cercle-diplomatique-issue-03-2017

Autumn 2017

Nr. 3 | September – November

International Affairs Global Business Exclusive Lifestyle

cercle-diplomatique.com

Oberösterreich

SPECIAL

14 Seiten

extra

MAZEDONIEN

KLEINES LAND, GROSSER NAME

MACEDONIA SMALL COUNTRY,

BIG NAME

EDITORIAL

Liebe Leserinnen, liebe Leser! | Dear Readers,

PHOTO: ROIS & STUBENRAUCH

Adelstitel wurden in Österreich offiziell bereits

vor rund 100 Jahren abgeschafft. Dennoch

wurde unser Magazin auf eine wunderbare

Art und Weise „geadelt“ – denn seit kurzem sind wir

auf der offiziellen Liste der Lese-Empfehlungen der

Diplomatischen Akademie Wien als einziges Magazin

Österreichs gelistet. Und auch in einer Sonderausgabe

des Magazins Profil, einem „Wien Portfolio“, wurden

wir in einem umfangreichen Bericht über die Hauptstadt

als wichtiger Standort diplomatischer Beziehungen

mit einer Erwähnung bedacht. Das macht uns

stolz. Wir nehmen dies zum Anlass, auch weiterhin

mit unserer erfahrenen Fachredaktion über relevante

Themen aus den Bereichen Diplomatie, Politik und

Wirtschaft sowie über die schönen Dinge des Lebens

mit großem Engagement zu berichten. Denn die einzige

Konstante im Leben ist die Veränderung.

Mazedonien ist ein Binnenstaat in Südosteuropa,

der sich gerade in einem Transformierungsprozess

befindet. Ihm ist in dieser Ausgabe unsere Cover-Story

gewidmet, zu lesen ab Seite 32.

Unser Ambassadors’ Summit, übrigens der fünfte

seiner Art, war außergewöhnlicher als je zuvor. Denn

diesmal fand sich sozusagen geballte diplomatische

Weiblichkeit im Fleming’s Selection Hotel Wien-City

ein, um ihre Ansichten über den beruflichen Alltag

und die Geschehnisse im Leben von Diplomatinnen

miteinander und Ihnen als Lesern zu teilen. Wir danken

den Exzellenzen Paulina Franceschi Navarro (Panama),

Pilar Saborio de Rocafort (Costa Rica),

Lourdes Victoria-Kruse (Dominikanische Republik)

sowie Lucia Rosella Badia (El Salvador) sehr herzlich

für die rasche Kooperation untereinander und die Bereitschaft,

sich der Diskussion zu stellen, die Sie ab

Seite 48 finden.

Unser Bundesland-Special dreht sich diesmal um

Oberösterreich. Das viertgrößte Bundesland Österreichs

kann mit einer überraschenden Vielzahl an erfolgreichen

Familienunternehmen aufwarten. Neben

dem wirtschaftlichen Erfolg weltweit ist Oberösterreich

nicht zuletzt wegen seiner international geachteten

Kunst-Szene und seines geografischen Anteils im

Salzkammergut touristisch bekannt und beliebt (ab

Seite 83).

Wir wünschen Ihnen angenehme Lektüre und

einen spannenden Herbst!

Titles of nobility were officially abolished in

Austria about 100 years ago. Nevertheless, our

magazine did receive a very special kind of ‘title’

recently — because we have been added to the official

recommended reading list by the Diplomatic

Academy of Vienna, as the only Austrian magazine to

do so. And we were also mentioned in a special edition

of the Viennese magazine Profil as part of an extensive

report on the capital city as a hub for diplomatic

relationships. This makes us proud. We are taking

this opportunity to continue to report with our professional

editorial team about relevant topics from the

fields of diplomacy, politics and economics, as well as

all the other beautiful things in life, with great commitment:

Because, after all, change is the only constant.

Macedonia in Southern Europe is currently undergoing

rapid transformations. This edition of our

cover story is dedicated to the small land-locked

country, which you can start reading from page 32.

Our Ambassadors’ Summit, incidentally the fifth

of its kind, was more extraordinary than ever before.

Because this time around, the full force of diplomatic

femininity entered the Fleming’s Selection Hotel

Wien-City in order to share their views on their work

and the various intricacies of a diplomat’s life with

each other and with you, the reader. We would like to

thank their Excellencies Paulina Franceschi Navarro

(Panama), Pilar Saborio de Rocafort (Costa Rica),

Lourdes Victoria-Kruse (Dominican Republic), as

well as Lucia Rosella Badia (El Salvador), for quickly

cooperating with one another and for their readiness

to participate in the discussion, which you find on

page 48.

Our Province Special this time is all about Upper

Austria. The fourth biggest province in Austria can

boast a surprising number of successful family enterprises.

Next to the global economic success, Upper

Austria is also well known and loved by tourists for its

internationally recognised art scene and its geographic

share of the Salzkammergut region (page 83).

We hope that you enjoy your reading and wish you

an exciting autumn!

Herzlichst, | Yours,

Andrea Fürnweger

Herausgeberin | Editor

Mag. Alexander Bursky

Herausgeber | Editor

CERCLE DIPLOMATIQUE –

ECONOMIQUE et TOURISTIQUE

Nr. 312

Ausgabe | Issue 03/2017

September – November

CONTENTS

Cover story

MACEDONIA

Seite | page 32

Mit der Bildung einer neuen

Regierung im Mai 2017 ist

Mazedonien gerade dabei,

seine Wirtschaft

anzukurbeln.

With the formation of a

new government,

Macedonia is about to

restart its economy.

LE BULLETIN

Die neuen Botschafter | The new Ambassadors

Akkreditierungen durch Bundespräsident Alexander Van der Bellen.

Accreditations by Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen.

Offizielle Empfänge | Official Receptions

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

LE MONDE

Coverstory Mazedonien | Cover story Macedonia

Kleines Land, großer Name. Small country, big name.

Interview

Mazedoniens Botschafterin Vasilka Poposka Trenevska.

Macedonia´s Ambassador Vasilka Poposka Trenevska.

Dominikanische Republik | Dominican Republic

Wunder der Karibik. Miracles of the Caribbean.

Interview

Die Botschafterin der Dominikanischen Republik Lourdes Victoria-Kruse.

The Ambassador of the Dominican Republic, Lourdes Victoria-Kruse.

Gipfeltreffen der Botschafter | The Ambassadors‘ Summit

Panama trifft Costa Rica, die Dominikanische Republik und El Salvador.

Panama meets Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic and El Salvador.

Buchtipp | Book tip

Die ultimativen Tipps & Tricks für Exporteure. The ultimate tips & tricks for exporters.

Interview

OFIDs Generaldirektor Suleiman Jasir Al-Herbish .

OFID´s Director-General Suleiman Jasir Al-Herbish.

Essay

Das größte Risiko für Europa. The biggest risk for Europe.

News

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

L‘AUTRICHE

Industrie | Industry

Erfolgreiche Life Sciences in Österreich. Succesful life sciences in Austria.

Zukunftslabor | Future Lab

Andreas Bierwirth, CEO T-Mobile Austria, über Migration & Engagement.

Andreas Bierwirth, CEO T-Mobile Austria, on migration & actions.

Wirtschaftsnews | Business news

Neues aus Österreich. News from Austria.

OBERÖSTERREICH Special | Upper Austria Special

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

112

114

118

124

126

128

132

138

144

150

154

156

160

164

166

170

184

Hideaways

Entspannung für Ihre kleine Herbst-Auszeit. Relaxation for your autumn timeout.

Reise | Travel

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

Weltmuseum Wien

Das neue Museum ab 25. Oktober 2017. The new museum starts on 25 October, 2017.

Museum Visit

Zu Besuch in der Secession. Visiting the Secession.

Botschafter der Musik | Ambassadors of Music

Stargeigerin Julia Fischer. Star violinist Julia Fischer.

Kunst | Arts

Kulturelle Highlights im Herbst. Cultural highlights in autumn.

City Apartments

Wohnkomfort auf Zeit. Temporary living comfort.

Lifestyle

Trends für den kommenden Herbst. Trends for the autumn season.

Gesundheitswesen | Health Care

Fokus Gesundheit. Focus Health.

Ambassador‘s Drive

Großbritanniens Botschafter auf CD-Testfahrt. UK‘s Ambassador on a test drive.

Motor

Die Grenzen ausweiten. Pushing the limits.

Weekender

Barcelona, Stadt für alle Sinne. Barcelona, city for the senses.

Upcoming

Wo es uns gefällt. Where we love to be.

Buchempfehlungen | Must read

Lesenswertes über Österreich. Book tips about Austria.

Mein Wien | My Vienna

Die Botschafterin von Dänemark. The Ambassador of Denmark.

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.

GENDER ERKLÄRUNG

Im gesamten Magazin wird bei

den deutschsprachigen Texten

aus Gründen der besseren

Lesbarkeit bei geschlechtsspezifischen

Begriffen die maskuline

Form verwendet. Diese Form

versteht sich explizit als

geschlechtsneutral.

106

108

110

SAVOIR VIVRE

Ethno Food

Kulinarische Weltreise in Wien. Culinary world travel in Vienna.

Connaisseur | Connoisseur

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

Table Talk

Zur Kaffeepause bei GM Monique Dekker im Park Hyatt Vienna .

Coffee & cake with GM Monique Dekker at the Park Hyatt Vienna.

Suite Dreams

Die Präsidentensuite im The Ritz-Carlton, Vienna. The Presidential Suite at The Ritz-Carlton, Vienna.

185

Titelbild | Cover

Skulpturen auf der Kunst-Brücke in Mazedoniens Hauptstadt Skopje | Sculptures on the Art

Bridge in the capital Skopje, Macedonia

Editorial

Inhalt | Contents

Impressum | Imprint

COVERPHOTO & PHOTO: FOTOLIA

Das Denkmal Alexanders des Großen in Skopje, Mazedonien

The Alexander the Great monument in Skopje, Macedonia

VIENNA 18, WAEHRING

FANTASTIC VILLA (NOT ONLY)

FOR REPRESENTATION

DISTINGUISHED AND MODERN LIVING IN A TRULY

WONDERFUL REFURBISHED WINE-MAKER´S HOUSE

690 sqm living space | ca. 1.412 sqm plot | 9 rooms | 6 bathrooms

BULLETIN

VIENNA 1, INNER CITY

EXCEPTIONAL BAROQUE

BUILDING DOWNTOWN

APPROXIMATELY 1,000 SQM OF DELICATELY-RENOVATED

LIVING SPACE IN THIS RARE JEWEL IN THE HEART OF VIENNA.

17 rooms | 100 sqm spa area | ceilings up to 4.5 m | in-house cinema www.otto.at

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.

LE BULLETIN CREDENTIALS

Wir begrüßen die neuen Botschafter herzlich in Österreich: Willkommen!

We cordially welcome the new Ambassadors to Austria!

H. E.

Víctor

Veltzé Michel

Ambassador of the Republic

of Bolivia

Credentials: July 2017

H. E.

Lourdes Gisela Antonia

Victoria-Kruse

Ambassador of the

Dominican Republic

Credentials: July 2017

H. E.

François

Saint-Paul

Ambassador of the

Republic of France

Credentials: July 2017

Darmansjah

Djumala

Ambassador of the

Republic of Indonesia

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

Victor

Osipov

Ambassador of the

Republic of Moldawia

Mehmet Ferden

Çarikçi

Ambassador of the

Republic of Turkey

Credentials: July 2017 Credentials: July 2017 Credentials: July 2017

Born on January 14, 1939

Married, 3 children

Education

1957 -1969: Technical University of Vienna: Masters in

Mechanical Engineering and Industrial Engineering

Professional Career

2015: Study for the industrialization of cocoa in the Province

of Beni Itenez

2014: Proposal for Monorail construction on the Rio Rocha

- Cochabamba

2007: Airline operations reduced to Bolivia, Plan of economic

and financial restructuring of Lloyd Aereo Boliviano

2006: system for international investment and cooperation

projects Indigenous Peoples

1996-1999: Adviser to the Permanent Mission of Bolivia and

UNIDO Representative to Aleterno

1969 - 1996: Executive in the United Nations Industrial

Development Organization (UNIDO / UNIDO) in different

positions such as Head of Cooperation for Latin America and

the Caribbean, Coordinator Representcaciones UNIDO in

developing countries and Inter Coordinator - Agencial United

Nations system in Vienna, Head of Investment Promotion

Program for Latin America, Personal Advisor

1965-1969: Permanent Representative of Bolivia the

International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA or IAEA) for 4

years (Vienna, Austria)

1961-1965: Honorary Consulate of Bolivia in Vienna

1958–1960: Floor work: NSU car factory, Neckarsulm,

Germany. Factory of paper Holmest Bruck, Norkoeping,

Sweden. Mechanization Agroindustrial, Munkdorp, Sweden

1956/57: Lloyd Aéreo Boliviano crewman

Born on February 13, 1955

Married, 3 children

Education

1989: Universidad Católica Madre y Maestra

1981: Carl Duiesberg Gesellschaft.

Federal Republic of Germany

1971–1978: Universidad Autónoma de Santo Domingo.

Chemical Engineering

Professional Career

2017: Ambassador of the Dominican Republic to Austria,

permanent Representative to the International

Organizations in Vienna

2011–2017: Embassy and Permanent Mission of the

Dominican Republic in Austria, Minister Counsellor,

Responsible for Consular and Cultural Affairs Vienna,

Austria, Embassy of the Dominican Republic in India,

Minister Counsellor, Responsible for Trade, Political and

Cultural Affairs

2010: Participation in the 7th Meeting of Working Groups

and the 11th Meeting of High Ranking Officials of the

FEALAC, Bali, Indonesia

2010-2011: New Delhi, India

2004-2010: Embassy of the Dominican Republic in

Germany, Minister Counsellor, Responsible for Visas and

Legalizations. Responsible for Cultural and Trade Issues,

Foundations, Tourism, Fairs and Exhibits

Born on March 3, 1958

Education

Licence (Subject: Law)

Graduate of the Institut d’études politiques

1983: Graduate of the École Nationale d’Administration

Ministre plénipotentiaire de 1ère classe

Professional Career

2017: Ambassador to Austria

2014-2017: Ambassador to Romania

2009-2014: Head Office of the Foreign Ministry

2004-2009: Ambassador to Croatia

2002-2004: Cabinet Director of the Minister Delegate

Responsible for EU Affairs, Special Envoy to the Centre

d’analyse et de prévision

1998-2002: First Embassy Counsellor at the Permanent

Representation of France to the UN in Geneva

1993-1998: Head Office of the Foreign Ministry

1990-1993: Second Embassy Counsellor at the Permanent

Representation of France at the European Community in

Brussels

1988-1990: Delegate to the State Minister and Minister for

the Economy, Finance and Budget

1985-1988: Head Office of the Foreign Ministry

1984-1985: First Embassy Secretary to Mexico

1983-1984: Second Embassy Secretary to Mexico

1981-1983: École Nationale d’Administration

PHOTOS: CARINA KARLOVITS UND DANIEL TRIPPOLT/HBF

Born on November 29, 1958

Married, 3 children

Education

2011: Ph.D. in Politics and Government, cum laude,

Post-graduate Program, Faculty of Social and Political

Sciences, Padjadjaran University, Bandung

1997: Master of Arts in International Relations, cum laude,

Webster University, Geneva, Switzerland

1984: Foreign Service and Diplomatic Training, Ministry of

Foreign Affairs

1982: Bachelor Degree, Majoring in Economics and

Development Studies, Sriwijaya University, South Sumatra

Professional Career

2015-2017: Chief of President’s Office/Secretary to the

President, b. Positions in International Forum

2014-2015: Head of Indonesian Delegation to Foreign

Policy Dialog with Germany, Russia, Poland, China, Fiji,

Director General/Head, Policy Analysis and Development

Agency, Ministry of Foreign Affairs

2010-2014: Ambassador of Indonesia to Poland

2013: Head of Indonesian Delegation to Informal

Consultations, Major Economies Forum on Energy and

Climate, Head of Indonesian Delegation (alternate) to

UNFCCC/COP19, Poland

2006-2010: Representative of Indonesia, EU Council and

European Parliament in Belgium and Luxembourg

2001-2003: Representative of the Republic of Indonesia in

New York, Geneva and Bangkok

1994-1996: Representative of the Republic of Indonesia in

WTO and UNCTAD conferences and sessions in Geneva

1988-1992: Representative of Indonesia in Tokyo

Born on October 8, 1971

Married, 3 children

Education

2015: Special Training in Security Analyses and Strategies

for high level officials of the Moldavan Government

2008: European Institute of Political Science of the

Republic of Moldova within the Council of Europe

1988-1993: State University of Moldova, Faculty of

Journalism and Communication Sciences

Professional Career

2016-2017: Independent expert in politics, electoral and

public administration areas

2015-2016: Deputy Prime Minister in two consecutive

cabinets of the Government of the Republic of Moldova

2011-2014: CMI Program for Transnistrian Conflict Management,

Political Expert, Independent expert

2009–2011: Government of the Republic of Moldova,

Deputy Prime Minister (for Country Reintegration),

Parliament of the Republic of Moldova, Advisor of the First

Deputy Chairman, Parliament of the Republic of Moldova

2005-2009: Parliament of the Republic of Moldova Staff,

Senior Advisor of the parliamentary faction “Our Moldova

Alliance”

1992-2004: Electronic Press Association APEL NGO,

Executive Director, Euro TV Chisinau, Municipal Public TV

Station, Executive Director, "Radio d'Or" FM station, Open

World House NGO, Executive Director, Radio Moldova

International (public broadcasting company’s division),

reporter, editor, commentator, chief of Romanian Section

Born in 1968

Married, 1 child

Education

1993: Johns Hopkins University, Paul H. Nitze School of

Advanced International Studies (SAIS), Bologna-Italy and

Washington, D.C. M.A. in Strategic Studies and

International Economics

1991: Middle East Technical University, Ankara, Department

of International Relations

1987: German High School, Istanbul

Professional Career

2017: Ambassador of the Republic of Turkey in Vienna

2013: Ambassador, Permanent Representative of the

Republic of Turkey to the United Nations Office at Geneva

and to the Conference on Disarmament as well as to the

other International Organizations in Geneva

2010: Ambassador, Senior Foreign Policy Adviser to the

President of the Republic of Turkey

2007: Foreign Policy Adviser to the President of the

Republic of Turkey

2003: First Secretary and Counsellor, Embassy of the

Republic of Turkey, Berlin

2001: Second Secretary and First Secretary, Deputy

Counsellor and Deputy Chief of Cabinet to the Minister of

Foreign Affairs

1999: Second Secretary and Deputy Chief of Mission,

Embassy of the Republic of Turkey in Tripoli

1996: Third Secretary, Permanent Representation of Turkey

to the United Nations, New York

1993: Ministry of Foreign Affairs, General Directorate for

Middle East and Africa, Desk Officer for Iran, Iraq,

Afghanistan and Pakistan

8 Cercle Diplomatique 3/2017

Cercle Diplomatique 3/2017

LE BULLETIN REVIEW

Official receptions

Find more

photos online

cercle-diplomatique.com

June 2017

Presentation of the summer issue of „Cercle Diplomatique“

at the rooftop of Hotel Lamée

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

the honour to welcome the second issue of 2017 with the cover story on Belgium, enjoying delicious food and pleasant encounters.

The Ambassador of Belgium, H.E. Baron Willem Van de Voorde

(2nd r.) and his wife Christine (middle) were welcomed by Isabella

Wexberg, Director Hotel Lamée & Hotel Topazz (2nd l.) and CD´s

editors, Andrea Fürnweger (r.) and Alexander Bursky (l.).

PHOTOS: OURIEL MORGENSZTERN

On this hot and sunny day, there could have been no better

location than the great and colourful Lamée rooftop, with

great sights over Vienna, which all guests also enjoyed.

10 Cercle Diplomatique 3/2017

Cercle Diplomatique 3/2017

LE BULLETIN REVIEW

June 2017

Azerbaijan

Republic Day and the establishment of diplomatic relations between Azerbaijan

and Austria were celebrated with a garden reception at the Embassy.

Left: H.E. Galib Israfilov

and his wife Farah

Aslanova with their son.

June 2017

Argentina

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

Luxury Furniture

PHOTOS: DODGE AND BURN

CLASSICAL TO CONTEMPORARY

COMMERCIAL TO RESIDENTIAL

HOTELS

COMPLETE RENOVATION PROJECTS

INDIVIDUAL PRIVATE SUITES

H.E. Rafael Mariano Grossi and his wife Cinthia Echavarria Grossi.

12 Cercle Diplomatique 3/2017

June 2017

Italy

The Palais Metternich, seat of the Italian Embassy, was the elegant location

for celebrating National Day.

June 2017

United Kingdom

The 91st birthday of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II was celebrated with a great

garden party at the residence.

LIVING NEXT TO

ST. STEPHEN’S SQUARE

Left: H.E. Giorgio

Marrapodi, H.E. Maria

Assunta Accili and

H.E. Alessandro Azzoni

(from left to right).

Left: H.E. Leigh Turner

(right) with H.E. Sian

MacLeod (Head of the UK

Delegation to the OSCE;

middle).

Coming soon to Vienna

1010 Wien, Am Hof 5 – from 14.9.

www.shoepassion.at

June 2017

Russian Federation

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

HANDCRAFTED IN EUROPE

H.E. Dmitry Lyubinskiy (middle) welcomed,

together with his wife, the arriving guests.

PHOTOS: DODGE AND BURN

SINGERSTRASSE 21/25: Fully furnished rooms and

luxury apartments (31 to 160 m 2 ) in the heart of Vienna.

All apartments, completely refurbished in 2016, with

marble bath, air conditioning, fully equipped kitchenette,

satellite-tv, stereosystem, ISDN-telephone with

voice-mailsystem and free high-speed internet-access.

NEW: large lobby with 24h concierge service, breakfast

area and conference room.

Singerstrasse 21 / 25

Apartments & Hotel

1010 Vienna

Tel.: +43 (0)1 514 49 0

apartments@singerstrasse2125.at

www.singerstrasse2125.at

Cercle Diplomatique 3/2017

LE BULLETIN REVIEW

June 2017

Turkmenistan

On the occasion of the establishment of the diplomatic relations between Turkmenistan

and Austria 25 years ago, a reception was held at the Diplomatic Academy.

June 2017

Slovenia

National Day was celebrated with a reception at the Haus der Industrie.

Top: H.E. Silapberdi

Nurberdiev.

Left: H.E. Andrej Rahten

(front row, 4th left) and

his wife Polona Rahten

Stekar (next to him, left).

June 2017

Philippines

Independence Day was celebrated with a reception and a book presentation

at Palais Hansen Kempinski.

PHOTOS: DODGE AND BURN

PHOTOS: DODGE AND BURN, JOE HAIDER

June 2017

Sovereign Order of Malta

On the occasion of the Celebration Day of the Sovereign Order of Malta,

a reception was held at the St. Johanns Club.

TIMELESS

QUALITY

AND STYLE

SINCE 1836

www.jse.wien

Top: H.E. Maria Zeneida Angara Collinson (front row middle, in red)

and her husband, Michael John Collinson (3rd r.).

Top, left: The Ambassador of the Sovereign Order of Malta,

H.E. Christof Maria Fritzen.

1010 Vienna, Austria

Weihburggasse 27

16 Cercle Diplomatique 3/2017

STORES AUCTIONS HUNTING MANUFACTURE

Cercle Diplomatique 3/2017 17

LE BULLETIN REVIEW

June 2017

Canada

Three occasions were celebrated at this garden party at the residence: the 150th birthday of

Canada, 65 years of diplomatic relations between Canada & Austria as well as a Farewell.

June 2017

USA

On the occasion of the 241st Independence Day the traditional

garden party was held again at the residence.

Kate Marie Byrnes, Chargé d‘Affaires US-Mission at OSCE, Andrew

Schofer (r.), Chargé d‘Affaires at the International Organisations

and Chargé d‘Affaires of the US Embassy, Eugene Young (l.).

Left: H.E. Mark Bailey

and his wife Raja Bailey

(next picture left, on

the right) also

celebrated their last

official appearance in

Vienna.

June 2017

Apostolic Nuntiature

On the occasion of the fourth anniversary of the election of Pope Francis, the Apostolic Nuncio H.E. Archbishop

Peter Stephan Zurbriggen invited to a reception at the Apostolic Nunciature.

PHOTOS: DODGE AND BURN

Top: H.E. Archbishop Peter Stephan Zurbriggen (middle)

with His Eminence Cardinal Christoph Schönborn (left).

18 Cercle Diplomatique 3/2017

Cercle Diplomatique 3/2017

LE BULLETIN REVIEW

June 2017

Belarus

To celebrate Independence Day a garden party was given at the Embassy.

July 2017

Croatia

National Day, the 25th anniversary of the official recognition of Croatia as well as the Day

of the Armed Forces were celebrated at the Embassy.

FINE ANTIQUES

WATCHES

JEWELLERY

PRECIOUS METALS

Right:

H.E. Alena

Kupchyna.

Left: H.E. Vesna Cvjetković

(right) with H.E. Dubravka

Marković and Colonel Davor

Kopanji.

July 2017

Vietnam

On the occasion of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and

Austria 45 years ago, a cultural event was held at the City Hall of Vienna.

Left, middle: H.E. Vu Viet Anh

and his wife, Ha Phi Yen.

PHOTOS: DODGE AND BURN

Auktioneum GmbH

Spiegelgasse 19

1010 Wien

Tel: +43 1 890 90 95

E-Mail: office@auktioneum.com

20 Cercle Diplomatique 3/2017

EXQUISIT ONLINE SHOPPING

www.auktioneum.com

Cercle Diplomatique 3/2017 21

LE BULLETIN REVIEW

July 2017

Estonia

The country assumed the EU Council Presidency and celebrated with

a concert and a reception at Kursalon Hübner.

July 2017

Cape Verde

National Day was celebrated with the traditional garden reception.

Left: H.E. Rein Oidekivi

(right) with his wife

Viktoria Melnyk (2nd

right) and H.E. Eve-Külli

Kala (2nd l.) with H.E.

Michael Linhart.

INTERNATIONALE

APOTHEKE

INTERNATIONAL

PHARMACY

July 2017

Venezuela

National Day was commemorated with a flower offering and a reception at the

monument of Simon Bolivar at Donaupark.

Left: Honorary Consul of

Cape Verde Wolfgang

Meixner (left).

YOUR INTERNATIONAL

HEALTH EXPERT SINCE 1870

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We stand for commitment, service

and efficiency concerning health,

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Chargé d’ Affairs a.i. Dalila Hernández,

Minister Counsellor, gave a speech.

PHOTOS: JOE HAIDER, DODGE AND BURN

PHOTOS: DODGE AND BURN

Kärntner Ring 17, 1010 Wien

T: (+43 1) 512 28 25

F: (+43 1) 512 28 25 – 9

www.internationale-apotheke.at

22 Cercle Diplomatique 3/2017

Cercle Diplomatique 3/2017

LE BULLETIN REVIEW

July 2017

Belgium

On the occasion of the official re-opening of the Belgian Embassy at

Vienna a reception was given to present the refurbished rooms.

July 2017

France

On the occasion of National Day a reception was

held at the magnificent Embassy.

Left: H.E. Baron Willem Van

de Voorde (2nd r.) and Didier

Reynders (middle), Belgian

Deputy Prime Minister &

Minister for Foreign and

European Affairs.

Left:

H.E. François

Saint-Paul.

WIEN | SALZBURG | INNSBRUCK

July 2017

France

The Honorary Consulate of France and the Austrian-French Society Linz

celebrated National Day with music and dance at Autowelt Linz.

PHOTOS: DODGE AND BURN, AMITIÉ FRANCE-AUTRICHE DE LINZ

PHOTOS: DODGE AND BURN

Jeder Mensch hat seine Philosophie

und sein eigenes Lebenskonzept.

Wir haben dafür Verständnis und auch

das geeignete Zuhause.

Menschen, die sich für ein Leben in

den Senioren Residenzen entscheiden,

entscheiden sich bewusst für ihre

Eigenständigkeit, ihre persönliche

Freiheit, sowie für die Zuverlässigkeit

eines kompetenten und wirtschaftlich

eigenständigen Dienstleistungsunternehmens.

Everyone has their own philosophy

and their own concept

of life. We understand

that and offer the adequate

home.

People who decide to live in

a senior citizens residence

deliberately choose independence,

personal freedom and

the reliability of an economically

independent service

company.

From left: Andreas Parlic, H.E. François Saint-Paul with his wife

(2nd l.), Upper Austrian Honorary Consul Cecilia Baldivieso de

Witzany and Upper Austrian Honorary Consul of France, Ekkehard

Redlhammer.

www.seniorenresidenzen.co.at

24 Cercle Diplomatique 3/2017

Cercle Diplomatique 3/2017

LE BULLETIN REVIEW

July 2017

German working visit in Vienna

Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier came to Vienna and met Federal

President Alexander Van der Bellen and Federal Chancellor Christian Kern.

July 2017

Colombia

Independence Day was celebrated with a garden

party at the Prater Vienna.

President Steinmeier (2nd r.)

and Elke Büdenbender (very

left) with President Van der

Bellen, Doris Schmidauer

(2nd l.) and Chancellor

Christian Kern (below, r.).

H.E. Jaime Alberto Cabal

Sanclemente and his wife

Claudia Calero de Cabal.

CMY

July 2017

Egypt

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

PHOTOS: PETER LECHNER & CARINA KARLOVITS/HBF U. BKA/ANDY WENZEL, DODGE AND BURN

PHOTOS: DODGE AND BURN

H.E. Omar Amer Youssef (2nd right) with his wife (right).

26 Cercle Diplomatique 3/2017

Cercle Diplomatique 3/2017

LE BULLETIN REVIEW

July 2017

Korea

The establishment of diplomatic relations between Korea and Austria 125 years ago

was celebrated with a concert of traditional Korean music at Vienna Konzerthaus.

HUGO BOSS AG Phone +49 7123 940 hugoboss.com

Below: H.E. Dong-Ik Shin.

July 2017

Morocco

A reception was given on the occasion of the anniversary

of the accession to the throne of King Mohammed VI.

PHOTOS: JOE HAIDER, DODGE AND BURN

H.E. Lotfi Bouchaara and his wife.

28 Cercle Diplomatique 3/2017

Wien BOSS Store Kärntner Straße 20

MONDE

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

NUMBER OF HIGHLY

INTERESTING REPORTS ON

THE COUNTRIES OF THE

WORLD AND THEIR

REPRESENTATIONS IN

AUSTRIA, PEPPERED WITH

INTERVIEWS AND EXPERTS’

OPINIONS FROM AUSTRIA

AND ABROAD.

LE MONDE MACEDONIA

SMALL COUNTRY,

BIG NAME

MACE DONIA

The Bridge of Art in

Macedonia's capital Skopje

– a pedestrian bridge

across the Vardar River

built in 2014, featuring

many statues of noted

Macedonian artists and

musicians.

With the formation of a new government

in May 2017, the Republic of Macedonia

is about to restart its economy and

ambitions to join the European Union

and the Nato. Those who know this

small country with a big name well,

are convinced that it is one of the last

treasures in Europe yet to be discovered.

PHOTO: FOTOLIA

Text: Rainer Himmelfreundpointner

32 Cercle Diplomatique 3/2017

Cercle Diplomatique 3 /2017

LE MONDE MACEDONIA

The Temple St. Kliment Ohridski

(left) and the modern Telekom

building, both in Skopje.

The famous St. Jovan Kaneo

Church at Lake Ohrid, a place

which has put Macedonia on the

touristic landscape.

PHOTOS: FOTOLIA, VLADIMIR ARSOVSKI, GORAN JAKIMOVSKI

Oh, what a match this was. On August 8th,

2017, the players of Manchester United, despite

their ”spirited response“ and ”majestic

performance from Nemanja Matić“, as the newspaper

”Times“ noted, found themselves ”outclassed“ in

a real lesson in soccer by Real Madrid and have lost

the UEFA Super Cup Final by 1:2 against the Champions

League winner from Spain.

Oh, what a host city it was. The match took place

at the national stadium of the Republic of Macedonia,

a country which actually prefers handball as its

favourite sport, in the capital Skopje. The city has

welcomed the teams and its top-players like Cristiano

Ronaldo or Paul Pogba with cheers, turning this

major soccer evening into a celebration of hospitality

and peaceful joy. In other words, as Aki Nuredini,

the best-known of the some 25,000 Macedonians in

Austria, who runs a successful restaurant – ”Il Sole“

– just behind Vienna's Opera, remarks as well, by

hosting this high level sports event, Skopje has painted

a whole new picture of a country which until recently

has been seen as one of the dangerously unstable

political focal points at the Western Balkans.

Since 2015, Macedonia, which has gained independence

from the former Republic of Yugoslavia in

1991, has been locked in an ongoing political dispute.

Even after the last elections in December 2016,

that have seen Zoran Zaev, the leader of the leftwing

SDSM party, ahead of the former prime minister, Nikola

Gruevski from the rightwing VMRO-DPMNE

party, the formation of a new government has been

blocked for six months until May 2017. Tension between

rival political factions already had forcefully

broken out in April 2017 and spilled into bloodshed,

when a nationalist mob stormed parliament. The situation

had also raised concerns within the EU and

Nato, since Macedonia is a candidate country to join

both organisations.

