlzuckerln“, die – 

wie schon des Öfteren – zu Lasten der Vermieter 

verteilt werden. Aus Sicht des ÖVI sind sicherlich 

Standortattraktivität, vereinfachte bautechnische 

Normen, ein klares Mietrecht und Investitionsanreize 

gefordert. 

Where is the best place to invest in the 

domestic property in the near future? 

The Austrian property market has been 

experiencing very high demand in the housing 

sector for years. Supply, however, cannot always 

keep up. Anyone who doesn‘t have to sell, prefers 

to hang on to their property. Even though the tax 

reform in 2016 worsened the situation for property 

investors to some extent, investing in property is 

still popular and attractive. When investors are 

looking for residential property to invest in, they 

make sure they select the right mix of location, 

furnishings and apartment size. 

What kind of property is best suited as a 

long-term investment – urban or rural? 

There is an obvious trend towards metropolitan 

areas and urbanity again. The demographic change 

(with a high proportion of single-person 

households in urban areas) and the noticeable 

tendency to rural migration are clear arguments in 

favour of investing in large cities. 

How do you see property prices developing in 

2017? 

Prices are going to remain stable in 2017, as they 

did this year. But they could increase in sought-after 

submarkets. We‘re talking about average new build 

prices of €4,500/m2 in Vienna, about €4,000/m2 in 

Salzburg, Tyrol and Vorarlberg, and significantly less 

in the other provinces. However, top locations and 

top projects achieve high prices in Salzburg, Vienna 

and Innsbruck. 

What other aspects would you say were 

essential for the property market next year? 

Investment decisions need legal certainty and 

legislators especially should be able to guarantee 

this certainty. But it is still unclear whether early 

elections will be held in 2017. This increases the risk 

of offering “election goodies”, which, as is often the 

case, will be handed out at the expense of 

landlords. ÖVI believes that attractive locations, 

simpler construction standards, transparent 

tenancy regulations and investment incentives are 

required. 

more flexible and scalable a residential project is, the 

better. Apartments, which have been able to adapt to 

changing needs over the years, are highly rated. Sustainability 

and energy efficiency as well as a digital 

network are decisive factors in residential construction. 

Property companies, builders, developers and 

renowned architects address these requirements 

very diligently in order to remain competitive. To 

take an example, partnerships have been forged as 

part of the “klima:aktiv pakt2020”, resulting in positive 

developments such as reduced heating, cooling 

and energy costs for proprietors and tenants. Riedl 

describes an innovative project, “The construction 

work for “ErnteLAA”, our international showcase 

project, in the 23rd district in Vienna will begin in 

the next financial year. And not only sustainable and 

energy-efficient building materials are going to be 

used. The complex itself will also have one of the largest 

urban gardening sites in Europe, which will not 

only encourage more fresh produce consumption, 

but also create a community among the future residents.” 

Trend: revitalisation 

Revitalisation is often the talking point in innercity 

locations. One of the showcase projects in Vienna 

is the Palais Schottenring. This exclusive residential 

property (owner SRE, general planner Cuubuus 

Architects ZT GmbH) is a win-win situation for both 

future proprietors and tenants. The general areas, 

which include a 200 m2 reception hall, a vestibule, 

meeting and office rooms, were created by the star 

interior designer Juan Pablo Molyneux and let the 

PHOTOS: JANA MADZIGON (1), FOTOCREDIT PALAIS SCHOTTENRING VIENNA: SRE SCHOTTENRING 18 REAL ESTATE GMBH , BUWOG 

imperial Palais shine in new splendour. Born in Chile, 

this creative designer operates globally from New 

York and Paris and was also involved in the restoration 

of the Russian Salon at the UN headquarters in 

Geneva and a pavilion at the Constantine Palace 

near St Petersburg. He also designed a palace for a 

sheikh in Qatar and numerous grand residences. 

Property value is enhanced when experts are involved 

and this in turn makes it a sound investment. 

The high-class apartments stretch over four floors 

plus four penthouses. The exclusive penthouse boasts 

ceiling heights of up to 5.2 metres. The overall concept 

includes luxurious fittings and terrace landscapes 

with panoramic views of Vienna as well as a 

concierge and 24-hour security service at an international 

level. Construction is expected to be completed 

by mid-2018. Buyers will also enjoy the maximum 

flexibility, which as mentioned above is a must 

today, provided by the project at Schottenring 18. 

“We can meet all demands, starting from the individual 

layout through to the complete interior design,“ 

Nemat Farrokhnia, principal shareholder of SRE 

Schottenring 18 Real Estate GmbH, ensures. 

WHERE 

THE HEART 

BEATS IN 

VIENNA 

Trend: new builds 

There is another project in Vienna with a completely 

different focus that will attract attention at the 

beginning of 2018. Investors should already start taking 

a look – “City Apartments an der Wien” from 

Buwog. Only ten minutes‘ walk from Schönbrunn 

Palace, a prime example of affordable and sophisticated 

living is being built here. The location chosen, the 

district of Meidling, is known for its diverse population. 

The concept in a nutshell – urban flair with 

space for small oases in the shape of balconies, loggias, 

gardens and terraces meets a good infrastructure 

as soon as you step out the door. 

The quick accessibility of everyday necessities 

thanks to ideal transport links, various shopping facilities, 

a healthcare infrastructure with doctors in 

the neighbourhood as well as schools are all excellent 

reasons for investing, buying or renting here alike. 

The 144 freehold flats that are going to be built have 

all this to offer. The scope of the planned target 

groups – young and older couples, singles as well as 

commuters – also suggests a long-term return for investors. 

Feel at home. The Vienna Marriott Hotel 

awaits you with Viennese Kindness in an 

inviting and international atmosphere. 

Personal Service and all the amenities of a 

5-star hotel make your stay truly inspiring 

and successful. 


Parkring 12a, 1010 Vienna, Austria 

Tel +43 (0)1 515 18 0, Fax +43 (0)1 515 18 6736 

vienna.marriott.info@marriotthotels.com, ViennaMarriott.com 

VIENNA MARRIOTT HOTEL

SAVOIR VIVRE SUITE DREAMS 

Suite Dreams 

Schloss Schönbrunn Grand Suite | Schönbrunn Palace Grand Suite 

Interview: Rois & Stubenrauch 

Wien als Drehscheibe internationaler Diplomatie und Kulturmetropole verfügt über eine beeindruckende 

Dichte an Hotelzimmern, die höchsten Ansprüchen gerecht werden. Cercle Diplomatique hat 

Hoteldirektor Elmar Supper um ein paar Worte zur Schloß Schönbrunn Grand Suite gebeten, die seit 2014 

die einzigartige Möglichkeit bietet, direkt im historischen Schloss Schönbrunn zu residieren. 

As a hub of international diplomacy and a cultural metropolis, Vienna has an impressive concentration of 

hotel rooms which meet the most demanding requirements. Cercle Diplomatique asked General 

Manager Elmar Supper to say a few words about the Schönbrunn Palace Grand Suite, where guests have been 

able to stay overnight in the historic Schönbrunn Palace since 2014. 

In welchem Trakt von Schloss Schönbrunn befindet sich die 

Schloß Schönbrunn Grand Suite? 

Die Suite befindet sich direkt im Schloss Schönbrunn und zwar im 

Osttrakt, betreten wird sie über die sogenannte „Geheimstiege“. 

Das ist die beste Lage im Schloss, die Gäste haben einen 

einzigartigen Blick auf den Schlosspark mit der Gloriette, den 

Neptunbrunnen und den Kronprinzengarten. 

Was war die Überlegung, im Schloss Schönbrunn eine Suite 

einzurichten? 

Wir bieten unseren Gästen damit eine einzigartige Übernachtungsmöglichkeit 

in Wien. Das Schloss Schönbrunn ist UNESCO 

Weltkulturerbe und steht wie kein anderes für die österreichische 

Geschichte und Kultur, es ist ein magischer Anziehungspunkt für 

Besucher aus aller Welt. In diesem imperialen Ambiente bieten 

wir 167 Quadratmeter „royal feeling“, man kann wie ein Kaiser 

dinieren und sich wie eine Prinzessin betten. 

Welche Besonderheiten, Räumlichkeiten und luxuriösen 

Extras stehen den Gästen der Suite zur Verfügung? 

Die Grand Suite heißt nicht umsonst Grand Suite: zwei 

Schlafzimmer, zwei Bäder, Salon, Wohnzimmer und Kitchenette, 

eingerichtet mit handverlesenen Einzelstücke, alles inspiriert vom 

kaiserlichen Schloss. Auf Wunsch stehen den Gästen der Suite ein 

eigener Koch und ein eigener Butler rund um die Uhr zur 

Verfügung. Wer es stilecht mag, wird mit dem Fiaker oder der 

Limousine zur Suite gebracht. 

Wie haben die Gäste die Möglichkeit, direkt im geschichtsträchtigen 

Schloss Schönbrunn zu nächtigen, angenommen? 

Die Nachfrage ist sehr gut. Überraschenderweise haben in den 

ersten Monaten vor allem Österreicher und Wiener diese 

einmalige Gelegenheit genutzt, in der Suite zu übernachten. Gäste 

kommen aber aus allen Teilen der Welt: von Europa über die USA 

bis Japan. 

Welche prominenten Gäste durften Sie schon in der Schloß 

Schönbrunn Grand Suite empfangen? 

Ein Höhepunkt war sicherlich der chinesische Starpianist Lang 

Lang. Die Suite wird aber von ganz unterschiedlichen Menschen 

zu verschiedensten Anlässen gebucht. Wir hatten schon 

zahlreiche Fotoshootings, aber auch frisch vermählte und 

langjährige Paare gönnen sich gern dieses einzigartige Erlebnis. 

sleep like a princess. 

What special features, facilities and luxurious extras can 

guests expect? 

Ahe Grand Suite is not called the Grand Suite for nothing. Two 

bedrooms, two bathrooms, a salon, living room and kitchenette, 

every single item is unique and carefully selected, inspired by the 

Imperial Palace. Particular attention was paid to not affect the 

character of the listed building. Guests can choose to have their 

own chef as well as a 24-hour butler service and if they really want 

to enjoy the imperial service to the full, they can be taken to their 

suite by a horse-drawn carriage or a limousine. 

How have guests taken to being able to sleep right in the 

historic Schönbrunn Palace? 

Demand has been very high. We were surprised that in the first 

few months it was mainly Austrians and Viennese locals who took 

advantage of this unique opportunity to sleep in the suite. But 

guests come from all corners of the world, from Europe to the USA 

through to Japan. 

Which famous guests have already stayed at the Schönbrunn 

Palace Grand Suite? 

One highlight was most certainly Lang Lang, the Chinese star 

pianist. However, all kinds of people have booked the suite for lots 

of different reasons. We have had numerous photo shoots here. 

But many newly-weds and long-term couples have also treated 

themselves to this unforgettable experience. 

PHOTOS: AUSTRIA TREND HOTELS / JÜRG CHRISTANDL, SEBASTIAN REICH 

In which wing of Schönbrunn Palace is the Schönbrunn Palace 

Grand Suite? 

The Suite is in the east wing of Schönbrunn Palace and can only be 

entered via a “secret staircase”. It is simply the best location in the 

Palace as the guests have an astounding view of the Palace Park 

and the Gloriette, the Neptune Fountain and the Crown Prince 

Garden. 

What was the reason for creating a suite in Schönbrunn 

Palace? 

We wanted to offer our guests a unique place to stay in Vienna. 

Schönbrunn Palace is a UNESCO World Heritage site and represents 

Austrian history and culture like no other building. It has a 

magical appeal, attracting visitors from all over the world. We 

make the guests feel like royalty with 167 m 2 at their disposal in an 

imperial setting where they can wine and dine like an emperor and 

Elmar Supper, Direktor des 

Austria Trend Parkhotel 

Schönbrunn & Park Royal, 

über die Schloss Schönbrunn 

Grand Suite 

Elmar Supper, General Manager 

of the Austria Trend Park 

Hotel Schönbrunn & Park 

Royal, on the Schönbrunn 

Palace Grand Suite 

INFO: 

SCHLOSS SCHÖNBRUNN 

GRAND SUITE 

Schönbrunner Schlossstraße 47 

1130 Wien 

Tel.: +43 1 878 04-0 

thesuite.at

SAVOIR VIVRE HIDEAWAYS 

Kleine Fluchten 

Little Escapes 

Zeit für eine winterliche Auszeit? Wir haben vier Empfehlungen für Sie! | Time for a winter break? We have four recommendations for you! 