But with the finally achieved formation of a new

government led by Mr Zaev, who in his first statement

had guarenteed ”the protection of the unity,

sovereignty and territorial integrity of the independent

and multi-ethnic Macedonia“, the moods have

boiled down and all efforts are now focused on the

peaceful economic development which the country

is definitely in need of. And with the successful hosting

of the recent Super Cup Final, Skopje has sent a

most welcomed sign to the world that Macedonia

has again found its course towards European integration.

„Our first and foremost focus is the full membership

to the EU and the Nato“, says Vasilka Popeska

Trenevska, the Ambassador of the Republic of

Macedonia to Austria. ”This is not only important

for the stability of our country, but for the complete

region as well, where Macedonia is the biggest supporter

of the EU“ (also see interview page 38).

Up until now, the major obstacle to EU and Nato

membership has been the oppositions of Macedonia's

neighbour Greece because of what is widely known

as the „Name Issue“. Greece believes that the name

”Republic of Macedonia“ implies a territorial claim

to the northern Greek province with the same name

and therefore has vetoed Macedonia's ambitions

from the very beginning. It has also not been exactly

helpful that former Prime Minister Gruevski renamed

airports and motorways after Alexander the

Great, the ancient Greek warrior reimagined by his

party as its own national hero.

Last June, in one of his first major diplomatic

steps, Macedonia's new Foreign Minister Nikola Dimitrov

has met with Greek ministers to discuss the

name issue, saying his country would consider fresh

proposals on its provisional name in an effort to unlock

Greek opposition to its EU and Nato membership.

”I will ask Greece to reconsider what kind of

neighbour they want – do they want a stable, friendly

country that offers hope for democracy and justice?“,

Dimitrov said ahead of the meetings. ”If we are

a good neighbour, then hopefully political forces in

Greece will realise this is a historic opportunity.“

These talks are now closely observed by EU officials

like Johannes Hahn, Austria's EU Commissioner for

Regional Policy, who has been mediating in Macedonia

heavily. ”The new government needs shoring up“,

says Florian Bieber, a political scientist at the University

of Graz, ”and nothing would be a better sign of

success than a breakthrough in the name dispute.“

Meanwhile, supported by this positive restart in

the name issue, the new government is trying

to tackle the two main areas where the country is ailing

most – unemployment and low average income.

In 2016, Macedonia's economy, albeit small and

amounting just a bit over 10 billion US-dollar (nominal),

has grown some 2.4 percent and is supposed to

increase for some 2.1 percent in 2017. But the unemployment

rate last year stood at 24 percent and is expected

to fall only to 22 percent in 2017, with youth

unemployment even double than this – still one of

the worst figures in the Western Balkans. And the

Fresque "The Angel from

Kurbinovo" (above) and the

natural monumental rocks of

Kuklitsi, Macedonia (below).

Lake Matka near Skopje, one of

the many hidden touristic

treasures of Macedonia to be

discovered.

Cercle Diplomatique 3/2017

LE MONDE MACEDONIA

MACEDONIA

Official Name:

Republic of Macedonia

Capital: Skopje

Area: 25,713 sqkm 2

Population: 2,073,702

(2016 estimate)

Ethnic Groups: 64.2%

Macedonians, 25.2%

Albanians, 3.9% Turks,

2.7% Romani, 1.8% Serbs,

2.2% other/unspecified

Languages: Macedonian,

Albanian, Turkish, Romani,

Serbian

Religion: Eastern

Orthodoxy (64.8%), Islam

(33.3%), Other Christian

(0.4%), Others/None

(1.5%).

Currency: Macedonian

Denar (MKD)

GDP: 10.23 billion $

(nominal, 2016)

GDP per capita: 4,940 $

(nominal, 2016)

Government:

Parliamentary Republic

• President: Gjorge Ivanov

• Prime Minister:

Zoran Zaev

Independence

from SFR Yugoslavia

8 September 1991: declared

8 April 1993: Officially

recognised by the UN

The neo-classicistic

Government building in the

heart of Skopje, where a

new economic plan is

currently carved out.

A statue of Alexander the Great,

towering a stone bridge in

Macedonia's capital Skopje,

overlooking the

historic center.

average wage of only some 300 Euro per month (after

taxes) is far too low to make a decent living given local

prices nearly at Western European levels. As a result

of this, many young Macedonians are leaving or

trying to leave the country.

The new government is currently carving out economic

measures to improve this situation. ”There are

3-, 6- and 9-month steps“, Ambassador Trenevska

explains. ”By the beginning of 2018, a complete new

business plan for Macedonia will be presented and

implemented.“ Major focus shall be put on the development

of all kinds of infrastructure, tourism and

small businesses. Already the World Bank has responded

to such efforts and previous steps by the

country with a population of some 2 million inhabitants.

In its recent ”Ease of Doing Business“ report

Macedonia is ranked 10th, which is mainly due to its

investment pitch based on low taxes and wages and

aiming at investments of mid-sized companies. Indeed,

many investors pay virtually no corporate or income

tax in Macedonia, thanks to special economic

zones provided for greenfield projects. They also benefit

from generous state subsidies and many young

tech-savvy Macedonians who are especially talented

in IT- and computer skills.

As a matter of fact, because of this positive environment,

Austria ranks number 2 as foreign direct

investor in Macedonia, just behind the Netherlands

and ahead of Greece, Slovenia and Hungary. According

to Erika Teoman-Brenner, the Austrian Commercial

Counsellor in charge of Macedonia, there

are currently some 50 Austrian companies with local

subsidiaries active in the country. ”Also some of the

most well-known brands and service providers there

are from Austria“, she says (also see page 41).

Many of the Austrian expats working there also

spread stories of a Macedonia being actually one of

last treasures of Europe still to be discovered – not

only in economic terms, but as one of the most beautiful

places to visit. There are the impressive remainings

of its Greek, Roman and Ottoman history, and

there is the glittering Lake Ohrid and the historic

waterside town of Ohrid, which already have etched

out a place for Macedonia on the tourist map. ”But

this small nation is far more than just one great lake“,

as travel-guide Lonely Planet states. ”Skopje may be

the Balkans' most bonkers and unfailingly entertaining

capital city. And the rest of Macedonia is a

stomping ground for adventurers. If you want to get

off the beaten track in Europe, this is it.“

PHOTOS: FOTOLIA, VLADIMIR ARSOVSKI, GORAN JAKIMOVSKI, CAVKULOSKI / WWW.OHRIDPLACES.COM

An evening dawn in winter over the

city of Ohrid (left) and impressions

of a fisherman cottage on

Lake Prespa (right).

Cercle Diplomatique 3/2017

LE MONDE MACEDONIA | INTERVIEW

H.E. Vasilka Poposka Trenevska

“Macedonia remains committed to a solution to the ‘Name Issue’ with Greece.“

The Ambassador of the Republic of Macedonia on economic

measures of the new coalition government tackling unemployment

and wage rise and the unsolved dispute about the name of

her country.

Interview: Rainer Himmelfreundpointner

CD: Ambassador Trenevska, how would you see

the current relationship between the Republic

of Macedonia and Austria and its historic

development?

Vasilka Poposka Trenevska: Formal diplomatic

relations between the Republic of

Macedonia and the Republic of Austria

commenced in 1994. And, while relations

between the two countries go back much

farther, more recent developments in relations

between both countries are noteworthy.

In particular, the high level of diplomatic

relations between both countries in

recent years has led to increased cultural

exchange and the promotion of strong economic

relations. Recent examples of high

level cooperation include the engagement

of the Republic of Austria with refugee crisis,

showcasing the solidarity between Austria

and Macedonia as both countries

sought to mitigate the human impact as

hundreds of thousands of refugees were

fleeing civil war and strife.

According to recent official figures, the trade

volume in goods between Macedonia and Austria

(2016) is just below of some 180 million Euro,

declining, compared to the year before. What can

be done to improve our trade relations?

Taking the long view of Macedonian and

Austrian economic relations is instructive,

as the trend is clearly towards increasing

economic engagement between both countries.

From my time as Ambassador to the

Republic of Austria, I have witnessed and

done my best to facilitate the genesis of new

ideas for cooperation, to support and protect

existing areas of cooperation, and I have

had the pleasure of seeing the fruition of

plans already made. Ties between Macedonia

and Austria are deepening organically,

as both countries appreciate the full potential

of regional economic cooperation.

Macedonia remains a highly competitive

destination for foreign direct investment

in the Balkans, offering extremely attractive

incentives for foreign investors over the

long and short term. Budding industries, as

well as established ones, offer high growth

potential. Austrian support and economic

cooperation has been a boon to Macedonia

and has led to positive social and economic

externalities in both countries. Furthermore,

EU led support for the sustainable development

of Macedonia and linkage of the

Macedonian economy to the EU is exemplified

by the trans-European road Corridor

X, an initiative that is continuing to lead

towards new and improved opportunities

for investment in Macedonia. Foreign investors

in Macedonia are offered continuous

support through the Agency for Foreign

Investment and Export Promotion,

though the legal and bureaucratic process

of investing in Macedonia has been markedly

simplified since 2010. Furthermore,

Technological and Industrial Development

Zones (TIDZs) have been established in

Macedonia to support investors in establishing

successful enterprises that link a

skilled Macedonian workforce with industrial

capital investments.

This year, experts have predicted a growth rate

for Macedonia of some 3.1%. But they have also

noted the “ongoing political crisis“ since 2015 as

the biggest obstacle to achieve this. Can you give

us an overview about the current political

situation which seems to have stabilised after

months of uncertainty about a new government?

First quarter macro economic indicators

would agree with the assessment that

uncertainty regarding the outcome of the

December 2016 election may have had an

impact on growth. However, the new

government that has formed, has now

handled many of the key issues involved in

the transitional period and has moved on

to addressing aspects of economic policy

that will positively affect economic growth.

Effective strides are being made towards

establishing a new political equilibrium,

one in which fostering continued economic

growth remains a priority.

What are the plans of the new social democrat

government to reduce unemployment (currently

about 24%) and improve the average income of

some 500 Euro per month of the Macedonian

people?

Unemployment figures have continued

to drop from their peak following the European

economic crisis. A large share of the

drop in unemployment has resulted from

foreign direct investment in Macedonia,

tourism growth, as well as Macedonia’s

success in manufacturing. The new SDSM

led coalition government has spearheaded

measures to promote labour policies that

facilitate economic growth by supporting

the internal market. Policies are being implemented

to allow for a raise in the mini-

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Austria already ranks as Nr. 2 of the major foreign

investors in Macedonia, with an amount of some

540 million Euro (2015) and providing jobs for

some 5,900 people. Where would you see future

investment opportunities? Which would be the

major projects of development and which kind of

incentives does Macedonia offer to investors?

PHOTO: RALPH MANFREDA

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The Ambassador of the Republic of Macedonia to

Austria since 2014, holds a PhD from the Faculty of

Economics of the University of St. Clement of Ohrid/

Bitola. Prior to her diplomatic services, she has also

worked as an associate professor at the Faculty of

Veterinary Medicine in Skopje.

38 Cercle Diplomatique 3/2017

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LE MONDE MACEDONIA | INTERVIEW

LE MONDE EXPERT´S VIEW

“The new coalition government has

spearheaded measures to promote

economic growth and to allow for a

raise in the minimum wage of over 30

percent.“

”Optimistic forecasts as investor

confidence returns“

Erika Teoman-Brenner, Commercial Counsellor in Belgrade

mum wage of over 30%. This change is expected

to redistribute the benefits of the

economic growth that Macedonia has been

experiencing and to lead to positive externalities

in the labour force. Macedonia’s labour

force has a substantial degree of potential

in skilled and semi skilled jobs that

could be achieved by enhancing the potential

for workers to invest in themselves

while simultaneously supporting workforce

training and educational initiatives

that place further support in Macedonia’s

economy.

Since 2005, Macedonia has the status of an EU

membership candidate, but is being blocked by

Greece on a wide range of issues because of an

unsolved dispute about its name. Can you give us

an overview about the deeper roots of this

dispute, possible ways to get over it and the

development of EU membership negotiations?

The effects of this dispute are felt most

keenly by all Macedonians in terms of its

effect on economic growth and Macedonia’s

ability to participate in the European market.

Of the diplomatic and political issues

that face Macedonia as we pursue fullfledged

membership in the European community,

few are more acutely felt for Macedonians

than what has come to be called

“the Name Issue“. The issue itself derives

from a complex socio-historical disagreement

with Greece over the constitutional

name of Macedonia, The Republic of

Macedonia. The effects of this dispute, as is

known, include the political stance that

Greece has taken towards accepting Macedonia

into the EU. This dispute has spillover

effects into even the seemingly mundane

principals of international relations,

as our bilateral relations are marked by a

seemingly “opt-in“ system whereby states

and institutions decide independently to

acknowledge our constitutional name, or

to refer to the Republic of Macedonia as the

Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia

(fyrom). Macedonia is appreciative of the

support that Austria has shown for our

constitutional name.

The roots of this issue began over a

hundred years ago in the territorial redistributions

which followed the Balkan Wars,

in which parts of what had been Macedonia

were ceded to Northern Greece and to

Bulgaria. Yet, the contemporary roots of

this issue extend to the era of the existence

of Yugoslavia. During this period, relations

between Greece and its Balkan neighbours

remained uncertain. This uncertainty,

combined with complex issues of national

identity for both for Macedonia and Greece

following the breakup of Yugoslavia have

led to a political quagmire.

Regardless of how the issue of

Macedonia’s constitutional name has been

arrived upon, a settlement to this dispute is

essential to the future of the country. Many

solutions to the dispute have been offered

by both parties to the dispute, as well as by

concerned onlookers. Macedonia remains

committed to a solution to this issue that

satisfies the concerns of our neighbors and

respects the integrity of the Republic of

Macedonia. We will stay at the negotiating

table for as long as it takes to resolve the

dispute to the mutual satisfaction of both

parties.

Which major touristic attractions in Macedonia

would you highlight? What are the efforts of

Macedonia to improve and expand its tourism

industry?

Efforts over the past decade to open

Macedonia to the international community

have yielded a set of increasingly wellknown

touristic offerings. Our tourism

sector has made great strides in developing

standards and practices that allow for the

participation of small and medium sized

enterprises to enter the market as providers

of high quality and attractive services for

tourists. Furthermore, the Government of

Macedonia has had success with its capital

investments aimed at revitalizing major urban

centres such as Skopje and Ohrid. Every

year, accessibility is improved and our

main touristic attractions have become

even more pleasurable to visit. Personally, I

take every chance I am provided with to

take in Lake Ohrid from the lakeside boulevards

and to enjoy the bustling commercial

areas of downtown Skopje. There are,

of course, also virtually endless opportunities

for nature and extreme sport enthusiasts

to take advantage of nature preserves

such as Mount Vodno, Popova Sapka, and

Mavrovo for activities such as world class

paragliding, hiking, skiing, and sport kayaking.

It should also be noted, however, that

Macedonia has had enormous success in

cultivating the development of our wine

tourism sector over the past decade.

Finally, can you share with us your vision of how

Macedonia will develop in the coming years?

In many ways, Macedonia is timeless.

Our cultural mosaic is bound to steady historical

trends that ensure that we remain a

multicultural society that celebrates its heritage

and strong links to Europe and Asia.

That being said, I do see change on the horizon,

brought about by improvements to

the economic health of the country, which

is led by our younger generations. A shift to

high skilled jobs in the field of digital technology

and a greater sense of security as

Macedonia moves to address the opportunities

that are present in our economy. This

economic change will be met with, perhaps,

a far more significant adaption as

Macedonia’s social and political identity

expands to include new facets. Primarily, I

see a future for Macedonia as a full-fledged

member of the European community. I see

a place for Macedonia as a strong contributor

to European cultural and economic attainment,

as a partner in the peace and security

of Europe.

PHOTO: RALPH MANFREDA

PHOTO: VALERI ANGELOV

Erika Teoman-

Brenner was

appointed as

Commercial Counsellor

at the Austrian

Embassy in Belgrade

with accreditation to

the Embassies in

Skopje and Podgorica

as well in September

2015.

Manufacturing is the real driver behind Macedonia‘s positive export performance.

Macedonia is a small country with a population size of about

2 million and a long history of migration. Being the poorest

republic in former Yugoslavia, the country has tried hard to

make progress in liberalising its economy and improving its

business environment since its independence. While the

country maintained an impressive level of stability during

the global financial crisis in 2008/2009, the prolonged

internal political crisis that almost paralysed it for two years,

had a negative impact on the economic performance and

caused a slow-down of economic growth. However, the

stabilization of the political situation leads now to more

optimistic forecasts as investor confidence returns and the new government

seems to be committed to step up economic reforms. These should primarily be

targeted at improving the regulatory environment and strengthening the rule of

law – two issues that have been consistently raised by Austrian investors.

Besides low labour cost, the government offers very attractive tax and financial

incentives – probably the most generous in the Westbalkans – to foreign

investors in free economic zones. This has helped to attract foreign investments

especially in manufacturing which, in fact, has become the real driver behind the

positive export performance of the country. But it has also contributed to a

specific feature of the Macedonian economy: a very large import content in the

foreign investments (machinery, raw materials etc.) and a very limited

integration of local suppliers in these production chains. This is definitely a

situation that should be remedied for the sake of strengthening the domestic

sector, in particular small and medium sized companies.

However, job creation is a major goal in this strategy to encourage foreign

investments, given the persistently high levels of unemployment, especially

among the youth, as throughout the whole region. On the other hand, companies

find it often hard to recruit qualified technical personnel. An oversupply of

University graduates and, at the same time, the lack of a functioning dual

vocational training system created a mismatch in the labour market where the

educational level of the young does not correspond to the qualification the

employers are looking for.

Austrian companies, and their products and services, enjoy an excellent

reputation in Macedonia. Not only are we the second largest investor in the

country, but also some of the most well-known brands and service-providers are

from Austria. Regarding the bilateral trade, we observe a decline since last year.

Our export volume 2016 amounted to 111 million Euro, which was 8,6% less than

2015. At the same time, our imports from Macedonia – just about half of our

exports – shrank by 3,6%. Austria´s main export items are meat, pharmaceuticals,

food ingredients and various machinery and technical equipment.

Macedonia´s exports to Austria consist basically of apparel – with more than

half of Macedonian exports to Austria - and to a much lesser extent, of fruits and

vegetables. It should be noted that the textile and garment industry is one of the

most developed economic sectors in Macedonia and many well-known German

and Italian fashion brands have production facilities there.

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Miracles of the Caribbean

Each year, between January

and March, many big cruise

ships head for the northern

Samaná Bay for a whalewatching-stopover.

FACTS &

FIGURES

Its economy is a remarkable success story all over Latin America. Its blessings of nature

and cultural heritage are providing records in tourism year after year. And its people,

especially when dancing the merengue, are turning a visit to this Caribbean country

into an unforgettable experience. Welcome to the Dominican Republic.

Text: Rainer Himmelfreundpointner

PHOTOS: FOTOLIA

On February 6th, 1998, the Austrian singer

and pop star Falco – eventually the country‘s

most outstanding musician in recent decades

who has spent his last year in the Dominican Republic

to finish a new album – has deceased after a

car crash near the city of Monte Llano in the Dominican

Republic. Up until now, some of his fans pay

tribute at a little memorial site which has been set up

there on the Caribbean island.

As sad as this lethal accident has been, it carries a

truth within that is distinctly und definitely positive

since Falco has retreated into his creative refugium

because he has fallen in love with the Dominican Republic

– its welcoming people, its diverse nature with

stunning mountains and desert scrublands, its

beaches galore, its evocative colonial architecure

and, maybe most of all, its merengue, the country‘s

typical local music and dance.

Experts say that Falco was about to integrate these

sounds of love into his latest songs, which certainly

would have made them a hit amongst the nearly seven

million visitors to the Dominican Republic who

are enjoying pretty much the same feelings. ”For

some, the idyllic beaches and all-included rum cocktails

may have their place, but for me, the Dominican

Republic is about other things“, the wide-read British

travel-blogger Ashley Harrell puts them into poetic

words. ”It‘s the wizened men puffing cigars and slapping

down dominoes by the fire atop Pico Duarte, or

dancing the merengue inside the crumbling ruins of

the New World‘s first monastery. I‘ve never felt so inspired

as when I zipped through desert hills on a

scooter, past grazing goats and drying laundry, headed

for a faraway fishing village where an ambitious

expat started a kitesurfing school.“

There is another traveller who may have been

equally enthusiastic, the day he arrived at one of the

endless, virgin shores – Christopher Columbus, today

dubbed by the natives as “the first tourist“. He

has discovered the island in 1492, giving it the name

“La Hispañola“ and starting a period of more than

four centuries under foreign rule. Between 1655 and

1701 alone, the island has been dominated by the

British, the French and the Spanish alternately. A few

decades later, in 1731, it was divided into what is today

Haiti and the Dominican Republic, which proclaimed

its First Republic in 1844.

This early period of independence found an end

in 1916 when the United States of America occupied

the Dominican Republic and governed it until 1924,

installing a puppet regime afterwards. In 1930, the

revolutionary Rafael Trujillo succeeded in a coup

d‘etat only to start a grim dictatorship which lasted

for about 30 years. Then, in 1964, the Fourth Republic

has been established and since then, the Dominican

Republic has embarked on a path of growth, stability

and remarkable development – which in recent

years even accelerated under President Danilo Medina

who has been first elected in 2012 and re-elected

last year.

In 2016, the Dominican Republic with a population

of some 10 million people has outperformed most

of the other countries in the world with an economic

growth rate of 6.6 percent, amounting to a GDP of

more than 72 billion dollars (nominal). This equals

one of the highest purchasing powers per person –

some 15.200 dollars for each Dominican inhabitant

– in Latin America and the Caribbean. Acccording

to Alexander Solar, the Austrian Commercial Counsellor

covering the Dominican Republic, this extraordinary

economic perfomance is mainly due to ”a

very strong increase in tourism“ of a record 11 percent,

while the number of Austrian tourists even has

jumped up for more than 25 per cent in 2016.

”The Dominican Republic last year reached a record

of nearly 6 million tourists, an increase of over

380,000 additional visitors“, confirms Lourdes Victoria-Kruse,

the Ambassador of the Dominican Republic

to Austria in an interview with Cercle Diplomatique

(page 45). Adds Petra Cruz, Director for

Europe of the Dominican Republic‘s Tourism Board:

”In April 2017, we have registered 15 percent more of

international visitors in relation to the same period

last year. It has been the best month in our tourism

history which really makes us extremely happy.“

Since tourism accounts for nearly two thirds of the

countries economy each and every Dominican –

who are regarded as one of the happiest people in the

world – is embracing foreigners, helping them with

every single little problem, welcoming them with all

kinds of services – no wonder the country is the epi-

Dominican Republic

Official name:

República Dominicana

Capital and largest city:

Santo Domingo

Official language: Spanish

Ethnic groups:

72.9% Mixed

16.1% White

10.9% Black

0.1% Yellow

Government:

Unitary presidential

republic

• President:

Danilo Medina

• Vice President:

Margarita Cedeño de

Fernández

Area: 48,442 km 2

Population: 10,100,000

(2016 estmate)

GDP: 72.194 billion $

(2016, nominal)

GDP per capita: 7,159 $

(2016, nominal)

Independence:

• December 1, 1821:

from Spain (ephemeral)

• February 27, 1844:

from Haiti (official), not

recognized by Haiti until

November 9, 1874

• August 16, 1863:

from Spain (restoration)

• July 12, 1924:

from the United States

(occupation)

The island which today consists of Haiti

and the Dominican Republic has been

discovered in 1492 by Columbus.

Cap Cana, with its endless

white sand beaches, is one of

the major tourist attractions

in the region of Punta Cana,

located at the eastern coast

of the Dominican Republic.

Left: Cool carriages in Santo Domingo.

Right: ”Teeth of the Dog“ – the

number 1 golf course of the Caribbean

at Casa de Campo resort in Punta

Cana.

42 Cercle Diplomatique 3/2017

LE MONDE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

LE MONDE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC | INTERVIEW

H.E. Lourdes Victoria-Kruse

“Our goal is to welcome 10 million visitors in the year 2022.“

Interview:

Rainer Himmelfreundpointner

Dancing the merengue in the capital

Santo Domingo, where the first

cathedral of the Caribbean was built

(top). Enjoying the gentle ocean near

Samaná Bay and the fruits of nature

offered by the Dominican Republic.

tome of all-inclusive – and turning their holidays on

the island into an unforgettable experience. As a

commercial fundament, the government has recently

carved out a new strategy which is based on

three pillars: golf, adventure and nature or eco-tourism.

In terms of golf, the Dominican Republic for a

couple of years already has acquired a reputation as

the number one destination in the Caribbean, thanks

to its more than 30 golf courses, some of them – like

the “Teeth of the Dog“ in Punta Cana – providing

outstanding beauty and challenge.

To enjoy eco-tourism and find adventure, one

only has to take a discovery trip into the fertile interior

of the island. ”You’ll see cows and horses grazing

alongside the roads, and trucks and burros loaded

down with fresh produce“, the blogger Harrell reports.

”Further inland you’ll encounter vistas reminiscent

of the European Alps, rivers carving their

way through lush jungle and stunning waterfalls.“

Actually, four of the five highest peaks in the Caribbean

rise above the rural lowlands surrounding Santiago,

and remote deserts stretch through the southwest,

giving the Dominican Republic a physical

and cultural complexity not found on other islands.

But that‘s only half of the fun this country has to

offer. The other half is streched out over the hundreds

of kilometers of coastline defining the Dominican

Republic. There are endless, out-of-a-dream untouched

shores being gently caressed by the

Caribbean Sea, blessed with white-sand beaches shaded

by rows of palm trees. Then, one may come across

other parts which are lined dramatically with

rocky cliffs, wind-swept dunes or even serene mangrove

lagoons.

And everywhere, whether it‘s fishing villages with

boats moored along the shores, or indulgent tourist

playgrounds with aquamarine waters, the sea is and

always has been the common denominator. Some of

the bays and coves where pirates once roamed are

nowadays the temporary home of thousands of migrating

humpback whales, and form part of an extensive

network of parks and preserves safeguarding the

country‘s natural heritage. They are also serving as a

major attraction for cruise-ships-tourists, which between

January and March of each year, make a whalewatching-stopover

at Samaná Bay for this overwhelming

ocean ballet performed by these giant animals.

Those, who long for a bit of culture and entertainment

as well, are welcomed to check in at one of

the charming and affordable luxury hotels in one of

the major cities. The country‘s roller-coaster past is

writ large in the physical design of their architectures.

For example, the Zona Colonial, a UNESCO-

World-Heritage, in the capital of the Dominican Republic,

Santo Domingo, exudes romance with its

beautifully restored monasteries and cobblestone

streets along which conquistadors once roamed. As a

matter of fact, Ambassador Victoria-Kruse proudly

remarks, ”Santo Domingo also was the first city of

the New World, with the first cathedral, the first university

and the first road in America“.

There are many remainings of that era to be

found, not only in Santo Domingo but also in Puerto

Plata or Santiago, like for example the cute gingerbread

home or even traces of the indigenous Taíno

people who have carved their presence onto rock

walls not far away where Christopher Columbus

strode and has put the island on the world‘s map forever.

But to be honest, for most of the visitors to the

Dominican Republic such attractions make up for

just a nice afternoon sight-seeing-tour. The real

DomRep-feeling starts when the sun sets and when

it comes to meeting the regular people there.

Dominicans greatly appreciate their down time

and really know how to party, as can be seen at Carnival

celebrations held throughout the country and

at each town‘s own distinctive fiesta. Such events are

like windows into their culture, and it is more than

worthy to join the fun and elaborate feasts. To do so

and to dive into and experience this, there is no better

way than to take a taste of the social glue which

forms the bloodline of the country – the merengue.

Only if you watch Dominican couples smoothly dancing

to its rhythm, only when you listen to its sound

blasting all-night long from the colmados, those

combined corner stores and bars, you will really be

able to absorb the true nature of the way of life on

this Caribbean island.

PHOTOS: FOTOLIA

PHOTO: RALPH MANFREDA

The Ambassador of the Dominican Republic digs into the strategics of her country‘s touristic development

and highlights its location as a perfect hub for the Latin American and Caribbean markets.

CD: Your Excellency, many Austrians are aware of

the Dominican Republic as a touristic destination,

but little is known about the relationship the

countries share. Can you give us a glance at this?

Lourdes Victoria-Kruse: The first diplomatic

contacts date from 1938, when the

Dominican Government designated an

Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary

in Germany, Austria and

Czechoslovakia. The Government of the

Dominican Republic decided to establish a

Permanent Mission in Vienna in 2005.

With the subsequent opening of the Embassy

in 2007, an Agreement on Air Transport

between the Dominican Republic and

the Republic of Austria has been signed.

Since 2015, Dominican students have participated

in the Ernst Mach Grant of the

Austrian Government and this year was

signed an agreement between the Instituto

de Tecnología and the University of Graz,

aimed to facilitate the exchange of more

students. Currently, we are in negotiations

to sign an agreement of promotion and

protection of investments between both

countries. Apart from many mutual highlevel

visits, an interesting fact is that the

Dominican community in Austria is the

second largest from the Latin America and

Caribbean region. In fact, the diplomatic,

personal and commercial relations between

Austria and the Dominican Republic

are excellent.

But the trade volume between the Dominican

Republic and Austria is amounting only to some

35 million Euro, with Austrian exports of some 12

million Euro and imports from the Dominican

H.E. LOURDES VICTORIA-KRUSE

Republic to Austria of about 23 million Euro. What

can be done to improve our trade relations?

The Dominican Republic has been an

important business partner for Austria in

the Caribbean. But definitely, we have to

continue to promote the variety and quality

of Dominican products in Austria, as we

are confident that these exchanges could

still rise much more, in both directions. On

the other hand, the Dominican Republic is

an ideal market for foreign investment, largely

due to its solid legal framework, incentive

laws, special schemes and Government

support towards direct foreign investment.

Some of its main attractions are its unique

geographical position, being the second

country in Latin America and the Caribbean

in terms of connectivity – i.e. transportation,

logistics and telecommunications’

infrastructure – and a preferential market

Born in Santo Domingo , Mrs Lourdes Victoria-Kruse,

has studied chemistry before entering diplomatic

services of the Dominican Republic. She has served at

her country‘s Embassies in India and Germany. Six

years ago, she moved to the Embassy in Vienna,

where she took the position of Ambassador of the

Dominican Republic to Austria in July 2017.

44 Cercle Diplomatique 3/2017

Cercle Diplomatique 3/2017

LE MONDE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

| INTERVIEW

“The unique geographical position

of the Dominican Republic offers a

preferential market access to more

than 900 million consumers.“

Ein guter Platz, Konzentration, mentale Stärke und gute

Technik – oder sich ganz einfach treiben lassen.

Lourdes Victoria-Kruse, the Ambassador of the

Dominican Republic, during the interview with Cercle

Diplomatique at the Embassy in Vienna‘s 4 th district.

access to more than 900 million consumers

around the world, through the free trade

agreements with 48 countries, including

the European Union. These factors, combined

with economic stability, made the

Dominican Republic, for the third consecutive

year, the economy of greater growth

in Latin America, with a rate of increase in

the GDP of 6.6 per cent in 2016, as well as

the regions lowest rate of inflation of only

1.7 per cent in 2016. All these aspects, combined

with a competitive and skilled workforce,

made us the largest recipient of direct

foreign investment in the Caribbean.

Which areas would you point out?

The main opportunities that the Dominican

market can offer to Austrian companies

are in the areas of renewable energy,

collection and recycling of solid waste and

sewage treatments, among others. Energy

is one of the areas that presents greater opportunities

for obtaining investment. This

sector has the advantages offered by Law

57-07 on incentives to the development of

renewable energy sources. Other priority

sectors for investment in the Dominican

Republic are agribusiness, call centers,

clothing and textiles, manufacture of footwear,

medical and pharmaceuticals devices,

information technology and software

development, mining, telecommunications

and last but not least tourism.

What are the efforts of the Dominican Republic to

improve and expand its tourism industry?

The Dominican Republic last year has

reached a record of nearly 6 million tourists,

an increase of over 380,000 additional

visitors and a growth of 6.4 per cent in arrivals,

consolidating us as leader of the most

attractive destinations in the Caribbean

region. In April 2017, we have registered 15

per cent more of international visitors in

relation to the same period last year. And

in terms of accommodation, last year the

country recorded an offer of 75,205 rooms.

These results are consistent with the medium-term

Presidential goal to receive 10

million visitors in the year 2022.

Apart from famous all-inclusive hotels, small

luxury hotels and natural beauties, which

additional touristic offers would you highlight?

Recently, our Ministry of Tourism developed

an advertising strategy based mainly

on the following segments of markets:

Golf, Adventure and Nature, meaning ecotourism.