Seehäusl, Schloss Fuschl Resort & Spa 

MEHR ENTSPANNUNG 

MORE RELAXATION 

Direkt am Ufer des Fuschlsees im Bundesland Salzburg 

liegen unter Bäumen sechs Chalets – die Seehäusl des 

Schloss Fuschl Resort & Spa. Wer Abgeschiedenheit, Ruhe 

sowie ungestörte Privatsphäre sucht, ist hier genau richtig. 

Vier der Seehäusl verfügen auf 113 m 2 über einen 

großzügigen Schlafbereich unterm Dach sowie einen 

Wohn- und Essbereich mit kleiner Küchenzeile im 

Erdgeschoss. Neben einem luxuriösen Wohnzimmer mit 

Esszimmer, gibt es eine Sauna, einen offenen Kamin sowie 

eine private Sonnenterrasse mit atemberaubendem Blick 

auf den See. 

Zwei der Häuser haben auf 125 m 2 ein zweites Schlafzimmer 

und ein weiteres Bad im Erdgeschoss. Mit der Verbindungsmöglichkeit 

der beiden Häuser, ist auch ein entspannter 

Urlaub mit großer Familie und mehreren Generationen 

garantiert. Hier ist der Gast zwar ganz für sich, muss dabei 

aber nicht auf den exquisiten Service des Schloss Fuschl 

Resort & Spa verzichten. Besondere Highlights: das 

romantische Frühstück, das auf Wunsch in den „eigenen vier 

Wänden“ serviert wird sowie das private Barbecue. 

Die Ruhe und Abgeschiedenheit der im modernen 

Chalet- Stil eingerichteten Cottages, die Annehmlichkeiten 

sowie der exklusive Service garantieren einen vollkommen 

individuellen und ungestörten Aufenthalt für unvergessliche 

Ferienmomente – im Winter wie im Sommer. Fast, als hätte 

man sein eigenes Haus am See. 

Six cottages are hidden under trees and right by the shore 

of Fuschlsee lake in the province of Salzburg – the 

Seehäusl (lake houses) of Schloss Fuschl Resort & Spa. 

Those looking for seclusion, tranquillity and undisturbed 

privacy will feel right at home. Four of the Seehäusl cover 

113 m 2 each, with a generous sleeping area under the roof, 

as well as a living and eating space with a small kitchenette 

on the ground floor. 

Next to a luxurious living room with dining room, there is a 

sauna, an open fireplace as well as a private sun terrace 

with a breathtaking view on the lake. The other two houses 

span 125 m 2 each and have a second bedroom as well as an 

additional bathroom on the ground floor. Furthermore, the 

houses can be connected, which allows for a relaxed holiday 

with a big family – the young and the young at heart. 

And although there is plenty of peace and quiet to be 

enjoyed here, the guests do not have to do without the 

exquisite service of Schloss Fuschl Resort & Spa. Special 

highlights: a romantic breakfast which can be served on 

request within one’s “own four walls”, as well as a private 

barbecue. 

The peace and solitude of the chalet-styled 

cottages, the amenities and the exclusive 

service are guaranteed to provide a completely 

customised and untroubled stay filled with 

unforgettable holiday moments – during winter 

and summer. It’s almost as if you had your own 

lake house. 

Hotel & Chalet Aurelio 

„Austria´s Leading Boutique Hotel 2016“ liegt im Herzen 

von Lech am Arlberg, direkt an der weltbekannten 

Schlegelkopfpiste. Alle 18 Zimmer und Suiten sind 

individuell eingerichtet. Der Aurelio Spa bietet auf 1.000m2 

Entspannung pur. 

“Austria´s Leading Boutique Hotel 2016” is located right in 

the heart of Lech am Arlberg, just next to the world-renowned 

Schlegelkopf slope. All 18 rooms and suites are individually 

decorated. The Aurelio Spa offers pure relaxation on a 

total area of 1,000m 2 . aureliolech.com 

Schlafzimmer im Seehäusl (oben). 

Bedroom at the Seehäusl (top). 

Seehäusl-Ansicht im Sommer (r.). 

Summer view on Seehäusl (r.). 

Pure Entspannung am Fuschlsee. 

Pure recreation at Lake Fuschl. 

PHOTOS: SCHLOSS FUSCHL RESORT & SPA, HOTEL & CHALET AURELIO, SCHLOSSHOTEL SEEWIRT, WIENER ALPEN/ BENE CROY 

INFO: 

Seehäusl 

Schloss Fuschl Resort & Spa 

Schloss Straße 19 

5322 Hof bei Salzburg 

Tel.: +43/(0)6229/2253-0 

schlossfuschlsalzburg.com/seehaeusl 

Schlosshotel Seewirt 

Eingebettet in die herrliche Landschaft der Nockberge 

zwischen Kärnten und der Steiermark, befindet sich auf 

1.763 Metern Familie Prodingers historisches Haus. Und 

punktet mit liebevollem Charme und feiner Gourmetküche. 

Embedded into the beautiful landscape of the Nock 

Mountains between Carinthia and Styria, you can find the 

Prodinger family’s historical building, located 1,763 metres 

above sea level. It wins you over with lovely charm as well 

as fine gourmet cuisine. schlosshotel-seewirt.com 

Wiener Alpen Bett 

Großzügige Glasfronten auf die Bucklige 

Welt (NÖ) und eine ungestörte Lage 

direkt in der Natur machen diesen 

Rückzugsort für Paare besonders schön. 

Wer möchte, kann abends im Haubenlokal 

essen und ausgezeichnete Weine trinken. 

Generous glass fronts looking down on the Bucklige Welt 

region (Lower Austria) and an undisturbed spot engulfed by 

beautiful, natural surroundings make this couple’s retreat 

especially wonderful. Those who want to do so may spend 

their evenings eating delicious food and drinking excellent 

wine at the award-winning restaurant. 

triad-machreich.at 


SAVOIR VIVRE MOTOR 

Geballte SUV Power 

Raw SUV power 


Jeep Grand Cherokee: 

Klassiker mit großem Namen 

An iconic classic 

Motor Engine 

W12 Twin Turbo 

Antrieb Drive 

Allrad permanent / permanent four-wheel drive 

kW (PS) kw (HP) 447 (608) 

Hubraum Capacity 

5.950 ccm 

Kraftstoffverbrauch Fuel consumption 13.1 l/100 km 

Preis Price ab | from € 270.340,– 

In wuchtiger Eleganz vereint der Jeep Grand Cherokee seit 25 Jahren Familienauto, Limousine und die Sehnsucht nach der großen 

Freiheit abseits der Straße. Das bewährte Design des inzwischen unter dem Dach von Fiat Chrysler stehenden Klassikers wurde 

beim Update nur homöopathisch angepasst. Dafür sorgen Auffahrassistent, Rückfahrkamera und ein Toter-Winkel-Assistent für 

State of the Art Fahrsicherheit. Wenn es ins Gelände geht, stellt sich das Fahrgestell auf Knopfdruck in fünf verschiedenen 

Abstufungen perfekt aufs Terrain ein. 

The Jeep Grand Cherokee has been combining family cars and limousines with the yearning for off-road freedom for the last 25 

years with its powerful elegance. Now under the umbrella of Fiat Chrysler, this 

classic‘s well-known design has been given a make-over. It also boasts state-of-theart 

driving safety features such as the Forward Collision Warning system, a rear view Antrieb Drive 

permanenter Allradantrieb / permanent four-wheel drive 

Motor Engine 

V6 Diesel, V6 und V8 Benziner 

camera and a blind spot warning system. Thanks to the five different off-road modes, kW (PS) kw (HP) 140 - 344 (190 - 468) 

the vehicle can simply and easily adapt to any terrain. 


2.987 - 6.417 ccm 

Kraftstoffverbrauch Fuel consumption 7.0 (Diesel) / 13,5 - 10,0 (Benziner) l/100 km 

Preis Price ab | from € 59.720,– 

Skoda Kodiaq: Tschechisches Raumwunder | Czech 

space miracle 

Bentley Bentayga: Der royale SUV | The Royal SUV 

Der Bentley Bentayga ist der stärkste und schnellste SUV, der je gebaut wurde. Trotz seiner stattlichen 2,4 Tonnen Gewicht benötigt der 608 PS starke Zwölfzylinder gerade 

4,1 Sekunden um auf 100 km/h zu beschleunigen, die (elektronisch abgeriegelte) Spitzengeschwindigkeit liegt bei 301 km/h! Das Innenleben des in Crewe bei Manchester im 

Bentley Hauptwerk gebauten Nobel-SUVs erinnert an eine Luxusjacht: Glänzendes Wurzelholz, Chrom, feinstes Leder. Der erste Bentayga ging übrigens an Queen Elisabeth II 

- als Jagdwagen für ihre Schottische Sommerresidenz Balmoral Estate. 

The Bentley Bentayga is the fastest and most powerful SUV ever built. Despite its imposing 2.4 tonnes, this vehicle with 608 HP and a twelve-cylinder engine accelerates 

from 0-100 km/h in just 4.1 seconds. The (electronically throttled) top speed is 301 km/h! The interior of the sophisticated SUV, built at the main Bentley factory in Crewe 

near Manchester, is reminiscent of a luxury yacht – shiny root wood, chrome, finest quality leather. The first Bentayga incidentally went to Queen Elizabeth II – as a hunting 

car for the Balmoral Estate, her Scottish summer residence. 

FOTOS: XYXXYXYXY 

PHOTOS: BENTLEY, ALDO FERRERO, AUDI AG, SKODA 

Audi Q5: Neuauflage eines Erfolgsmodells 

Revamped successful model 

Offizielle Premiere der zweiten Generation von Audis erfolgreichem SUV war im 

Oktober beim Pariser Autosalon. Optisch mit einer etwas kantigeren Linie und 

erheblich verbessertem Luftwiderstand, zeigen sich die substantiellen Änderungen 

im Innenleben: Top-Assistenzsysteme, integriertes WLAN für bis zu acht mobile 

Endgeräte, die Motorenpalette übernimmt der Q5 großteils vom ebenfalls kürzlich 

neu aufgestellten Audi A5. 2017 folgt als Topmodell der 400 PS starke RS Q5. Die 

Erfolgsgeschichte wird also noch eine Weile fortgeschrieben. 

The second generation of Audi‘s popular SUV was officially unveiled at the Paris 

Motor Show in October. It comes with slightly sharper lines, improved air 

resistance as well as considerable changes to its interior, including the best driver 

assist systems and integrated WiFi for up to eight mobile devices. The Q5 has the 

same engine line-up as the recently launched Audi A5. The RS Q5 with 400 HP will 

be added to the range in 2017. The success story continues. 

Motor Engine 

R4 Diesel / R4 Benziner 

Antrieb Drive 

permanenter Allradantrieb quattro / quattro permanent 

four-wheel drive 

kW (PS) kw (HP) 120 -185 (163 - 252) 


1.968 / 1.984 ccm 

Kraftstoffverbrauch Fuel consumption 5.0 / 6.9 l/100 km 

Preis | Price ab | from € 48.550,– 

Ebenfalls auf dem Pariser Autosalon Premiere hatte der Skoda Kodiaq, wie einige 

seiner Kollegen aus dem Segment der Suburban Vehicles mit modischem Q im 

Namen. Der (nach dem Yeti) zweite SUV aus dem Hause Skoda beeindruckt mit 

kraftvollem Äußeren, vielen durchdachten Details und großzügigem Platzangebot 

– sogar eine 3. Sitzreihe passt in den Kodiaq. 

The Skoda Kodiaq also made its debut at the Paris Motor Show Salon this year. It 

bears the fashionable Q in its name as do a number of other models in the SUV 

segment. Skoda‘s second SUV (after the Yeti) has an impressive exterior, a 

number of sophisticated features and is very spacious inside – the Kodiaq even 

has a third row of seats. 