The Dominican Republic has

more than 30 golf courses and has been recognised

as golf destination of the Caribbean

for consecutive years. In addition, the

country provides the opportunity to visit

one of the largest sanctuaries in the world

of humpback whales located in the Samaná

Bay. The capital Santo Domingo was the

first city of the New World, with the first

cathedral, the first university and the first

road in America. Since 1990, the Colonial

City of Santo Domingo has been inscribed

on the World Heritage List of UNESCO,

where visitors can enjoy our history and

culture, such as our traditional music merengue,

which is declared as Intangible Cul-

tural Heritage of Humanity, the carnival

and explore the capital of the gastronomy

of the Caribbean 2017. In 2016 alone, the

Dominican Republic participated in 176

international and regional fairs maintaining

this image of the country. But my personal

opinion is that the most important

attraction are our people. In this sense, the

country‘s socio-political and economic stability

should also be highlighted.

What about Austrian tourists?

Regarding Austria, we participate on a

regular basis in the Ferien Messe Wien and

the ReiseSalon Wien to attract more visitors.

In addition, for some years, there is a

direct flight from Vienna to Punta Cana

every week during the winter time as a result

of the cooperation between Condor

Airlines and tour operators. Also, it is important

to highlight new connections with

Eurowings, Air Berlin and Azur Air. From

January to June 2017, the arrival of tourists

from Austria increased more than 31 per

cent. The trend is that more tourists from

Germany, Switzerland and Austria have visited

the Dominican Republic, many of

them in a recurrent basis.

What is your vision of how the Dominican

Republic will develop in the coming years?

I see my country as one of the most prominent

of the Latin America and the Caribbean

region, having a leading role in the

political and economic arena. The projection

of the country is currently based on a

National Strategy of Development 2030,

whose four major pillars are related to the

demand of a social and democratic State of

Law, a society based on equal rights and

conditions. a sustainable economy, inclusive

and competitive, and to achieve an environmentally

sustainable society of production

and consumption. Currently, there is a

project to develop a dual education system

between the private sector of Austria and

Instituto de Formación Técnica Profesional,

which is being canalised through this

Embassy. For that reason, the Dominican

Republic is destined to grow.

PHOTOS: RALPH MANFREDA

DOMINIKANISCHE REPUBLIK

ein Traum

46 Cercle Diplomatique 3/2017

Tourist Board Dominikanische Republik

Hochstrasse, 54 . D-60313 Frankfurt/Main

Tel.: +49 69 91397878 . Fax: +49 69283430

germany@godominicanrepublic.com

www.godominicanrepublic.com/rd

Tourist Board

LE MONDE ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION –

THE ROLE OF WOMEN IN DIPLOMACY

Ambassadors‘ Summit #5

“Women in diplomacy – this is the new normal.“

For centuries, the universe of managing international relations

has been one of the last strongholds of men. But with the advance

of more and more women to the center stages of high level diplomacy

in recent years, male dominance at global geopolitical

playing fields is steadily crumbling. In Cercle Diplomatique‘s fifth

Ambassadors’ Summit, four female Ambassadors from Latin

American countries joined a roundtable discussion about the

increasing presence and influence of women in the world of

diplomacy.

Moderated by Rainer Himmelfreundpointner

H. E. PAULINA FRANCESCHI NAVARRO

H. E. PILAR SABORIO DE ROCAFORT

PHOTOS: XYXXYXYXY

H. E. LOURDES VICTORIA-KRUSE

H. E. LUCIA ROSELLA BADIA

PHOTO: RALPH MANFREDA

The Ambassador of the Republic of Panama to

Austria and Permanent Representative to the

UN in Vienna since November 2015, has also

served as Ambassador and Deputy Permanent

Representative to the United Nations in New

York (2014-2015) and as Vice-Chancellor of the

Santa Maria La Antigua University (2012-2014).

The Ambassador of the Republic of Costa Rica

in Austria and Permanent Representative to

the UN in Vienna presented her credentials in

February 2015. Previous positions include the

ambassadorship to Ireland (from 2012),

Iceland (from 2008), both non-resident, and

the United Kingdom (from 2007).

The Ambassador of the Dominican Republic to

Austria also acts as Permanent Representative

to the United Nations in Vienna. Before she has

joined the Vienna Embassy in 2011, Victoria-

Kruse, a chemical engineer, has served at the

Dominican Republic‘s Embassies in India

(2010-2011) and Germany (2004-2010).

The Ambassador of the Republic of El Salvador to

Austria and Permanent Representative to the UN

in Vienna took her post in October 2016. Prior to

this, she has served as Representative to the

International Coffee Organisation, International

Sugar Organisation, and International Maritime

Organisation, London (2011-2016).

Cercle Diplomatique 3/2017

LE MONDE ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION –

THE ROLE OF WOMEN IN DIPLOMACY

“There is a sixth sense, a natural intuition

which women possess. With

this ability, we may perform as better

negotiators. Female intuition is not a

definite solution of how to find the best

or peaceful ends. But it certainly helps.“

“In diplomacy, some topics are considered

to be male territory, like security

or economics, while other topics,

like migration, families or international

aid are seen as female issues. This

is only very slowly changing.“

CD: Your Excellencies, our topic today is the role

of women in diplomacy. You certainly may think of

Alexandra Michailowna Kollotai (1872-1952) from

the former, then young Soviet Union. She was

serving as the first female accredited Ambassador

in history, at first to Norway from 1923, then to

Mexico, afterwards negotiating the Soviet Union

membership to the League of Nations in 1935. But

how would you judge the role of women in

diplomacy today?

Lourdes Victoria-Kruse: Small states

like mine had pioneers in female diplomacy

as well. Minerva Bernadino was the

first and one of the most important female

Ambassadors of the Dominican Republic.

She was one of the only four women who in

1945 signed the Charter of the United Nations.

And in 1948, as President of the Interamerican

Commission of Women she

promoted the adoption of civil rights for

women at the Panamerican Conference,

culminating in one of the first human

rights treaties, establishing equal rights for

women for all the member states.

Paulina Franceschi Navarro: Th e

role of women in diplomacy today is a result

of a major evolving trend we are facing

globally. We are seeing a shift of paradigms

meaning that more and more women are

accessing male dominated careers compared

to decades and centuries ago. And that

is also reflected in diplomacy. But even as

women and men each make up for around

50 percent of world population, it would be

unrealistic to say that this is the fact in professional

life as well. But society is erupting,

and it is an increasing trend that women

hold positions in which you formerly had

men, like in diplomacy. The stereotype of a

diplomat has always been a man. Now you

can find many outstanding female diplomats

in the world – just think of a figure

like Madeleine Albright, the first female US

Secretary of State. So even though there is

still a long way to go, the role of women in

diplomacy is on the right track.

Pilar Saborio de Rocafort: I agree.

In historical terms women in diplomacy,

as in many other professional fields,

were less present because those spaces were

rarely open to us. But we have seen a shift in

the last decades that has gradually allowed a

larger presence of women in diplomacy.

The number of female Ambassadors is increasing.

And if you look down in the ranks,

the presence of women diplomats is high.

How did this global trend of emancipation effect

the rise of women in diplomacy in detail? Do

some countries have female quotas or other rules

to support female diplomats?

Pilar Saborio de Rocafort: In the

past, a lot of women could not go up to become

Ambassadors because many Ministries

of Foreign Affairs had restrictions that

undermined the careers of women diplomats.

In some cases, women had to resign

when they got married. That has changed.

Interestingly, you see quite a few female

Ambassadors coming from developing

countries. Costa Rica, for example, was the

first country to appoint a female Ambassador

to the Court of St. James‘s in 1962. And

the staff in our foreign ministry is over 50

percent female. And let us not forget Christiana

Figueres, a person whom I highly admire,

who, as Executive Secretary of the

UN Framework Convention on Climate

Change, was instrumental in making the

Paris Climate Agreement a reality. So what

I would say: the male-female ratio in diplomacy,

like in many other fields, is still not

fifty-fifty, but it is improving quite rapidly

in most parts of the world.

Lucia Rosella Badia: Let me add, that

between 1920 and 1940 many diplomatic

laws stated that women could join the external

service only in areas related to translation,

interpreters or secretaries. This has

started to change slowly, but for a long

time, it was very hard for women to get up

to junior, mid or higher levels. Even though

some countries like Sweden have introduced

female quotas in diplomacy, we still

have a lot work to do in this area. Especially

in diplomacy, some topics are considered

to be male territory, like security or economics,

while other topics like migrations,

families, children or international aid are

seen as female issues. Even if women now

cover ”male“ topics like atomic energy or

drugs, this perception is only very slowly

PHOTOS: RALPH MANFREDA

PHOTOS: XYXXYXYXY

changing. Also, in diplomacy and international

relations, the whole system is still

operated by men. You still can see things

like the “Ambassadors‘ Wives Club“ which

promotes the idea that a) there has to be a

male Ambassador accompanied by a woman

and b) this woman has to cover only

social affairs. But women have a lot more to

offer than just organising dinner parties or

social events. This is one of the things where

the system has to change. Inclusion in all

respects has to be fostered in international

politics and affairs. Like-minded views will

not lead to global solutions, not even to local

ones. If you don‘t include women‘s perspectives,

or minority perspectives, the results

are going to be just for a very focused,

mainly male population and not for all the

people.

Pilar Saborio de Rocafort: Exactly.

Have you ever been introduced to someone,

at an official event, as the Ambassador

of your country, and then they say: “Oh, so

you‘re the wife of the Ambassador?”

Lucia Rosella Badia: It happened to

me once at the UN where I had the El-Salvador-plate

in front of me. A very high ranking

official approached me and said:

”When your Ambassador comes, please

ask him to...“. When I told him that I am

the Ambassador, he was very ashamed.

Did any of you ever experience not to be taken seriously

or treated 100 percent equally and with

enough respect as a female Ambassador by male

diplomats?

Paulina Franceschi Navarro: In my

personal experience: no. Diplomacy has

become more open. Even if it is partly still

conservative, the inclusion of women has

become more mainstream – like in many

other professional fields. Think of Panama,

one of the major figures for the expansion

of the Panama Canal was a woman.

Pilar Saborio de Rocafort: I also

don‘t feel that we, as female Ambassadors,

are treated differently by our male counterparts.

Mainly because if you are the Ambassador,

whether you are male of female,

you represent the head of state.

Do you think that women in diplomacy are better

negotiators? Do women have certain female skills

that can contribute more to diplomatic procedures?

Like a tendency to find compromises and

balances easier than their male colleagues? Can

certain situations be better handled by female

diplomats rather than male?

Lucia Rosella Badia: That is extremely

hard to answer. I don‘t think skills are

gender issues. Although I have found many

studies that say that women are better negotiators.

Maybe that is, because usually

women have to work twice as hard as men

to be considered as good as men. So maybe

we are better prepared for certain negotiations

which leads to better results. But this

has nothing to do with gender but with

training and capacity. One thing I found is

that women are less intimidating than men

are. This could sometimes help in negotiations.

Other than that I cannot think of any

skill that is purely male or female.

Paulina Franceschi Navarro: Nevertheless,

I think we do complement a few

things. There is a nature in women and that

is empathy. Empathy is more common with

women, it flows naturally in women simply

because of biology. We also complement

the equation, because we worry about issues

which men sometimes do not care about,

think of all the family or diversity issues.

For example, in my country you can trace

exactly that since women have become

more engaged in public politics, families or

children have become subjects of policies

or political issues. Before, when there were

only men, it was all about economics. You

can very well track this back to women‘s

engagement. Also, there is a difference between

hearing and listening. I think, women

are better listeners, we read more beyond

words. That has been nurtured in us and

sometimes does not flow very nicely with

our male counterparts because they don‘t

read between the lines like women do. It is

easier for us to understand what‘s behind

words. And that is an ability which is certainly

very helpful in conflict situations or

when you are seeking for peace and security.

I think these are complementary values

when it comes to the role of women in our

profession.

50 Cercle Diplomatique 3/2017

Cercle Diplomatique 3/2017

LE MONDE ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION –

THE ROLE OF WOMEN IN DIPLOMACY

“There is a difference between hearing

and listening. I think women are

better listeners than men. We read

more beyond the words than our

male counterparts. This ability is certainly

helpful in conflict situations. “

“Women are far more verbal and able to

express much better than men. But that does

not mean, that with women in charge, the

world would be in peace. Golda Meir, Margaret

Thatcher and Indira Gandhi – none of

them shied away from conflict.“

Lourdes Victoria-Kruse: There is a

sixth sense, a natural intuition, which women

possess. With this sensibility we maybe

can follow more issues and perform as

better negotiators.

Pilar Saborio de Rocafort: Actually,

I disagree, but not completely. First of

all, no matter whether you are a man or a

woman, as a diplomat you have to prepare

well and develop the skills that make you a

good strategist and negotiator. However, I

don‘t think that we have a sixth sense or

some sort of female special intuition. What

I think, however, is that we, as women, have

been socialised to be the nurturers in our

families, and even if we, more and more,

have successful careers, we still tend to bear

a disproportionate burden when it comes to

caring for the family and doing house chores,

so we develop that kind of sensitivity.

But that does not necessarily mean that if

you had women in charge, the world would

be at peace. Look at three women who were

leaders early on – Golda Meir, Indira Gandhi

and Margaret Thatcher. None one of

them shied away from conflict.

Lourdes Victoria-Kruse: Of course,

female intuition is not a definite solution of

how to find the best or peaceful ends. But it

is certainly an ability that helps.

Pilar Saborio de Rocafort: As diplomats,

we promote our countries‘ interests

and defend our national positions. I doubt

that any of us gives any more thought to

our gender when doing our job, than our

male counterparts do, but it may help that

in some instances women are perceived as

less threatening.

Let me give you a historic example in which

female diplomacy proved superior to male

negotiation skills, known as the “Peace of the

Ladies“ of Cambrai in 1529. In that case, all male

negotiations have failed, and only with the help of

female diplomacy, a bitter war could be avoided.

So don‘t female negotiators deserve these merits?

Pilar Saborio de Rocafort: There is

something we know about women – we are

more comfortable than men with verbal

communication. In the case of the women

in your example, I would think that perhaps

that they were far more aware of what was

at stake and what they were about to lose by

going to war. Don‘t forget, that at the time,

men probably had to gain from war in

terms of honour, and military career advancement.

But women often only had to

lose, and were left vulnerable to sexual violence,

the painful loss of their family

members and destruction of their livelihoods.

Perhaps, that is why they came from

different perspectives. Violent conflict affected

both groups differently.

Maybe Sweden also had this historic example in

mind, when it, a couple of years ago, began to

strengthen the role of women in its diplomatic

services. There is a female Swedish Ambassador

here in Austria. Swedish female diplomats have

formed a consulting group for the Syrian peace

negotiations in Geneva, working together with

Syrian Women’s Organisations. And a Swedish

women’s network of mediators is engaging in

peace processes like the one in Columbia. Do you

think that this kind of ”feministic diplomacy“

could be a role model for your profession as a

whole or at least for some countries?

Paulina Franceschi Navarro: My

initial reaction is that I don‘t agree with the

term ”feminist diplomacy“. There is no

such thing as feminist or male diplomacy,

as we have already stated. But what I do see

is, that the results accomplished by these

women, are very positive. When I see a

country that has really worked on this policy

and made gender mainstreaming a priority

for them and it has turned out successfully,

then for me this is an inspiration. It is

a good way of promoting gender issues and

to push for that cultural, paradigmatic

change which I mentioned earlier.

Pilar Saborio de Rocafort: And, as

I said, there are certain situations, like the

one in Syria that you mention, in which

you might be better off dealing with a

group of females. Particularly, when you

are dealing with women who have been affected

by the war. These women may feel

more comfortable speaking to other women.

So, if you can achieve better results by

sending a female Ambassador, the Swedish

approach is a very good idea.

PHOTOS: RALPH MANFREDA

PHOTOS: XYXXYXYXY

Lucia Rosella Badia: It is always a

matter of who is best for the job, either women

or men.

Lourdes Victoria-Kruse: Exactly.

Lucia Rosella Badia: But it is interesting

in the Swedish concept, that they apply

a gender perspective system to all everyday

jobs, not only by mandating female Ambassadors

but by making sure that male

Ambassadors think of these aspects as well.

So, I don‘t like the term feminist diplomacy

either. But I think quotas are important.

Because otherwise, women won‘t be able to

show that they can be as good as men.

Lourdes Victoria-Kruse: Applying

quotas is certainly helpful to reach this balance

of men and women in our profession.

Lucia Rosella Badia: But that does

not mean that just any woman can meet the

challenges of that job. Only those who have

acquired the necessary skills.

Do you observe more women to enter particular

education to acquire these diplomatic skills?

Paulina Franceschi Navarro: Absolutely.

In Panama, it is amazing to see the

change of women‘s participation in diplomacy,

compared to 20 years ago. Our diplomatic

academy just recently reported of an

increasing female engagement in diplomatic

studies, especially by the younger generation,

and the relation between male and

female students there is very close to fiftyfifty

right now. This is a perfect example,

with which we can address the approach of

younger people to diplomatic issues.

What do you mean by that?

Paulina Franceschi Navarro: Th e

younger generations, the famous Millennials,

are shaped very differently in some respect.

They feel more attracted by and are

more committed to global issues as generations

before, I feel. Maybe, because thanks

to technology and social media, they are

more connected and engaged. As a result, I

also see an increase in women‘s participation

in our diplomatic academy and in issues

of international relations generally.

Lucia Rosella Badia: I agree. Mill-

ennials don‘t look at gender differences alone,

they see the world as a whole. They have

a different perception, compared to the older

generations many male diplomats still

belong to.

Pilar Saborio de Rocafort: In the

case of Costa Rica, our foreign service is

more than 50 percent female. In my personal

experience, I have already led all-female

Embassies, both here in Austria, and in

the past.

Lourdes Victoria-Kruse: Actually,

the Embassy of the Dominican Republic

here in Vienna is all-female as well. And we

will see more and more women Ambassadors

in the future all over the world.

Is it a coincidence that all of you as female

Ambassadors are representing a Latin Amercian

country? And the Ambassadors of Mexico and

Ecuador are women as well. Is there a certain

reason, why especially countries of your region

are represented by female Ambassadors, maybe

because of a sort of revolutionary spirit in the air

which is rooted in the movements of independence

of these countries?

Pilar Saborio de Rocafort: (...smiling)

No, there are still more male Ambassadors

than female ones from Latin American

countries. And there was no revolution,

at least in my country.

Paulina Franceschi Navarro: I don‘t

feel in that revolutionary way as well. We

have come a long way, because we had

many inspiring women ahead of us, for example

Michelle Bachelet, the present and

former President of Chile and one of the

first female Latin American politicians. She

was a role model and has inspired many of

us. So it is no coincidence, it is part of a

trend. Latin America as a whole is very engaged

to this gender mainstreaming. We

recently have and have had more female

Presidents than ever before, in Chile, in

Brazil, in Panama, in Costa Rica, only to

name a few. We also have an increasing

number of women in parliaments and high

political positions as well. Maybe not as

many as we would like to have, but it is an

increasing trend. In Panama, for example,

our Vice President and Minister of Foreign

Affairs is a woman – Isabel Saint Malo. You

52 Cercle Diplomatique 3/2017

Cercle Diplomatique 3/2017

LE MONDE ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION –

THE ROLE OF WOMEN IN DIPLOMACY

– 25 % SPECIAL DISCOUNT

for diplomats, consuls and consular staff as well as employees

of international institutions in official function.

PIONEER WOMEN

IN LATIN AMERICAN

DIPLOMACY AND

POLITICS

DOESN’T ANYTHING SO GORGEOUS

AT LEAST DESERVE A DATE?

Michelle Bachelet, Chile

In March 2014, this outstanding Latin American

female politician was elected as President of

Chile for the second time, already having served

in this position from 2006 until 2010. Between

her presidencies, Michelle Bachelet, a physician

who also studied military strategy, was appointed

the first executive director of the newly created

United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the

Empowerment of Women.

Minerva Bernadino,

Dominican Republic

This female diplomat, who was one of the four

women to sign the original charter of the United

Nations, is best known for arguing in favour of

gender-inclusive language in the UN‘s early

stages. She was, for example, instrumental for the

inclusion of the phrase “equal rights of men and

women” in the preamble to the UN‘s charter.

Christiana Figueres,

Costa Rica

The Costa Rican female diplomat was appointed

Executive Secretary of the UN Framework

Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in July

2010 and during her term, which ended 2016, the

historic 2015 Paris Agreement has been reached.

Prudencia Ayala,

El Salvador

This writer and social activist from El Salvador

(1885-1936), who came from an indigenous

family, is considered as the first fighter for

women‘s rights in her country. She has founded

the newspaper ”Rendencion Feminina“ and

started the feminist movement in El Salvador.

Petria, Dedé, Minerva &

Maria Teresa Mirabal,

Dominican Republic

These four sisters from the Dominican Republic

opposed the dictatorship of Rafael Trujillo and

were involved in clandestine actions against his

regime. Three of the sisters have been

assassinated in 1960. November 25th, the day of

their assassination, in 1999 has been designated

as the ”International Day for the Elimination of

Violence against Women“ by the UN. Today, the

”Mirabal Sisters“ are symbols of both popular and

feminist resistance and a role model for many

Latin American female politicians.

The Ambassadors‘ Summit took place at the Fleming‘s Selection Hotel Wien-City. Cercle Diplomatique‘s

publisher Andrea Fürnweger (far left) had the honour, to host Lucia Rosella Badia, the Ambassador of El

Salvador, Lourdes Victoria-Kruse, the Ambassador of the Dominican Republic, Paulina Franceschi Navarro, the

Ambassador of the Republic of Panama and Pilar Saborio de Rocafort, the Ambassador of Costa Rica for this

roundtable discussion which was moderated by CD‘s author Rainer Himmelfreundpointner (clockwise from

left to right).

will see women of her kind in such positions

much more often.

Lourdes Victoria-Kruse: In the

Dominican Republic, we also currently

have a female Vice-President, Mrs. Margarita

Cedeño de Fernandez as well as a female

President of the Chamber of Deputies,

Mrs. Lucia Medina. There are many

females in top positions and we even have

our own Ministry of Women. And I can‘t

conclude without highlighting the political

activities of three revolutionary Dominican

women, Minerva, Patria and María

Mirabal, who through their tireless commitment

against the dictatorial regime of

Trujillo, opened wide doors for female politicians

not only in our country but also

internationally.

Pilar Saborio de Rocafort: I do

not know if it is a coincidence or not, that

four Latin American female Ambassadors

have joined this roundtable discussion.

There are also many female Ambassadors

to Austria and Permanent Representatives

to the International Organisations in Vienna

from other regions. What I can say in

the case of my country is, gender has no

bearing on diplomatic appointments. Yet,

the growing number of female Ambassadors

is a reflection of something very important

that has happened in Latin America.

I refer to the change in traditional

thinking about the role of women. The fact

that we are sitting here, shows how women

are key actors in decision-making processes

in our countries, and in Latin America

as a whole.

Lucia Rosella Badia: Let me add,

that the presence of women not only in

diplomacy as Ambassadors, but in high

and responsible positions in general,

should not be seen as odd anymore. This

is the new normal. This is the tendency.

Women being diplomats or Ambassadors,

for me is the most normal thing in my

profession now-adays. Soon, the day will

come, when we don‘t even think about

that question.

PHOTO: RALPH MANFREDA

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54 Cercle Diplomatique 3/2017

LE MONDE BOOK TIP

The ultimate tips & tricks

for exporters and travellers

INTERVIEW

Walter Koren

The former head of Advantage Austria, is facing a new

professional challenge: This December, he takes up his

position as Commercial Counsellor in Los Angeles, USA.

The new handbook by Advantage Austria of the Austrian

Federal Economic Chamber is a must-read for all those

engaged in foreign trade. In a highly informative as well as

humorous way, a number of tips and tricks are revealed that

you can use to succeed internationally and, at the same time,

make a good impression during small talk abroad.

Text: Daniela Pötzl

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Alle Länder, alle Tricks, alle Codes

D+D_cover.indd 1 16.08.17 15:18

Rainer Himmelfreundpointner is one of

Austria‘s most experienced business journalists.

He is also active as a restless author for

Cercle Diplomatique‘s editorial team. And he is the

type of man who you may have thought was already

extinct: the kind of man that helps a lady into her

coat, the type who would never send her yellow roses,

unless he was planning to tell her something

rather special. He is also one of those people who can

distinguish a starter fork, on a finely set table, from

the other cutlery. And he would never drink water

from a whiskey glass. And if he were to do so, then

only as a result of extreme conditions that one has no

control over anyway. A vast amount of general knowledge

coupled with area-specific expertise thus made

him the man of choice when it came to the task of

finding an author for the editorial piece on the newly

printed handbook by the Advantage Austria department

of the Austrian Federal Economic Chamber.

The extensive reference book is, however, also worth

reading for travellers and those from all over Austria

who are simply curious about the rest of the world:

Dos & Don‘ts in aller Welt – Das ultimative Export-

Handbuch (Dos & Don‘ts all over the world – The

ultimate export handbook).

Particularly during these highly technological years,

several questions come to mind: Has globalisation

transformed the world into a global village? Is

international trade leading to the careless elimination

of regional rough edges? And is the border-crossing

transfer of goods, services and capital leading to

the disappearance of local cultural characteristics?

This book, however, wants to be different: against the

mainstream and in favour of the many peculiarities

that make the various continents, nations and countries

in this world what they are. The book‘s detailed

information was collected through meticulous work

performed by the respective Commercial Counsellors

at the various Advantage Austria centres around

the world. In addition to that, the 660 experts at 110

bases spread across 5 continents and the 140 specialists

in Austria from the Advantage

Austria department

also possess comprehensive

information on individual

countries, industry-specific

expertise as well as dense

partner networks.

As of right now, this is the

most extensive reference

Rainer Himmelfreundpointner

PHOTOS: AUSSENWIRTSCHAFT AUSTRIA/ WKO, ROIS & STUBENRAUCH

book for exporters who, after giving this ‘export information

and conduct bible’ with more than 600

pages a thorough read, will know how to avoid putting

their foot in their mouth or saying something

insulting in 200 different countries.

The book has a dense structure, each country listed

in the book is presented in the form of a regional

portrait. And there is one particularly useful feature:

an excellent spotlight on Austria‘s traces in those regions

does not remain unmentioned - probably the

best way to build a bridge from the export land to the

home country while engaging in small talk. And finally,

selected dos & don‘ts for each country conclude

the entries on the individual countries.

The spiritual fathers of the now released work are,

on the one hand, Christoph Leitl, the President of the

Austrian Federal Economic Chamber, who provided

fresh ideas, and Walten Koren on the other hand,

now the former head of Advantage Austria, who

conceptualised the book and plans on returning to

one of his earlier professional fields beginning in

December (see interview to the right) to act as an

Commercial Counsellor in Los Angeles.

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In 2002, the first book on the engagement

with and in other countries was released by

what was then Austria’s foreign trade

agency. For its 15th anniversary, so to speak,

we are now seeing the release of the

handbook on dos & don‘ts for Austria’s

exporters. What did you do differently this

time around?

Koren: We didn’t do anything differently, but we did

it much better! All jokes aside, based on the

countless intercultural questions that arrive at

Advantage Austria, we decided that the time was

ripe for a new, updated and content-richer book on

the many bigger and smaller differences when

interacting with other cultures. It also came as a

surprise to us that it ended up being so long, but

that is also partly due to the increased sensitivity

around the topic.

You are now switching to the ‘active camp

on site’ and will be a Commercial Counsellor

to Advantage Austria in Los Angeles. Why

there exactly?

I was motivated by the wish to return to my early

work as a Commercial Counsellor for the last

chapter of my career. To have a little less say within

a big organisation and be on ‘the front line’ instead,

with daily and direct contact with businesses. Los

Angeles and the neighbouring city of San Francisco,

with its Silicon Valley, are a fascinating location for

that and there is so much happening there now,

particularly in the areas of technology and

innovation. This is also why we have established

our new Innovation division at Advantage Austria.

I’m very much looking forward to turning it into

practice over there!

Can you tell us a funny mishap that

happened to you during a trip abroad?

For Heinz Fischer’s state visit to Norway, the

Austrian Federal President at the time, the dress

code dictated a tailcoat, which I borrowed in

Vienna. And, as these things happen, my luggage

didn’t arrive and I had to see a local specialist at the

last-minute. During the following state banquet, Her

Majesty, Queen Sonja of Norway greeted me with

‘welcome’, to which I responded with the same

word.

56 Cercle Diplomatique 3/2017

LE MONDE OPEC FUND FOR INTERNATIONAL

DEVELOPMENT | INTERVIEW

Suleiman Jasir Al-Herbish

“Our focus remains on targeting the least developed countries.“

The Director-General and CEO of

the OPEC Fund for International

Development offers a rare look

into the massive financial aid

efforts of the more than 20 billion

US dollar OFID has approved in

its last 40 years.

Interview: Rainer Himmelfreundpointner

SULEIMAN JASIR AL-HERBISH

FOTOS: XYXXYXYXY

PHOTOS: ABDULLAH ALIPOUR JEDDI, RUPERT STEINER (2)

CD: Mr. Al-Herbish, this November you will have

spent 14 years as Director-General and CEO of

OFID here in Vienna. How have OFID and its host

city cooperated over the years and how would you

describe the relationship between OFID and

Austria in general?

Suleiman Jasir Al-Herbish: My experience

also extends to my previous functions

at OPEC, where I spent 13 years as a

member of the Board of Governors. More

recently, however, while at the helm of

OFID, I have enjoyed a good relationship

with the City of Vienna, as well as with the

Republic of Austria. I am currently planning

a courtesy visit to the new Federal

President Alexander Van der Bellen, to

congratulate him and brief him on OFID’s

activities within Austria and globally.

Highlights of OFID’s relationship with

Austria and the City of Vienna include:

OFID’s support for various social and cultural

activities in Austria and Vienna, including

the Vienna City Marathon, which

we have sponsored for 10 consecutive years;

and grants that we have extended to

several Austrian NGOs, including the

OFID Annual Award that we presented to

SOS Kinderdorf in support of children in

need. In addition, there is OFID’s participation

in the Vienna Energy Forum and

similar activities. We have also preserved

the Palais Deutschmeister – our magnificent

headquarters building – so that it remains

an important piece of Austria’s cultural

heritage. We even produced a book

detailing the remarkable history of the

building. And just last year, we presented

the City of Vienna with the OFID Monument

to commemorate our 40th anniversary

and highlight the importance of the Sustainable

Development Goals.

The authorities of the City of Vienna

and the federal government of Austria have

continuously helped OFID meet its objectives.

They have also recognised the contributions

our organisation has made to the

development agenda and to energy poverty

eradication. In recognition of this, I was

privileged to receive the Grand Decoration

of Honour in Silver with Sash, which was

conferred by the federal government in

2013, and the Grand Decoration of Honour

in Gold for services to the Province of Vienna,

conferred by the City of Vienna in

2015. I received both honours with pride,

but dedicated them to my colleagues at

OFID.

How has OFID changed over time and what are

the organisation’s focus areas now?

Since OFID’s establishment in 1976, we

have approved nearly 3,700 operations.

These operations represent some 21 billion

US dollars in commitments. By the end of

the 1970s, we were disbursing roughly 80

million US dollars per year. In the past decade,

that average has increased tenfold to

about 800 million US dollars per year.

However, figures alone do not paint the

full picture of our 41-year history. We have

expanded the way we distribute funds, for

example. Our public sector ‘window’ supports

governments and state-related entities.

But we also have a private sector facility,

established in 1998, which supports

operations ranging from large development

projects to small and medium-sized

enterprises (via local financial institutions).

Furthermore, we support the economies of

developing countries by enhancing their

export and import trade activities through

our trade finance facility, launched in 2006.

Our grant operations window is used for

a multitude of purposes, such as providing

technical assistance, supporting research

and intellectual activities, and for disaster

relief. It also finances a special health programme,

a programme for Palestine and

one dedicated to funding energy poverty

alleviation efforts. We continue to innovate

in this sphere and always seek new business

models and non-traditional approaches to

solving energy poverty issues.

The expansion of our operations over

the past forty-plus years has centered on

‘energy’. In 2007, our Member Countries

called on us to intensify our efforts in alleviating

energy poverty, resulting in the

launch of OFID’s Energy Poverty Initiative

(EPI). This initiative was fortified through

The OFID headquarters at the Deutschmeister-Palais

on Vienna‘s Ringstrasse, which was built between

1864 and 1868 to serve as a residential palace of the

Austrian Archduke Wilhelm Franz Karl, has been

completely refurbished in the early 1980s.

Born in Saudi Arabia, Mr. Al-Herbish holds a BA in

Economics and Political Science from the University of

Cairo and a MA in Economics from Trinity University,

San Antonio, Texas. Since November 2013, he has been

OFID‘s Director-General and CEO. Prior to his

appointment at OFID, he served as the Governor of

Saudi Arabia at OPEC for 13 years.

58 Cercle Diplomatique 3/2017

Cercle Diplomatique 3/2017

LE MONDE OPEC FUND FOR INTERNATIONAL

DEVELOPMENT | INTERVIEW

FACTS &

FIGURES

the 1 billion US dollars replenishment of

our resources from our Member Countries

in 2011, in addition to a 1 billion US dollars

revolving commitment to the EPI by our

Ministerial Council the following year.

To effectively respond to the needs of

our partner countries, OFID places the

energy-water-food nexus at the heart of its

approach. This approach to development

recognises the dynamic and complex interlinkages

between water, energy and food.

At this approach’s core is the belief that, as

sectoral issues, water, energy and food cannot

be considered in isolation from one

another.

With this in mind, our 10-year strategic

plan helps us focus on supporting operations

in the energy, water and agriculture

sectors, in addition to the transportation

sector. Within this context, our focus remains

on targeting the least developed

countries. Africa, for example, attracts 50

percent of all our financing commitments.

Our focus is on advocacy, increasing the

range of projects that we support on the

ground, and building partnerships.

How are OFID’s funds allocated? Which countries

are prioritised?

The least developed countries are indeed

accorded highest priority and have received

more than half of OFID’s cumulative

commitments. These countries include

those in sub-Saharan Africa, many in East

and South Asia, and the low income countries

of the Arab world and Latin America.

Our remaining commitments support

middle income countries with crippling

urban and rural poverty pockets.

Our concessional public sector financing

– OFID’s core business – is allocated

on the basis of a triennial lending program.

This framework takes into account several

critical parameters, such as human development

and economic indicators. Complementing

this is our grants programme,

which targets capacity and institutional

building through technical assistance, as

well as initiatives geared toward fighting diseases,

illiteracy and malnutrition.

In 2016, OFID and its staff presented a monument, placed outside the VIC, ”as a token of gratitude“ to the City of

Vienna. It marks OFID‘s 40th anniversary and highlights the importance of the Sustainable Development Goals.

“OFID places the energy-water-feed

nexus at the heart of its approach.

Within this context, we remain targeting

the least developed countries.“

How successful has OFID been in alleviating

poverty and what are the biggest obstacles in this

quest?

OFID’s interventions in the past four decades

have made a significant contribution

toward reducing poverty and improving

the livelihoods of people in its partner

countries. However, it is difficult to quantify

this impact since poverty alleviation

and socio-economic development is a collective

effort. Various stakeholders – national

governments and entities in particular,

and ultimately the concerned people themselves

– share the responsibility. The biggest

challenge for development partners

like OFID is understanding how to deliver

assistance most effectively to achieve optimum

results and sustainable impacts. It is

in this spirit, and in recognition of our collective

responsibility, that OFID joins global

efforts in pursuit of Agenda 2030 and the

Sustainable Development Goals.

That said, there are many concrete examples

of communities being transformed

by our projects. In one case, a minigrid power

project revolutionised a village by providing

light, food storage facilities, enhanced

safety and health resources, education

and improved income generation. Another

solid example would be an OFID-supported

project that installed a solar generator

to power a water well. It increased the free

time of women and girls – who were primarily

responsible for carrying water over

long distances – so that they could benefit

from increased education, leisure time and

income generation opportunities.

These are just two specific examples, but

in reality, OFID has contributed to countless

small and large scale projects in the

water, agriculture, energy and transport

sectors, among others. Despite our support,

many of our partner countries lack

the capacity and strong institutions important

for implementing projects. We help

provide consultants – local or international

FOTOS: PHOTO: XYXXYXYXY

MECANISMOS DE ENERGÌA RENOVABLE S.A. DE C.V. (MECER); UNDP/PAPP; SYAHRUL LUDDIN; BEIGESTELLT

FOTOS: XYXXYXYXY

– and continuous project follow-up and

monitoring. Most projects have been implemented

satisfactorily and have achieved

their objectives within a reasonable timeframe.

How does OFID work with Austria with regards to

reducing poverty and how do you see the

relationship developing into the future?

Vienna is now regarded as a major international

energy hub – a reputation OFID has

contributed toward. Austrian institutions

have played the role of our key partners in

many recent operations. For example,

OFID has extended two grants to the Austrian

Development Agency in support of

the Southern African Solar Training and

Demonstration Initiative (SOLTRAIN),

which aims to reduce energy poverty by

improving access to solar thermal solutions.

We have also provided a grant to the

United Nations Development Program in

support of an initiative that will allow organisations

– including Austrian companies

– to explore the feasibility of various biomass,

small hydropower and solar cooling

solutions in Caribbean countries. And we

have partnered with Hilfswerk Austria to

reduce neonatal deaths in Mozambique by

providing various types of renewable energy

systems.

Our partnership with Sustainable Energy

for All (SEforALL) and other Viennabased

energy organisations includes our

membership of the Vienna Energy Club. In

addition, Austrian energy company OMV

is a founding member of the Oil and Gas

Industry Energy Access Platform – an initiative

spearheaded by OFID and the World

Petroleum Council that aims to harness the

enormous potential of the industry to contribute

to Sustainable Development Goal 7:

ensuring access to affordable, reliable, sustainable

and modern energy for all.

As I said before, the authorities of the

City of Vienna and the federal government

of Austria—as well as Austrian-based companies

and institutions—have continuously

helped OFID meet its objectives. Long

may our relationship continue.

OPEC FUND FOR INTERNATIONAL

DEVELOPMENT

Conceived at an OPEC conference in 1975 in Algiers and established in 1976, OFID is an intergovernmental

finance institution of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries. It has 13 member states and is

located in the Deutschmeister-Palais on the Ring circling around the inner City of Vienna.

At its 40th anniversary last year, OFID presented a monument statue as, according to the words of Mr.

Suleiman Jasir Al-Herbish, the Director-General, ”a token of our gratitude“ to Vienna, ”where we are so

fortunate to have our headquarters“.

OFID‘s Solemn Declaration „reaffirmed the natural solidarity which unites OPEC countries with other developing

countries in their struggle to overcome underdevelopment“. The organisation aims to strengthen

cooperation between these countries and its central mission is to foster South-South solidarity by

providing financial support with the primary aim to reduce poverty and supporting sustainable development.

By the end of 2016, OFID reported cumulative financial commitments – backed by resources pledged by the

member states – of more than 20 billion US dollars in support of more than 3,700 development operations

across 134 countries worldwide.

OFID‘s Reserve Account, according to the Annual Report 2016, stood at the impressive figure of 2.74 billion

US dollars. Last year alone, new commitments of some 1.34 billion US dollars were approved, an increase of

some 200 million US dollars compared to 2015.

In terms of strategy, the organisation focuses on what OFID Director-General Mr. Al-Herbish calls the

”energy-water-food nexus“ (see interview), an approach to development to which more than one–half of

OFID’s cumulative financial assistance has been dedicated to.

Rehabilitation of housing units in East Jerusalem: To get out from places like this, an OFID

grant helped funding the provision of safe, affordable housing for 60 low-income families.

Children at the OFID-funded (US$ 4.7 million)

Baie St Anne Primary School in Praslin Island,

Seychelles, in their new spacious classrooms.

In order to help Honduras reduce its reliance on

fossil fuels and diversifying to solar power, OFID

has approved a US$ 25 million loan in 2014.

60 Cercle Diplomatique 3/2017

Cercle Diplomatique 3/2017

LE MONDE ESSAY

The biggest risk for Europe

Paul Lendvai

was born in Hungary in

1929. The publicist, author

and expert for Eastern

Europe worked as

correspondent for the

London Financial Times as

well as for Austrian, Swiss

and German publications.

Today, he still is the

co-editor and editor-in-chief

of the Europäische

Rundschau which he also

founded and works as head

of the Europa-Studio of the

Austrian Broadcasting

Corporation ORF as well as

as columnist for the

Austrian daily newspaper

Der Standard.

The growth of nationalism continues to be the most important political and

spiritual issue of our times.

The poison of nationalism, which has twice already

contributed to Europe’s demise, continues

to plague us and threatens to infest the continent

all over again. We live between the hopes of

tomorrow and the ghosts of yesterday. And if you look

at the events and actions that have been taking place in

recent times, Paul Valery’s words of wisdom quickly

come to mind (written during the interwar period):

”We walk backwards into the future.“ The great French

poet and cultural philosopher did, however, also remark

that the political process could be seen as the art

of making the necessary possible.

The political distinctiveness and decisiveness of

Europe’s statesmen that followed the inferno of the Second

World War had set the conditions for the great

and successful experiments of the common market

and the European Union. Those who have experienced

the two main forms of dictatorship, as the author

has, whether the brown or the red one, will never

forget Franz Grillparzer’s musing that humanity’s

transition to bestiality occurred via the route of nationalism.

This is why the burden of the unresolved past

must be engaged with everywhere and at all times in

order to quickly recognise and fight the resurgence of

nationalism and even tribalism instead of Europeanism

and humanism.

The process of Europeanisation would have been

erroneous if the concept of Europe had only come to

mean the West and if the other neighbouring countries

had been viewed as rivals or even as enemies. The

national state and the growth regions are indispensable

building blocks for the European integration process.

There can be no successful European Union without

the equality of the smaller states and without

respect for their identities. Most nations in Central,

Eastern and Southern Europe only received their sovereignty

in the 20th century. The national sentiment

was one of the key survival elements during centuries

of foreign rule and occupation as well as during the

struggle for independence.

The fact that the Soviet Union did not manage to

russify Central and Eastern Europe and convert the

respective populations to their version of ”Marxism-

Leninism“ should not distract from the immense moralistic,

spiritual and cultural damage that had been

inflicted on these countries. The national sovereignty

of these smaller lands, their basically defensive nationalism,

was always the basis for the revolt against Soviet

dominion (1956 in Hungary, 1968 in Czechoslovakia

and 1980 in Poland). Especially the example of

the Yugoslav tragedy resulting from Serbia’s quest for

hegemony and the various signs of a re-emerging nationalism

should obliterate any illusion that the process

of de-sovietisation and the fall of the communist

regimes automatically led to the Europeanisation of

these small states.

The various border disputes and minority conflict

between these new states resulting from the fall of the

larger regimes in Central Europe and the Balkans are

inheritances of history. The decisions over national

borders were not made based on ethnic lines but for

political, strategic and other reasons, whether during

the First or the Second World War. What is also true,

however, is that the geographic distribution of various

ethnic populations, as well as the traditional ties in

these areas, have become so intertwined that straightforward

and completely satisfactory boundary setting

is not always possible. Consequently, every country

has big and small minorities that often feel that they

belong to an entirely different nation altogether.

There are many examples of the incredibly complicated

nature of the many unfulfilled territorial demands

and national differences, such as the conflict

between Romania and Hungary regarding the treatment

of the large Hungarian minority in Transylvania,

the fight between Serbia and Kosovo, the relationship

between Macedonia and the Albanians (almost a third

of the population), the tensions between Greece and

Macedonia or the problematic nature of the large Russian

minorities spread across the Baltic states and

their relationships to Russia.

Even today, nearly three decades after the fall of

communism, the growth of nationalism continues to

be the most important political and spiritual issue of

our times. The heritage of the comfortable forgetfulness

concerning one’s own crimes perpetrated during

the Second World War, as well as before and after the

communist transfer of power, continues to linger. The

victims of one type of totalitarianism should not be

counted against those of another. Contemplating one’s

PHOTO: THOMAS RAMSTORFER

history and sovereignty remains a crux if not simultaneously

contemplating one’s own complicity and guilt.

A particularly sad chapter here is the problem of

anti-Semitism. Passionate and often one-sided criticism

of Israel often functions as a fig leaf for hatred of

the Jews in Western Europe. The viral outbreak of

”anti-Semitism without Jews“ (which was the title of

my book from 1972 and has since become a common

phrase) is especially alarming because the intensity of

racism and xenophobia has always been an infallible

indicator for the psychological and moral state of the

various European societies.

The advance of the nationalist-populist parties and

the erosion of the democratic centre-left or centreright

and their traditional parties threaten the stability

and prosperity of the European Union. Brexit and the

fatal weakening of the United Kingdom, the unpredictability

of the Trump administration and Russia’s expansive

strategy boost right and left wing extremists.

The leadership crisis in Brussels is also a consequence

of the mediocrity or irresponsibility of those in power.

Perhaps more than ever since the Second World War,

we must today stand up for unity and not for separation,

for European cooperation and not for nationalist

isolation.

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62 Cercle Diplomatique 3/2017

LE MONDE NEWS

Latest update from around the globe

Text: Daniela Pötzl

New appointments

Welcome to the OSCE!

Following the expiration of a five-day

silence procedure and in accordance with

the proposal submitted by the Permanent

Council, the OSCE Ministerial Council

adopted in July by consensus the decisions

to appoint four senior-level officials.

Thomas Greminger (Switzerland) is the

new OSCE Secretary General, Ingibjörg

Sólrún Gísladóttir (Iceland) the Director of

the OSCE Office for Democratic

Institutions and Human Rights, Lamberto

Zannier (Italy) the OSCE High Commissioner

on National Minorities and Harlem

Désir (France) the OSCE Representative on

Freedom of the Media. OSCE Chairpersonin-Office

and Austrian Foreign Minister

Sebastian Kurz expressed his satisfaction

regarding these crucial appointments for

the functioning of the organisation.

osce.org

The future of work

Robo concierge

The successful hotel group Motel One has launched its 8th establishment in

Munich in the city’s new Parkstadt Schwabing quarter, in close proximity to IT

giants such as the IBM Watson IoT Center and Microsoft. ‘Sepp’, in his

custom-tailored lederhosen, showcases the abilities of artificial intelligence

as part of a new pilot project, is a self-learning robo concierge that can

answer questions like, ‘Where is the bar?’ and ‘When is breakfast?’.

motel-one.com

OSCE Secretary General,

Thomas Greminger, Director

of the OSCE Office for

Democratic Institutions and

Human Rights, Ingibjörg

Sólrún Gísladóttir, OSCE

Representative on Freedom

of the Media, Harlem Désir

and OSCE High Commissioner

on National Minorities,

Lamberto Zannier (left to

right).

European Parliament

An unforgettable

experience

Traineeships at the European

Parliament offer the

opportunity to get an insight

in the EU institutions,

discover the decision-making

process, make many new

international connections and

challenge oneself in one of

the most multicultural

environments. It is possible to

choose between a wide range

of traineeships, from the

general option for university

graduates to the journalism

and translation ones.

Applications can be

submitted no later than

midnight on 15 October 2017.

europarl.europa.eu

PHOTOS: OSCE, MOTEL ONE, EVA AIR

PHOTOS: WIRTSCHAFTSAGENTUR

WIEN / DAVID BOHMANN,

MARLENE RAHMANN

Exquisite airline

Distinguished

quality

The airline EVA Air may take pleasure in

having achieved two top spots at the

annual Skytrax World Airline Awards and

thus continues to rate among the top 10

airlines in the world. The awards, one of

them being in the category ‘Best

cleanliness in the cabin’, were determined

by analysing an extensive global

passenger satisfaction survey among 320

airlines in total. Passengers perceive

particularly high standards in the Royal

Laurel Class of the Eva Air ‘Triple Seven’,

for which they received the second top

spot in the ‘Best Business Class Amenities’

category for the cabin’s many luxury

features. Its passengers enjoyed

premiered wines, cosy pyjamas, seats that

can be transformed into beds, Rimowa

amenity kits and much more.

evaair.com

Vienna.

An easy start for your business.

Vienna is gaining traction as a hub for international business. The Vienna Business

Agency is happy to assist during the settling-in period and offers special services

for international executives and management staff: The agency’s Expat Center and

its international team are here to support expatriates and their families with any

questions related to starting out in Vienna.

64 Cercle Diplomatique 3/2017

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L’AUTRICHE LIFE SCIENCES

Die Segnungen einer verkannten Industrie

The blessings of an underestimated industry

BOEHRINGER INGELHEIM. Im

Regional Center Vienna sind die

gesamten Krebsforschungsaktivitäten

des Unternehmens konzentriert.

Boehringer Ingelheim. The Regional

Center Vienna serves as the nucleus of

all the company‘s cancer

research activities.

Durch die Bewerbung der Stadt Wien als neuer Standort für die Europäische Arzneimittelbehörde EMA, rückt

auch der österreichische Life-Science-Sektor in den Fokus. Fazit: Die medizinische, pharmazeutische und

biotechnologische Forschung hat sich in den vergangenen Jahren ins absolute Spitzenfeld vorgearbeitet.

Vienna is matching for the new location of the European Medicines Agency EMA, and so the spotlights have

fallen on Austria‘s life science sector. It turns out that the country has emerged as a leading player in medical,

pharmaceutical and biotechnological research in recent years.

Text: Rainer Himmelfreundpointner

TLR9 Endosom

und Rezeptor

TLR9 Endosome and

its receptor

Mikroskop-Bilder wie diese

gehören zum Alltag österreichischer

Life Science-Forscher.

A common picture for Austrian

life science researchers.

PHOTOS: ASTRAZENECA, DIETER QUANT

68 Cercle Diplomatique 3/2017

Cercle Diplomatique 3/2017

L’AUTRICHE LIFE SCIENCES

Mrd. Euro

Wertschöpfung der medizinisch-pharmakologischen

Forschung in Österreich.

10Value creation of Life Science research in Austria.

act. worldwide.

BAYER. Forscher untersuchen

das Gewebe nierenkranker

Patienten an einem

luftgefederten Spezialmikroskop

für Fluoreszenzaufnahmen.

Scientists at Bayer investigate

kidney-tissue using a special

hightech microscope.

GLAXOSMITHKLINE. Einer

der vielen Verpackungsschritte

für einen Impfstoff.

One of the many packaging

steps for a vaccine at

GlaxoSmithKline.

Gut, Sie kennen zweifellos Sigmund Freud,

den Vater der Psychoanalyse. Kaum ein anderer

Name der medizinischen Forschung

wird so oft und selbstverständlich in einem Atemzug

mit Wien und Österreich genannt wie dieser. Aber

wussten Sie auch, dass der Pathologe Karl Landsteiner

seine bahnbrechende Entdeckung der Blutgruppen,

wofür er später den Medizin-Nobelpreis bekam,

1901 an der Universitiät Wien machte – und damit

zur damals einzigartigen Aufbruchstimmung in der

Donaumetropole beitrug. Oder war ihnen bekannt,

dass der Ausnahme-Chirurg Theodor Billroth, obwohl

gebürtiger Deutscher, in seinen wichtigsten

Jahren die Wiener Medizinische Schule geprägt und

maßgeblich zur Gründung des Rudolfinerhauses

1882 beigetragen hatte. Und wussten Sie, warum

nach dem Wiener Chirurgen Ignaz Semmelweis

Krankenhaus und Straße benannt wurden? Richtig:

Ihm ist es zu verdanken, dass in Spitälern vernünftige

Hygienestandards, vor ihm von Ärzten als „Unfug“

abgetan, eingeführt wurden.

Berühmte Mediziner-Namen wie diese machen

derzeit nicht nur in einschlägigen Kreisen, sondern

vor allem in höheren Verwaltungsebenen der Stadt

Wien die Runde. Denn die Bundeshauptstadt befindet

sich in einem gewaltigen, europaweiten Wettlauf,

in dem ihre Vergangenheit als Nukleus und Pionierstadt

der medizinischen Forschung, aber auch ihre

Gegenwart als international bedeutender Standort

für Life Sciences eine zentrale Rolle spielen – das

Rennen um die Ansiedelung der Europäischen Arzneimittelbehörde,

die noch in London residiert.

Wegen des Brexit muss sich die „European Medicines

Agency“ (EMA) einen neuen Standort suchen.

Neben Wien rittern weitere 18 EU-Städte um die

prestigeträchtige Ansiedelung dieser zweitgrößten

dezentralen EU-Behörde und ihre rund 900 Mitarbeiter.

Sollte die Entscheidung für die Donaumetropole

fallen, wäre das nicht nur ein starkes Signal für

den Standort Wien, sondern auch recht lukrativ.

Rund um die EMA würden laut Berechnungen des

Instituts für Höhere Studien etwa 2.180 Arbeitsplätze

geschaffen und gesichert, und die Behörde dürfe

gut 200 Millionen Euro zum BIP, etwa 180 Millionen

Euro zur heimischen Bruttowertschöpfung und fast

330 Millionen Euro in den nächsten fünf Jahren zu

den Steuereinnahmen beitragen.

Wien fährt in diesem Match mit starken Argumenten

und vielen Incentives auf. Es hat Service-

Center für die EMA-Mitarbeiter eingerichtet, bietet

ihnen finanzielle Unterstützung für die Kinderbetreuung

an, schafft an die 1.100 freie Plätze an den 14

internationalen Schulen, erleichtert den Arbeitsmarktzugang

für Angehörige – und die Stadt wird

auch die mögliche zukünftige Immobilie der EMA

zum symbolischen Preis von einem Euro Miete pro

Jahr überlassen. In der engeren Auswahl sind momentan

die Anlage „Austria Campus“ der Signa-

Gruppe im 2. Bezirk und der Komplex „Erdbergerlände

– Vie26“ der CA-Immo. Auch das „HoHo“

Seeparkcampus Ost ist noch im Rennen. „Wir haben

ein attraktives Angebot vorgelegt und sind überzeugt,

dass sich Wien als Standort sehr gut positioniert

hat“, sagt Gerhard Hirczi, der Geschäftsfüher

der Wirtschaftsagentur Wien. „Das Interesse ist derzeit

jedenfalls groß. Allein die von uns eigens für die

EMA-Bewerbung eingerichtete Website emazingvienna.at

verzeichnet bisher rund 10.000 Zugriffe.“

Dass Wien in diesem Wettkampf all seine Vorzüge,

die es nun bereits zum achten Mal in Folge zum

Weltmeister in Sachen Lebensqualität gemacht haben,

in die Waagschale wirft, liegt auf der Hand.

Noch wichtiger, insbesondere für eine Behörde wie

die Arzneimittelagentur, ist in diesem Rennen die

Stadtortqualität in Sachen Life Sciences, also welchen

Stellenwert die medizinische, pharmakologische

und biotechnologische Forschung hier, und

natürlich auch in ganz Österreich, aktuell genießt.

Das Fazit gleich vorweg: einen ganz hervorragenden.

PHOTO: BAYER AG, GLAXOSMITHKLINE / TOM WHIPPS

VAMED offers a complete project and service portfolio for health care as a developer,

planner, contractor and operator. VAMED has already successfully implemented

more than 800 hospitals, rehabilitation centers, nursing homes, health resorts and

thermal spas in 79 countries worldwide.

Story continues on p. 72 ➝

www.vamed.com

70 Cercle Diplomatique 3/2017

L’AUTRICHE LIFE SCIENCES

74 Number

ERC Grants

Zahl der Förderung des European Research Council an

in Österreich ansässige Life Science-Forscher in 2017.

of high-volume scholarships in life sciences 2017.

MÖGLICHE EMA-ZENTRALEN.

Das HOHO im Seeparkcampus

Ost (Bild oben) ist nur noch

dritte Wahl. Ganz vorne auf

der Shortlist stehen derzeit

der Austria Campus (Bild

rechts) im 2. Bezirk sowie die

Anlage Erdbergerlände (Bild

unten) im 3. Bezirk.

As of now, Vienna‘s shortlist

for possible EMA headquarters

consists of 3 real estate

complexes. The HOHO in the

new Seeparkcampus (top) in

the 22nd district ranks Nr. 3.

Real favourites are the

Austria Campus (right) in the

2nd district and an object at

the Erdbergerlände (bottom)

in the 3rd district.

„Österreich hat sich in den vergangenen Jahren

zu einem Spitzenreiter in Sachen Pharma und Arzneimittelforschung

entwickelt“, sagt Finanzminister

Hans Jörg Schelling. „Mittlerweile hängen mehr als

63.000 Jobs direkt oder indirekt an diesem Industriezweig,

die Wertschöpfung beträgt rund zehn Milliarden

Euro pro Jahr oder 2,8 Prozent des BIP.“ Besonders

wichtig dabei: Pharmazeutische Unternehmen

wenden für Forschung & Entwicklung laut Statistik

Austria im Schnitt 14 Prozent ihres Umsatzes auf

und sind damit besonders innovativ, da die F&E-

Quote aller Wirtschaftszweige bei lediglich 1,7 Prozent

liege.

Die Bandbreite dieses Sektors in Österreich ist

ebenfalls beeindruckend. Im akademischen Bereich

kommen fünf Universitäten wie etwa die MedUni

Wien mit allein 8.000 Studenten, zwei weitere Hochschulen

für angewandte Wissenschaften sowie elf

außer-universitäre Forschungeinrichtungen, allen

vor das Institut für Molekulare Biotechnologie IMBA

oder MedAustron, das international renommierte,

hochmoderne Krebsbehandlungszentrum mit

Ionentherapie in Wiener Neustadt, auf insgesamt gut

12.000 Beschäftigte, die Life Sciences abdecken. Allein

in Wien belegen rund 33.000 Studenten dementsprechende

Fächer.

Und der hierzulande hohe Standard der medizinischen,

pharmakologischen und biotechnologischen

Forschung wird durch die knapp 5.000 jährlichen

einschlägigen Publikationen in „peer-reviewed“

Fachmedien sowie die 74 Grants, jene extrem begehrten

Förderungen des European Research Council,

die in Österreich ansässige Forscher allein 2017

bereits erhalten haben, unterstrichen.

Im kommerziellen Bereich sind so gut wie alle

großen Namen der pharmazeutischen Industrie in

Österreich, insbesondere Wien, vertreten – ein gut

Teil davon auch mit ihren Zentralen für Zentral- und

Osteuropa. Egal ob Bayer, Boehringer Ingelheim,

Novartis, Sanofi, Sandoz, GlaxoSmithKline, Pfizer,

Shire, Octapharma, Merck oder Sigmapharm – allein

im pharmazeutischen Bereich kommen jene 120

Unternehmen, die vom Dachverband Pharmig, der

95 Prozent der Branche abdeckt, vertreten werden,

auf rund 18.000 direkt Beschäftigte.

„Österreich ist zu einem Top-Standort für die

Entwicklung neuer Medikamente geworden“, heißt

es auch in der offiziellen EMA-Bewerbungsbroschüre.

„Allein im Jahr 2015 wurden hier über 300 klinische

Tests, vor allem im Bereich der Krebsbehandelung,

durchgeführt, etwa die Hälfte davon bereits in

der (finalen) klinischen Phase III. 70 Prozent davon

wurden von der pharmazeutischen Industrie finanziert,

30 Prozent von akademischen Einrichtungen

direkt.“ Alles mit ein Grund dafür, dass jedes Jahr

PHOTO: SCHREINKASTLER, CA IMMO, SIGNA, SANOFI

allein in Wien zehn neue Life-Science-Unternehmen

neu in den Markt eintreten.

Wegen dieses erfreulichen Umfeldes hat sich beispielsweise

der deutsche Konzern Boehringer Ingelheim

bereits vor etlichen Jahren entschlossen, sein

Forschungszentrum für 30 Länder in Zentral- und

Osteuropa und Zentralasien, sowie für die Schweiz

und Israel, in Wien anzusiedeln. Wien ist nicht nur

das Zentrum für Krebsforschung sowie Standort für

biopharma zeutische Forschung, Entwicklung und

Produktion im Konzern, Boehringer Ingelheim zählt

auch zu den forschungsintensivsten pharmazeutischen

Unternehmen in Öster reich. Insgesamt erzielte

das Regional Center Vienna im Geschäftsjahr

2016 Gesamterlöse in Höhe von 821,5 Millionen

Euro und beschäftigte in der Region Mittel- und Osteuropa

3.470 Mitarbeiter, davon 1.629 in Österreich.

Erst diesen April hat es den Spatenstich für eine

neue biopharmazeutische Produktionsanlage in

Wien-Meidling gesetzt, mit 700 Millionen Euro die

größte Einzelinvestition in der Geschichte des Unternehmens

und die größte Firmeninvestition in Wien

seit der Errichtung des General-Motors-Werks in As-

www.sanlas.at

Die SANLAS Holding auf einen Blick:

• 10 Standorte

• Versorgung von Patienten aus

dem In- und Ausland

• mehr als 35 Jahre Erfahrung

SANOFI. Eine Naturstoff-Forscherin begutachtet eine Platte mit einem Nährmedium, auf der

verschiedene Bakterien gewachsen sind.

At Sanofi, medical research also includes the investigation of natural substances. The picture

shows a scientist checking bacteria which have been bred on a growth medium.

AKUTMEDIZIN

REHABILITATION

PFLEGE

• medizinisches Consulting

• > 1.100 Betten

• > 10.000 Patienten im Jahr

• Beratung und Projektentwicklung

AKUTMEDIZIN

REHABILITATION

PFLEGE

• Internationales

Patientenmanagement

• Konzeption medizinischer

Versorgung

SANLAS Holding GmbH

Parkstraße 11, 8010 Graz, Österreich

Tel.: +43 (0) 3133 2274 – 9110

Mail: offi ce@sanlas.at | www.sanlas.at

PRIVATKLINIK LASSNITZHÖHE | PRIVATKLINIK ST. RADEGUND | PRIVATKLINIK HOLLENBURG | PRIVATKLINIK LEECH | SENIORENRESIDENZ EGGENBERG

HAUS MARIATROST | REHA BRUCK | BETREUUNGSHEIM NEUTILLMITSCH-GRALLA | MARGARETHENHOF VOITSBERG | HAUS WEINITZEN

72 Cercle Diplomatique 3/2017

L’AUTRICHE LIFE SCIENCES

Arbeitsplätze

Der Life Science-Sektor zählt zu den

wichtigsten Arbeitgebern in Österreich.

63.000Number of jobs in Austria‘s life science sector.

zeutische Industrie glaubt an den Standort Österreich.“

Bleibt nur noch zu hoffen, dass auch der EU-Rat,

der am 20. November über die neue Heimat der

EMA entscheiden wird, ebenfalls daran glaubt. Obwohl

Wien dem Vernehmen nach gut im Rennen

liegt und Hans-Georg Eichler, einer der leitenden

Mediziner der Behörde, bereits durchblicken ließ,

dass „viel für Wien spricht“, ist das Rennen längst

nicht gewonnen. „Wien punktet als extrem gut aufgestelltes

Gesamtpaket“, hält Hirczi den Ball flach.

„Aber man muss natürlich betonen, dass die Chancen,

die EMA nach Wien zu holen, rein rechnerisch

bei insgesamt 19 Bewerbern am Ende bei fünf Prozent

liegen.“

NEW URBAN

PERSPECTIVES

Close to the city center

PFIZER ÖSTERREICH.

Einsatz einer Ultrazentrifuge

beim Pharmakonzern, der

durch Viagra bekannt

geworden ist.

A centrifuge in operation at

Pfizer, generally known for

its Viagra pills.

BOEHRINGER INGELHEIM.

Der Konzern hat gerade 700

Millionen Euro in die

Errichtung eines neuen

biopharmazeutischen

Werkes in Wien investiert.

Boehringer Ingelheim has

just invested 700 million

Euro for a new biopharma

production plant in Vienna.

pern 1979, die 500 zusätzliche Arbeitsplätze schaffen

wird.

Man kann das auch als Zeichen für die EMA-Bewerbung

verstehen, wie Philipp von Lattorff, der Generaldirektor

von Boehringer Ingelheim, auf Anfrage

von Cercle Diplomatique zu verstehen gibt: „Die Ansiedelung

der Europäischen Arzneimittelagentur

EMA in Wien wäre ein wichtiges Signal und hätte positive

Auswirkungen auf den Pharmastandort. Dabei

geht es um viele neue Arbeitsplätze, um Unternehmensansiedlungen,

um Impulse für die gesamte Forschungslandschaft

in Österreich und nicht zuletzt um

eine verstärkte Sichtbarkeit des Pharmastandorts

Wien innerhalb der Europäischen Union.“

Auch andere Top-Unternehmen haben jüngst

durch Großinvestitionen aufhorchen lassen. Merck

beispielsweise, das etwa 550 Beschäftigte in Österreich

in Brot hält, hat in seinem Werk in Spittal in

Kärnten, wo jährlich etwa fünf Milliarden Tabletten

produziert werden, in den vergangenen zwei Jahren

etwa 7,5 Millionen Euro in die Schaffung neuer Produktionsflächen

gesteckt, was rund 100 neue Jobs

bringen wird. Und erst Anfang dieses Sommers hat

sich die Firma MSD Animal Health mit einem neuen

Werk – eine Investition von rund 185 Millionen – in

Krems niedergelassen, wo dadurch etwa 400 neue

Arbeitsplätze entstehen. „Mit dieser Ansiedelung

wird es abermals bewiesen“, fasst Pharmig-Generalsekretär

Jan Oliver Huber zusammen. „Die pharma-

Since the City of Vienna is applying as a potential

location for the “European Medicines Agency“

(EMA), which has to give up its headquarters

in London because of Brexit, many famous

names of medicine are buzzing around here. Sigmund

Freud, the father of psychoanalysis, Karl

Landsteiner, who discovered human blood groups,

Theodor Billroth, one of the most famous representatives

of the Vienna School of Medicine, or Ignaz

Semmelweis, a crusader for better hygienic standards

in hospitals. All of them have been pioneers in

medical research and mirror Vienna‘s proud tradition

in this area, which the city throws in the pan in

the race for EMA.