Motor Engine 

R4 Diesel und Benziner 

Antrieb Drive 

Front- und Allradantrieb / front-wheel and four-wheel drive 

kW (PS) kw (HP) 92 - 140 (125 - 190) 


1.395 - 1.984 ccm 

Kraftstoffverbrauch Fuel consumption 7,4 - 5,3 l/100 km 

Preis | Price ab | from € 25.690,– 



SAVOIR VIVRE AMBASSADOR´S DRIVE 

Auf der Straße: Maserati Levante S. Am Steuer: S. E. Giorgio Marrapodi 

On the road: Maserati Levante S. At the steering wheel: H. E. Giorgio Marrapodi 


Der Botschafter von Italien auf CD-Testfahrt | The Ambassador of Italy 

performs a test drive for CD. 


Aaah, die Levante. Welch ein Wind. Mal eine 

sanfte Brise, und plötzlich ein mächtiger 

Sturm. Oooh, der Levante. Was für ein Auto. 

Mit der sportlichen Kraft, die in allen Maseratis pulsiert. 

In elegantem italienischen Design, das diesen 

SUV-Bullen aus Modena in ein Kunstwerk auf vier 

Rädern verwandelt. Um die Schwärmerei kurz zu 

machen: Es ist uns ein besonderes Vergnügen, Sie 

nun zum dritten „Ambassador‘s Drive“ von „Cercle 

Diplomatique“ einzuladen. Der Testfahrer des neuen 

Maserati Levante S ist diesmal – wie könnte es anders 

sein – der italienische Botschafter in Wien, Signor 

Giorgio Marrapodi, ein in kräftigen Alfa Romeos 

geschulter Lenker. Er weiß also, was er tut. 

Gleich vorweg: Marrapodi, 55, fordert die 430 PS 

des Levante bei Weitem nicht heraus, weder auf dem 

Weg zum Lusthaus im Wiener Prater noch auf der Ost- 

Autobahn hin zu einem kleinen Abstecher nach Fischamend. 

Er lässt den wuchtigen Wagen gleiten wie auf 

Samt, hält ihn so besonnen auf Kurs, wie seine bisherige 

diplomatische Karriere verlaufen ist, die ihn nach 

dem Jus-Studium in Florenz über Stationen in Bukarest, 

New York, Brüssel und Madrid bis ins Palais Metternich, 

der vielleicht schönsten Botschaft in Wien, 

gebracht hat. Sein Test-Fazit: „Selten so einen einfachen 

Job gehabt. Der fährt ja wie von selbst.“ 

Fast im selben Augenblick, kaum hörbar, entkommt 

ihm ein kleiner Seufzer, als wollte er sagen: Wenn alles 

nur so leicht wäre. Selbst auf der von prächtigem 

Herbstwetter gesegneten CD-Ausfahrt lasten die immensen 

Herausforderungen, mit denen Italien konfrontiert 

ist, schwer auf Marrapodi. Etwa die rund 

155.000 Flüchtlinge, die bis Ende Oktober dort angekommen 

sind und sein Land auf eine harte Probe stellen. 

„Das lässt sich nicht mehr von einem Staat allein 

bewältigen“, sagt er. „Ich glaube an ein Europa der Solidarität, 

und es fällt mir schwer, Länder zu verstehen, 

die keine Flüchtlinge aufnehmen wollen.“ 

Gerade eben hat der italienische Ministerpräsident 

Matteo Renzi deswegen ein Veto gegen den EU- 

Haushalt in den Raum gestellt – aus diplomatischer 

Sicht Alarmstufe eins für die gedeihliche Zusammenarbeit 

mit anderen Vertretern von Mitgliedsstaaten 

der EU, die „ohnehin gerade eine extrem 

schwierige Phase durchlebt“, so der Botschafter. Und 

trotz der hohen Flüchlingskosten und der Akuthilfe 

für die Opfer des furchtbaren Erdbebens im August 

in der Region Latium – die jüngsten Erdbeben erschütterten 

Mittelitalien erst kurz nach dem 

Ambassador‘s Drive – muss Marrapodi auch immer 

Giorgio Marrapodi und der 

Levante S beim Lusthaus im 

Wiener Prater. 

Giorgio Marrapodi and the 

Levante S at the Lusthaus in 

Vienna‘s Prater. 



SAVOIR VIVRE AMBASSADOR´S DRIVE 

Botschafter Marrapodi 

genießt die kleine Fahrtpause 

in Fischamend bei 

Wien. 

Ambassador Marrapodi 

relaxes during a short 

break in Fischamend, east 

of Vienna 

Metternichgasse, hinter der italienischen Botschaft. 

Behind the Italian Embassy in Vienna‘s Metternichgasse. 

MASERATI LEVANTE S 

wieder Renzis aktuelle Budgetpolitik ins rechte Licht 

rücken. Der hat aus diesen Gründen sein ursprünglich 

ambitioniertes Defizit-Ziel zurückgeschraubt 

und muss nun auch noch bis zu acht Milliarden Euro 

Hilfsgelder auftreiben. Marrapodi nimmt der aufkeimenden 

Frage nach der ohnehin hohen italienischen 

Staatsverschuldung schnell den Wind aus den Segeln: 

„Dafür ist die private Verschuldung in Italien 

sehr niedrig. Beide zusammen gerechnet, liegen wir 

in der EU sogar an drittbester Stelle.“ Was Europa 

und Italien brauche, sei nicht mehr Austerität, sondern 

Investitionen, um das Wirtschaftswachstum 

anzukurbeln und die Arbeitslosigkeit – in Italien 

liegt sie aktuell bei elf Prozent, bei unter 24jährigen 

allerdings bei 34 Prozent – zurückzudrängen. 

Dann, ein einziges Mal, tritt Marrapodi kräftig 

aufs Gas und entlockt dem Levante ein herzhaftes 

Röhren. Die Botschaft des Botschafters ist klar: 

Schluss mit diesen schweren Themen, hin zu den 

schönen Dingen des Lebens. Er erzählt von seiner 

Liebe zu Wien, schwärmt von der tiefen Freundschaft 

zwischen Italien und Österreich und gibt noch 

am Parkplatz hinter der Botschaft am Rennweg Anekdoten 

zum Besten. Bis ihn Signora Christina, seine 

Assistentin, zum nächsten Termin drängt. 

„Mit dem Charakter des Windes“ 

”With the wind‘s character“ 

Mit dem neuen Levante präsentierte der Sportwagenhersteller 2016 erstmals ein SUV – ein 

Meilenstein in der über 100jährigen Geschichte von Maserati. Der langen Tradition von 

Maserati folgend, ist auch dieses Modell nach einem Wind benannt: Levante ist ein warmer 

mediterraner Luftstrom, der von einem sanften Hauch unversehens zu einem starken Sturm 

anschwellen kann. Damit beschreibt der Name auch den Charakter des ersten SUVs von 

Maserati, dessen technische Merkmale den Levante S an die Spitze der Luxus-SUVs setzen. 

The new Levante, launched in 2016, is a milestone in the more than 100 years lasting history 

of Maserati – its first SUV. Following a long tradition, this model like every other Maserati 

sportscar, is named after a wind – the Levante. This is known as a mild stream of air which 

out of the blue can turn into a mighty storm – just like the powerful new Levante S. 

pappas.at/maserati 

Technische Daten Technical data 

Motor Engine 

6 Zylinder-V-60° | 6 Cylinder-V-60° 

Antrieb Drive 

Allradantrieb“, 0-100 km/h: 5,2 sec. | Four-wheel drive , 0-100 km/h: 5,2 sec. 

kW (PS) kw (HP) 316 kW/430 PS 

Hubraum Capacity 2.979 ccm 

Kraftstoffverbrauch/ 

Fuel consumption 

15,0-8,5l/100 km 

Preis Price Maserati Levante € 85.442,– (inkl./ incl. NoVA & 20% Mwst./ VAT) 

Maserati Levante S € 115.204,– (inkl./ incl. NoVA & 20% Mwst./ VAT) 

Starring in our third ”Ambassador‘s Drive“ are: 

Signor Giorgio Marrapodi, the Ambassador of 

Italy, and the new Maserati Levante S, a 430 

horsepower piece of art on four wheels. Marrapodi, 

55, who after diplomatic positions in Bukarest, New 

York, Brussels and Madrid took his post in Vienna in 

2013, turned out to be a very calm and prudent driver, 

steering the SUV like on a carpet of velvet first to 

the Lusthaus in Vienna‘s Prater and further on to the 

lovely village of Fischamend, east of the capital. 

Contrasting to his ”pleasure of easy driving“, the 

Ambassador took a deep dive into Italy‘s economic 

struggles, the costs of emergency relief after the recent 

devastating earthquakes and the burdens the 

country has to bear due to the 155.000 arrivals of refugees 

until the end of October 2016. ”I strongly believe 

in a Europe of solidarity“, Marrapodi said. „But 

the EU is going through a very difficult period right 

now.“ Out of a sudden, halfway on the CD cruise, he 

seemed to have enough of heavy stuff like these, roared 

the mighty Levante up and switched to the more 

beautiful things in life. So overwhelmingly, that the 

author immediately booked a trip to Italy. 

INFO: 

pappas.at/maserati 


Vor der Ausfahrt: Der italienische Botschafter Giorgio Marrapodi, 

CD-Herausgeber Alexander Bursky, Alexander Frybert von Pappas 

Wien und CD-Autor Rainer Himmelfreundpointner (von links). 

Before the cruise: The Ambassador of Italy, Giorgio Marrapodi, CD 

publisher Alexander Bursky, Alexander Frybert (Pappas Vienna) and 

CD author Rainer Himmelfreundpointner (from left). 

www.salzburg.info 

Salzburg in wintertime means enveloping yourself in a setting plucked from the pages of a fairy tale. During 

the chilliest season of the year, an array of local folk customs, cultural events and traditional celebrations enhance 

the charm of the Festival City. 

Salzburg Card Package “Salzburg for Everyman (and -woman)”: 3 nights / breakfast buffet at a 

central 4-star hotel in Salzburg for € 105 (8.1.-31.3.2017) 

Highlights in Advent: Hellbrunn Advent Magic 17.11.-24.12. • Salzburg Christmas Market 17.11.-26.12. 

• “Salzburg Advent Singing” at the Grosses Festspielhaus 25.11.-11.12. • Salzburger Advent ® 26.11.-11.12. • 

Salzburg Advent Serenades 26.11.-18.12. • Winterfest 30.11.-8.1. • Big New Year’s fireworks show above the 

Old City 31.12. • Mozart Week 26.1.-5.2.2017 


TOURISMUS SALZBURG GMBH 

Salzburg Information · 5020 Salzburg · Austria · Tel. +43/662/88987-0 · Fax +43/662/88987-32 · tourist@salzburg.info 

Cercle Diplomatique Stage of the 4/2016 World129

SAVOIR VIVRE LIFESTYLE 

Luxuriöse Geschenkideen 

Luxurious gifts 


Sternenhimmel 

Starry sky 

Bell & Ross ließ sich für die neue „BR S Diamond Eagle“ vom Himmelsfirmament inspirieren. Ein Blick auf das blaue Sonnenschliff-Zifferblatt, das mit Diamanten in Form des 

Sternbilds Adlers besetzt ist, gleicht dem Blick zu den Sternen am Nachthimmel. Die Diamantlünette und das nachtblaue Alligatorlederband runden die Raffinesse dieses 

femininen Zeitmessers ab. Die Uhr ist eine Hommage an die Gestirne, die Piloten seit jeher Orientierung in der Luftfahrt bieten. 

Bell & Ross was inspired by the celestial bodies when they created the new “BR S Diamond Eagle”. The blue sunburst dial studded with diamonds in the pattern of the Aquila 

constellation resembles the stars in the night sky. The diamond bezel and the midnight blue alligator leather strap add the perfect finishing touch to this feminine timepiece. 

The watch pays tribute to the starry sky, which pilots and navigators have always used as points of reference. 

bellross.com 

Limitierte 

„KARLBOX“ 

“KARLBOX” 

limited edition 

Magisch schön 

Dazzlingly magical 

Diamant, Smaragd, Rubellit: Die neue „High Jewelry“-Kollektion von Cartier umfasst atemberaubende Colliers, Armreifen und Ohrringe mit den schönsten Edelsteinen. Erstmals 

hat die noble Schmuckmanufaktur auch Ear Cuffs kreiert. Präsentiert werden die außergewöhnlichen Teile im geometrischen Design von Toni Garrn. Die exklusiven Schmuckstücke 

faszinieren auch mit spannenden Details. So kann ein herausnehmbarer Saphir vom Collier auf einen Ring wandern. 