Apart from that, Vienna has a lot more to offer to

the 900 employees of EMA – special services for

their children, additional schooling or tailored working

permits for family members. Plus: brand-new

headquarters for a symbolic rent of one Euro per

year. The current shortlist of appropriate, state-ofthe-art

real estate objects includes the Austria Campus

in the 2nd district, the complex Erdbergerlände

in the 3rd district and the “HoHo“ in Vienna‘s new

Seestadt in the 22nd district. ”We have presented a

very attractive offer and are convinced that Vienna is

in a very good position“, says Gerhard Hirczi, CEO of

Vienna‘s Business Agency.

But the most important argument to lure the

EMA to Vienna – a step that would create some additional

2,180 jobs directly and indirectly and a contribution

of more than 200 million Euro to Austria‘s

GDP, apart from some 330 million Euro in taxes over

the next 5 years – certainly would be the high stan-

Story continues on p. 76 ➝

PHOTOS: WERNER HARRER, AGENTUR NEUFRANKFURT

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For more details see: www.parkapartments.at/en

74 Cercle Diplomatique 3/2017

FIND OUT MORE !

Freyung 3, staircase 1/1st floor, 1010 Vienna

Mo - Fr : 9am - 5pm or by appointment

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E-mail: parkapartments@signa.at

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A PROJECT BY

L’AUTRICHE LIFE SCIENCES

Millionen Euro

Investitionssumme einer neuen Produktionsanlage

von Boehringer Ingelheim in Wien.

700A recent investment of Boehringer in Vienna.

SANDOZ KUNDL.

Lehrlinge in der biochemischen

Produktion.

Apprentices at the

biochemical production site

of Sandoz Kundl.

dards of medical, pharmaceutical and biotechnological

research (and production) in Austria, with Vienna

at its core. ”Actually, our country in recent years

has turned into a leader in pharma and medicines

research“, says Hans Jörg Schelling, the Austrian finance

minister. ”In the meantime, this sector is providing

63,000 jobs directly or indirectly, with a value

creation of some 10 billion Euro or 2.8 percent of

GDP.“ Plus: Pharmaceutical companies in average

are spending some 14 percent of their revenues for

R&D, a record figure according to Statistic Austria.

There are more impressive figures as well: Five

universities, two universities with applied sciences,

and eleven non-university research institutions, like

the Institute for Molecular Biotechnology IMBA or

the well-known cancer-treatment center MedAustron

in Wiener Neustadt, employ some 12,000 individuals

in the field of life sciences, with about 33,000

students. And nearly 5,000 publications in peer-reviewed

journals and 74 grants from the European

Research Council in 2017 alone are evidence for the

high-quality research performed in Vienna.

On the commercial front, one may find all the famous

names of Big Pharma here in Austria, most of

them again in Vienna, where many have set up their

headquarters for Central and Eastern European

markets. Pharmig, the Austrian Association of Pharmaceutical

Companies, counts 120 members with

some 18,000 employees in all – which respresent 95

percent of this life sciences sector. Among them giants

like Bayer, Boehringer Ingelheim, Novartis, Sanofi,

Sandoz, GlaxoSmithKline, Pfizer, Shire, Merck,

Octapharma or Sigmapharm.

”Austria has become a top location for drug development“,

states a document for the EMA application.

”In 2015 alone, more than 300 clinical tests, about

half in (final) Phase III and most of them in oncology,

were applied for in Austria. Around 70 percent of clinical

trials in Austria are carried out by the pharmaceutical

industry, while 30 percent are implemented

academic-sponsored.“ Which might as well be a

reason that in Vienna alone each year more than 10

new life science companies are entering the market.

Because of this positive framework, some big players

have partly located their research centers in Vienna.

Boehringer Ingelheim‘s Regional Center Vienna,

for example, is responsible for business and clinical

research in more than 30 countries in Central and

Eastern Europe, Central Asia, Switzerland and Israel.

It is also the company‘s center for cancer and pharmaceutical

research, which employs some 1,629 persons

in Austria and has reported sales of over 820

million Euro last year. Just a few month ago, in April,

2017, Boehringer Ingelheim has launched an investment

of over 700 million Euro for a new pharmaceutical

production site in Vienna, the biggest single investment

in the company‘s history. One may read

this as a signal towards EMA, as Philipp von Lattorff,

the CEO of Boehringer Ingelheim told Cercle Diplomatique.

”A settlement of EMA in Vienna would be

an important signal and would definitely have positive

effects for Vienna as a major location for medical

and pharmaceutical research inside the European

Union.“

Apart from Boehringer Ingelheim, other companies

of the sector are heavily investing as well. Merck,

to name just one, has spent over 7.5 million Euro in

the last two years to expand its production plant in

Spittal in Carinthia, creating some 100 new jobs.

And the city of Krems just recently has seen an investment

of 185 million Euro of MSD Animal

Health, which has opened a new factory with some

400 jobs there. Says Jan Oliver Huber, the General-

Secretary of Pharmig: ”Another evidence for the

faith of the pharmaceutical industry in Austria.“

So everybody in this business, and the administration

of Vienna at most, hopes that the EU Council,

which is deciding on the new location of the EMA on

November 20th, is believing so as well.

PHOTO: SANDOZ BIOCHEMIE KUNDL

Bild: Kästenbauer/Ettl

Teilchenphysik trifft Krebsmedizin

Particle Physics Meets Cancer Medicine

Die Ionentherapie ist eine innovative, komplementäre Form der Strahlentherapie zur Krebsbehandlung. In Österreich wird sie

bei MedAustron in Wiener Neustadt angeboten. | Ion beam therapy is an innovative, complementary type of radiotherapy for

cancer treatment. In Austria, the therapy is available at the MedAustron center in Wiener Neustadt.

Die Ionentherapie ist eine Weiterentwicklung der

Strahlentherapie und kommt vor allem bei Tumoren

zur Anwendung, die gegen traditionelle

Strahlen resistent sind oder für jene, die in einer

schwierig zu behandelnden anatomischen Lage

sind. Bestrahlt wird bei der Ionentherapie mit geladenen

Teilchen, die ihre Energie mehrheitlich

direkt im Tumor deponieren. Einerseits können

dadurch Nebenwirkungen und Langzeitschäden

minimiert werden, andererseits kann die Strahlendosis

bei aggressiven Tumoren erhöht werden.

MedAustron ist eines von nur wenigen Zentren

weltweit, das zwei verschiedene Arten dieser

Teilchen generieren kann: Protonen und Kohlenstoffionen.

Dazu braucht es komplexe Technik

– entwickelt in Zusammenarbeit mit dem Europäischen

Kernforschungszentrum CERN: ein

spezieller Teilchenbeschleuniger beschleunigt

die Teilchen auf bis zu zwei Drittel der Lichtgeschwindigkeit,

bevor diese in einen Bestrahlungsraum

und dort millimetergenau auf einen

Tumor gelenkt werden.

Seit Ende 2016 werden bei ¬MedAustron Patientinnen

und Patienten mit der Ionentherapie behandelt,

darunter auch Kinder. Die Betroffenen

kommen dabei über einen Zeitraum von mehreren

Wochen täglich für eine ambulante Bestrahlung

zu MedAustron. Parallel dazu werden die

Behandlungsmodalitäten sukzessive ausgebaut,

um im Vollbetrieb bis zu 1.000 Patientinnen und

Patienten pro Jahr behandeln zu können. Ebenso

wird die Anlage auch für Forschung genutzt, um

die Therapiemethode stetig weiterzuentwickeln.

◆

Ion beam therapy is an evolution of radiation

therapy and is mainly used for tumors, which are

resistant to conventional radiation or located in

a delicate anatomical position. The therapy uses

charged particles, which deposit their energy for

the most part directly in the tumor. Thus, side effects

and long-term effects can be reduced, and the

radiation dose for aggressive tumors can be increased.

MedAustron is one of only a few centers worldwide

that is able to generate two different kinds of

these particles: protons and carbon ions.

In order to achieve this, complex technology is

necessary – developed in cooperation with the European

Organization for Nuclear Research CERN:

a particle accelerator is used to accelerate the particles

up to two thirds of the speed of light before

they are directed in the treatment rooms, where

they emit their radiation directly to the tumor volume

down to the millimeter.

Patients, including children, are treated at Med-

Austron since late 2016. In the form of an outpatient

treatment, they receive one irradiation daily

over the course of several weeks. In parallel, the

treatment modalities are being expanded step by

step, offering a capacity of up to 1,000 patients per

year in full operation. Additionally, MedAustron

offers the possibility to conduct translational research

in order to continously improve the treatment

method.

76 Cercle Diplomatique 3/2017

www.medaustron.at

L’AUTRICHE FUTURE LAB

Andreas Bierwirth

„Wir haben keine andere Wahl.“

”We don’t have a choice“.

Stetiges Wachstum

Continued growth

Der CEO von T-Mobile Austria über Migration, das Engagement der Zivilgesellschaft und das

seines Unternehmens. The CEO of T-Mobile Austria about migration, actions by civil society and

his own enterprise.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Andreas Bierwirth ist ausgebildeter

Bankkaufmann und studierte danach

Betriebswirtschaftslehre an der

Universität Münster. Seit September

2012 ist er CEO von T-Mobile Austria.

Davor war er Managing Director bei

Germanwings, Vice President

Marketing bei der Lufthansa und

Vorstandsmitglied der Austrian

Airlines. Bierwirth ist außerdem

Mitglied mehrerer Aufsichtsräte, u.a.

von Casinos Austria, Do & Co und

easyJet.

Andreas Bierwirth is a trained

banker and studied Business

Administration at the University of

Münster. Since September 2012 he

acts as CEO of T-Mobile Austria. Prior

to that, he was the Managing

Director of Germanwings, Vice

President Marketing of Lufthansa and

Managing Board member of Austrian

Airlines. In addition, Bierwirth is also

Managing Board member of various

companies such as Casinos Austria,

Do & Co and easyJet.

Wir schaffen das. Dieser Satz hat

der deutschen Bundeskanzlerin

Angela Merkel in der Folge viel

Kritik gebracht, von der Naivität noch die

freundlichste war. War sie tatsächlich naiv?

Bleiben wir bei der österreichischen Situation.

2015, im Jahr mit dem stärksten

Migrationsstrom, flohen rund 100.000

Menschen nach Österreich, von denen etwa

die Hälfte bisher Asyl erhielten. Dies entspricht

etwa der Größenordnung im benachbarten

Deutschland. Vor allem in den

ersten Wochen und Monaten wurde mit

großen Anstrengungen diese Erstaufnahme

bewältigt. Mit beispiellosem Engagement

der Zivilgesellschaft, von spontanen Hilfsaktionen

Freiwilliger an Bahnhöfen bis zu

den kleinen und großen Hilfsorganisationen,

haben „wir“ dies geschafft. Ja, da gab es

schwierige Situationen und schlechte Quartiere.

Dennoch konnten die Menschen, die

aus Not und Todesbedrohung entflohen,

hier wieder Hoffnung schöpfen.

Jetzt geht es darum, die Integration dieser

Menschen zu bewerkstelligen. Österreich

und Deutschland müssen dabei leider

nicht nur die Gegenwart bewältigen, sondern

auch eine jahrzehntelange Vergangenheit

mehr schlecht als recht gelungener Integration

seit den „Gastarbeitern“ der 60er

Jahren aufarbeiten. Die Schwierigkeiten

heute haben auch viel mit den Versäumnissen

von gestern zu tun: Würden etwa alle in

Österreich geborenen Kinder – wie dies in

manchen anderen Staaten üblich ist – automatisch

auch österreichische Staatsbürger

sein, würde es eine klare Zukunftsorientierung

für diese jungen Menschen als Österreicherinnen

und Österreicher geben, statt

sie selbst noch in der dritten Generation

mit dem Etikett „Migrationshintergrund“

als Außenseiter abzustempeln.

Dazu braucht (und gibt) es zur unverzichtbaren

Verantwortung öffentlicher Stellen

weiterhin des Engagements der Bürgerinnen

und Bürger ebenso wie das von

Unternehmen. Am eigenen Beispiel: In Zusammenarbeit

mit der privaten Initiative

„lobby.16“ bildet T-Mobile seit sechs Jahren

Lehrlinge aus, die als Jugendliche ohne Familie

nach Österreich geflüchtet sind. Ein

der Lehre vorangehender Vorbereitungskurs

(Deutsch, Englisch, Mathematik)

schafft die Voraussetzung, dass die anschließende

Lehre gelingen kann – die meisten

unserer Lehrlinge schneiden an der Spitze

ihres Jahrgangs ab, haben anschließend bei

T-Mobile Arbeit und damit auch eine neue

Lebensperspektive gefunden. Unser Gewinn?

Engagierte Mitarbeiter, die manche

unserer Kunden bei Bedarf auch in einer

ihrer Muttersprachen bedienen können.

Die ambivalente Haltung der öffentlichen

Stellen – um es höflich auszudrücken

– ist leider nicht immer hilfreich. Auf

Sprachkurse muss oft lange gewartet werden.

Asylverfahren dauern unerträglich

lange, was für die Betroffenen eine schwere

Belastung ist. Nicht selten müssen wir erleben,

dass z.B. Jugendliche, die sich hier gut

eingelebt haben, die Sprache gelernt, die

Schule mit Erfolg besucht und Freunde ge-

PHOTOS: MARLENA KÖNIG/ T-MOBILE, RALPH MANFREDA

funden haben, ablehnende Asylbescheide

erhalten, selbst wenn sie aus humanitären

Gründen weiterhin im Land bleiben dürfen.

Damit liegt ein großer Schatten über

ihrer Zukunft, der eine positive Lebensperspektive

fast unmöglich macht.

Um es unmissverständlich auszudrücken:

Niemand hat sich diese Situation ausgesucht,

die Menschen, die in ihrer Not geflohen

sind ebenso wenig wie die Staaten, in

denen sie jetzt auf ein zweites Leben hoffen.

Werden sie es schaffen, werden wir es schaffen?

Meine Antwort ist: Wir haben keine

andere Wahl. Machen wir ohne Wenn und

Aber das Beste daraus um letztlich aus der

Krise zu gewinnen.

We can do it. German Chancellor

Angela Merkel ended up earning

a lot of criticism for this

phrase, of which naivety was perhaps the

politest of accusations. But was it really naivety

that drove her?

Let’s stick with Austria. During 2015, the

year with the strongest influx of migrants,

around 100,000 people fled to Austria, half

of which have received asylum in the meantime.

This proportionally corresponds to

the situation in neighbouring Germany. Especially

the first couple of weeks and

months saw the mobilisation of great efforts

to get the first wave under control. With exemplary

actions by civil society, from spontaneous

and voluntary support at train stations

to the smaller and larger relief

organisations, “we“ did it. Yes, there were

difficult situations and there were some

poor accommodations. Nevertheless, the

people that fled from misery and certain

death were able to find hope again.

The next task is to set into motion the

integration process. Here, Austria and Germany

must not only work within the present,

but also rework decades of mismanaged

attempts at the integration of the

“Gastarbeiter“ (guest workers) who came

during the ‘60s. The difficulties today can

often be traced back to the failures of the

past. If, for example, all children born in

Austria automatically received Austrian citizenship

– as it is the case in many other

countries – they, as young Austrians, would

be endowed with a much clearer vision of

the future, rather than still being labelled as

being of a “migration background“ and remaining

outsiders after three generations.

Next to the indispensable responsibility

of our public institutions, this will also require

the engagement of citizens and businesses

alike. Our own example: In collaboration

with the private initiative “lobby.16“,

T-Mobile has been training apprentices for

several years who as adolescents had fled to

Austria without any other family members.

A foundation course that precedes the apprenticeship

(German, English, Mathematics)

provides the building blocks for successfully

completing the subsequent

training – most of our apprentices finish at

the top of their year, find work at T-Mobile

and thus also have a new, fresh perspective

on life. And our benefit? Committed employees

that can, for example, also take advantage

of their mother tongues when engaging

with a segment of our customers.

The ambivalent attitude of the public authorities

– to put it mildly – is, unfortunately,

not always helpful. People often have to

wait too long to attend language courses,

asylum requests take forever to be processed,

which is an incredible burden on

those affected by it.

We frequently see young adolescents,

who have settled in very well, learned the

language, successfully completed schooling

and found friends, receive rejections to

their asylum requests, even though they are

permitted to remain in the country for humanitarian

reasons. This casts a large shadow

over their futures, making a positive

outlook on life nearly impossible.

To make it clear – none of us asked for

this situation. Neither the people that fled

from their miseries, nor the countries where

they are now hoping for a second chance.

Can we do it? Can they do it?

My answer is: we don’t have a choice.

Let’s try to somehow turn this crisis into an

opportunity.

T-Mobile Austria ist eine österreichische

Mobilfunkgesellschaft und 100-prozentige

Tochter der Deutschen Telekom AG. Ursprünglich

hieß das Unternehmen max.mobil. und

wurde nach der kompletten Übernahme durch

T-Mobile im Jahr 2000 schließlich im April

2002 in T-Mobile Austria umbenannt. Heuer

setzt das Unternehmen seinen Wachstumskurs

fort. Der Gesamtumsatz stieg im 2. Quartal 2017

im Vergleich zum Vorjahresquartal um 3 Prozent

auf 215 Millionen Euro, der Umsatz des

Kerngeschäfts Verbindungsgebühren (Service

Revenues) wuchs im Vergleich zum selben

Quartal des Vorjahres ebenfalls um 3 Prozent

auf 185 Millionen Euro.

T-Mobile Austria is an Austrian mobile network

operator and a 100% subsidiary of Deutsche

Telekom AG. The company had originally been

titled max.mobil, but was renamed T-Mobile

Austria in April 2002 due to T-Mobile’s full

acquisition in 2000. This year, the company is

continuing its growth trajectory. Total turnover

increased by 3% resulting in 215 million euro in

the second quarter of 2017 up from the same

quarter in 2016. Turnover of the company’s core

business activity of network charges increased

also by 3% to 185 million euro in contrast with

the same quarter of the previous year.

t-mobile.at

78 Cercle Diplomatique 3/2017

Cercle Diplomatique3/2017

L‘AUTRICHE BUSINESS

Neues aus Österreich

News from Austria

Text: Daniela Pötzl

Ehrung | Tribute

Mit Nachschlagwerk geehrt | Honoured with

a reference book

Der frühere Bundesminister, Klubobmann und Nationalratspräsident

Heinrich Neisser ehrte den langjährigen Nationalratsabgeordneten

Josef „Pepi“ Höchtl und übergab ihm, anlässlich einer Feier, die

gebundene Dokumentation als Nachschlagwerk seiner gesamten fast

25-jährigen parlamentarischen Tätigkeit.

The former Federal Minister, Parliamentary Leader and President

of the National Council Heinrich Neisser honoured the long-time

Parliamentary Representative Josef ‘Pepi’ Höchtl by handing him,

on the occasion of a ceremony, a bound documentation of his

entire nearly 25-year-long parliamentary career in the form of a

reference book.

PHOTOS: HERIBERT CORN, WKO, OTTO IMMOBILIEN, BEIGESTELLT

Aussenwirtschaft Austria | Advantage Austria

Neubesetzung | Replacement

Michael Otter, Abteilungsleiter-Stellvertreter der Aussenwirtschaft

Austria, wurde zum neuen Leiter ernannt. Er hat mit September 2017 die

Nachfolge von Walter Koren angetreten, der ab Dezember als Wirtschaftsdelegierter

an das AC Los Angeles wechselt (siehe auch Seite

56-57). Otter absolvierte ein International Business Administration

Studium an der WU Wien und war danach in Abu Dhabi, Tokio und

New York sowie als Wirtschaftsdelegierter in Seoul und Tokio tätig. Seit

Juli 2016 war er mit dem Aufbau des neuen Geschäftsfeldes Innovation

(Innovationsagentur) befasst.

Michael Otter, Deputy Head of Department at Advantage Austria, has

been named the new office’s new Head. In September 2017, he will

succeed Walter Koren, who will become the Economic Delegate to the AC

Los Angeles beginning in December (also see pages 56-57).

Otter completed an International Business Administration degree at the

Vienna University of Economics and Business and then worked in Abu

Dhabi, Tokyo and New York as well as an Economic Delegate to Seoul and

Tokyo. Since July 2016, he has been involved with the development of the

new innovation business sector (innovation agency).

wko.at/aussenwirtschaft

Immobilien | Properties

Elegant wohnen | Living elegantly

Wie viele Villen gibt es aktuell im 18. und 19. Wiener Gemeindebezirk, wie viele werden

jedes Jahr verkauft? Wie hat sich das Preisniveau in den letzten Jahren entwickelt und wie

hoch ist das aktuelle Angebot? Antworten darauf gibt der erste „Villenreport“ der Otto

Immobilien Gruppe, in dem das kleine, aber feine Segment des relevanten Villenbestandes

in Währing und Döbling erstmals wissenschaftlich erhoben und analysiert wurde.

How many villas are currently in Vienna’s 18th and 19th districts; how many are sold every

year? How has the price level changed over the last couple of years and how high is the

current offer? Answers to such questions are provided by the Otto Immobilien Group’s

first Villa Report, which for the first time, scientifically inquires into and analyses the

underestimated selection of villas in Währing and Döbling.

otto.at

Wien wählt - Nationalratswahl 2017

Neuerscheinung | New release

Zwei starke Optimisten | Two feisty optimists

Österreich gilt als Land der Jammerer. Man beklagt sich, beschwert sich, und dafür gibt es mitunter oft gute

Gründe. Nun stehen Flüchtlingskrise, Arbeitslosigkeit, Populismus, die neue Rechte, Zusammenbruch der

tradierten Systeme in Politik, Verwaltung, Sozialpartnerschaft und das Diktat der EU-Bürokratie im Fokus.

Bundespräsident a.D. Heinz Fischer (rechts) und Wirtschaftskammerpräsident Christoph Leitl legen dar,

warum das Kind allzu oft mit dem Bade ausgeschüttet wird, und warum wir uns vor Augen führen müssen,

was in Österreich Großes während der vergangenen Jahrzehnte nach den beiden Weltkriegen geleistet

wurde – in Europa und insbesondere in Österreich.

Österreich für Optimisten (Austria for optimists)

ISBN: 978-3-7110-0158-0, Ecowin Verlag

Austria has a reputation as a country of complainers. People gripe, they whine,

and often for a good reason. Right now, motivating factors are the refugee

crisis, unemployment, populism, the new right, the collapse of the traditional

way of doing politics, administration, social partnerships and the control of the

EU bureaucrats. Former Federal President Heinz Fischer (pictured right) and

President of the Austrian Chamber of Commerce Christoph Leitl outline why

the baby is too often thrown out with the bathwater and why we must

become aware of what incredible feats have been performed in the decades

after the two World Wars – in Europe as well as in Austria.

ecowin.at

Bildung | Education

25 Jahre Danube International School

Vienna | 25 years Danube International

School Vienna

Über 500 Schüler aus 60 Nationen besuchen die Danube International

School Vienna, die heuer ihr bereits 25jähriges Jubiläum feiert. Der

Unterricht findet für alle Altersgruppen, von drei bis 18 Jahre, an Vorund

Nachmittagen statt und wird von 99 Lehrern aus 29 Nationen in 20

Sprachen betreut. Vor kurzem saniert, verfügt das Gebäude über eine

Vielzahl an Klassenzimmern und anderen Einrichtungen, einschließlich

drei Laboratorien, einem Computerraum, einer Turnhalle, einem

Theatersaal, sowie einer Bibliothek.

More than 500 students from 60 different countries attend the

Danube International School Vienna which is celebrating its 25th

anniversary this year. Classes are available for all age groups, from

three to 18 years old, mornings and afternoons, and are taught in

20 languages by a team of 99 teachers from 29 different

countries. Recently refurbished, the building contains a variety of

classrooms as well as other facilities, including three laboratories,

a computer room, a gymnasium, an auditorium, and a library.

danubeschool.com

BEZAHLTE ANZEIGE

Am Sonntag, dem 15. Oktober 2017, findet in Österreich die Nationalratswahl statt. Setzen Sie ein starkes

Zeichen und entscheiden Sie mit, welche 183 Abgeordneten Ihre Interessen im Nationalrat vertreten.

Wählen dürfen alle österreichischen Staatsbürgerinnen

und Staatsbürger, die bis zum 15. Oktober 2001 geboren

wurden und ihren Hauptwohnsitz spätestens am

Stichtag der Wahl, dem 25. Juli 2017, in einer österreichischen Gemeinde

begründet hatten. Auslandsösterreicherinnen und Auslandsösterreicher

sind wahlberechtigt, wenn sie in einer österreichischen

Gemeinde in der Wählerevidenz eingetragen sind. Die in

Wien in der Wählerevidenz eingetragenen Auslandsösterreicherinnen

und Auslandsösterreicher wurden bereits Mitte Juli mit einem

persönlichen Schreiben über ihre Wahlmöglichkeiten informiert.

Wählen mit Wahlkarte. Wenn Sie am Wahltag nicht in Ihrem zuständigen

Wahllokal wählen können (zum Beispiel aus gesundheitlichen

Gründen oder wegen eines Aufenthalts im Ausland), haben

Sie die Möglichkeit, mit einer Wahlkarte in einem beliebigen

Wahlkarten-Wahllokal in ganz Österreich oder per Briefwahl im

In- und Ausland Ihre Stimme abzugeben.

Alle in Wien wahlberechtigten Personen können einen Wahlkartenantrag

bis zum 11. Oktober 2017 schriftlich (z. B. online

über www.wahlen.wien.at) oder bis zum 13. Oktober 2017, 12 Uhr,

persönlich beim Wahlreferat ihres zuständigen Magistratischen

Bezirksamtes stellen.

Um in Wien eine Wahlkarte zu beantragen, sind folgende Angaben

unbedingt erforderlich:

· Begründung, warum eine Wahlkarte benötigt wird · Familienname

· Vorname · Geburtsdatum · Geburtsort · Adresse des Hauptwohnsitzes

· Identitätsnachweis (z. B. Kopie eines amtlichen Lichtbildausweises

oder Angabe der Reisepass-, Personalausweisbeziehungsweise

Führerscheinnummer) oder Unterschrift des Antrages

mit einer qualifizierten elektronischen Signatur (Bürgerkarte/

Handysignatur).

Eine für die Briefwahl verwendete Wahlkarte muss bis spätestens

am Wahltag, dem 15. Oktober 2017, 17 Uhr, per Post, per Botin

beziehungsweise Boten oder durch persönliche Abgabe bei einer

Bezirkswahlbehörde einlangen. Die für die Briefwahl verwendete

Wahlkarte kann auch am Wahltag in jedem Wahllokal während

der Öffnungszeiten der Wahllokale und in jeder Bezirkswahlbehörde

bis 17 Uhr abgegeben werden.

Alle Wahlinfos für Wiener Wählerinnen und Wähler:

Stadtservice Wien - Stadtinformation: Telefon 00 43 1/525 50

www.wahlen.wien.at

80 Cercle Diplomatique 3/2017

OBERÖSTERREICH

Special

Grußworte

Greetings

Oberösterreich – ein Land der Möglichkeiten

Upper Austria — a land of possibilities

Drei Themen stehen im

Mittelpunkt dieses redaktionellen

Special-Teils des

Cercle Diplomatique Magazins –

Wirtschaft, Tourismus und Kultur.

Drei Schwerpunkte, die auch das

Land Oberösterreich ganz besonders

auszeichnen.

Rund ein Viertel aller österreichischen

Exporte kommen aus

dem starken Wirtschaftsbundesland

Oberösterreich. Auch das

Tourismusland Oberösterreich erfreut

sich bei Gästen aus dem Inund

Ausland immer größerer Beliebtheit.

Und Oberösterreich ist

ein lebendiges Kulturland, das in

den unterschiedlichen Regionen

unterschiedlichste Geschmäcker

bedient.

Ich danke dem Magazin Cercle

Diplomatique für die Möglichkeit,

unser Land zu präsentieren und

lade alle Leser ein, sich selbst ein

Bild von den vielen Möglichkeiten

in Oberösterreich zu machen.

Three topics are at the focus

of this editorial special section

of the Cercle Diplomatique

magazine – business, tourism

and culture. Three topics that

also happen to distinguish the

province of Upper Austria.

Around a quarter of all Austrian

exports originate from the economically

strong province of Upper

Austria. And as a tourist

destination, Upper Austria continues

to gain more and more popularity

among visitors from home

and abroad. Upper Austria is also

a vibrant cultural hub that caters

to a variety of tastes across its various

regions.

I would like to thank the Cercle

Diplomatique magazine for the

opportunity to present our province

and invite all readers to get a

taste of the many possibilities offered

by Upper Austria.

THOMAS STELZER

Landeshauptmann von

Oberösterreich

Governor of Upper

Austria

Der Jurist studierte an der

Johannes Kepler Universität

Linz. Er war von Oktober

2015 bis Anfang April 2017

Landeshauptmann-Stellvertreter.

Seit dem 6. April 2017 ist er

Landeshauptmann von

Oberösterreich.

Thomas Stelzer studied Law

at the Johannes Kepler

University Linz. He was

Deputy Governor between

October 2015 and early April

2017. Since 6 April 2017, he is

the new incumbent Governor

of Upper Austria.

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

Ihr | Yours sincerely,

Thomas Stelzer

Cercle Diplomatique 3/2017 83

UPPER AUSTRIA CULTURAL HOTSPOTS

Linz dreht auf

Linz turns it up

Text: Rois & Stubenrauch

Markus Poschner, neuer

Chefdirigent Bruckner Orchester

Linz /new chief conductor

Bruckner Orchester Linz

Ars Electronica Center

Ars Electronica, Klangwolke, Brucknerfest und eine große Valie Export Ausstellung –

Linz zündet im Herbst ein Feuerwerk an hochkarätigen Kulturevents.

Ars Electronica, Klangwolke, the Brucknerfestival and a great Valie Export exhibition –

this autumn, Linz is firing up the big guns for top-notch culture events.

PHOTOS: LIVA, TIME‘S UP, KYLE SMITHERS, ARS ELECTRONICA / CHRISTOPHER SONNLEITNER, BREMER PHILHARMONIKER, STADT LINZ, VOEST ALPINE AG, LINZ TOURISMUS, FLORIAN VOGGENEDER, RAKUTARO OGIWARA, MASCHEKS.

Wenn im Labor erzeugte neuronale Zellen

musikalische Klänge generieren („cellF“

von Guy Ben-Ary) oder zwei Roboter gemeinsam

ein Netz in einem Raum spinnen („MoR-

FES_02“ von Maria Yablonina), dann kann es sich nur

um Medienkunst des Ars Electronica Festivals handeln,

das auch 2017 die Oberösterreichische Landeshauptstadt

zum Nabel der digitalen Avantgarde der

Welt macht. „Artificial Intelligence – Das Andere Ich“

steht im September als Klammer über der diesjährigen

Ausgabe des Festivals, das auf einem dichten Parcours

von Installationen, Performances und Symposien

das komplexe Verhältnis zwischen menschlicher

und künstlicher Intelligenz auslotet.

Auf eine akustische Reise über die Weltmeere

entführt die Linzer Klangwolke am 9.9 unter dem

Titel „Moby Dick“ – frei nach Hermann Melville, basierend

auf einem Werk des Komponisten Stephen

Melillo. Das Feuerwerk ist dieses Jahr inhaltlicher

Bestandteil der Inszenierung – man darf gespannt

sein! Ab dem 16.9. vertieft sich dann das Brucknerorchester

– erstmals unter seinem neuen Chefdirigenten

Markus Poschner - und eine ganze Reihe

hochkarätiger Gäste, von Valery Gergiev und seinen

Münchner Philharmonikern bis zur schillernden

Songwriterin Tori Amos, beim internationalen

Brucknerfest 2017 in den Klangkosmos des oberösterreichischen

Komponisten Anton Bruckner.

Die Eröffnung des Valie Export Centers in der Tabakfabrik

Linz als internationales Forschungszentrum

für Medien- und Performancekunst folgt als

weiterer Höhepunkt des Linzer Kulturherbstes im

November. Parallel dazu zeigt das Lentos Kunstmuseum

die Ausstellung „Valie Export - Das Archiv als

Ort künstlerischer Forschung“, die anhand einer Fülle

von Dokumenten, Skizzen und Entwürfen der bedeutenden,

in Linz gebürtigen Medienkünstlerin,

den Weg von der Ideenfindung bis zur Ausformulierung

eines Werkes greifbar macht.

When synthetic neural cells generate musical

tunes (‘cellF’ by Guy Ben-Ary) or two

robots spin a web inside a room (‘MoR-

FES_02’ by Maria Yablonina), then we must be talking

about the media art of the Ars Electronica festival

that is set to transform the Upper Austrian

provincial capital of Linz into the world’s centre for

digital avant-garde in 2017. ‘Artificial Intelligence –

the Other I’ is the title of this year’s edition taking

Voest Alpine Stahlwelt

place in September and explores the complex relationship

between humanity and artificial intelligence

through a dense web of installations, performance

and symposia.

The Linzer Klangwolke, on the other hand, invites

you on an acoustic journey through the world’s oceans

on 09/09 under the title ‘Moby Dick’ – inspired

by the work of Herman Melville, based on a piece by

composer Stephen Melillo. This year, fireworks are

an essential component of the show – time to get excited!