Diamonds, emeralds, rubellites – the new “High Jewellery” collection from Cartier consists of breathtaking necklaces, bracelets and earrings adorned with the most beautiful 

precious stones. The noble jewellery manufacturer has also created ear cuffs for the first time. The campaign stars Toni Garrn, presenting these unusual pieces boasting a 

geometric design. These exclusive pieces of jewellery feature fascinating, exciting details, for example the sapphire in the necklace can be removed and placed in a ring. 

cartier.com 


Nur 2.500 Exemplare dieser 

exklusiven Sammlung 

erstklassiger Mal- und 

Zeicheninstrumente sind 

weltweit in ausgewählten 

Fachgeschäften und Kaufhäusern 

erhältlich. Aufbewahrt wird 

sie in einer eleganten Holzbox 

(29,5x38x29 cm), die von Karl 

Lagerfeld höchstpersönlich 

entworfen wurde und 

beeindruckende 16 kg wiegt. 

Only 2,500 pieces of this 

exclusive collection of first-class 

art and graphite products are 

available in selected specialist 

retailers and department stores 

around the world. It comes in an 

elegant wooden box 

(29.5x38x29 cm) designed by 

Karl Lagerfeld and weighs an 

impressive 16 kg. 

faber-castell.at 

Festliche Accessoires 

Festive accessories 

Die „Christmas 2016 Collection“ von Longchamp 

besteht aus trapezförmigen Clutches und einer 

Bucket-Bag. Sie verleihen mit scharzem Canvas mit 

Glitzer-Elementen, goldenem Leder oder zweifarbigem 

Fell und ikonischem Bambus-Verschluss 

festlichen Outfits den letzten Schliff. 

The “Christmas 2016 Collection” from Longchamp 

includes trapeze clutches and a bucket bag. Thanks 

to the glitter elements on black canvas, gold leather 

or two-coloured fur and iconic bamboo fasteners, 

they make any seasonal outfit complete. 

longchamp.com 

Lights of Vienna 

Das Wiener Unternehmen „Lights of 

Vienna“ fertigt außergewöhnliche 

Interieur- und Beleuchtungsobjekte. Ganz 

neu im Sortiment ist besonderer Schmuck: 

Das aus 24 Karat vergoldete Armband ist 

ein Eyecatcher mit designorientierter, 

skelettierter Struktur. 

The Viennese company “Lights of Vienna” 

creates unusual interior and lighting 

objects. Special jewellery is a new 

addition to their range. The 24 ct 

gold-plated bracelet features an 

eye-catching design with a 

skeletal structure. 

lightsofvienna.at 

Charaktervoller Duft | Fragrance with character 

Absoluten Neuheitscharakter hat der Herrenduft „Le Sphinx“ von Frey 

Wille. Er ist der logische Nachfolger der vier mit großem Erfolg 

lancierten Damendüfte. Das leichte Eau de Toilette ist eine Hommage à 

l’homme, das die Herrenkollektion des renommierten Schmuckunternehmens 

wohlduftend komplettiert. Die prachtvolle Banderole auf der 

Verpackung ist vom österreichischen Künstler Gustav Klimt inspiriert. 

The men's fragrance “Le Sphinx” by Frey Wille has a truly innovative 

character. It is the logical successor to four very successful women's 

fragrances. The light eau de toilette is a Hommage à l’Homme, 

completing this renowned jewellery company's men's collection. The 

magnificent sleeve on the packaging is inspired by the Austrian artist 

Gustav Klimt. 

freywille.com 



131

SAVOIR VIVRE LIFESTYLE 

Reisetipps deluxe 

Travel advice deluxe 

Die letzten Tage des Jahres und der 

Jahresanfang werden häufig auch für 

Reisen genutzt. Da kommt der „Louis 

Vuitton City Guide“ gerade recht. 15 

City-Booklets sind einzeln, als 

Sammelbox oder als App für iPhone 

und iPad erhältlich. Mehr als 15.000 

angesagte Adressen finden sich darin. 

Amsterdam, Kapstadt, Lissabon, 

Mexico City, Moskau, Paris, Taipei, San 

Francisco, Seoul, Shanghai und 

Singapur sind die ausgewählten 

Städte, die neu hinzugekommen bzw. 

komplett überarbeitet worden sind. 

People often use the period between 

Christmas and the beginning of the 

year to go travelling. The “Louis 

Vuitton City Guide” is just what they 

need. 15 city booklets are available, 

individually, as a collection box or as 

an iPhone and iPad app. They contain 

more than 15,000 trendy places. 

Amsterdam, Cape Town, Lisbon, 

Mexico City, Moscow, Paris, Taipei, 

San Francisco, Seoul, Shanghai and 

Singapore have either been added to 

the collection or revised. 

louisvuitton.com 

Evolution der Schönheit 

Evolution of beauty 

Zum allerersten Mal nutzen die Forscher von la prairie ein ausgereiftes Verfahren 

zur Wasserdampfdestillation, um die Kaviarbestandteile in Form eines 

hochwirksamen kristallklaren Fluids herauszufiltern. Während herkömmliche 

Lotionen normales Wasser enthalten, basiert „Skin Caviar Essence-in-Lotion“ auf 

exklusivem Kaviarwasser, verbessert den Teint und verfeinert das Hautbild. 

Researchers from la prairie have used a sophisticated steam distillation process 

to filter out the caviar components as a highly effective crystal clear fluid for the 

first time. While standard lotions contain normal water, “Skin Caviar Essence-in- 

Lotion” contains exclusive caviar water, improves the complexion and refines the 

skin appearance. 

laprairie.at 

Klassische Geschenkidee | Classic gift idea 

Strahlende Brillanten als Symbol der Verbundenheit sind eine Überraschung, 

die immer wieder für strahlende Augen sorgt. Christ Juweliere & 

Uhrmacher sind seit 1863 kompetenter Partner, wenn es um 

Leidenschaft und Exzellenz geht. 

A gift that guarantees to put a sparkle in the eyes of the receiver is 

the symbol of unity: glittering diamonds. When it comes to 

passion and excellence, Christ jewellers & watchmakers have been 

a competent partner since 1863. 

christ.at 

Unaufgeregte Gelassenheit 

Laid-back serenity 

Die aktuelle Herbst-/Winterkolleketion von Schella Kann ist eine 

konsequente Weiterführung des zelebrierten Understatements. 

Gewebter oder gestrickter Cashmere, Wolle und Brokat, 

strukturierter Strick und feinstes Nappaleder finden sich in 

sanften, weichen und erdigen Farben sowie unterschiedlichen 

Schwarz-Nuancen und kräftigem Rot. 

The current Autumn/Winter collection by Schella Kann 

continues with its glorious understatement. Woven or knitted 

cashmere, wool and brocade, structured knitwear and the finest 

nappa leather come together in soft, gentle and earthy colours 

as well as different shades of black and a vibrant red. 

schellakann.com 


Atelier Reverso 

Eine der bekanntesten Ikonen der Uhrenmanufaktur Jaeger-LeCoultre 

ist die Reverso. Anlässlich des 85-jährigen Jubiläums geht man eine 

kreative Partnerschaft mit Schuhdesigner Christian Louboutin und 

einen innovativen Schritt in Richtung Personalisierung ein. Mit einem 

speziellen Konfigurator können per App individuelle Modelle 

zusammengestellt werden. 

The Reverso is one of the most famous icons by Jaeger-LeCoultre, the 

watch manufacturer. To mark its 85th anniversary, it has entered a 

creative partnership with shoe designer Christian Louboutin. The 

Reverso can also be customised by using an app with a special 

configurator that puts individual models together. 

jaeger-lecoultre.com 


D E E M I S 

COLLECTION 

Your partner for custom made tailoring! 

We come to your home, office or embassy. 

199/20 PHET KASEM 48 YEK 22 

BANGKOK 10160 THAILAND 

EMAIL: deemiaramani@gmail.com 

WEB: DEEMISCOLLECTION.COM 

INTERNATIONAL CONTACT NUMBERS 

THAILAND# +66816919431 

USA # +14154907262 

EUROPE# +436643706686 

Mr. Khawaja Nadeem is in Fashion 

Designing Business since 20 years now 

and based in Bangkok. We offer custom 

made tailoring for men & women all 

over the world and supply our fabrics to 

thousends of satisfied regular customers. 

To get your new shirt, suit or costume is 

more than simple: Mr. Nadeem is travelling 

around the globe, visiting his customers at 

home or in their offices. After taking your 

personal measurements you can order out 

of more than 500 different kinds of highquality 

materials – eighter during his 

visit or on the web page and by email. 

Mr. Nadeem is in Austria periodically – 

to make an appointment please send 

an e-mail to deemiaramani@gmail.com 

and he will get in contact with you 

immediately! 

Examples for our competitive prices: 

Shirts: 65€ 

Suits (incl. 2 trousers): from 490€ to 550€ 

Package 1: 1 suit & 6 shirts for 950€ 

Package 2: 2 suits & 6 shirts for 1.450€

SAVOIR VIVRE LIFESTYLE INTERIOR 

Rund ums Fest 

For the festivities 


Glanzvolle Akzente | Lustrous accents 

Als Trendsetter in Sachen wohnen, stilvoll dekorieren und speisen ist 

das Wiener Unternehmen Viktor Steinwender bewusst auch der 

Tradition verbunden. Das stilbewusste Team ist ein guter Partner, wenn 

es um exklusive Innenraumgestaltung geht. „Smart Luxury“ ist das 

Motto, zu dem das elegante Geschirr des französischen Labels L’Objet 

passt. 

The Viennese company Viktor Steinwender is well aware of traditions – 

as a trendsetter in living and furnishing as well as stylish decoration and 

dining. The style-conscious team is a good partner when it comes to 

exclusive interior design. "Smart Luxury" is the motto befitting the 

elegant tableware by French label L'Objet. 

viktorsteinwender.at 

Partiell vergoldet 

Partially gilded 

Drei unterschiedliche große Silberschälchen und Silberbecher: Der 

Designer Thomas Feichtner ist für die Kollektion „Bols d’Or“ eine 

ästhetische Zusammenarbeit mit der Silberschmiede Jarosinski & 

Vaugoin eingegangen. Jede Serie ist durch ein eigens für die 

Schaffung der schrägen und asymmetrischen Trennlinie entwickeltes 

Vergoldungsverfahren individuell. 

Silver bowls and silver cups in three different sizes: the designer 

Thomas Feichtner launched an aesthetic cooperation with the 

silversmiths Jarosinski & Vaugoin for the collection "Bols d'Or". Each 

series is individual thanks to a specially developed gilding process 

for the creation of the slanting and asymmetric dividing line. 

thomasfeichtner.com 

Feinste Gewebe 

Fine fabrics 

Die Magie des Winters und die Faszination der festlichen Anlässe gegen 

Jahresende drückt Leitner Leinen mit opulentem Reinleinen-Jacquard aus. 

Geschwungene Ornamente aus Ranken, Blüten und spiralförmigem Blattwerk 

oder Unifarbenes sind ideal für eine schön geschmückte und stilvolle Tafel. 

Leitner linen expresses the magic of winter and the fascination of festive 

occasions at the end of the year with opulent pure linen jacquard. Curved 

ornaments with vines, flowers and spiral foliage or plain-coloured fabrics are 

ideal for a beautifully decorated and stylish table. 

leitnerleinen.com 

Edle Raritäten 

Noble rarities 

Das Auktioneum in der Wiener Spiegelgasse 19 hat sich auf 

außergewöhnliche Geschenke, Sammler-Raritäten und 

Einzelstücke spezialisiert. Für alle, die exquisite Tischkultur 

schätzen, sind die qualitativ hochwertigen Silberkollektionen ein 

besonderer Anziehungspunkt. 

The Auktioneum in Spiegelgasse 19 in Vienna has specialised in 

extraordinary gifts, collectible rarities and unique pieces. For 

those who appreciate exquisite tableware, these high quality 

silver collections are a special attraction. 

auktioneum.at 


Italienisches Design | Italian design 

Die neue Serie „Avvolta“ von De’Longhi adelt jedes Festtagsfrühstück. 