Starting on 16/09, the Bruckner Orchester, for

the first time under the new Chief Conductor Markus

Poschner, as well as a series of top-class guests,

from Valery Gergiev and his Munich Philharmonic

all the way to the dazzling song writer Toris Amos,

unite to explore the auditory world of the Upper

Austrian composer Anton Bruckner at the International

Brucknerfestival 2017.

The opening of the Valie Export Centre at the Tabakfabrik

Linz as an international research centre for

media and performance art is an additional highlight

in the Linz culture autumn this November. At the same

time, the Lentos Art Museum is displaying the exhibition

‘Valie Export — The Archive as a Place for Artistic

Research’, which, by way of a variety of documents,

sketches and designs by Linz’s most significant media

artists, make the path from the original idea to the final

implementation of a piece more accessible.

Lentos Kunstmuseum

KULTURHERBST

OBERÖSTERREICH

CULTURE AUTUMN

IN UPPER AUSTRIA

Ars Electronica

Festival für Kunst, Technologie und

Gesellschaft / Festival for Art,

Technology and Society

Postcity Linz, 7.9. - 11.9 2017

aec.at

Offenes Kulturhaus

Oberösterreich OK

CyberArts 2017 – Prix Ars

Electronica Exhibition

7.9. - 17. 9. 2017

ok-centrum.at

Klangwolke 2017

Donaupark Linz, 9.9.2017

klangwolke.at

Internationales

Brucknerfest 2017

16.09. - 13.10.2017

brucknerhaus.at

Lentos Kunstmuseum Linz

Valie Export – Das Archiv als Ort

künstlerischer Forschung

Valie Export – The Archive as a

Place for Artistic Research

10.11.2017 - 28.1.2018

lentos.at

Valie Export Center Linz

valieexportcenter.at

Museum Angerlehner

museum-angerlehner.at

Voest Alpine Stahlwelt

voestalpine.com/stahlwelt

Oben: Die Klangwolke legt sich am 9. September über Linz. Top: The sound cloud will arrive at Linz on the 9th of September.

Darunter / Below: Ars Electronica Festival 2017: Turnton Docklands, Time’s Up (A). *Explored*, Candaş Şişman/NOHlab/Plato Media Lab (TR). Bodyscape, Behnaz Farahi (US/IR).

Big Concert Night, Ars Electronica AIDJProject, Opening 2017 Valie Export Center

84 Cercle Diplomatique 3/2017

Cercle Diplomatique 3/2017

Fine hotels

UPPER AUSTRIA TOURISM

Mit einer Prise Salz

With a pinch of salt

Text: Daniela Pötzl

CERCLE

DIPLOMATIQUE

selected by

ECONOMIQUE et TOURISTIQUE INTERNATIONAL

can also be found in these exclusive hotels:

Im Salzkammergut findet man einzigartige Seen und Berge.

Der Salzabbau hat einst die Region weit über die Grenzen

hinaus bekannt gemacht. Heute sind Hallstatt und Bad Ischl

beliebte Tourismusorte Oberösterreichs.

With unique lakes and mountains, Salzkammergut is included

in Austria’s holiday regions. In the past, the region used

to receive a lot of attention from far beyond its borders for its

salt mining industry. Today, Hallstatt and Bad Ischl are

popular tourist destinations in Upper Austria.

Von hier gelangte das oberhalb des Ortes abgebaute

Salz auf damals mühevollen Wegen bis

an die Ostsee und in den Mittelmeerraum:

Hallstatt, das Wort „Hall“ ist ein altertümlicher Ausdruck

für Salz, war für Europa so bedeutend, dass

man eine ganze Epoche, die Zeit von ca. 1.000 bis 500

v. Chr., danach benannt hat – die Hallstattzeit. Mit

dem Auftreten der Habsburger lässt sich der Hallstätter

Salzbergbau ab 1282 dokumentarisch nachweisen

Auch heute noch gehört das Salzbergwerk zu den

wichtigsten Attraktionen des Ortes. Durch das Zusammenspiel

von alter Kultur und atemberaubender

Natur wurde vor genau 20 Jahren die Region Hallstatt

Dachstein/ Salzkammergut von der UNESCO zum

Weltkultur- und Weltnaturerbe erklärt.

Des Kaisers liebster Ferienort

Die Familie Habsburg hat aber noch einen weiteren

Ort im Salzkammergut, nämlich Bad Ischl, geprägt.

Hier wurde in der Biedermeierzeit der Grundstein

für den Tourismus gelegt, das zweite

wirtschaftliche Standbein der Region. Zusammen

mit Ehefrau Elisabeth („Sisi“) war Kaiser Franz Joseph

I. dann auch der treueste Gast des rasant aufstrebenden

Kurortes. 83 Sommer seiner insgesamt

86 Lebensjahre verbrachte er im Salzkammergut.

Dafür wurde sogar der offizielle Regierungssitz nach

Bad Ischl verlegt. Von der Kaiservilla aus, die bis

heute im Originalzustand erhalten ist, frönte er seinem

liebsten Hobby, der Jagd nach Gämsen, Rehen

und Hirschen, die er in Mengen erlegte und deren

Geweihe noch heute dichtgedrängt die Wände der

Kaiservilla schmücken.

Kreative Inspirationsquelle

Mit dem Kaiserhof kamen in den Sommermonaten

auch viele berühmte Künstler aus Wien nach

Ischl, das alle inspirierte: Musiker wie Johann Strauß

und Franz Lehar und Dichter, wie Nikolaus Lenau

und Adalbert Stifter, der hier zum Landschaftsliteraten

von Weltrang wurde. Ferdinand Georg Waldmüller

entwickelte die neue Landschaftsmalerei des

Biedermeier. Und der legendäre Forscher Friedrich

Simony legte im Inneren Salzkammergut den

Grundstein für seine Hochgebirgs- und Eiszeitforschung,

die seinen Namen bis heute eng mit dem

Dachstein verbindet. Sie alle festigten den Ruf des

Salzkammergutes als idealen Ort.

PHOTOS: ÖSTERREICH WERBUNG JULIA KNOP, CARNIEL; SALZKAMMERGUT TOURISMUS; OBERÖSTERREICH TOURISMUS; FOTOLIA

From here, the salt that was mined in the area

above the town made its way to the Baltic Sea

and to the Mediterranean area via painstaking

routes: Hallstatt. The word ‘Hall’ is an ancient way of

saying salt in German, which was such an important

commodity in Europe at the time that the entire period

from approximately 1000 to 500 BC was named

after it – the Hallstatt period. Salt mining was first

documented in Hallstatt beginning in 1282 with the

arrival of the Habsburg family in Salzkammergut.

And salt, also known as ‘white gold’, seems to have

outlasted everything else: To this day, the salt mine is

among the town’s most important attractions. As a

result of the interplay between culture and the breathtaking

natural landscape, the Hallstatt Dachstein/

Salzkammergut region was declared a UNESCO

World Heritage Site exactly 20 years ago.

The Kaiser’s favourite holiday destination

The Habsburg family has influenced another

town in Salzkammergut, namely Bad Ischl. This is

where, during the Biedermeier period, the foundation

was built for tourism, the region’s second economic

corner stone. Together with his wife Elisabeth,

known as Sisi, Franz Joseph I of Austria became the

emerging wellness destination’s most loyal visitor.

Throughout his 86 years of life, he spent 83 summers

in Salzkammergut. This even resulted in the official

seat of government being relocated to Bad Ischl.

From the Imperial villa, which is still preserved in its

original state, he would practice his favourite hobby,

hunting chamois and deer, of which he slew many

and whose densely packed antlers still decorate the

walls of the imperial villa to this day.

Creative source of inspiration

The Imperial court saw many famous artists from

Vienna come to Bad Ischl during summer, perhaps

to seek inspiration: Musicians like Johann Strauß

and Franz Lehar and poets such as Nikolaus Lenau as

well as Adalbert Stifter, who became world-famous

for his countryside and landscape poetry. Ferdinand

George Waldmüller came here and developed the

Biedermeier style of painting landscapes. And the

legendary researcher Friedrich Simony came to the

Salzkammergut to lay the foundation for his alpine

and ice age research, which still links his name to

Dachstein. Together, they all contributed to the Salzkammergut

region gaining a reputation as the ideal

place to enjoy a splendid summer.

General Manager

Gerhard E. Mitrovits

Palais Hansen Kempinski Vienna

Schottenring 24

1010 Vienna

T. +43 1 236 1000-0

kempinski.com/vienna

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● Golden Hill Country Chalets & Suites ● Hotel de France Wien ● Hotel Goldener Hirsch A Luxury

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School Renaissance Hotel Vienna ● Interalpen-Hotel Tyrol ● Kitzbühel Country Club ● Hotel Kitzhof

Mountain Design Resort ● Hotel Lamée ● Loisium Langenlois ● Loisium Südsteiermark ● Luxuslodge

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Stephansdom ● Stanglwirt ● Vienna Marriott Hotel ● Vila Vita Pannonia

Oben: Hallstatt ist einer der bekanntesten Orte in der Salzkammergut Region.

Top: Hallstatt is one of the most well known places in the Salzkammergut region.

Darunter: Prähistorische Funde aus der Hallstattzeit; im Berginneren des Hallstätter Salzberges

(links); Die Kaiservilla in Bad Ischl (rechts)

Below: Prehistoric finds from the Hallstatt period; Deep inside the salt mountains in Hallstatt; The

Imperial villa in Bad Ischl (right).

INFO:

hallstatt.net

badischl.salzkammergut.at

oberoesterreich.at

Would you like to belong to these exclusive hotels?

If so, please contact us!

office@firstclassmedia.at

ECONOMIQUE et TOURISTIQUE INTERNATIONAL

86 Cercle Diplomatique 3/2017

UPPER AUSTRIA BUSINESS SUCCESS

Es bleibt in der Familie

It runs in the family

XXXLUTZ & STILHAUS

Expansion - wie hier abgebildet

in die Schweiz - ist in diesem

Unternehmen ein Must. In this

company, expansion – like

pictured here, to Switzerland – is

a must.

Jedes zweite Großunternehmen in Oberösterreich

befindet sich in Familienbesitz.

Darunter sind einstige Kleinunternehmen

zu finden, die heute als Big Player

international groß im Geschäft sind.

Every second large enterprise in Upper

Austria is family-owned. Among

them, you will find many former

small businesses that are major

international players today and

deal in big business.

Text: Daniela Pötzl

Der erst 21-jährige Franz Mitterbauer übernimmt

im Jahr 1927 die Schlosserwerkstatt

seines Lehrherren in Laakirchen und baut

sie zur Reparaturwerkstatt aus. 1935 hat er bereits

fünf Mitarbeiter. 14 Jahre später kommt dann der

Durchbruch: Nach unzähligen Versuchen und mühevollem

Einsatz beherrschte der Betrieb die Herstellung

konkurrenzfähiger Bleibronze-Gleitlager.

Die industrielle Produktion beginnt.

Nach dem Krieg startet er mit der Produktion

konkurrenzfähiger Gleitlager, kurz darauf auch mit

deren Export. Heute ist die Miba führender Zulieferer

der internationalen Motoren- und Fahrzeugindustrie

und beschäftigt 5.000 Mitarbeiter an 22

Standorten. Geführt wird sie mittlerweile vom Enkel

des Firmengründers, Franz-Peter Mitterbauer, unter

dessen Führung bis 2020 hehre Ziele angestrebt werden:

einerseits ein profitables Wachstum auf über 1

Mrd. Euro, andererseits die globale Nummer 1 in

den betreffenden Marktsegmenten zu werden. Kein

Wunder also, dass die Business-Strategie die Bezeichnung

„Dynamic Evolution“ quasi als Motto

trägt.

SILHOUETTE

Gegründet 1964, ist das

Unternehmen mit Designer

Arthur Arbesser am Puls der Zeit.

Keeping the pace: The company,

founded in 1964, hired the trendy

designer Arthur Arbesser.

PHOTOS: LEA HEPP HEPPFOTOGRAFIE, BEIGESTELLT

Titan als Werkstoff

Neun von zehn Unternehmen in Österreich sind

Familienbetriebe. Ohne Berücksichtigung von EPUs,

den Ein-Personen-Unternehmen, sind immer noch

mehr als 50 Prozent der Betriebe Familienunternehmen

für 60 Prozent der Umsätze verantwortlich.

In Sachen Erfolg hat Oberösterreich mehrere herausragende

Beispiele zu bieten - wie Backaldrin, die

für den Kornspitz bekannt geworden sind. Oder Silhouette,

die mit der leichtesten Brille der Welt den

Markt, der die Nasen ziert, revolutioniert haben.

Durch den Einsatz neuester Materialien kommen

stets neue Produkte auf den Markt. Ein Schwerpunkt

liegt in der Anfertigung hochpreisiger, größtenteils

unter Verwendung von Titan, handgefertigter, randloser

Brillenfassungen.

Erst kürzlich hat sich das Unternehmen, das von

Anneliese und Arnold Schmied gegründet wurde,

mit dem angesagten Designer Arthur Arbesser neuen

kreativen Wind in die Zentrale nach Linz geholt.

Selten war Brillenmode, die seit 1964 mit Tradition

dort gefertigt wird, cooler und bunter.

Expansion als Stärke

Richard Seifert und seine Frau Gertrude (geborene

Lutz) gründeten bereits 1945 die XXXLutz KG in

88 Cercle Diplomatique 3/2017

Cercle Diplomatique 3/2017

UPPER AUSTRIA BUSINESS

SUCCESS

International

erfolgreich in

Oberösterreich

Internationally

succesful in

Upper Austria

Backaldrin

backaldrin.com

voestalpine AG

voestalpine.com

BMW Motoren GmbH

bmw-werk-steyr.at

Swietelsky Bau

swietelsky.com

Lenzing AG

lenzing.com

Kreuzmayr Gruppe

kreuzmayr.at

Engel Austria GmbH

engelglobal.com

KTM Industries AG

ktm.com

MAN Truck & Bus GmbH

truck.man.eu

HABAU GmbH

habau.at

Vivatis Holding AG

vivatis.at

Berglandmilch eGen

berglandmilch.at

Doppler GmbH

doppler.at

delfortgroup AG

delfortgroup.com

Brau Union Österreich AG

brauunion.at

Polytec Holding AG

polytec-group.com

FACC AG

facc.com

Bernecker & Rainer GmbH

br-automation.com

Felbermayr Holding GmbH

felbermayr.cc

Plasser & Theurer GmbH

plassertheurer.com

BWT AG

bwt.at

GREINER

Das Unternehmen gehört zu den weltweit größten Verarbeitern von Kunst- und Schaumstoff. The company is among the largest

production sites of synthetic substance and foam material worldwide.

Haag am Hausruck. Das Unternehmen betreibt seit

1973 eine anhaltende Expansionspolitik. Nun ist die

Schweiz dran: Das Möbelhaus wird ab Frühjahr 2018

eine umfassende Auswahl im Bereich Wohnkultur

im stilhaus in Rothrist im Kanton Aargau präsentieren,

vor allem hochwertige Design- und Markenmöbel

und ein sehr großes Angebot an Wohn-Accessoires

auf gleich drei Stockwerken.

Die XXXLutz-Gruppe unter der heutigen Führung

von Andreas und Richard Seifert ist mit dem

bevorstehenden Markteintritt in der Schweiz bereits

in 10 europäischen Ländern vertreten. Derzeit werden

246 Einrichtungshäuser mit insgesamt 21.500

Mitarbeitern bei einem Gruppenumsatz von rund

vier Mrd. Euro betrieben. 2010 bot das Unternehmen

sogar dem blau-gelben Möbel-Platzhirschen

die Stirn und eröffnete im Heimatland von Ikea den

ersten Standort in Malmö.

Produkte für den Alltag

Auch wenn man sie auf den ersten Blick nicht

gleich erkennt: Produkte aus dem Hause Greiner

sind aus unserem Alltag nicht mehr wegzudenken –

ob bei Joghurtbechern, der Hutablage im Auto oder

der Schaumstoffmatratze. Die Unternehmen der

Greiner Holding AG mit Sitz in Kremsmünster erzeugen

Verpackungen aus Kunststoff für den Foodund

Nonfood-Bereich, zählen zu den weltweit führenden

Unternehmen in den Bereichen Life Science

und Diagnostik und stellen Schaumstoffe für die

unterschiedlichsten Anwendungsgebiete her.

Nun hat man sich auch für den Healthcare-Bereich

etwas einfallen lassen: Mit der Einführung einer

weltweit neuen digitalen Systemlösung von Greiner

eHealth Technology (GeT) soll nun am Pilotspital

Steyr der gesamte Blutabnahmeprozess optimiert

werden. Die Systemlösungen ermöglichen eine digitale

Abarbeitung und Dokumentation, da ab sofort

alle Probenröhrchen mit einem Barcode versehen

sind. Das bisher weltweit gängige manuelle Etikettieren

der Röhrchen sowie weitere administrative Prozessschritte

durch das Pflegepersonal sollen demnach

der Vergangenheit angehören – was

Verwechslungen in Zukunft ausschließen, dafür

100-prozentige Nachverfolgbarkeit sowie Transparenz

garantiert soll.

Ein Panther für Florianijünger

Wer in Wien-Schwechat bei der Feuerwehr

Dienst tut, arbeitet bald noch besser ausgestattet:

Denn der größte Flughafen Österreichs tauscht seine

komplette Flotte aus und betreibt in Zukunft nur

mehr Rosenbauer Fahrzeuge am Flugfeld – neben

einer Rettungstreppe, die bereits im Einsatz ist, werden

bis Jahresende zwei sogenannte Panther zum

Einsatz kommen, mit denen die Flughafenfeuerwehr

auch öffentliche Straßen und das zum Einsatzbereich

gehörende Augebiet befahren kann. Im kommenden

Jahr werden sich dann vier neue rote „Wildkatzen“

hinzugesellen– damit wird der Flughafen Wien über

die weltweit modernste Flotte an Flughafenlöschund

Rettungsfahrzeugen verfügen.

Das Unternehmen aus Leonding macht zwar nur

weniger als 10% seines Umsatzes mit Feuerwehren

in Österreich, weltweit betrachtet schwören jedoch

viele Staaten auf die Rosenbauer Produkte. Nicht selten

begegnet man daher auch Einsatzfahrzeugen in

den USA. Begonnen hat alles im Jahr 1866, in dem

Johann Rosenbauer das erste oberösterreichische

Feuerwehr-Ausrüstungsgeschäft in Linz gründete.

PHOTOS: HELFRIED P. DAUME, BEIGESTELLT

Neben Hanfschläuchen, Handdruckspritzen verschiedener

Hersteller, Helmen und Knöpfen wurden

damals auch Fecht-, Sport- und Spielgeräte verkauft.

Das erste Feuerwehrfahrzeug wurde übrigens bereits

1918 gebaut. Heute ist Rosenbauer seit vielen Jahren

der weltweit führende Hersteller für Feuerwehrtechnik

im abwehrenden Brand- und Katastrophenschutz.

Allen Unternehmen ist eines gemeinsam – sie haben

oft viele Jahrzehnte, im Fall von Rosenbauer

ganze Jahrhunderte, überdauert, Moden überstanden,

eigene kreiert und sich den kommenden Herausforderungen

angepasst und passend agiert. Daher

trifft der viel zitierte Sager: „Die erste Generation

baut es auf, die nächste erhält es und die dritte zerstört

es“ bei zahlreichen Unternehmen in Familienhand

in Oberösterreich glücklicherweise nicht zu.

Möge daher der Wappenspruch der Familie Starhemberg

als Motto gelten: „Non nobis, sed posteris “

– „Nicht für uns, aber für unsere Nachkommen“, und

mit aller gemeinsamen Kraft der Familie.

In 1927, 21-year-old Franz Mitterbauer took over

his tutor’s locksmith’s workshop in Laankirchen

and reconstructed it into a repair workshop. By

1935, he already had five employees. 14 years later

came the breakthrough. After the war, he began the

production of competitively priced bearings, exports

followed soon after. Today, Miba is the leading supplier

of the international motor and vehicle industry

and employs 5000 people at 22 different locations.

The company is now run by its founder’s grandson,

Franz-Peter Mitterbauer, under whose leadership

even more ambitious goals are planned for 2020: on

the one hand, a profitable growth of over 1 billion

euro, and on the other hand, to become the global

number 1 in the relevant market segments. So, it

should come as no surprise that their business strategy

basically operates under the motto ‘Dynamic

Evolution’.

Titanium as raw material

Nine out of ten companies in Austria are familyowned.

Without consideration for individual entrepreneurs,

50 percent of family-owned businesses are

responsible for 60 percent of total turnover.

When it comes to success, Upper Austria can list

several excellent examples – like the company

Backaldrin which became famous for its product

MIBA

Der internationale Spezialist für Gleitlager und andere Teile für die Fahrzeugindustrie.

The specialist for slide bearings and other parts needed in the automative industry.

called “Kornspitz“. Or like Silhouette, for example,

has revolutionised the market with the lightest glasses

in the world. As a result of the extremely high

standards during manufacturing, as well as the use of

new materials, there is a constant influx of new products

to the market. One emphasis lies on the production

of high-priced, largely titanium-based,

hand-made rimless eyewear frames.

Just recently, the company, founded by Anneliese

and Arnold Schmied, embarked on a new creative

direction at the headquarters in Linz by announcing

collaboration with the hip designer Arthur Arbesser.

Eyewear fashion, crafted in Linz with passion and

tradition since 1964, has never been this cool and colourful.

Expansion as strength

Richard Seifert and his wife Gertrude (née Lutz)

founded XXXLutz KG in Haag am Hausruck in

1945. Since 1973, the company has been engaged in

a continuous policy of expansion. And now it’s

Switzerland’s turn: Beginning in spring 2018, the

furniture chain will present an extensive new selection

under the banner ‘Residential Culture’ at the

stilhaus in Rothrist in the canton of Aargau. The focus

will be on high-quality designer and brand furniture

pieces and a very large collection of residential

accessories, spread across three floors.

With the upcoming market launch in Switzerland,

the XXXLutz Group, led today by Andreas and

90 Cercle Diplomatique 3/2017

Cercle Diplomatique 3/2017

UPPER AUSTRIA BUSINESS

SUCCESS

ROSENBAUER

ist der weltweit führende

Hersteller von Feuerwehrtechnik.

is the worldwide leader in the

area of firefighting

technology.

UNSERE OÖ. INDUSTRIE:

SICHERT MIT IHREM

EXPORT-

ERFOLG

INFO:

miba.com

silhouette.com

xxxlutz.at

greiner.at

rosenbauer.com

Richard Seifert, is already represented in 10 European

countries. Currently, the group operates 246

furniture stores with a total of 21,500 employees and

a turnover of around four billion euro. In 2010, the

company even defied the Swedish furniture giant

and opened its first location in Ikea’s home country,

in the city of Malmö.

Products for everyday life

Even if you may not recognise them at first, we

can’t imagine our lives without Greiner products

anymore — whether yoghourt cups, parcel shelves in

cars or foam mattresses. The company Greiner Holding

AG, headquartered in Kremsmünster, produces

synthetic packaging for the food and non-food sectors

and are considered among the globally leading

enterprises in the areas of life science and diagnostics

and make synthetic materials for various areas of application.

And now there are also some new ideas for the

healthcare sector: With the introduction of a completely

new digital system solution by Greiner

eHealth Technology (GeT), the Pilotspital Steyr pilot

hospital will optimise the entire process of drawing

blood. The system solution will allow for digital processing

and documentation, as all test tubes will now

be equipped with barcodes. The manual labelling of

the tubes, as well as additional administrative steps

carried out by the care personnel, will thus be a thing

of the past. This will prevent mix-ups and instead

guarantee traceability, as well as transparency, in the

future.

A panther for the fire brigade

Those performing firefighting services at the Vienna

International Airport will soon be much better

equipped, because Austria’s biggest airport is replacing

its entire fleet and will be operating more Rosenbauer

vehicles in the future. Next to rescue stairs,

which are already operational, two so-called Panthers

will also be added, which the airport firefighters

can use to navigate public roads, as well as the

Augebiet region, which also belongs to the deployment

area. The new year will then see the addition of

four new ‘wild cats’, and as a result the Vienna International

Airport will have the most state-of-the-art

fleet of airport firefighting and rescue vehicles in the

world.

Although the enterprise from Leonding only receives

less than 10% of its turnover from fire departments

in Austria, globally, many states count on

Rosenbauer’s products. That’s why you might encounter

one of their vehicles in the USA from time to

time. It all began in the year 1866 when Johann Rosenbauer

founded the first Upper Austrian firefighting

equipment business in Linz. Next to hemp hoses,

hand pumps from various manufacturers,

helmets and buttons, he also sold fencing and sports

equipment as well as toys. The first firefighting vehicle

was, incidentally, already built in 1918. Rosenbauer

has been the worldwide leading manufacturer

of firefighting technologies for fire and civil protection

for many years.

All these companies share one thing in common:

They have survived for many decades — or in the

case of Rosenbauer, centuries. They survived changing

trends, created their own, and adjusted to challenges

and navigated them swiftly. And hence the

popular expression ‘the first generation makes it, the

second generation spends it, and the third generation

blows it’ doesn’t apply to the countless familyowned

businesses in Upper Austria. And let’s hope

that the motto of the coat of arms of the Starhemberg

family prevails: ‘Non nobis, sed posteris’ — not for

us, but for our descendants, and with the joint

strength of the family.

PHOTO: KLAUS MITTERHAUSER

JEDEN 2. ARBEITSPLATZ

DAS BRINGT UNS ALLEN MEHR WOHLSTAND.

Mit Köpfchen und Qualität erzeugt die OÖ. Industrie Produkte und

Dienstleistungen, die weltweit gefragt sind. Diese internationalen Erfolge

sichern unsere Arbeitsplätze, ermöglichen ein höheres Einkommen und

bringen dem Staat Steuereinnahmen in Rekordhöhe.

www.wirerzeugenzukunft.at

92 Cercle Diplomatique 3/2017

UPPER AUSTRIA INTERVIEW

PROMOTION

Cecilia Baldivieso de Witzany

„Neben einem Dach über dem Kopf und Essen, brauchen Kinder Bildung.“

”Next to a roof and food, it’s important to provide children with education.”

Kornspitz for a Kingdom

Die Doyenne der Honorarkonsuln in Oberösterreich über zwei Heimaten und ihr Hilfsprojekt.

The doyenne of the Honorary Consuls in Upper Austria about two homes and her aid project.

PERSONAL DETAILS

Cecilia Baldivieso de Witzany ist

gebürtige Bolivianerin und

absolvierte eine Hotelfachschule in

Madrid. Sie arbeitet in einem Linzer

Reisebüro, lehrt seit 25 Jahren

Spanisch am WIFI und ist Honorarkonsulin

für Bolivien in Oberösterreich.

Seit Anfang 2013 ist sie auch

die Doyenne der Honorarkonsuln in

Oberösterreich. Sie ist verheiratet

und Mutter einer erwachsenen

Tochter.

Cecilia Baldivieso de Witzany was

born in Bolivia and graduated from a

hotel management school in Madrid.

She worked at a travel agency in Linz,

has been teaching Spanish at the

WIFI and is an Honorary Consul for

Bolivia in Upper Austria. Since early

2013, she has also been the doyenne

of the Honorary Consulate in Upper

Austria. She is married and is the

mother of an adult daughter.

alalay.at

Welche glücklichen Umstände brachten Sie nach

Österreich?

Als ich in jungen Jahren Au-pair-Mädchen in Paris war,

traf ich Doris aus Oberösterreich, die heute eine liebe

Freundin von mir ist. Sie lud mich zu sich nach Hause

ein, nach Gallneukirchen, nahe Linz. Doris brachte mir

auch gleich in Frankreich den Wolfgang Ambros-Hit

„Schifoan“ bei und meinte: „Den werden wir

zusammen in Österreich singen!“ Aus den zwei

Wochen sind schließlich 33 Jahre geworden (lacht).

Was schätzen Sie an Österreich besonders?

Ich bin von den Traditionen dieses Landes sehr

begeistert. Und natürlich auch von den Menschen,

auch wenn es manchmal so scheint, als würden sie

vorerst auf Distanz gehen. Ich mag die vier

Jahreszeiten, auch wenn sie zeigen wie schnell die Zeit

vergeht. Und ich liebe die Vielfalt der Musik in diesem

Land.

Sie unterstützen, gemeinsam mit Ihrem Mann

Walter, seit 1995 ein Kinderhilfsprojekt in Ihrem

Heimatland Bolivien. Wie hilft „Alalay“ vor Ort

im Detail?

Straßenkinder haben auch ein Recht auf ein würdiges

Leben. Neben einem Dach über dem Kopf und Essen

ist es aber auch wichtig, Ihnen den Zugang zu Bildung

und Ausbildung zu ermöglichen. 1995 stellte die Stadt

La Paz ein Haus für die Straßenkinder zehn Jahre lang

gratis zur Verfügung. Im selben Jahr knüpften mein

Mann Walter und ich erste Kontakte zu Alalay. Bei

einem verregneten Musik-Openair in Grünau im

Almtal, das Walter moderierte, wurde dann schließlich

der Grundstein für die Hilfsachse Österreich-Bolivien

gelegt. Mittlerweile haben viele geholfen und uns

auch mit Patenschaften unterstützt. Wir haben Kinderdörfer

gebaut und Ausbildungen ermöglicht.

Vermissen Sie Bolivien?

Ich habe nur die ersten 16 Jahre meines Lebens dort

verbracht. Danach war ich immer wieder in anderen

Ländern sowie den USA, Spanien und Frankreich

sesshaft. Daher trifft der Begriff „vermissen” nicht

ganz zu. Ich vermisse die Menschen in meinem Land,

meine Eltern, meinen Bruder. Dennoch schätze ich

mich mit „zwei Heimaten“ als privilegiert ein.

Natürlich freue ich mich riesig auf jede Reise nach

Bolivien, aber auch zurück nach Österreich zu kehren.

Bolivien ist ein äußerst spannendes Land, mit seiner

Vielfalt an ethnischen Gruppen, Essen und den

Trachten, die so bunt sind, wie die bolivianische

Flagge. Und ich tanze auch in Österreich sehr gerne,

es befreit die Seele. Und bei bolivianischen Festen

wird ja sowieso immer getanzt (lacht).

Which fortunate circumstances brought you to

Austria?

When I was an au pair in Paris in my younger years, I met

Doris from Upper Austria, who remains a good friend of

mine to this day. She invited me to her home in

Gallneukirchen, near Linz. While in France, Doris taught

me Wolfgang Ambros’ hit ‘Schifoan’ and said: ‘We’ll be

singing this one together in Austria!’ And in the end, those

two weeks became 33 years (laughs).

What do you appreciate the most about Austria?

I’m amazed by the country’s traditions. And, of course, by

the people, even if they may come across as distant at

first. I like the four seasons, even though they demonstrate

how quickly time passes. And I love the diversity of the

music in this country.

Together with your husband Walter, you have

been supporting a children’s aid project in your

homeland of Bolivia since 1995. How exactly does

“Alalay“ provide support on site?

Street children have a right to a dignified life. Next to a

roof over the head and food, it’s also important to provide

them with access to education and vocational training. In

1995, the city of La Paz organised a home for street

children which would be free of charge for 10 years. In the

same year, my husband Walter and I first got in touch

with Alalay. During an open-air music festival in Grünau in

the Almtal valley, which Walter was presenting, the

foundation was built for the Austria-Bolivia support route.

In the meantime, many have helped and many have also

assisted through sponsorships. We have built children’s

villages and made vocational training possible.

Do you miss Bolivia?

I have only spent the first 16 years of my life there. Then I

settled down in other countries as well as in the USA, in

Spain and France. Therefore the term „miss“ does not

apply in a way. I do miss the people in my country, my

parents, my brother. Yet I feel privileged as I can say: I

have “two homes“. Naturally, I am totally looking forward

to each trip to Bolivia, yet also, when I return to Austria.

Bolivia is a very exciting country, with its diversity of

ethnic groups, food and the traditional costumes that are

as colourful as the Bolivian flag itself. And I also like to

dance, in Austria too. Dancing frees up the soul. And

dancing is mandatory at Bolivian festivals anyway

(laughs).

PHOTO: RALPH MANFREDA

BACKALDRIN THE KORNSPITZ COMPANY, PUBLICATION FREE OF CHARGE • ENTGELTLICHE EINSCHALTUNG

More than 20 years ago, Austria’s leading seller of baking

ingredients, backaldrin The Kornspitz Company, began

its activities in Jordan. It is a success story that is also

reflected in the partnership with the Jordanian Olympic

Committee.

It was in 1996 that backaldrin Managing Director Harald Deller first

became aware of Mahmoud Khader from Jordan. Today’s Vice President

of backaldrin Arab Jordan Ltd. already had a perfect understanding

of the German language, which he had acquired during his studies in

Vienna. During his time in Vienna, he earned a living by selling newspapers

– today he is known as „Mr. backaldrin of Arabia“.

Best-selling Fine Bakery

Today, baking ingredients from backaldrin are in demand all over Jordan:

„Our products are found in almost every bakery, in restaurants, at

airports and in supermarkets,“ says Khader, who jointly directs the local

backaldrin business with his son Mohammed. The family business first laid

the foundation in 2006, with the commissioning of its own production site

in the capital Amman, the first outside of Austria. From there, the raw material

manufacturer supplies customers in more than 40 countries in the

Arab world, as well as in Africa. Flatbread and confectionery are among the

top sellers, while Kornspitz makes a welcome change in the region. The

broad product range allows for growth in Jordan and the surrounding markets.

Partner of the Jordanian Olympic Committee

„Jordan is an extremely important location for us, playing a vital role in

the exportation of goods in the Middle East and the surrounding countries,”

says Harald Deller, who is also Honorary Consul of the Hashemite

Kingdom of Jordan for Upper Austria. This is also why, as in many other

countries, backaldrin The Kornspitz Company, is committed to being a reliable

partner for athletes. The company is official partner of the Jordanian

Olympic Committee and was allowed to welcome the successful Jordanian

swimmer, Khader Baqleh, in the Upper Austrian capital of Linz last year.

Jordanian Olympian in Linz for Training Camp

The athlete, who had been preparing for the Rio Olympic Games at the

Olympic base, Gugl in Linz, was with his trainer, Yehia Hammudeh Al

Salti, for two weeks of training in Upper Austria. During this time, he met

the swimmers of the “Kornspitz Sport Team”, Lena Kreundl and Sebastian

S t e ff a n .

Top: backaldrin has been producing goods in Amman, the capital city

of Jordan, since 2006.

Middle: “Mr. backaldrin of Arabia” Mahmoud and his son

Mohammed Khader

Bottom: (from left to right): Mahmoud Khader, Trainer, Ambassador

Hussam al Husseini, Gerhard Rumetshofer, Jördis Steinegger,

Sebastian Steffan, Khader Baqleh, Lena Kreundl, Provincial

Councillor Michael Strugl, Harald Deller

94 Cercle Diplomatique 3/2017

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 ETHNO FOOD

Weltreise à la carte

Around the world à la carte

Urlaub nach dem Urlaub: In Wien kann man um die ganze Welt reisen, ohne einen

Schritt über die Stadtgrenze zu machen.

Holiday after the holidays: In Vienna, you can travel around the whole wide world

without having to set one foot outside the city limits.

Text: Daniela Pötzl

Reich gedeckte

Tafel.

Richly served table.

PHOTOS:XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Wien ist die schönste Stadt der Welt. Zum

mittlerweile achten Mal in Folge wurde

Wien in der Mercer Studie – die jährlich

durchgeführte weltweite Vergleichsstudie von Expatriats

in 231 Großstädten – auch heuer wieder als der

Ort mit der höchsten Lebensqualität gereiht. Eine

lebenswerte Weltstadt also, die auch im Bereich der

Kulinarik keine Wünsche offen lässt. Und während

Kebab, Sushi und Pizza uns schon zur alltäglichen

Labung geworden sind, muss festgehalten werden,

dass ja die Wiener bzw. österreichische Küche von

zahlreichen internationalen Einflüssen geprägt wurde.

Da tummeln sich italienische, französische, ungarische,

südslawische, polnische, jüdische und böhmische

Elemente. Kein Wunder also, dass die Diskussion

um den tatsächlichen Ursprung des Wiener Schnitzels,

der im Übrigen auch in Italien oder in der Türkei

liegen könnte, immer wieder entfacht wird.

Bis heute wird die Wiener Gastronomie-Landschaft

immer wieder durch kulinarische Spezialitäten

aus den Heimatländern von Zuwanderern geprägt:

wie das gerade erst eröffnete afghanische

Restaurant Asman der Familie Muhammad in Wien-

Landstraße. Oder das Äthiopische Restaurant, das

vor vielen Jahren das erste seiner Art überhaupt in

Wien war und wo man mit den Fingern isst, oder die

trendigen georgischen Lokale, wie das Cafe Ansari

und das Aragwi. In Wien trifft man auf indonesische,

nepalesische, tibetanische, karibische und kurdische

Restaurants, sogar ein uigurisches und ein

kirgisisches gab es schon einmal. „Exotisches“ wird

gerne probiert, allerdings haben es neue Restaurants

mitunter anfangs schwer. Überliefert ist in diesem

Zusammenhang folgende Feststellung eines prominenten

Wiener Gastronomen: „Der Wiener geht erst

lange Zeit daran vorbei und schaut durchs Fenster.

Wenn er sich dann irgendwann mal hineintraut und

es ihm gefällt, erzählt er keinem davon. Schließlich

will er seine Ruhe haben und immer einen Tisch bekommen.

Gefällt es ihm nicht, erzählt er es jedem.“

Urlaub am Teller

Die so genannten Ethno-Küchen, also all jene

Kochstile, die historisch und thematisch zu eigenständig

oder exotisch waren, um in die Wiener Küche

integriert zu werden, sind mehr als beliebt. Die

ausländische Lieblingsküche der Wiener ist die italienische,

was die hohe Dichte von rund 500 Restaurants

beweist, und die man vom einfachen Panino

über einzelne Regional-Spezialitäten – wie aus dem

Friaul, der Toskana oder Sizilien – bis zum mehrgängigen

Italo-Menü im edlen Procacci, der berühmten

Cantinetta Antinori oder dem noblen Fabios genießen

kann.

Urlaub und Essen liegen bei den Wienern eng

beieinander. Neben dem anhaltenden Italo-Trend,

werden auch gerne kroatische (z.B. Sopile in 1040,

Konoba in 1080, Ragusa in 1090 und Bodulo in

1150) und griechische Lokale (wie Orpheus und Ellas

in der Innenstadt) besucht – analog zu den beliebten

Urlaubsländern der Österreicher.

Wer auch unter dem Jahr Sehnsucht nach südlichen

Gefilden hat, kann getrost bei Panagiotis Favvas

einkehren. Der gelernte Koch betreibt in der

Nussdorferstraße mit Favvas Gourmet ein mediterranes

Feinkost-Deli mit hochwertigen Olivenölen,

die von seiner Familie in Monemvasia am Peloponnes

gefertigt werden. Man kann gleich dort verkosten

und zu Mittag auch hausgemachte warme Speisen

wie Pastitsio, Moussaka oder den

Spinat-Schafkäsestrudel genießen. Zum Mitnehmen

gibt es eine Vielzahl an weiteren lukullischen Spezialitäten

aus Griechenland, Italien, Spanien (Oh, diese

lange gereiften Schinken!) und Kroatien, auch das

Weinangebot ist außergewöhnlich.

Erstaunlich langsam geht jedoch die Etablierung

französischer Lokale vonstatten, die es in Wien bisher

immer etwas schwerer hatten. Erfolgreiche Beispiele

sind die gehobene Brasserie-Küche des Le

Salzgries unweit des Schwedenplatzes oder die bodenständige

Bistro-Linie des Beaulieu in der Ferstl-

98 Cercle Diplomatique 3/2017

Wer in Wien ist, hat es gut:

Neben der ausgezeichneten

Lebensqualität gibt es hier

auch (fast) alle Küchen der

Welt.

Vienna is the place to be:

Apart from the exquisite

quality of life, you can enjoy

(almost) all national cuisine

styles of the world.

Cercle Diplomatique 3/2017

SAVOIR VIVRE ETHNO FOOD

Die vielen

Küchen Wiens

Vienna´s diverse

cuisine styles

SHIKI

Alois Traint und Gerhard

Bernhauer sind die Chefs

de Cuisine (v.l.)

Ein ganz spezieller Ort:

der Chef´s Table.

Alois Traint and Gerhard

Bernhauer are the chefs de

cuisine.

A remarkable location: the

chef´s table.

FABIOS

Hort lässiger Italianità in Wien.

Vienna´s cradle of easy-going italianità.

Afghanisch / Afghan

Afrikanisch / African

Amerikanisch / American

Arabisch / Arabian

Asiatisch / Asian

Australisch / Australian

Balkan / Balcan

Britisch / British

Bulgarisch / Bulgarian

Chinesisch / Chinese

Französisch / French

Georgisch / Georgian

Griechisch / Greek

Indisch / Indian

Indonesisch / Indonesian

Irisch / Irish

Italienisch / Italian

Japanisch /Japanese

Koreanisch / Korean

Kreolisch / Creole

Kroatisch / Croatian

Kurdisch / Kurdish

Lateinamerikanisch / Latin

American

Levantinisch / Levantine

Libanesisch / Lebanese

Marokkanisch /Moroccan

Mexikanisch / Mexican

Mongolisch / Mongolian

Nepalesisch / Nepalese

Pakistanisch / Pakistani

Persisch / Persian

Polnisch / Polish

Portugiesisch /

Portuguese

Rumänisch / Romanian

Russisch / Russian

Schweizerisch / Swiss

Skandinavisch /

Scandinavian

Slowakisch / Slovak

Spanisch / Spanish

Sri-lankisch / Sri-lankan

Thailändisch / Thai

Tibetisch / Tibetan

Türkisch / Turkish

Ukrainisch / Ukrainian

Ungarisch / Hungarian

Usbekisch / Uzbek

Vietnamesisch /

Vietnamese

QUELLE: FALTER VERLAG, FALTER.AT

PATARA

Wunderbare Curries im Restaurant mit stylisch-eleganter

Umgebung.

Wonderful curries at the stylish-elegant restaurant.

Passage, wo man im Lokal auch gleich Spezialitäten

einkaufen kann.

Asiatisch weiter im Trend

Interessante und hochwertige Neuzugänge sind

stets bei den Wiener Asia-Restaurants zu verzeichnen.

Der chinesische Arzt Simon Xie Hong, der bereits

vier Restaurants in Wien betreibt, darunter

auch das ON Market am Naschmarkt, eröffnete

kürzlich seinen fünften Gastro-Streich, das ON Sud

in 1150. Auch die TV-erprobte koreanische Köchin

Sohyi Kim hat, nach einem Abstecher beim exklusiven

Merkur Markt am Hof, nun wieder ein eigenes

Restaurant. Im kleinen Kim im 9. Bezirk kocht sie im

exklusiven Rahmen abends ein zehngängiges Menü.

Vor kurzem wurde um einen Shop erweitert, unweit

des Lokals an der Ecke.

Das urban-hippe Mochi und das Iki im neuen

Belvedere-Viertel beim Hauptbahnhof, Karma Ramen

und Sakai bieten ein erstaunliches Spektrum

japanischer Küchen und Kochstile. Besonders im

Aufwind sind derzeit vietnamesische Restaurants,

wie das Pho Sai Gon, Good Morning Vietnam, Le

Viet und Vietthao.

Vor rund drei Jahren eröffnete im 1. Bezirk nahe

der Wiener Staatsoper das Restaurant Shiki, das moderne,

fantasievolle japanische Küche mit europäischen

Akzenten bietet. Das Fine-Dining- und Brasserie-Lokal

ist ein Projekt des international

erfolgreichen Dirigenten und Geigers Joji Hattori,

der in Japan geboren und in Wien aufgewachsen ist.

Und auch Thailand ist bestens vertreten: Das Patara

am Petersplatz ist nicht nur das schönste, sondern

auch das beste Thai-Restaurant. Äußerst empfehlenswert

sind die tollen Menüs, die einen guten

sensorischen Überblick der thailändischen Küche

liefern. Wundern Sie sich nicht, wenn Sie kein Messer

aufgedeckt bekommen. Man teilt traditionsgemäß

mit dem Löffel, Messer werden auf Anfrage

freilich nachgereicht.

Erlebnis-Küchen

Am überraschendsten aber ist vielleicht, dass

man in Wien auch ganz fantastisch englisch essen

kann, vor allem im pulsierenden Pub mit angeschlossenem

Restaurant Charlie P’s, das als einziges

Irish Pub eine Gault Millau-Haube verliehen bekam.

Patron Brian Patton führt übrigens auch das The

Brickmakers Ale & Ciderhouse, wo es rund 30 verschiedene

Craftbiere vom Fass sowie original texanische

BBQ-Spezialitäten von einem eigens importierten

Smoker gibt.

Das einstige Dom Beisl beim Stephansdom hat

Ende 2015 einen neuen Pächter gefunden. Der israelische

Starkoch Eyal Shani etablierte mit dem Miznon

Vienna sein jüdisch-mediterranes Streetfood-

Konzept nun auch in Wien. Die Gerichte, vor allem

gefüllte Pita-Brote und gebratenes Gemüse, werden

an der Theke bestellt und laut ausgerufen, wenn sie

PHOTOS: RESTAURANT PATARA, SHIKI, FABIOS, ON MARKET, BEIGESTELLT

fertig sind. Als Vorspeise bekommen Gäste einen

ganzen Karfiolkopf, der vorher gekocht und

dann gegrillt wird. Auch das Ambiente ist speziell,

denn die Räumlichkeiten wurden zu einer offenen

und einladenden Küche umgebaut. Alte Bananenkisten

gefüllt mit Karfiolköpfen hängen von der Decke

und laute, fröhliche Musik dröhnt aus den Boxen,

die bis in den Außenbereich des Lokals zu hören ist.

Und das Miznon erbrachte auch den Beweis, dass

Essen in der Tat völkerverbindend sein kann: Vor

über einem Jahr traf Ben aus Neuseeland dort Valeria

aus New York. Erst kürzlich haben sie einander

das Ja-Wort gegeben und dort gefeiert, wo alles begann.

Liebe geht eben doch auch durch den Magen.

Vienna is the most beautiful city in the world.

For the 8th time in a row, the Mercer study

- the global annual comparison study on

expatriates living in 231 cities - once again selected

Vienna as the place with the highest quality of life. A

liveable world city, in other words, which also leaves

no desires unfulfilled when it comes to food. And

ON_MARKET

Der chinesische Arzt Simon Xie Hong hat sein bereits fünftes Lokal in Wien eröffnet (im Bild: das

ON Market beim Naschmarkt). The Chinese M.D. Simon Xie Hong has opened his fifth restaurant in

Vienna (pictured above: ON Market at Naschmarkt).

CHARMANT UND UNVERWECHSELBAR

CHARMING DISTINCTION

100 Cercle Diplomatique 3/2017

Besuchen Sie uns / Visit us: Josefstädter Straße 10-12, 1080 Wien, T. +43 1 205 99-0, www.flemings-hotels.com

SAVOIR VIVRE ETHNO

FOOD

So wünschen Sie

Guten Appetit in

aller Welt

Before you enjoy

your meal around

the world

AFRIKAANS

Smaaklike ete! Lekker eet!

ALBANISCH/ALBANIAN

T‘boftë mire!

BULGARISCH/BULGARIAN

Dobãr apetit!

MANDARINCHINESISCH/MANDARIN

CHINESE Mànmàn chī!

KROATISCH/CROATIAN Dobar tek!

TSCHECHISCH/CZECH Dobrou chuť!

DÄNISCH/DANISH Velbekomme!

HOLLÄNDISCH/DUTCH Smakelijk!

Smakelijk eten! Eet Smakelijk!

ENGLISCH/ENGLISH

Bon appetit! Enjoy your meal!

FINNISCH/FINNISH

Hyvää ruokahalua!

FRANZÖSISCH/FRENCH Bon appétit!

DEUTSCH/GERMAN

Guten Appetit! Mahlzeit!

GRIECHISCH/GREEK

Kalí óreksi!

GRÖNLÄNDISCH/GREENLANDIC

Nerilluarisi

UNGARISCH/HUNGARIAN

Jó étvágyat!

ISLÄNDISCH/ICELANDIC

Verði þér að góðu

ITALIENISCH/ITALIAN

Buon appetito!

JAPANISCH/JAPANESE

Itadakimasu

LETTISCH/LATVIAN Labu apetīti

LITAUISCH/LITHUANIAN

Gero apetito! Skanaus!

MAZEDONISCH/MACEDONIAN

Priyatno yadenye

NORWEGISCH/NORWEGIAN

Vær så god!

POLNISCH/POLISH Smacznego!

PORTUGIESISCH/PORTUGUESE

Bom apetite!

RUMÄNISCH/ROMANIAN

Poftă bună!

RUSSISCH/RUSSIAN

Prijatnovo appetita!

SERBISCH/SERBIAN Prijatno!

SLOWAKISCH/SLOVAK Dobrú chuť!

SLOWENISCH/SLOVENIAN Dober tek!

SOMALISCH/SOMALI

Ha kuu macaanaato

SPANISCH/SPANISH

¡Buen provecho! ¡Buen apetito!

SCHWEDISCH/SWEDISH

Smaklig måltid!

MIZNON

Erfolgreiches jüdisch-mediterranes Streetfood-Konzept, beheimatet im ersten Bezirk. Succesful Jewish-Mediterranean street food

concept, located at the first district.

while kebab, sushi and pizza have already become

staple dishes here, one should not forget that Viennese,

or Austrian cuisine in general, has had all kinds of

international influences. With time, you will discover

Italian, French, Hungarian, South-Slavic, Polish,

Jewish and Bohemian influences. It should then

come as no surprise that the discussion around the

actual origin of the Wiener Schnitzel, which incidentally

could also be in Italy or in Turkey, keeps popping

up everywhere you go.

To this day, Vienna’s gastro landscape continues

to be marked by the culinary specialities of its immigrants

and their homelands such as the recently opened

Afghan Asman Restaurant by the Muhammad

family in Wien-Landstraße. Or the Ethiopian Restaurant,

which, many years ago, was the first of its

kind in Vienna and where you eat with your hands,

or trendy Georgian spots like Cafe Ansari and the

Aragwi. In Vienna, you will come across Indonesian,

Nepalese, Tibetan, Caribbean and Kurdish restaurants,

and there have even been Uyghur and Kyrgyz

eateries. ‘Exotic’ is very popular, however, new restaurants

often face a difficult launching phase. A

prominent Viennese gastronome once said the following

regarding this issue: ‘The Viennese first likes

to just walk past a place and look through the window.

If he ever dares to go inside, and he likes it, he

won’t tell anyone about it. After all, he wants to keep

his peace and always have a table. If he doesn’t like it,

however, he will tell everyone about it.’

Holiday on the plate

The so-called ethnic cuisines, meaning those styles

of cooking that have historically and thematically

been too unique or too exotic to be integrated into

Viennese cuisine, are also more than popular. The

Viennese’s favourite foreign cuisine remains Italian,

which is proven by the dense presence of 500 restaurants,

and which you can enjoy in the form of a simple

Panini to the various regional specialities – from

Friuli, to Tuscany or Sicily – all the way to a multicourse

Italian menu at the noble Procacci, the famous

Cantinetta Antinori or the exquisite Fabios.

In Vienna, holidays and food are closely connected.

Next to the persistent Italian trend, Croatian

(such as Sopile in 1040, Konoba in 1080, Ragusa in

1090 and Bodulo in 1150), as well as Greek eateries

(like Orpheus and Ellas in the centre), also enjoy popularity

– in parallel to being among the Austrians’

most beloved holiday destinations.

Those who still crave Southern delights during

the rest of year may pay a visit to Panagiotis Favvas.

The trained chef runs Favvas Gourmet at Nussdorferstrasse,

a Mediterranean delicacy deli with highquality

olive oils made by his family in Monemvasia

in the Peloponnese. You may try the produce there

and enjoy home-made hot dishes for lunch as well,

such as Pastisio, Moussaka or the spinach sheepcheese

strudel. There’s also plenty available for takeaway,

such as a wide selection of epicurean specialities

from Greece, Italy, Spain (oh, those cured hams!)

and Croatia. The wine offer is also extraordinary.

The establishment of French restaurants, on the

other hand, is taking surprisingly long, and they’ve always

had it a little more difficult in Vienna. Successful

examples include the uptown brasserie Le Salzgries

not far from the Schwedenplatz square or the downto-earth

Beaulieu bistro at Ferstl-Passage, where you

can also shop local specialities right in the restaurant.

Asian continues to soar

Interesting and top-notch newcomers can always

be found in Vienna’s Asian food scene. The Chinese

doctor Simon Xie Hong, who already operates four

PHOTO: MIZNON

Culture

and space.

90,000 square meters of art, architecture,

theater, music, digital culture, dance,

design, shops, culture for children,

fashion, restaurants and bars

Story continues on p. 104 ➝

102 Cercle Diplomatique 3/2017

www.mqw.at

General sponsor

Supported by

Patrizia Pepe

SAVOIR VIVRE ETHNO FOOD

STYLE

INFO

ESSENTIALS

Asman,

Tel.: +43 1/286 70 20

cafeansari.at

ethiopianrestaurant.at

aragwi.at

procacci-vienna.at

cantinettaantinori-vienna.at

fabios.at

sopile.at

konoba.at

ragusa.at

bodulo.at

orpheas.at

ellas.at

favvas-gourmet.com

le-salzgries.at

beaulieu-wien.at

on-market.at

on-sud.at

sohyikim.com

mochi.at

iki-restaurant.at

karmaramen.at

sakai.co.at

phosaigon.at

goodmorningvietnam.at

leviet.at

Vietthao,

Tel.: +43 1/585 20 31

shiki.at

patara-wien.at

charlieps.at

brickmakers.at

facebook.com/miznonvienna

Pita im Miznon.

Pita at Miznon´s.

THE BRICKMAKER´S

Das Ale & Ciderhouse bietet viele Craft Biere als Spezialität.

Special Craft beers are on offer at the Ale & Ciderhouse.

restaurants in Vienna, among them the ON Market

at Naschmarkt, recently opened his fifth gastro coup,

the ON Sud in the 15th district. And even the TVtested

Korean chef Sohyi Kim has, after a quick detour

to the exclusive Merkur Markt am Hof, her own

restaurant again. In the little Kim in the 9th district,

she spends her evenings cooking a ten-course menu

within an exclusive setting. A shop was added recently,

not far from the restaurant around the corner.

The urban and hip Mochi and the Iki in the new

Belvedere quarter near the Wien Hauptbahnhof

main railway station, as well as Karma Ramen and

Sakai, offer an astonishing range of Japanese cuisines

and cooking styles. Vietnamese restaurants, such as

the Pho Sai Gon, Good Morning Vietnam, Le Viet

and Vietthao, are also enjoying soaring popularity at

the moment.

Around three years ago, the Shiki restaurant launched

in the 1st district near the Vienna State Opera,

combining modern, creative Japanese cuisine with

European accents. The fine dining and brasserie restaurant

is a project by the internationally successfully

conductor and violinist Joji Hattori, who was born in

Japan and grew up in Vienna.

And Thailand is also very well represented: The

Patara at Petersplatz is not only the most gorgeous, but

also the best Thai restaurant in Vienna. Particularly

recommended are the great menus, which provide an

excellent sensory overview of Thailand’s food culture.

Don’t be surprised if you are not served a knife,

though. Food is, as it is done in Thailand, cut with the

spoon. However, knives are provided upon request.

FAVVAS GOURMET

Panagiotis Favvas verwöhnt mit mediterranen Spezialitäten.

Panagiotis Favvas indulges with Mediterranean specialities.

Culinary experiences

What may perhaps surprise you the most, however,

is that you can also enjoy very fine British food

in Vienna, especially in the vibrant pub and its attached

restaurant Charlie P’s, the only Irish Pub

which has been awarded a Gault Millau toque. Manager

Brian Patton also runs The Brickmakers Ale &

Ciderhouse, where they serve around 30 different

craft beers on tap as well as original Texan BBQ specialities

from the specially imported smoker.

The former Dom Beisl near St. Stephen’s Cathedral

received a new leaseholder in the end of 2015.

The Israeli star chef Eyal Shani has now brought his

Jewish-Mediterranean street food concept to Vienna

with the Miznon Vienna. The dishes, especially the

filled pita bread and fried vegetables, are ordered at

the bar and are then called out loudly when they are

done. As an appetiser, guests receive an entire cauliflower

head that is first cooked and then grilled. And

the atmosphere is quite special as well, because the

premises were rebuilt into an open and inviting kitchen.

Old banana crates filled with cauliflower heads

hang from the ceiling, joyful music roars from the

speakers, which can still be heard at the restaurant’s

outside area.

And the Miznon also proved that food can indeed

connect people from different cultures. Over a year

ago, Ben from New Zealand met Valerie from New

York right there. And just recently, the two tied the

knot and celebrated back at the place where everything

began. The way to someone’s heart is through

the stomach, after all.

FOTOS: CHRISTINA KARAGIANNIS/BRICKMAKERS, FAVVAS GOURMET

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GL1285_0014_AW17_Parndorf_Press_Cercle Diplomatique FP Advertorial_230x297mm_AW.indd 1 14/08/2017 17:17

104 Cercle Diplomatique 3/2017

SAVOIR VIVRE CONNOISSEUR

Essen und trinken mit Stil

Wine and dine in style

Text: Daniela Pötzl

Löffelweise Leidenschaft

A spoonful of passion

Der Duft von Vanille

A scent of vanilla

Die nach der Fünf-Elemente-Lehre zubereiteten Suppito-Produkte wie

Minestrone oder Chili con Carne kommen jetzt auch per Post! Einfach

Freitag bis Dienstag auf der Website die Bestellung tätigen. Diese wird

dann immer freitags von 8-18 Uhr via Postboten in gekühlten

Thermoboxen direkt ins Haus geliefert.

You can now get the Supprito products, created in accordance with the

principles of Wu Xing, such as Minestrone or Chili con Carne, via mail!

Just order online from Friday to Tuesday on their website. The mailman

will then bring your delivery directly to your door in cooling thermo

boxes on Fridays between 08:00 – 18:00.

suppito.at

MEET - EAT - SLEEP

@ MELIÁ VIENNA

total of 1.079 square metres

flexible conference space

Allerfeinste Mischung | Finest blend

Marco Simonis (rechts) hat seit bereits drei Jahren mit seiner Bastei 10 Erfolg –

mit einer feinen Mischung aus Kulinarik, Design und Wohlfühl-Atmosphäre. Nun

eröffnete er einen zweiten Standort in der Theobaldgasse in 1060. Neben

Feinkost, frischen selbstgemachten Sandwiches und Salaten sowie einer

erlesenen Auswahl an Eigenprodukten, wird die Location durch eine Selektion

spezieller autochthoner Weine sowie Bierspezialitäten abgerundet. Und über all

dem wacht, wie übrigens auch in der Dominikanerbastei, der Opapa.

For the last three years, Marco Simonis (r.) has been successfully heading the

Bastei 10, with a fine blend of cuisine, design and feel-good atmosphere. Now,

he has opened his second location at Theobaldgasse in 1060. Next to various

delicacies, freshly prepared sandwiches and salads, as well as an exquisite

selection of proprietary products, the location is topped off with a selection of

domestic wines and beer specialities. And the place is watched and guarded

by gramps, just like the Dominikanerbastei in Vienna. marcosimonis.com

Joy Spence sprengte als erste

Master-Blenderin die gläserne

Decke der männlich

dominierten Spirituosen-Welt.

Nun setzte sie sich und der

traditionsreichen Rum-Marke

aus Jamaika mit der Limited

Edition „Appleton Estate Joy

Anniversary Blend Aged 25

Years“ ein Denkmal, einem

seltenen Rum-Blend aus Sorten,

die mindestens ein Vierteljahrhundert

lang gereift sind.

Joy Spence was the first

woman to become a Master

Blender in the very much

male-dominated world of

spirits. Now, she’s creating a

monument both to herself, as

well as to the tradition-steeped

rum brand from Jamaica,

in the form of the limited

edition of ‘Appleton Estate Joy

Anniversary Blend Aged 24

Years’, a rare rum blend of

varieties that are at least a

quarter of a century old.

campari-austria.at

PHOTOS: PHOTO-SIMONIS.COM, CAMPARI, GERT WINKLER, HOTEL MELIÁ VIENNA, FENSTER CAFÉ

Neuer Sonntags-

Treffpunkt | New Sunday

meeting spot

Das 57 Restaurant im Meliá Vienna

lädt zum SKYLIFE@MELIÁ-BRUNCH57

in 220 Metern Höhe über den Dächern

Wiens ein: Immer sonntags von 11 bis

15 Uhr, kann man aus einem reichhaltigen Vorspeisen-, Hauptgang- und

Dessertbuffet wählen – atemberaubender Blick über die Stadt inklusive.

Für 47 Euro pro Person inkl. einem Glas Cava, Säften sowie einem

Heißgetränk.

The 57 Restaurant in the Meliá Vienna invites you on a SKYLIFE@

MELIÁ-BRUNCH57 at an elevation of 220 metres, looking across

Vienna’s rooftops. Every

TOP 5 OPENINGS

Neu in Wien | New in Vienna

Neue Wiener Küche /

New Viennese cuisine

durchhaus.at

Großes im Kleinen /

Not so small after all

villaklein.at

Neapel in Wien /

Naples in Vienna

laspiga.at

Innovative Gyoza Brothers

cafeleopold.wien

Kaffee, mal ganz anders /

Coffee, done a little different

sasha.coffee

Sunday between 11:00 and

15:00, you will be able to

choose from a starter, main

and dessert buffet. The

incredible view of the city is

the cherry on top. For 47 euro

per person, including a glass

of Cava, juices, as well as a

hot beverage.

57melia.com

494 square metres ballroom with

a bordering balcony to the Danube

three private dining rooms in

220 metres height

meetings, creative workshops,

birthday dinner or similar occasions

Donau City Strasse 7 • 1220 Vienna • Austria • Tel. +43 (0)1 90 104

melia.vienna@melia.com • www.melia.com

106 Cercle Diplomatique 3/2017

SAVOIR VIVRE TABLE TALK

Zur Kaffeepause im Park Hyatt Vienna | Coffee break at the Park Hyatt Vienna

General Manager Monique Dekker lud zu Kuchen und Kaffee im „Café am Hof“.

General Manager Monique Dekker invited to coffee and cake at the Café Am Hof.

Text: Daniela Pötzl

MONIQUE DEKKER

GM Monique Dekker im Gespräch mit

CD Chefredakteurin Daniela Pötzl.

GM Monique Dekker with CD´s Editor in

chief, Daniela Pötzl.

PHOTOS: TONY GIGOV, ANTONIA FELGNER (2), THERESA SCHREMS (2), BEIGESTELLT

Im Laufe eines Journalistinnen-Lebens

trifft man seine Interviewpartner ja an

diversen Locations und in vielen gastronomischen

Lokalen. Selten aber macht

ein Treffpunkt so viel Freude wie das ehemalige

Bankhaus im historischen Prachtbau

Am Hof in Wiens Innenstadt, das zum

wunderbaren Hotel Park Hyatt Vienna

umgestaltet wurde. Der Hort eleganter

Opulenz im besten Sinne verleiht einem

schon beim Betreten ein erhebendes Gefühl.

Ich bin mit Monique Dekker verabredet,

die die Geschicke des Hauses als General

Manager leitet. Die Auswahl an süßen

Köstlichkeiten im Café Am Hof ist zur frühen

Nachmittagsstunde groß. Serviert werden

Pistazien Knusper Nougat Gâteau und

Erdbeer Cheesecake - für mich eine Melange,

für meine Gastgeberin eine erfrischende

hausgemachte Limonade mit Basilikum,

Zitronensaft und ganzen Ingwerstücken.

Schon früh, erzählt Dekker, sei ihr der

zukünftige berufliche Weg bewusst gewesen.

„Ich war drei Jahre alt“, meint die gebürtige

Holländerin. Sie erzählt über ihre

Großeltern väterlicherseits als Vorbilder:

„Meine Oma hatte eine Kneipe, mein Opa

war Restaurantleiter.“ Geprägt von diesem

Gastgeber-Umfeld absolvierte sie schließlich

ein Hotelmanagement-Studium in

Den Haag und arbeitete gegen Ende der

Ausbildung in New York. Nach ersten beruflichen

Erfahrungen im Luxushotel St.

Regis, führte sie ihr Weg vom Big Apple

aus zur Hyatt Gruppe: nach Boston und

Chicago, dann Singapur und Tokio. Nach

fünf Jahren in Asien reifte der Entschluss,

nach Europa zurückzukehren. Hyatt eröffnete

da gerade einen Neubau mit 300 Zimmern

in Düsseldorf, Dekker verantwortete

als General Manager drei Jahre lang die

gesamte Pre-Opening Phase. Sie bewährte

sich und bekam dann das Angebot, auch

das umgestaltete historische Wiener Haus

aus der Taufe zu heben. „Mir gefällt das

Hyatt-Motto einfach“, stellt Dekker fest:

„We care for people so they can be their

best“. Und dies gelte für Mitarbeiter wie

Gäste und Lieferanten gleichermaßen. Am

besten zu sein, geht heute mehr denn je

auch mit der Bereitschaft einher, für Änderungen

bereit zu sein. Und Nachjustierungen

im Flagship-Hotel durchzuführen: Der

Barbereich wurde an das Restaurant angeschlossen.

Die ehemalige Bar wurde zum

Kaffeehaus Café Am Hof umgestaltet und

mit einem eigenen Eingang versehen. Viele

kommen nun aus der näheren Umgebung

zum Business Lunch, am Abend lockt das

Restaurant The Bank Brasserie & Bar Reisende

wie Einheimische gleichermaßen.