Wasserkocher und Toaster – wahlweise in Schwarz, Weiß oder Rot – 

können getrost auf dem Tisch platziert werden, sind sie doch mit den 

sich optisch aufwickelnden Lagen des Kunststoffgehäuses ein 

modisch-eleganter Blickfang inmitten kulinarischer Köstlichkeiten. 

The new series "Avvolta" from De'Longhi ennobles every festive 

breakfast. Kettles and toasters – in a choice of black, white or red – 

can be placed on the table with confidence. The winding layers of the 

plastic housing are a fashionably elegant eye catcher amidst all culinary 

delights. 

delonghi.com 

Edle Accessoires | Fine accessories 

Die Kissen „Vasmara“ von Versace Home sind als Geschenk oder edler 

Aufputz im eigenen Zuhause gleichermaßen empfehlenswert. 

The "Vasmara" pillows from Versace Home are highly recommended 

both as a gift or noble finery in your own home. 

versacehome.it 


SAVOIR VIVRE MUSIC 

Klassik unerhört 

Novel classical music experience 

Zahlreiche innovative Konzertreihen beleben den Wiener 

Konzertkalender. Da darf das Publikum dann auch einmal 

zwischen den Musikern Platz nehmen, oder das Orchester 

wechselt zum lockeren Ausklang ins Foyer. 

Numerous innovative concert series are adding an invigorating 

touch to Vienna‘s concert calendar. The audience can 

even sit between the musicians, or the orchestra simply 

moves to the foyer for a casual finale to the evening. 


Wien ist unbestrittene Welthauptstadt der klassischen Musik. Geschichtsträchtige 

Spielstätten wie der Wiener Musikverein oder das Wiener 

Konzerthaus halten die Tradition von Mozart, Beethoven, Haydn, 

Brahms oder Schönberg in Ehren. Kein Abend ohne den Auftritt mindestens eines 

Klassik-Weltstars. Trotzdem ruht sich der Wiener Konzertbetrieb nicht auf seinen 

Lorbeeren aus und führt sein großes Erbe mit innovativen Konzertformaten ins 

21. Jahrhundert. 

PHOTOS: WIENER KONZERTHAUS / LUKAS BECK 

Mittendrin statt nur dabei! 

Ein begeistertes Publikum drängt sich zwischen den Jugendstil-Säulen, an den 

Stehtischen und auf den Stiegen im Foyer des Konzerthauses, wippt und klatscht 

ausgelassen zur Musik, während das Orchester, aufgereiht vor der großen Beethovenstatue, 

schwungvoll in die Tasten und Saiten greift. „Unser neues Konzertformat 

Fridays@7 war bereits im zweiten Jahr weitgehend ausverkauft“, erzählt Philippe 

Jordan, seit drei Jahren Chefdirigent der Wiener Symphoniker und Initiator 

der ungezwungenen freitäglichen Feierabendkonzerte, zufrieden. Mit großem 

Elan setzen die Wiener Symphoniker die unkonventionelle Konzertreihe nun in 

der dritten Saison fort – unter anderen werden noch Michel Camino und Ingo 

Metzmacher zuerst im Konzertsaal und dann zum Ausklang im Foyer des Konzerthauses 

zu hören sein. Der große Erfolg war für Jordan Ansporn, weitere noch 

nicht betretene Pfade zu begehen: Bei den Konzerten der 2016 ins Leben gerufenen 

Reihe „Im Klang“ darf das Publikum sogar mitten unter den Musikern des 

Orchesters Platz nehmen. Diese wuchtige und einzigartige Klangerfahrung lässt 

sich bei ihrer nächsten Gelegenheit im Januar 2017 in besonders hochkarätiger 

Konstellation mit Gastdirigent Teodor Currentzis und Geigerin Patricia Kopatchinskaja 

erleben. 

Neue Formate, neue Klänge 

„Wir zeigen die Sängerknaben einmal von einer Seite, die man nicht unbedingt 

von ihnen erwarten würde“, meint Elke Hesse, Intendantin im MuTh, dem 

neuesten Zugang zu Wiens Konzertsälen. „Im Zyklus Innehalten mischen wir 

Messen, die die Wiener Sängerknaben ja auch in der Hofburgkapelle singen, mit 

Musik aus ganz anderen Kulturkreisen: Syrische Lieder, Sufi-Songs, indische oder 

jüdische Lieder.“ Ein unkonventioneller Gast, der Texte und Gedanken zu einem 

bestimmten Thema einbringt – Hesse hat dazu etwa Skispringerlegende Toni 


Fridays@7 

Lockere Atmosphäre: 

Khatia Buniatishvili mit Philippe 

Jordan, Chefdirigent der Wiener 

Symphoniker. 

Easy atmosphere: 

Khatia Buniatishvili with Philippe 

Jordan, Music Director of the 

Wiener Symphoniker. 


SAVOIR VIVRE MUSIC 

Links: Das Publikum nimmt mitten im 

Orchester Platz: „Im Klang“, Wiener 

Symphoniker. 

Unten/ below: Wiener Konzerthaus. 

Left: The audience is taking a seat 

among the orchestra at “Im Klang“ 

with the Wiener Symphoniker. 

„Plugged-In“: Yutaka Sado, 

Chefdirigent der Tonkünstler / 

Music Director Tonkunstler 

Orchestra 

Klassik-Innovativ 

Selection Winter 

2016/17 

Oben: Das MuTh bietet 

innovatives Programm. 

Unten: Gläserner Saal, 

Musikverein: Platz für Neues. 

Top: Innovative programme at 

the MuTh. 

Below: Gläserner Saal, 

Musiverein: Room for fresh 

ideas. 

Innauer eingeladen – ergänzt das ungewöhnliche 

Konzertformat der Sängerknaben im Muth. Der moderne 

Konzertsaal im Wiener Augarten ist aber auch 

Bühne für zahlreiche weitere innovative Konzertreihen. 

Etwa der umtriebigen Wiener Musikerfamilie 

Bartolomey, die den Bogen vom Leseabend mit 

Chello-Begleitung bis zur Reise durch die sinnlichsten 

Opernmelodien auf gleich sechs Chelli spannen. 

Musik aus allen Richtungen 

Genregrenzen werden auch in der Plugged-In- 

Reihe mit dem Tonkünstler-Orchester im ehrwürdigen 

Wiener Musikverein gesprengt, die Weltmusik 

mit klassischem Sinfonieorchester zusammenbringt. 

Yutaka Sado, neuer Chefdirigent der Tonkünstler, 

lässt es sich jedenfalls nicht nehmen, eines der drei 

Plugged-In-Konzerte pro Spielzeit selbst zu dirigieren. 

Nach dem Konzert im Großen Musikvereinsaal 

wechseln Publikum, Gastinterpreten und Orchestermusiker 

dann jeweils ins Schwarzberg, einem Musikclub 

am nahen Schwarzenbergplatz, wo Jamsessions 

in offenen Konstellationen den Abend 

beschließen. Mit dem Gläsernen Saal verfügt der 

Musikverein zudem seit einigen Jahren über einen 

idealen Ort für experimentelle Formate. Von hier 

aus eroberten etwa die unnachahmlichen Igudesman 

& Joo mit ihren sprühend komischen und 

hochmusikalischen Shows die Musikwelt. 

Auf den Wiener Konzertbühnen treiben die unkonventionellen 

neuen Formate also wunderbare 

Blüten und bringen viel frischen Wind in den klassischen 

Konzertbetrieb. „Und ich glaube, der gehört 

auch ein wenig aufgemischt – einfach damit es interessant 

und spannend bleibt“, wie Elke Hesse anmerkt. 

Vienna is the undisputed classical music capital 

of the world. Venues steeped in history 

such as the Vienna Musikverein or the Wiener 

Konzerthaus honour the tradition of Mozart, 

Beethoven, Haydn, Brahms or Schönberg. No evening 

goes by without at least one classical world star 

performing here. Nevertheless, Vienna‘s concert 

business refuses to rest on its laurels and is taking its 

great heritage into the 21st century with innovative 

concert formats. 

At the heart of it all 

An enthusiastic crowd stands between the Art 

Nouveau pillars, at the bar tables and on the stairs 

in the foyer of the Konzerthaus, casually swaying 

and clapping to the music while the orchestra, lined 

up in front of the large Beethoven statue, energetically 

tickles the ivories and strings. ”Fridays@7, our 

new concert format, was practically sold out in the 

second year,“ Philippe Jordan, chief conductor of 

the Vienna Symphony for three years and initiator 

of the casual Friday evening concerts, explains with 

great satisfaction. The Vienna Symphony Orchestra 

is zealously continuing this unconventional concert 

series, now in its third season – for example, Michel 

Camino and Ingo Metzmacher will first be performing 

in the Concert Hall and then later ending the 

evening in the foyer of the Konzerthaus. The huge 

success of the series motivated Jordan to explore 

more untrodden paths. “Im Klang“, the concert series 

that started in 2016, even lets the audience sit 

between the musicians of the orchestra. The next 

opportunity to enjoy this powerful and unique 

sound experience will be in January 2017, an especially 

top-class constellation with the guest conductor 

Teodor Currentzis and violinist Patricia Kopatchinskaja. 

PHOTO: WIENER KONZERTHAUS; KONZERTHAUS / RUPERT STEINER; PHOTOWERK; WIENTOURISMUS / GES D. MUSIKFREUNDE IN WIEN / PETER RIGAUD 

PHOTO: WERNER KMETITSCH 

New formats, new sounds 

”We are showing a side to the Vienna Boys‘ 

Choir you wouldn‘t necessarily expect,“ Elke Hesse, 

artistic director of MuTh, describes the latest addition 

to Vienna‘s concert halls. ”For the series “A 

Moment‘s Pause“, we take masses, which the Vienna 

Boys‘ Choir also sing at the Hofburg Chapel, and 

mix them with music from completely different 

cultural circles – Syrian, Sufi, Indian or Jewish 

songs.“ 

An unconventional guest adds texts and 

thoughts on a certain subject – Hesse invited the ski 

jumping legend Toni Innauer to do just that – complementing 

the unusual Boys‘ Choir concert format 

at MuTh. The modern concert hall in Augarten in 

Vienna has also staged many other innovative concert 

series, including those of the Bartolomeys, 

a Viennese family of musicians, who provided 

everything from literary evenings accompanied by 

cello music to journeys through the most sensual 

opera melodies played on six cellos at the same 

time. 

Music from all sides 

The “Plugged-In“ series with the Tonkunstler Orchestra 

at the honourable Vienna Musikverein also 

breaks down genre barriers, uniting world music with 

a classical symphony orchestra. Yutaka Sado, the new 

Tonkunstler chief conductor, makes sure he conducts 

one of the three Plugged-In concerts per season 

himself. After the concert in the Golden Hall at the 

Musikverein, the audience, guest performers and orchestral 

musicians then move onto Schwarzberg, a 

music club nearby at Schwarzenbergplatz, where 

open mic jam sessions wrap up the evening. The 

Glass Hall at the Musikverein has also been an ideal 

venue for experimental formats for a few years. The 

unique Igudesman & Joo have conquered the music 

world from here with their funny and bubbly musical 

shows. 

Unconventional new formats on Vienna‘s concert 

stages produce wonderful gems and add a breath of 

fresh air to the classical concert business. ”And I think 

it needs to be mixed up a little so that it can remain 

interesting and exciting,“ according to Elke Hesse. 

Wiener Konzerthaus 

„Fridays@7“: Wiener Symphoniker, 

Metzmacher, 9.12.2016 

„Comedy & Music“: Igudesman & Joo 

/ Bell, 18.12.2016 

«Im Klang»: Wiener Symphoniker, 

Kopatchinskaja, Currentzis; 12.1.2017 

„Fridays@7“: Wiener Symphoniker, 

Camilo, Marshall, 3.2.2017 

konzerthaus.at 

MuTh 

„Bartolomeys in the MuTh“: 

Ich küsse ihre Hand, Madame!, 

11.12.2016 

„Innehalten - Wut“: Wiener 

Sängerknaben, 26.1.2017 

„Bartolomeys in the MuTh“: Cello 

pur, 16.2.2017 

muth.at 

Musikverein Wien 

„Plugged-In-Konzerte“: 

Yiddish Rhapsody, Tonkünstler- 

Orchester, Sirba Octet, 17.2.2017 

musikverein.at 


SAVOIR VIVRE CHRONICLE MARIA THERESIA 

Die absolute Herrscherin 

The absolute empress 

2017 jährt sich der Geburtstag Kaiserin Maria Theresias zum 300. Mal. Das Jubiläumsjahr ist Anlass für 

mehrere Ausstellungen über die bis heute äußerst positiv besetzte Herrscherfigur der Habsburger und 

einzige Frau auf dem Thron in der 650-jährigen Geschichte der Dynastie. 

2017 will see the 300th anniversary the birth of empress Maria Theresia. The jubilee year will mark the 

occasion for several exhibitions on the very popular ruler of the Habsburg family who was also the 

dynasty’s first and only woman to hold the throne in its 650-year-long history. 

Text und Interview: Rois & Stubenrauch 

Lichtgestalt, Powerfrau, Übermutter der Nation. 

Die Schlagworte zu Kaiserin Maria Theresia 

sind mit vielen Superlativen behaftet. In der Tat 

fällt die Bilanz ihrer 40-jährigen Regentschaft beeindruckend 

aus: Sie war Erzherzogin von Österreich 

und Königin u. a. von Ungarn, Böhmen, Kroatien und 

Galizien, ordnete fast alle Bereiche des Staates und die 

Außenpolitik grundlegend neu, brachte 16 Kinder zur 

Welt... Dabei war der Beginn ihrer Herrschaft als junge 

Monarchin, die mit 23 Jahren ihrem Vater Kaiser 

Karl VI. auf den Thron folgte, alles andere als einfach. 

Auf Grund ihrer Sonderstellung als Frau stellten eine 

ganze Reihe von Herrschaftshäusern Ansprüche auf 

Teilgebiete der Habsburgermonarchie. Der resoluten 

Kaiserin gelang es jedoch, sich im komplizierten europäischen 

Machtgefüge weitgehend durchzusetzen 

und heute zählt Maria Theresia zu den prägenden 

Herrscherfiguren des aufgeklärten Absolutismus. 

300 Jahre Maria 

Theresia: Strategin – 

Mutter - Reformerin 

Maria Theresia: 

Strategist – Mother – 

Reformer 

Die große Jubiläumsausstellung 

in Kooperation von 

Schloß Schönbrunn und 

dem Kunsthistorischen 

Museum Wien gliedert sich 

in die vier Themenbereiche: 

• „Frauenpower und 

Lebensfreude“ 

• Kaiserlichen Wagenburg 

Schönbrunn 

• „Familie und Vermächtnis“, 

Hofmobiliendepot 

• „Bündnisse und 

Feindschaften“, Schloss Hof 

„Modernisierung und 

Reformen“, Schloss 

Niederweiden. 

The great jubilee exhibition 

in collaboration with 

Schönbrunn Palace and the 

Kunsthistorisches Museum 

Vienna 

15.03. - 29.11.2017 

mariatheresia2017.at 

Maria Theresia, Habsburgs 

mächtigste Frau. 

Prunksaal der Österreichischen 

Nationalbibliothek 

17.2. - 5.6.2017 

onb.ac.at 

Kirche Kloster Kaiserin 

Kaiserzimmer, Stift 

Klosterneuburg 

4.3. – 15.11.2017 

stift-klosterneuburg.at 

Umfassende online 

Datenbank zur 

Habsburgerdynastie 

Comprehensive online 

database on the Habsburg 

dynasty 

habsburger.net 

Maria Theresia als Reformerin 

Das Jahr 2017 bringt nun zahlreiche Gelegenheiten, 

über die oberflächlichen Bilder hinaus in die Tiefen 

der Biografie Maria Theresias und ihres politischen 

Wirkens zu blicken. Dabei werden durchaus 

auch kritische Töne anklingen, wie Prof. Karl Vocelka, 

Mitglied des Kuratorenteams der Ausstellung „300 

Jahre Maria Theresia: Strategin – Mutter – Reformerin“ 

und langjähriger Vorstand des Instituts für Geschichte 

an der Universität Wien ausführt: „Maria 

Theresia gilt immer als aufgeklärte Monarchin, hatte 

aber mit den Ideen dieser Geistesströmung durchaus 

ihre Probleme. Vom Klischee einer Herrscherin im 

Dienste der Aufklärung muss man sich wohl verabschieden.“ 

(Siehe Interview) Als strenge Katholikin 

konnte Maria Theresia etwa dem Gedanken religiöser 

Toleranz – einer der Kernforderungen der Aufklärung 

– nur wenig abgewinnen. Allerdings war ihre Politik 

sehr stark von der Idee der Nützlichkeit für das Wohl 

des Staates und seiner Bevölkerung geleitet. Die tiefgreifenden 

Reformen, für die Maria Theresias bis heute 

steht, werden auf Schloss Niederweiden, einem der 

vier Ausstellungsbereiche, eingehend thematisiert. 

Herrin von Schloss Schönbrunn 

Die Themenkreise Frauenpower, Außenpolitik 

und Familie bekommen an den drei weiteren Ausstellungsstandorten 

Kaiserliche Wagenburg, Hofmobiliendepot 

und Schloss Hof ihren Raum. Das Verhältnis 

Maria Theresias zur Kirche ist wiederum 

Thema einer Ausstellung im Stift Klosterneuburg, 

auch die Österreichische Nationalbibliothek zeigt im 

Prunksaal eine Auswahl ihres reichen Fundus an 

Zeitdokumenten. Untrennbar ist Maria Theresia natürlich 

mit Schloss Schönbrunn verbunden, das sie 

zur prunkvollen habsburgischen Sommerresidenz in 

der bis heute bestehenden Form ausbauen liess. Tausende 

Menschen strömen dort jeden Tag durch die 

ehemaligen Wohnräume der Kaiserin. Das Jubiläumsjahr 

bietet jedenfalls Anlass, auch die politischen 

Umbauten des Hauses Österreich durch Maria Theresias 

genauer anzusehen. 

Luminous figure, superwoman, great mother of 

the nation. The buzzwords often used to describe 

Maria Theresia tend to be very upbeat. 

Indeed, assessments of her 40-year-long reign never 

fail to impress: she was the archduchess of Austria 

and queen of Hungary, Bohemia, Croatia and Galicia 

among others, reorganised almost all aspects of domestic 

and foreign policy, gave birth to 16 children… 

Nevertheless, the beginning of her rule as a young 

monarch who followed her father Kaiser Karl VI’s 

footsteps to the throne was anything but easy. Due to 

her unique position as a woman, a whole series of ruling 

families laid claim to various parts of the Habsburg 

Monarchy. The resolute empress, however, managed 

to assert herself within the complicated 

PHOTOS: SCHLOSS SCHÖNBRUNN KULTUR- UND BETRIEBSGES.M.B.H / EDGAR KNAACK 

Maria Theresia als Monarchin 

im spitzenbesetzten Kleid; 

Ölgemälde von Martin van 

Meytens um 1752. 

The monarch Maria Theresia, 

pictured in a lace-trimmed 

dress; Oil painting by Martin 

van Meytens, around 1752. 



141

SAVOIR VIVRE CHRONICLE MARIA THERESIA 

Karussellwagen Maria Theresias 

um 1742; Bildnis Maria 

Theresias von J. E. Liotard 1743. 

Ceremonial carriage of Maria 

Theresia, around 1742; Portrait of 

Maria Theresia by J.E. Liotard, 

around 1743. 

NACHGEFRAGT | ENQUIRED 

Karl Vocelka 

Der langjährige Vorstand des Instituts für Geschichte an der Universität Wien ist Kurator der Themenbereiche „Bündnisse und Feindschaften“ und „Modernisierung 

und Reformen“ in Schloss Hof und Schloss Niederweiden der großen Maria Theresia-Ausstellung 2017. | The long-time head of the Department of History at 

the University of Vienna is the curator of the new “Alliances and Enmities” and “Modernisation and Reforms” topics at Schloss Hof and Schloss Niederweiden as 

part of the big Maria Theresia Exhibition 2017. 

War Maria Theresia eine emanzipierte Frau? 

Begriffe der Gegenwart auf die Vergangenheit zu übertragen – da muss man sehr 

vorsichtig sein als Historiker. Maria Theresia war als Herrscherin keine Ausnahme, auch in 

vielen kleineren Territorien des Reiches waren im 18. Jahrhundert Frauen in dieser Position. 

Durch ihre „männliche“ Rolle hatte sie einen persönlichen Handlungsspielraum, wie ihn 

später die Emanzipationsbewegungen des 19. Jahrhunderts anstrebten. Dennoch wurde 

von Zeitgenossen und auch später ihre Rolle als Mutter und damit ein altes „role model“ 

besonders betont. 

Maria Theresia war ja sehr religiös, dennoch hat sie viele liberale Reformen 

eingeführt. Wie geht das zusammen? 

Maria Theresia gilt als aufgeklärte Monarchin, hatte aber mit den Ideen dieser Geistesströmung 

durchaus ihre Probleme. Sie war strenge Katholikin und damit dem Gedanken 

religiöser Toleranz – einer der Hauptforderungen der Aufklärung – nicht aufgeschlossen. 

Sie verfolgte Protestanten und hasste die Juden. Viele ihrer Reformen sind pragmatisch 

orientiert, manche atmeten auch ein wenig den Geist der Aufklärung. Aber vom Klischee 

Maria Theresias als eine Herrscherin im Dienste der Aufklärung muss man sich wohl 

verabschieden. 

Was würden Sie als die wichtigste Errungenschaft der Regierungszeit von 

Maria Theresia bezeichnen? 

Ganz besonders hervorzuheben sind sicherlich die Reformen die Bildung betreffend. Maria 

Theresia führte die allgemeine Unterrichtspflicht ein und begründete damit ein säkulares 

Schulsystem für Kinder beiderlei Geschlechtes, in dem sie lesen, schreiben und rechnen 

lernten, und natürlich auch religiöse Erziehung erhielten. 

Eine der bemerkenswertesten außenpolitischen Entscheidungen Maria 

Theresias war die Neudefinition der Beziehung zu Frankreich. Wie ist es zu 

dieser 180 Grad Wende gekommen? 

Maria Theresia suchte nach dem Österreichischen Erbfolgekrieg nach Möglichkeiten, die 

an Preußen verlorene Provinz Schlesien wieder zu gewinnen. Ihr wichtigster Berater 

Wenzel Anton von Kaunitz-Rietberg schlug dazu ein Bündnis mit dem „Erbfeind“ 

Frankreich vor. Als Preußen noch dazu an die Seite der Briten trat, war das anfänglich 

zögernde Frankreich zu einem Bündnis mit Österreich bereit: Die Umkehr der Bündnisse, 

das „renversement des alliances“, war perfekt. 

Karl Vocelka, langjähriger 

Vorstand am Institut für 

Geschichte der Universität 

Wien, hat die große Maria 

Theresia-Ausstellung 

mitkuratiert. Karl Vocelka, 

longtime-head of the 

Department of History at the 

University of Vienna, curated 

parts of the big Maria 

Theresia Exhibition 2017. 

Bereits zu Lebzeiten und dann speziell im ausgehenden 19. Jahrhundert 

(als das Habsburgerreich bereits von starken Zentrifugalkräften gebeutelt 

wurde) wurde Maria Theresia als Übermutter der Monarchie stilisiert – was 

macht Maria Theresia so geeignet für diese Rolle? 

Maria Theresia hatte – im Gegensatz zu Franz Joseph, der mit den nationalen Problemen 

der multinationalen Donaumonarchie zu kämpfen hatte – sowohl ein gutes Verhältnis zu 

Ungarn, als auch nach Anfangsschwierigkeiten zu Böhmen. Auch für die anderen Nationen 

war Maria Theresia keine negativ besetzte Gestalt – eine Wahrnehmung der Herrscherin, 

die bis heute bei Historikern, Politikern und auch der großen Masse der Menschen ihre 

Gültigkeit hat. 

Was Maria Theresia an emancipated woman? 

As a historian, one needs to be very careful with applying contemporary terms to the past. 

As a ruler, Maria Theresia was not necessarily an exception, many smaller territories of the 

empire had women in this position in the 18th century. Due to her “male” role she had the 

kind of personal freedom that later emancipatory movements in the 19th century would 

strive toward. However, her contemporaries as well as later commentators particularly 

emphasised her role as a mother and thus an old stereotype. 

Maria Theresia was very religious, but she introduced many liberal reforms. 

How do those two things go together? 

Maria Theresia is considered a monarch of the Enlightenment, but she also had some 

problems with the ideas of that intellectual movement. She was a strict catholic and 

therefore not open to the idea of religious tolerance, one of the key demands coming from 

Enlightenment thinkers. She persecuted Protestants and hated Jews. Many of her reforms 

were of a pragmatic nature, and some contained a little bit of the Enlightenment spirit. But 

we will need to bid farewell to the cliché of Maria Theresia as a ruler in the service of the 

Enlightenment. 

What would you consider the most important achievement of Maria 

Theresia’s rule? 

One should particularly emphasise the reforms in education. Maria Theresia introduced 

compulsory education and thereby founded a secular schooling system for children of 

both genders, where they were taught reading, writing and mathematics, and of course 

also religion. 

One of Maria Theresia’s most remarkable foreign policy decisions was the 

redefinition of the relationship with France. What led to this 180-degree turn? 

Maria Theresia sought a way to regain the province of Silesia after it had been lost to 

Prussia in the War of Austrian Succession. Her most important advisor, Wenzel Anton von 

Kaunitz-Rietberg, suggested an alliance with the “hereditary enemy” France. When Prussia 

ended up siding with the British, and after some initial hesitations, France was finally ready 

to join the alliance with Austria: the Diplomatic Revolution, or the “reversement des 

alliances”, was a perfect strategy. 

While she was still alive and then especially toward the end of the 19th 

century (when the Habsburg Empire was already shaken by strong centrifugal 

forces), Maria Theresia was stylised as the monarchy’s great mother – what 

made Maria Theresia so suitable for the role? 

Maria Theresia enjoyed – in contrast to Franz Joseph, who struggled with the national 

problems of the multinational Danube Monarchy – a good relationship with Hungary, as 

well as with Bohemia after some initial issues. Many other nations did not see Maria 

Theresia in a negative light either – a perception of the empress, which remains strong 

among historians, politicians and the general population to this day. 

PHOTO: DIETER NAGL 

PHOTOS: WIENTOURISMUS / PETER RIGAUD; KHM, KAISERLICHE WAGENBURG WIEN; DAUERLEIHGABE OENB, 

SKB / A. E. KOLLER; ÖNB 

European power structure and thus Maria Theresia 

continues to be considered one of the most significant 

ruling figures of Enlightenment absolutism. 

Maria Theresia as a reformer 

The year 2017 now introduces several opportunities 

to go beyond the surface and look into the depths 

of Maria Theresia’s biography as well as her political 

impact. This includes the occasional critical perspective 

as expressed by Prof. Karl Vocelka, member of 

the curator team of the “Maria Theresia: Strategist – 

Mother – Reformer” exhibition and longstanding 

head of the Department of History at the University 

of Vienna. “Maria Theresia has always been considered 

a monarch of the Enlightenment, but she also had 

some problems with the ideas of that intellectual movement. 

We will probably need to bid farewell to the 

cliché of Maria Theresia as a ruler in the service of the 

Enlightenment.” (See interview) As a strict Catholic, 

Maria Theresia had only little sympathy for the idea 

of religious tolerance, one of the key demands from 

the Enlightenment. Her politics, however, were very 

much influenced by the idea of service for the good of 

Ball 

~ der ~ 

Wiener 

Sängerknaben 

Freitag, 

27. Jänner 2017 

Kursalon Hübner 

the state and its people. The profound reforms, for 

which Maria Theresia continues to be remembered to 

this day, will be explored thoroughly in Schloss Niederweiden, 

one of four exhibition areas. 

Lady of Schönbrunn Palace 

The topics of female empowerment, foreign policy 

and family will see more discussion in the three additional 

exhibition areas, namely, Wagenburg, the Imperial 

Furniture Collection and Schloss Hof. The relationship 

between Maria Theresia and the church, 

on the other hand, is explored in an exhibition at 

Klosterneuburg Monastery and the Austrian National 

Library is displaying a selection from her wealth 

of historic documents in the State Hall. 

Maria Theresia and Schönbrunn Palace are of 

course inseparable, as she commissioned it to be rebuilt 

into its present form. Thousands of visitors 

hustle through the former living spaces of the former 

empress on a daily basis. The jubilee year presents the 

opportunity to take a closer look at the many political 

renovations carried out by Maria Theresia at the 

House of Austria. 

Maria Theresia im 

Familienkreis, Stich von 

Johann Gottfried Haid, 1760. 

Maria Theresia in family, 

engraving by Johann Gottfried 

Haid, 1760. 

Foto: lukasbeck.com 

Gastland 2017: 

Brasilien 

Karten- und Tischreservierung ab sofort unter: 

01 347 80 80 

http://ball.wsk.at 


SAVOIR VIVRE ARTS 

Kultur-Highlights Winter 2016 

Cultural highlights Winter 2016 

Text: Evelyn Rois 

Der Hase mit den Bernsteinaugen auf Wien-Besuch 

The Hare with Amber Eyes gets to visit Vienna 

Baulärm weicht Konzertklang! 

Construction noise makes way for 

concert sound! 

Jahrelange Bauverzögerung und Kostenexplosion 

– kein neues Konzerthaus hat bereits vor 

seiner Eröffnung für so viele Schlagzeilen 

gesorgt wie die Elbphilharmonie. Doch nun ist 

es soweit und das wunderbare, endlich 

fertiggestellte Bauwerk der Architekten Herzog 

DeMeuron macht alles wieder wett: Zum 

Eröffnungsfestival der Elbphilharmonie 

Hamburg vom 11.-29.1.2017 spielen am 22. und 

23.1.2017 neben vielen anderen großen Namen 

auch die Wiener Philharmoniker im Konzertsaal 

hoch über der Elbe. 

Years of construction delays and cost 

explosions – no concert hall has generated as 

much controversy prior to its opening as the 

Elbphilharmonie. But the marvellous building 

designed by architect Herzog DeMeuron has 

finally been completed and manages to make up 

for it all: at the opening festival of the 

Elbphilharmonie Hamburg from 11.01.- 

29.01.2017, the Vienna Philharmonic is, next to 

many other big names, set to perform at the 

spectacular concert hall overlooking the river 

Elbe. 

elbphilharmonie.de; wienerphilharmoniker.at 

PHOTOS: MAXIM SCHULZ, MICHAEL HARVEY, BEN MCKEE, JÜDISCHES MUSEUM WIEN, REINHARD HAIDER, WIEN MUSEUM/SAMMLUNG ROBERT HAAS 

Edmund de Waal 

Crash Porsche, 2001 

Porsche aus Beton 

A Porsche made of 

concrete 

Gottfried Bechtolds Werk steht für 

eine Erweiterung des Kunstbegriffs. 

Seine erfrischenden und oft 

witzigen Arbeiten – wie ein in 

Beton abgegossener Porsche 911 – 

drehen sich um Themen wie den 

Transfer von Realität in den Medien, 

Mobilität oder die Idee von Zeit und 

Bewegung. Das Lentos in Linz zeigt 

nun eine umfassende Werkschau 

des 1947 in Bregenz geborenen 

Künstlers. Bis 26.2.2017. 

Gottfried Bechtold’s piece 

represents an extension of the 

concept of art. His refreshing and 

often amusing work – such as a 

Porsche 911 cast in concrete – deals 

with topics like the transfer of 

reality in the media, mobility or the 

idea of time and movement. The 

Lentos Art Museum in Linz is now 

displaying an extensive exhibition 

showcasing work by the artist born 

in Bregenz in 1947. Until 26.02.2017. 

lentos.at 

Der britische Künstler und Schriftsteller Edmund de Waal bringt derzeit in der Ausstellung „During the Night – Edmund de Waal trifft 

Albrecht Dürer“ im Kunsthistorischen Museum Wien eine sehr persönlichen Auswahl von Objekten aus der Sammlung des KHM – 

darunter eine Traumskizze Albrecht Dürers – eigene Porzellanarbeiten und das berühmte Familienerbstück und Titelheld von de Waals 

Weltbestseller „Der Hase mit den Bernsteinaugen“ zusammen. Spannend! Bis 29.1.2017. 

The British artist and writer Edmund de Waal is currently bringing together a very personal selection of objects from the KHM collection 

for the exhibition “During the Night”– Edmund de Waal meets Albrecht Dürer” at the Kunsthistorisches Museum Vienna. Among them, a 

dream sketch by Albrecht Dürer, as well as his own porcelain works and the famous family heirloom and titular character of Waal’s world 

bestseller “The Hare with Amber Eyes”. Exciting! Until 29.01.2017. 

khm.at 

Helene Taussig, Tänzerin, Öl 

auf Leinwand, 1930/35 

Dancer, oil on canvas, 

1930/35 

Die Avantgarde ist weiblich | Avant garde is female 

Wien um 1900 war auch die Stadt der Künstlerinnen: Am Aufbruch der Moderne 

waren zahlreiche Frauen beteiligt, die trotz schlechter Rahmenbedingungen (der 

Besuch der Akademie war Frauen erst ab 1920 möglich) eine künstlerische Laufbahn 

einschlugen. Das Jüdische Museum zeichnet in der Ausstellung „Die bessere Hälfte“, 

bis 1.5.2017, Werk und Laufbahn von 44 Künstlerinnen nach - von bekannten Namen 

wie Tina Blau bis zu vielen heute in Vergessenheit geratenen Künstlerinnen wie 

Helene Taussig. 

Vienna around 1900 was also a city bustling with female artists: countless women 

participated in the dawn of modernity and launched their artistic careers regardless 

of the dire circumstances (women were only permitted to visit academies starting in 

1920). The Jewish Museum documents the work and lives of 44 female artists in the 

exhibition “The Better Half” starting on 01.05.2017, including famous names such as 

Tina Blau and many forgotten artists like Helene Taussig. 

jmw.at 

Harte Kontraste 

Sharp contrasts 

Fritz Wotrubas Gesicht im harten 

Sonnenlicht, die Skyline New Yorks, 

junge Burschen im Wiener Prater 

– alles in kontrastreichem 

Schwarz-Weiß. Der Fotograf Robert 

Haas war für seine Wiener 

Sozialreportagen berühmt, bevor er 

1938 wegen seiner jüdischen 

Herkunft in die USA emigrieren 

musste und dort eine zweite 

Karriere begann. In der Ausstellung 

„Robert Haas. Der Blick auf zwei 

Welten“ zeigt das Wien Museum 

bis 26.2.2017 erstmals eine 

umfassende Werkschau des 

großen, beinahe vergessenen 

Fotografen. 

Fritz Wotruba’s face in harsh 

sunlight, the New York skyline, 

young chaps in Vienna’s Prater – 

and all that in high-contrast black 

and white. Photographer Robert 

Haas was famous for his social 

reports on Vienna prior to having to 

emigrate to the USA in 1938 and 

start a new career due to his Jewish 

origin. The Vienna Museum is 

displaying an extensive exhibition 

of the great, nearly forgotten 

photographer in “Robert Haas. 

Framing Two Worlds” until 

16.02.2017. 

wienmuseum.at 

Im Böhmischen Prater, 1938 

At the Bohemian Prater, 1938 



SAVOIR VIVRE ARTS 

Peter Dressler, Extérieur, 1974 

Ein Leben zwischen Expression und Repräsentation 

A life between expression and representation 

Melinda Esterházy war zeitlebens eine faszinierende Persönlichkeit: Die 

neue Dauerausstellung „Melinda Esterházy“ auf Schloss Esterházy wirft 

einen multimedialen Blick auf das aufregende Leben der Primaballerina 

und letzten Fürstin Esterházy zwischen der Opernbühne Budapests und 

Schloss Esterházy in Eisenstadt. 

Throughout her lifetime, Melinda Esterházy was a fascinating personality. 

A new permanent exhibition simply titled “Melinda Esterházy” at 

Schloss Esterházy takes a multimedia approach to exploring the prima 

ballerina’s and last Esterházy princess’s exciting life, divided between 

Budapest’s opera stage and Schloss Esterházy in Eisenstadt. 

esterhazy.at 

In 

KUnST 

BADEn 

Peter Dressler, In unmittelbarer Nähe, 2003 

Wiener Gold 

Viennese Gold 

Sicilia! 

Die Insel am Rande Europas zwischen 

kulturellem Reichtum, feudalen Strukturen 

und Mafia-Einfluss steht im Fokus der 

großen Retrospektive des Filmmuseums 

Wien vom 6.1-9.2. 2017. Die Spanne der 

Filme reicht von Klassikern wie Viscontis 

„Il gattopardo“ über Rossellinis 

„Stromboli“ mit Ingrid Bergman bis zur 

satirischen Komödie „Divorzio all‘italiana“ 

mit dem unvergesslichen Marcello 

Mastroianni. 

The island on the edge of Europe, between 

cultural richness, feudal structures and 

mafia influence, is the focus of a great 

retrospective by the Austrian Film Museum 

Vienna from 06.01-09.02.2016. The range 

of films reaches from classics like 

Visconti’s “Il Gattopardo” to Rossellini’s 

“Stromboli” with Ingrid Bergman as well as 

the satirical comedy “Divorzio all’italiana” 

with the unforgettable Marcello 

Mastroianni. 

filmmuseum.at 

Peter Dressler zählt zu den wichtigsten Fotokünstlern des 

Landes. Den Stoff für seine frühen, mit trockenem Humor 

ausgestatteten Fotoserien findet Dressler in Wien. Später ist 

der Künstler selbst Subjekt seiner oft melancholisch-grotesken 

Bildinszenierungen. Die große Retrospektive „Wiener 

Gold“ im Kunsthaus Wien zeigt noch bis 5.3.2017 das 

vielschichtige Werk des 2013 verstorbenen Künstlers. 

Peter Dressler is considered among the most important photo 

artists in the country. Dressler often finds new material for his 

early, dryly humorous photo essays in Vienna, and later the 

artist makes himself the subject of his own often melancholically 

and grotesquely staged photographs. The great 

retrospective “Viennese Gold” displays the late artist’s 

multifaceted work until 05.03.2016 at Kunsthaus Wien. 

kunsthauswien.com 

Il gattopardo, 1963, L. Visconti 

PHOTOS: FOTOHOF ARCHIV, ÖSTERREICHISCHES FILMMUSEUM, ESTERHÁZY, WIENER KONZERTHAUS 

Tanzkarriere 

Dancing career 

Alte Musik im Freizeitlook 

Early music, all casual 

Vom 21.1.-29.1.2017 arbeiten sich bei den „Resonanzen“, Wiens wie 

immer hervorragend besetztem Festival für Alte Musik im Konzerthaus, 

unter vielen anderen Fabio Biondis Europa Galante oder der kubanische 

Conjunto de Música Antigua Ars Longa musikalisch am diesjährigen 

Festivalmotto „Freizeiten“ ab. 

From 21.01. to 29.01.2017, you may enjoy the musical delight 

“Resonanzen”, Vienna’s excellent Festival for Early Music at the 

Konzerthaus, and see Fabio Biondis’ Europa Galante or the Cuban 

Conjunto de Música Antigua Ars Longa under this year’s festival slogan 

“Pastimes”. 

konzerthaus.at 

Täglich von 10 bis 17 Uhr 

Josefsplatz 5, 2500 Baden, Austria 

www.arnulf-rainer-museum.at 

Nature gone astray? 

Hybrids, Gnomes and Monsters 

(not only) in the work of Hieronymus Bosch 

Palermo oder Wolfsburg, 1980, W. Schroeter 

Fabio Biondi 

4. 11. 2016 — 29. 1. 2017 

The Paintings Gallery of the Academy of Fine Arts Vienna 

1., Schillerplatz 3 | Tue – Sun 10 am – 6 pm | www.akademiegalerie.at 


1608-GG-CercleDiplomatique-Bosch500NEU-95x125,5-drucken.indd 1 11.08.16 14:38

SAVOIR VIVRE AMBASSADORS OF MUSIC 

Culture Talk Gustavo Dudamel 

Ein Interview mit dem Stardirigenten aus Venezuela über die Kraft der Musik, Mambo, den Wiener Walzer und das Wiener 

Neujahrskonzert 2017 unter seiner Leitung. 

An interview with the Venezuelan star conductor about the power of music, mambo and the Viennese waltz as well as the Vienna 

New Year´s Concert in 2017 under his baton. 

Interview: Rois & Stubenrauch 

INFO 


PHOTOS: NOHELY_OLIVEROS, ADAM_LATHAM, WIENTOURISMUS/LOIS LAMMERHUBER 

Beim Neujahrskonzert wird traditionell viel Musik der 

Strauss-Dynastie gespielt – was ist Ihre Beziehung zum 

Wiener Walzer? 

Seitdem wir Kinder waren, haben wir sie gespielt, gesummt, 

gepfiffen. Ich liebe diese Werke! Sie sind so verspielt, lustig und 

sehr, sehr wienerisch! Ich kann es nicht erwarten, mein neues Jahr 

2017, mit diesem fröhlichen Repertoire zu starten – es ist ein 

Symbol für all das, was wir uns für das neue Jahr erhoffen: 

Optimismus, Spaß, Glückseligkeit und Freude. 

Wenn Sie dirigieren, sprühen die Funken. Wie bringen Sie 

diese unglaubliche Energie, die der Musik innewohnt, zum 

Klingen? 

Ich wünschte, ich könnte Ihnen sagen, dass das mein großes 

Geheimnis ist, aber uns wurde von unserem geliebten Lehrer José 

Antonio Abreu in Venezuela von Anfang an beigebracht, die Musik 

selbst zu ehren. Alles andere – die Inspiration, die Motivation und 

die Energie hat einfach seinen Ursprung in der Beziehung mit den 

Noten auf dem Papier. Musik ist Feuer, sie ist Leidenschaft, sie 

übersteigt alles, was wir wissen und es gibt nichts Außergewöhnlicheres 

als die Funken, die sprühen, wenn großartige Musik 

gemacht wird. 

Sie haben ursprünglich Violine studiert - was hat Sie 

bewogen, ins Dirigentenfach zu wechseln? 

Für mich war das kein Wechsel, es war eher eine Entwicklung und 

ich spiele immer noch Violine. Ich wurde gefragt, zu dirigieren 

und ergriff die Möglichkeit und es ist für mich immer noch nicht 

real, was seitdem in zwanzig Jahren passiert ist. 

Sie stammen aus einer Musikerfamilie, dennoch ist Ihre 

Karriere eng mit „El Systemo“ verknüpft, einem Programm, 

das sozial benachteiligten Jugendlichen in Venezuela den 

Zugang zu klassischer Musik ermöglicht. Ist der freie Zugang 

zur musikalischen Erziehung wichtig? 

Meiner Meinung nach ist Zugang zu Musik und Kunst sehr wichtig 

und kann daher nicht nur jenen vorbehalten bleiben, die über die 

finanziellen Ressourcen verfügen, Stunden zu nehmen. Musik ist 

ein Geschenk, das die gesamte Menschheit besitzen dürfen soll. 

Sie ist auch etwas, das einem, wenn man sie hat, nie mehr 

weggenommen werden kann. Wenn man einem Kind die 

Fähigkeit, Musik, Kunst und Schönheit zu schätzen weitergibt, 

wird es diese sein ganzes Leben lang behalten. 

Ist Musik imstande, die Welt in einen besseren Ort zu 

verwandeln? 

Selbstverständlich. Ich habe dieser Aufgabe mein Leben 

gewidmet. 

Beim legendären Neujahrskonzert 2007 in Caracas haben 

Sie mit Mambos von Pérez Prado und aus Bernsteins West 

Side Story das Publikum zu Begeisterungsstürmen 

hingerissen. Wird man am 1.1.2017 im Wiener Musikverein 

ebenfalls einen Mambo zu hören bekommen? 

Das ist ein Geheimnis, aber ich kann versprechen, dass es ein paar 

Überraschungen und sehr viel Spaß für alle geben wird! 

The music of the Strauss dynasty traditionally makes up a 

significant part of the New Year‘s Concert of the Vienna 

Philharmonic Orchestra. What is your relationship with the 

Viennese waltz? 

We’ve all played them, hummed them, whistled them, had them 

in our ears since we were children and I love these works. They’re 

so playful, so much fun, so very Viennese! I can’t wait to start 

2017 with the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra and this fantastically 

upbeat repertoire – it’s what we‘re all hoping the new year 

will bring – optimism, fun, happiness, joy. 

Sparks fly when you conduct. How do you bring this incredible 

energy to life in the music? 

I wish I could tell you I had a secret, but we were always taught 

from the very beginning in Venezuela by our beloved teacher José 

Antonio Abreu to honour the music itself – and everything else, 

i.e. inspiration, motivation and energy, will simply come from that 

intense relationship with the notes on the page. Music is fire, it is 

passion, it transcends what we know, and there is nothing more 

spectacular than sparks flying when great music is being made! 

Your first choice was the violin – what made you change to 

conducting? 

For me this wasn’t a change, it was more like a progression and I 

still play the violin today. I was asked whether I wanted to 

conduct, so I decided to give it a try and I still cannot believe 

everything that has happened in the last twenty years. 

You come from a family of musicians. But your career is still 

closely linked to “El Sistema”, a programme that grants 

underprivileged Venezuelan children access to classical music. Is 

free access to musical education important? 

I believe that access to music and art is essential and cannot 

remain the exclusive domain of those who have the financial 

resources to pay for the lessons. Music is a gift which all of 

mankind deserves to hold and to own. It is also something which 

– once you own it – can never be taken away. Give a child the 

ability to appreciate music, art and beauty and that child will 

carry this gift throughout their life. 

Is music able to make the world a better place? 

Absolutely. I have dedicated my life to this cause. 

At the legendary New Year‘s Concert in 2007 in Caracas, you sent 

the audience into a frenzy with mambos by Pérez Prado and from 

Bernstein‘s West Side Story. Are we going to hear a mambo on 

the 1st of January 2017 at the Musikverein in Vienna, too? 

That’s a secret until the day itself – but I can promise a few 

surprises and a great time for everyone! 

Neujahrskonzert der 

Wiener Philharmoniker 

New Year‘s Concert of the 

Vienna Philharmonic 

Orchestra 

1.1.2017, 11:15 Uhr/ a.m., 

Großer Musikvereinssaal 

Gustavo Dudamel und 

das Simon Bolivar 

Orchestra 

Gustavo Dudamel and the 

Simon Bolivar Orchestra 

Beethoven Symphonien 

Beethoven‘s Symphonies 

26. - 30.3.2017, Großer 

Musikvereinssaal 

Das Neujahrskonzert findet traditionell 

im Großen Musikvereinssaal statt 

und wird am 1. Jänner 2017 auf ORF 2 

gesendet. 

Location with tradition: The New Year´s 

Concert is performed at the Great Hall of 

Musikverein and will be broadcast on 1st 

January on ORF 2. 

musikverein.at 

Gustavo Dudamel begann seine musikalische Ausbildung im Rahmen des Sistema 

de Orquestas Juveniles de Venezuela. 1999 wurde er mit nur 18 Jahren Chefdirigent 

des Orquesta Sinfónica de la Juventud Venezolana Simón Bolívar, das er in Folge zu 

einem weltweit angesehenen Klangkörper formte. Von 2007 bis 2012 leitete Dudamel 

die Göteborger Symphoniker, seit der Saison 2009/2010 ist er Chefdirigent und 

musikalischer Leiter des Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra. Am 1.1.2017 dirigiert er, 

als jüngster Dirigent in der 75-jährigen Geschichte des Neujahrskonzertes, die Wiener 

Philharmoniker im Großen Musikvereinssaal. 

Gustavo Dudamel began his musical education when he became involved in the Sistema 

de Orquestas Juveniles de Venezuela. Aged only 18, he became the chief conductor of the 

Orquesta Sinfónica de la Juventud Venezolana Simón Bolívar in 1999, which he subsequently 

turned into a world renowned orchestra. Dudamel headed the Gothenburg Symphony 

Orchestra from 2007 to 2012. He has been the chief conductor and musical director of the 

Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra since the 2009/2010 season. On 1 January 2017, he will 

conduct – as the youngest conductor in the 75-year history of the New Year‘s Concert – the 

Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra in the Golden Hall of the Musikverein.

CERCLE DIPLOMATIQUE - issue 04/2016

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