Als Ausgleich für ihren straffen Arbeitsalltag

und Terminkalender betreibt

Dekker gerne Sport und radelt auch, wie

zuletzt beachtliche 35 km entlang der Donau,

gemeinsam mit ihrem Ehemann. Ihre

beiden Beagles halten sie ebenso fit. Monique

Dekker scheint angekommen zu

sein. Und hat sich verliebt – in Wien. „Ich

würde gerne noch die kommenden 10 bis

15 Jahre hier bleiben“, sagt sie lächelnd.

During the course of a journalistic

career, one gets to meet his or her

interviewees at various different

locations, including many restaurants, cafes

and bars. It is quite rare, however, that a

meeting spot brings as much delight as the

former bank building in the historical Am

Hof house in Vienna’s city centre, which

has been rebuilt into the Hotel Park Hyatt

Vienna. Upon entering, this treasure of elegant

opulence gives you an exhilarating

feeling. I have an appointment with Monique

Dekker, the hotel’s General Manager.

During the early afternoon hours, the Café

Am Hof provides a wide selection of sweet

delicacies. Among the treats on offer are

pistachio crunchy nougat gateau and

strawberry cheesecake. I order a melange,

and my host has a refreshing homemade

lemonade with basil, lemon juice and whole

ginger pieces.

”From very early on,“ says Dekker, ”I

knew what my future career would look

like. I was three years old,“ says the native

Dutch woman. She talks about her grandparents

on her father’s side as key role models.

”My grandmother had a pub, my

grandfather managed a restaurant.“ Influenced

by this hospitality environment, she

completed a hotel management degree in

Den Haag and then worked in New York

toward the end of her training. After a few

professional experiences in the luxury hotel

St. Regis, life led her from the big apple

to the Hyatt Group: to Boston and Chicago,

then Singapore and Tokyo. After five years

in Asia, she decided to return to Europe.

Hyatt was just opening a new hotel in Dusseldorf,

Dekker became the General Manager

for the entire three-year-long pre-opening

phase. She proved herself and then

received the offer to launch the redesigned

historical Wiener House. ”I just liked the

Hyatt theme,“ Dekker states. ”We care for

people so they can be their best“. This likewise

applied to employees, guests and suppliers.

And today, being at your best often

means being ready to adapt to change. One

such change meant making modifications

to the flagship hotel. The bar area was connected

to the restaurant. The former bar

was redesigned into the Café Am Hof and

equipped with a separate entrance. Many

now come from the surrounding areas to

meet for business lunch, whereas in the

evening, The Bank Brasserie & Bar restaurant

attracts both locals and travellers alike.

To balance her strict work schedule and

routine, Dekker likes to do sports and to

cycle. Recently, she and her husband completed

an impressive 35 km along the Danube.

Her two beagles also like to keep her

fit. Monique Dekker has arrived. And she

has fallen in love as well — with Vienna. ”I

would like to stay here for the next 10 to 15

years or so,“ she says with a smile.

absolvierte ein Hotel-Management Studium in Den Haag, Niederlande. Erste berufliche

Hotel-Erfahrungen sammelte sie im Luxus-Hotel St. Regis in New York. Seit 1996 arbeitet sie

vorwiegend für die Hyatt Gruppe und war in Boston, Princeton, Chicago, Singapur und Tokio

tätig. Von 2010 bis 2013 begleitete sie die Pre-Opening Phase des Hyatt Regency Düsseldorf.

Seit Juni 2013 ist sie General Manager im Park Hyatt Vienna.

completed a hotel management degree in Den Haag, the Netherlands. She collected her first hotel

experiences in the luxury hotel St. Regis in New York. Since 1996, she has been working primarily for

the Hyatt Group and has been assigned to hotels in Boston, Princeton, Chicago, Singapore and

Tokyo. Between 2010 and 2013, she attended the pre-opening phase of the Hyatt Regency

Dusseldorf. Since June 2013, she has been the General Manager at the Park Hyatt Vienna.

INFO:

PARK HYATT VIENNA

Am Hof 2

1010 Wien

parkhyattvienna.com

Sehr gute Wahl. Der Erdbeer Cheesecake links,

der Pistazien Knusper Nougat Gateau rechts und

die Melange in der Mitte.

A very good choice. The strawberry cheesecake

to the left, the pistachio crunchy nougat gateau

to the right and the melange in the middle.

Ganz links: Der Himmel für Naschkatzen.

Far left: Heaven for people with a sweet tooth.

Links und oben: Das süße Angebot und den

Kaffee gibt es auch zum Mitnehmen, ganze

Torten gerne auf Vorbestellung.

Left and above: The sweet delicacies and the

coffee can be ordered for takeaway, whole cakes

are available on pre-order.

Cercle Diplomatique 3/2017 109

SAVOIR VIVRE SUITE DREAMS

Suite Dreams

The Ritz-Carlton, Vienna – Präsidentensuite | Presidential Suite

Text: Rois&Stubenrauch

Wien als Drehscheibe internationaler Diplomatie, UNO-Standort und Schauplatz gewichtiger Konferenzen verfügt über zahlreiche

5-Sterne Häuser, die den Ansprüchen höchster Würdenträger und Staatsgäste gerecht werden. Seit August 2012 komplettiert The

Ritz-Carlton, Vienna den Reigen glanzvoller Wiener Ringstraßenhotels. Cercle Diplomatique hat Generaldirektor Christian Zandonella

um ein paar Worte zur Präsidentensuite des The Ritz-Carlton, Vienna gebeten.

Vienna is a hub for international diplomats, a UN location and the setting for numerous key conferences. The city’s countless 5-star

hotels are guaranteed to fulfil the demands of the highest of dignitaries and state guests alike. Since August 2012, The Ritz-Carlton,

Vienna has been complementing the ranks of Vienna’s Ringstrasse hotels. Cercle Diplomatique sat down with General Manager Christian

Zandonella for a chat about the Presidential Suite at The Ritz-Carlton, Vienna.

PHOTOS: MATTHEW SHAW, THE RITZ-CARLTON, PHOTO-SIMONIS.COM, TINA HERZL

Das The Ritz-Carlton, Vienna besteht aus vier historischen

Ringstraßenpalais – welche Funktion hatten die Räumlichkeiten

der Präsidentensuite ursprünglich?

Jedes der vier Palais hatte seinen individuellen Charakter. Die

Präsidentensuite befindet sich im Palais Gutmann, welches von

Wilhelm Ritter von Gutmann für seine Familie gebaut wurde und

diente damals als Beletage. Da Herr Gutmann ein passionierter

Kunstsammler war, kann man bis heute die wunderschönen

Deckenbemalungen von August Eisenmenger betrachten, der

auch das weltbekannte Deckenfresko im Goldenen Saal des

Musikvereins gestaltet hat.

Im The Ritz-Carlton, Vienna trifft große amerikanische

Hoteltradition auf Wiener Charme. Wie finden Sie die

richtige Mischung für Ihre Gäste?

Unser Stammhaus ist zwar in den Vereinigten Staaten, aber

unsere Wurzeln sind zutiefst europäisch. Wir sehen uns als

Wiener Zuhause auf Zeit und zeigen unseren Gästen auch gerne

Wien von einer neuen Seite. So kann man bei uns mit dem

Küchenchef den Naschmarkt besuchen oder mit dem Running

Concierge Wien bei einem Sightseeing-Jogginglauf um die

Ringstraße erkunden.

Wie würden Sie den Stil der Präsidentensuite im The

Ritz-Carlton, Vienna charakterisieren?

Die Präsidentensuite ist architektonisch gesehen historisch,

besitzt aber selbstverständlich die modernsten Annehmlichkeiten.

Besonders hervorzuheben ist das denkmalgeschützte Deckenfresko,

das die vier Jahreszeiten und die 12 Monate darstellt. Meine

persönlichen Highlights sind die eigene Bibliothek und die

ultramodernen Möbel berühmter österreichischer Designer.

Natürlich spielt Platz eine wichtige Rolle – da wir eine der größten

Präsidentensuiten Österreichs haben, müssen wir uns darum

keine Sorgen machen. Den Gästen der Präsidentensuite steht

natürlich auch unsere Club Lounge mit ihrem exklusiven und

persönlichen Service offen – ein Hotel im Hotel. Auch ein eigener

Concierge steht hier zur Verfügung. Im The Ritz-Carlton Spa

können die Gäste im längsten Pool an der Ringstraße entspannen.

Was war der ausgefallenste Wunsch, den Sie bis anhin

einem Gast der Präsidentensuite erfüllt haben?

Andersherum: Ein berühmter Gast hat unseren Mitarbeitern

einmal eine private Autogrammstunde gegeben, weil er mit

unserem Service so zufrieden war.

The Ritz-Carlton, Vienna consists of four historical palace

buildings on the Ringstrasse. Which function did the rooms

of the Presidential Suite have before?

Each of the four palaces has its own individual character. The

Presidential Suite is located in the Palais Gutmann that Wilhelm

Ritter von Gutmann built for his family, and is used as a reception

floor. Gutmann was a passionate art collector and you may admire

August Eisenmenger’s beautiful ceiling paintings to this day.

Eisenmenger also designed the well-known ceiling fresco in the

Golden Hall of the Wiener Musikverein.

In the Ritz-Carlton, Vienna, the great American hotel

tradition meets Viennese charm. How do you find the right

balance of the two for your guests?

Our parent company may be in the United States, but our roots are

deeply European. We see ourselves as a temporary home in Vienna

and like to present the city to our guests from an entirely new

perspective. They may accompany our head chef for a visit to the

Naschmarkt or join the Running Concierge for a sightseeing

jogging tour around the Ringstrasse.

How would you characterise the style of the Presidential

Suite in the Ritz-Carlton, Vienna?

Architecturally speaking, the Presidential Suite is historical, but it

does, of course, also possess various modern amenities. Especially

noteworthy is the landmarked and protected ceiling fresco, which

depicts the four seasons and the twelve months of the year. My

personal highlights are the private library and the ultra-modern

furniture by various renowned Austrian designers. It goes without

saying that space plays a key role here, and since we’ve got one of

the largest Presidential Suites in Austria, we really don’t have to

worry about that. The guests also have access to our Club Lounge,

with its exclusive and personal service. In the Ritz-Carlton Spa, our

guests may relax in the longest swimming pool in the Ringstrasse.

What was the most unusual request that you have received

from a guest in the Presidential Suite so far?

Actually it was the other way around: A famous guest once gave

our staff a private autographing session because he was so

satisfied with our service.

Generaldirektor Christian Zandonella über

die Präsidentensuite des The Ritz-Carlton,

Vienna.

General Manager Christian Zandonella on

The Ritz-Carlton, Vienna’s Presidential Suite.

INFO:

THE RITZ-CARLTON, VIENNA

Schubertring 5-7

1010 Wien

Tel.: +43 1 311 88

ritzcarlton.com

SAVOIR VIVRE HIDEAWAYS

Wunderbare Fluchten

Great Escapes

Zeit für eine herbstliche Auszeit? Wir haben vier Empfehlungen für Sie! Time for an autumn break? We´ve got four recommendations for you!

Das Almdorf

World Peace Eco Resort

MEHR ENTSPANNUNG

MORE RELAXATION

Zwischen Tradition und Moderne: Das Almdorf

verkörpert die perfekte Mischung aus Beständigkeit und

Vision.

Between tradition and modernity: The Almdorf embodies

the perfect mixture of stability and vision.

Ein Highlight: Das kleinste Restaurant der

Welt – Auf dem offenen Feuer bereitet die

Köchin ihren Gästen ein mehrgängiges Menü

zu, der Blick durch die Panoramascheibe ist

atemberaubend.

A highlight: The smallest restaurant in the

world — the chef prepares a multi-course

menu for her guests on the open fire, the view

through the panorama pane is breath-taking.

PHOTOS: DAS ALMDORF, PETER KÜHNL/PURADIES, INNS HOLZ NATUR- & VITALHOTEL UND CHALETDORF BÖHMERWALD, HELDENTHEATER/MOLZBACHHOF

Auf 1.500 Metern Seehöhe in Kärnten wartet im

exklusiven „Das Almdorf“ neben authentischem

Ambiente und erstklassigem Service auch eine Hotelerfahrung

der besonderen Art. In 51 wunderschönen Hütten und

exquisiten Chalets werden Gäste hier von atemberaubender

Natur, echter gelebter Gastfreundschaft und heimischer

Kulinarik umgeben. Die Hütten verzaubern mit einer Stube,

dem gemütlichen Wohnbereich, der Hausbank auf der

Hüttenterrasse, dem köstlichen Hüttenfrühstück und der

Liebe zum Detail. Der Sternenhimmel lockt Chalet-Gäste in

den beheizten Zuber zu einem Bad im Freien. Für einen

erholsamen Schlaf sorgen die Schlafzimmer aus gesundem

Zirbenholz.

Alles geschieht in dem angenehmen Bewusstsein, dass hier

regional und nachhaltig gewirtschaftet wird. Das spiegeln

allein die Produkte der dort zubereiteten traditionellen

Kärntner und hochwertigen Küche wider, die von

umliegenden Bergbauern bezogen werden. Ein kulinarischer

Höhepunkt ist die Holzknechthütte, das kleinste Restaurant

der Welt. Für naturnahe Pflege und Erholung sorgen der Alm

Spa und die Panoramasauna mit dem Besten, was die Natur

in der jeweiligen Jahreszeit zu bieten hat. Die zum Teil

eigens fürs Almdorf entwickelten Behandlungen, wie das

Kräuterheubad, laden auf Basis bewährter Heilmethoden

des Bauernkalenders und der Mondphasen zu entspannten

Stunden ein.

,500 metres above sea level in the Austrian Carinthia, the

exclusive Das Almdorf awaits you with an authentic

atmosphere, top-notch service and a very special kind of

hotel experience. In 51 beautiful huts and exquisite chalets,

guests are surrounded by breath-taking nature, real local

hospitality and domestic cuisine. The huts delight with a

bedroom, the cosy living area, the house bank on the hut

terrace, the delicious hut breakfast and plenty of passion for

detail. The starry night sky attracts chalet guests into the

hot tub for an open-air bath. Beds made from healthy

pinewood guarantee a good night’s sleep.

All this occurs with the reassuring awareness that

everything here is sourced locally and sustainably. This

becomes particularly apparent when looking at the products

from the traditional Carinthias and their quality cuisine,

frequented by the surrounding mountain farmers. One

culinary highlight is the Holzknechthütte hut, the smallest

restaurant in the world. Natural care and relaxation is

provided by the Alm Spa and the Panoramasauna, as well as

the best of whatever nature happens to have on

offer during the season. The treatments, some of

them specifically developed for the Almdorf,

such as the herbal hay bath, invite you to relax

and benefit from the proven healing methods

based on the farmer’s calendar and the lunar

phases.

INFO:

Das Almdorf World Peace Eco Resort

Fellacheralm

9564 Patergassen bei Bad Kleinkirchheim

Tel.: +43/4275-7201

almdorf.com

Holzbach

Ganz ohne Nägel, Schrauben und Leim wurde der Molzbachhof

um einen Zubau, das neue Vollholz-Hotel Holzbach,

erweitert. Das zertifizierte Wander- und familiäre

Wellnesshotel in Kirchberg am Wechsel bietet 16

Vollholzzimmer sowie ein Gourmet-Restaurant.

The Molzbachhof farm added a new annexe without the use

of nails, screws or glue whatsoever — the new Vollholz-

Hotel Holzbach. The certified hiking and family spa hotel in

Kirchberg am Wechsel offers 16 fully wooden rooms, as well

as a gourmet restaurant.

molzbachhof.at

INNs HOLZ

Zentral zu sieben Top-Golfplätzen wohnen Gäste des INNs

HOLZ Natur- & Vitalhotel und Chaletdorf Böhmerwald in

Schöneben. Das Badehaus mit beheiztem Outdoorpool

(oben) sowie der Hotel-Wellnessbereich bieten Entspannung.

Chalet-Gäste relaxen außerdem in ihrer privaten

Wellnessoase.

Right at the centre of seven top-notch golf courses, that’s

where the guests of the INNs HOLZ Natur- & Vitalhotel and

the Böhmerwald Chalets in Schöneben live. The bathhouse

with heated outdoor pool and the hotel spa area provide

pure relaxation. Chalet guests can also seek refuge in their

own private wellness oasis. innsholz.at

Puradies

Das Gourmetrestaurant ESS:ENZ

ist die neue Adresse für

Feinschmecker im Puradies

Hotel & Chalets in Leogang.

Zwei Hauben-Koch André Stahl

verwöhnt dort u.a. mit

handwerklicher Perfektion und

Fleisch vom hauseigenen Biobauernhof sowie Kräutern, die

vor der Haustür wachsen.

The gourmet restaurant ESS:ENZ at the Puradies Hotel &

Chalets in Leogang is the new address for foodies. Two-time

Hauben-award winning chef Andrè Stahl pampers his guests

with handmade perfection and meat from the in-house

organic farm, as well as herbs picked from right in front of

the door.

puradies.com

112 Cercle Diplomatique 3/2017

SAVOIR VIVRE TRAVEL

Fernweh

Itchy Feet

Die besten Hotels und Restaurants aus aller Welt. | The best hotels and restaurants around the world.

Text: Gerald Sturz

Lovran, Kroatien | Croatia

Villa Astra

Malediven | Maldives

Robinson Club Noonu

PHOTOS: BEIGESTELLT

Die Villa Astra wurde vor hundert Jahren von einem

italienischen Adeligen namens Nicolo Guerra errichtet,

der von dem herrlichen Blick, den man von diesem

Platz aus auf die Kvarner Bucht hat, begeistert war.

Damals nannte man diese Gegend „die österreichische

Riviera“. Die Villa Astra ist ein wunderschönes Haus in

neugotischem Stil; sie befindet sich in Lovran, einem

Nachbarort von Opatija, dem ehemaligen Abbazia.

Heute ist die Villa Astra eines der schönsten und

romantischsten Hotels der Gegend. Ein idealer Ort, um

auszuspannen. Sie verfügt über einen direkten

Meereszugang, hat einen schönen Pool, einen

Wellness-Bereich und ein intimes Gourmetrestaurant.

The Villa Astra was constructed a hundred years ago

by the Italian nobleman Nicolo Guerra who was

enchanted by the incredible view of the Kvarner Bay

from this location. Back then, the area was known as

“the Austrian Riviera”. The Villa Astra is a beautiful

house built in the neo-gothic style – it is located in

Lovran, near Opatija, formerly known as Abbazia.

Today, the Villa Astra is one of the most beautiful and

romantic hotels in the area. An ideal place to unwind.

It has direct access to the sea, a beautiful pool, a spa

area and an intimate gourmet restaurant.

hotelvillaastra.com

Malediven | Maldives

St. Regis Maldives Vommuli Resort

Auf einer privaten Insel im Dhaalu Atoll liegt das St. Regis Maldives Vommuli Resort. Auf neun Hektar bietet

es einzigartigen Luxus vom persönlichen 24-Stunden Butlerservice bis zur Entspannung pur im Iridium Spa.

Sechs erstklassige Restaurants und Bars bieten Kulinarik auf höchstem Niveau. Die 77 exklusiv gestalteten

Überwasser- und Landvillen – alle mit privatem Swimmingpool – haben je nach Wunsch ein, zwei oder drei

Schlafzimmer und sind zwischen 150 und 1.540 Quadratmeter groß. Das Resort ist binnen 45 Minuten mit

dem Wasserflugzeug vom Malé International Airport erreichbar.

On a private island in the Dhaalu Atoll region, you will find the St Regis Maldives Vommuli Resort. Spread

across nine hectares, it offers unique luxury — from a 24-hour personal butler service to pure relaxation in

the Idrium Spa. Six top-notch restaurants and bars provide cuisine on the highest level. The 77 exclusively

styled land and country villas — all equipped with private swimming pools — have two or three bedrooms

depending on request and are between 150 and 1,540 square metres big. The resort can be reached within

45 minutes via seaplane from Malé International Airport.

stregismaldives.com

„Ob barfuß im Sand in unserer wunderschönen Sundownerbar auf der Landzunge,

stilvoll im Teppanyaki-Restaurant auf Stelzen im Wasser oder auf einer Tauchtour im

spektakulären Noonu-Atoll – hier können Sie die Malediven völlig neu erleben!“,

verspricht Adam Szkop, der Clubdirektor des neuen Robinson Club Noonu. Es ist nicht

das erste Robinson-Resort auf den Malediven. Doch in Ergänzung zum Robinson Club

Maldives gibt er sich besonders familienfreundlich (ohne deshalb ein Familienclub zu

sein) und bietet All-inclusive-Verpflegung an. Er befindet sich auf der Insel Orivaru im

Noonu-Atoll und ist von Malé, der Inselhauptstadt, wo sich auch der internationale

Flughafen befindet, sehr leicht und schnell mit einem Wasserflugzeug und/oder

Schnellboot erreichbar. Geboten werden ein vielfältiges Sport und Wellness-Angebot,

Tauchen und Schnorcheln, eine hochwertige Kulinarik, ein Entertainment-Programm mit

Shows, Party, Konzerte – und eine qualifizierte Kreativbetreuung für Kinder und

Jugendliche.

”Whether barefoot in the sand at our wonderful Sundowner Bar on the headland,

stylishly at our Teppanyaki restaurant mounted on stilts and sitting on top of the water,

or during a diving tour in the spectacular Noonu Atoll — experience the Maldives like

never before!“, promises Adam Szkop, Club Director of the new Robinson Club Noonu.

It’s not the first Robinson resort on the Maldives. But unlike the Robinson Club Maldives,

it is especially family-friendly (without actually being a family club) and provides

all-inclusive catering. The club is located on the island of Orivaru in the Noonu Atoll

region and it can easily be reached from Malé, the island capital harbouring the

international airport, via seaplane and/or speedboat. Also on offer is a diverse sports

and wellness programme, diving and snorkelling, high-quality cuisine, an entertainment

range consisting of shows, parties, concerts — as well as qualified creative supervision

for kids and adolescents alike.

robinson.com

London

The Ned

The Ned ist das jüngste Haus der Soho House Gruppe, zu der Hotels in London, New York, Los Angeles,

Berlin und an einigen anderen Plätzen gehören und die bei den erfolgreicheren Mitgliedern der Creative

Class besonders beliebt sind. Es befindet sich in jenem eindrucksvollen Gebäude in der Londoner City, in

dem einst die Headquarters der Midland Bank untergebracht waren. Nun ist The Ned Londons neues,

angesagtes Luxushotel. Für Lebensqualität sorgen ein Rooftop Pool, neun Restaurants und Bars sowie das

beliebte Cowshed Spa und Gym.

The Ned is the newest house by the Soho House Group, which also includes hotels in London, New York, Los

Angeles, Berlin and several other places that are particularly popular among the more successful members

of the creative class. It’s located in the impressive building in the City of London that once used to

headquarter the Midland Bank. Today, the Ned is London’s current hip luxury hotel. Excellent quality of life

is guaranteed by a rooftop pool, nine restaurants and bars, as well as the popular Cowshed Spa and Gym.

thened.com

114 Cercle Diplomatique 3/2017

SAVOIR VIVRE TRAVEL

New York City

Campbell Bar

Bangkok

Park Hyatt Bangkok

Das Gebäude, das das Park Hyatt Bangkok beherbergt, ist nicht zu übersehen. Seine Form ist spektakulär: Sie soll

an eine dreidimensionale Acht erinnern, eine Glückszahl in der chinesischen Kultur. Den Skyscraper hat Amanda

Levete, die zurzeit wohl meistgefragte Architektin weit und breit, entworfen. Die Innengestaltung des Hotels hat

das bewährte Büro YabuPushelberg übernommen und sie haben ein Haus von außergewöhnlicher Eleganz und

entspannter Ruhe geschaffen, das sehr gekonnt modernes Design mit Elementen der thailändischen Kultur mixt.

Das Park Hyatt Bangkok bietet einen sehr spektakulären Salzwasser Infinity Pool über den Dächern Bangkoks und

selbstverständlich gute Restaurants und Bars. Unterhalb des Park Hyatt befindet sich mit der Central Embassy

eine der besten High-end-Shopping Malls Bangkoks.

The building housing the Park Hyatt Bangkok cannot be missed. Its shape is nothing short of spectacular — and is

intended to resemble a three-dimensional eight, a lucky number in Chinese culture. Amanda Levete, perhaps the

most sought-after architect of our times, designed the impressive skyscraper. The hotel’s interior design was

handled by the tried and tested YabuPushelberg agency, having crafted a building of extraordinary elegance and

tranquillity, perfectly blending modern design principles with various elements from Thai culture. The Park Hyatt

Bangkok offers a truly spectacular salt water infinity pool hovering above the roofs of Bangkok and, of course,

also excellent restaurants and bars. Underneath the Park Hyatt, you will find the Central Embassy, one of the best

high-end shopping malls in Bangkok.

bangkok.park.hyatt.com

Das Campbell Apartment war eine legendäre,

klassische Cocktail Bar im Grand Central

Terminal. Hier tranken die Mad Men und die

smarten Banker von der Wall Street noch in

Ruhe einen Martini, bevor sie die Vorortezüge

bestiegen, die sie nach Hause brachten. Nun hat

sie wiedereröffnet. Und ist nun ein beliebter

Anlaufpunkt für all jene, die ganz gepflegt vor

einem Abend im Theatre District oder einer

Nacht in Downtown hier noch einen Aperitif

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116 Cercle Diplomatique 3/2017

SAVOIR VIVRE WELTMUSEUM WIEN

Wiener Weltgeschichten

Viennese world histories

Das Weltmuseum Wien wird – nach drei Jahren Schließzeit, in denen im Corps de Logis

in der Neuen Hofburg kein Stein auf dem anderen geblieben ist – Ende Oktober endlich fulminant

wiedereröffnet.

The Weltmuseum Wien, which has been closed for three years, during which the Neue Hofburg’s

Corps de Logis was redone from the ground up, is finally going to be opened once again

at the end of October.

Text & Interview: Rois & Stubenrauch

Weltmuseum Wien

neu.

Weltmuseum Wien

new.

„Der Orient vor der Haustüre“

- einer der 14 neuen

Säle.

„The orient right in front of

your door“ - one of 14 new

halls.

PHOTOS: ARGE RALPH APPELBAUM ASSOCIATES/HOSKINS ARCHITECTS, KHM-MUSEUMSVERBAND

Geschichten, die auf diese

Weise nur hier in Wien erzählt werden

14einzigartige

können, rollt das Weltmuseum Wien in

seinen, von Grund auf neu gestalteten 14 Sälen auf.

Basierend auf der weltbedeutenden Sammlung, systematisch

eklektisch in der Auswahl - wie Museumsdirektor

Steven Engelsman mit einem Schmunzeln anmerkt.

Das einstige Völkerkundemuseum zeigt sich

2017 inhaltlich und technisch rundum erneuert mit

zeitgemäßem Blick auf die Welt: Die Sammlung des

berühmten britischen Weltumseglers James Cook

etwa – eine der frühesten First Contact Sammlungen,

die man wohl eher in London vermuten würde –

zeichnet im Saal „Südsee - Begegnungen mit dem

verlorenen Paradies“ die ereignisreichen Zusammentreffen

mit den Bewohnern der pazifischen Inselwelten

nach. Zudem berichten die Stücke aus dem Hofschatz

des Königreichs Benin, die zu den wertvollsten

Beständen des Weltmuseums Wien zählen, im Saal

„Benin und Äthiopien – Kunst, Macht, Widerstand“

einerseits von der Pracht der höfischen Kultur Afrikas,

zugleich aber auch von der kolonialen Aneignung

des Kontinents. Blüte und Verfall der indianischen

Kulturen werden im Saal „Ein österreichisches

Mosaik Brasiliens“ entlang der Sammlungen, die

anno 1817 in Folge der Heirat von Maria Leopoldine

von Österreich nach Brasilien, nach Wien gelangt

sind, aufgefächert.

Sammlerwahn

Der Rundgang durch die neuen Säle bewegt sich

nicht nur geografisch entlang der Kontinente, der

Saal „Sammlerwahn – Ich leide an Museomanie!“

beispielsweise stellt die Thematik der Sammelwut

der Habsburger in den Fokus. Nicht weniger als

14.000 ethnografische Objekte brachte Erzherzog

Franz Ferdinand von seiner zehnmonatigen, auch

der Knüpfung diplomatischer Kontakte gewidmeten

Weltreise 1892/93 mit. „Mitten im Saal steht eine Vitrine,

in der nicht exemplarisch eine Schattenspielfigur

aus Indonesien ausgestellt ist, sondern 42, um

den Sammelwahn von Franz Ferdinand zu illustrieren,

dem es, genauso wie bei der Jagd, offensichtlich

um die große Zahl gegangen ist“, erläutert Christian

Schicklgruber, Kurator und stellvertretender Direktor

des Weltmuseum Wien. Auszüge aus den Reisetagebüchern

des Thronfolgers werfen ein Licht auf

die damalige Sichtweise der Welt.

Viel Stoff für Diskurs bietet der Saal „Im Schatten

des Kolonialismus“. „Entgegen der verbreiteten Meinung,

dass Österreich ja nie eine große Kolonialmacht

war - uns das Thema also gar nichts angeht,

sind sehr viele Objekte in einem kolonialen Kontext

zu uns gekommen“, erläutert Kuratorin Claudia Augustat.

Dabei scheut das Weltmuseum Wien auch

nicht davor zurück, so kontroversielle Themen wie

die Restitution von Objekten aus der Sammlung

oder moderne Sklaverei aufzugreifen. „Eine Aufar-

beitung des Kolonialismus können wir hier natürlich

nicht leisten, die profunde Auseinandersetzung mit

der Geschichte des Hauses jedoch schon“, ergänzt

Augustat.

Neue Blickweisen

Die historischen Sammlungen aus der Kaiserzeit

bilden nach wie vor die Grundlage der Dauerausstellung

in den 14 Sälen im Mezzanin – rund um die

Eingangshalle bespielt das Weltmuseum Wien noch

einmal 1.500 m 2 Fläche mit Sonderausstellungen, die

aktuelle Themen aufgreifen und die historischen Bestände

mit der Gegenwart verzahnen sollen. Weshalb

Steven Engelsman auch sehr viel an der intensiven

Zusammenarbeit mit dem Diplomatischen

Corps liegt, die neben den Ausstellungsprojekten

auch in künstlerische Interventionen mündet. Wie

die großformatige Arbeit der neuseeländischen

Künstlerin Lisa Reihana, die im Augenblick noch auf

der Biennale in Venedig gezeigt wird, und danach

für fünf Jahre den Saal „Südsee: Begegnungen mit

dem verlorenen Paradies“ bereichert.

Weitere Interventionen, wie Lisl Pongers Fotoarbeit

„The Master Narrative“, brechen die alten Blickweisen

auf. Ganz im Sinne des neuen Selbstverständnisses

des Weltmuseums Wien, das sich nicht mehr

nur als publikumswirksames Ausstellungshaus sieht,

sondern als Treffpunkt für Menschen aller Kulturen,

wie Engelsman betont: „In diesem Sinne ist das

Weltmuseum Wien zuallererst ein Ort, wo man sich

trifft, ein Zentrum lebendiger Kultur!“

14 presented by the Weltmuseum Wien in

unique histories, which could only be told

in this way in the city of Vienna, will be

their 14 completely redesigned exhibition halls. It is

based on the internationally renowned collection,

which is systematically eclectic in the selection, Museum

Director Steven Engelsman remarks with a

smirk. The former Museum of Ethnology presents

itself fully reworked in terms of content and form

alike in 2017 and also offers a new contemporary

look at the world. The collection by the renowned

British explorer and navigator James Cook, which is

one of the earliest first contact collections that one

may be more likely to expect in London, marks the

eventful encounters with the inhabitants of the Pacific

Islands in the South Seas: Encounters with the

Paradise Lost hall. Or, perhaps, the pieces the King-

Oben: Neuer Eingangsbereich

und Museumsshop.

Top: The new entrance area

and the museum shop.

Unten /below: „Ost- und

West-Indischer wie auch

Sinesischer Lust- und

Stats-Garten“, Erasmus

Franciscus, Nürnberg 1668.

Top: The new entrance area

and the museum shop.

118 Cercle Diplomatique 3/2017

Cercle Diplomatique 3/2017

119

SAVOIR VIVRE WELTMUSEUM WIEN

INFO

SPRUNG IN DIE GEGENWART:

„Staying with Trouble“. Während

einer zweimonatigen Residency

entstandene Arbeiten von Rajkamal

Kahlon.

JUMP TO THE PRESENCE.

“Staying with Trouble“ which was

created by Rajkamal Kahlon during a

two month-residency .

„POP-UP WORLD“ /

ERZÄHLUNGEN.

Zur Wiedereröffnung des

Weltmuseum Wien erscheint

ein innovatives Buch.

On occasion of the reopening

of the Weltmuseum Wien, an

innovative book will be

published.

120 Cercle Diplomatique 3/2017

„THE MASTER NARRATIVE“.

Lisl Ponger zeigt sechs großformatige Fotoarbeiten.

Lisl Ponger shows six photo works in large format.

„CONVERSATIONS“.

Klanginstallation von Dejan Kaludjerović.

Sound installation by Dejan Kaludjerovic.

dom of Benin royal treasure, which count among the

most valuable items in the Weltmuseum Wien’s inventory,

retelling the splendour of Africa’s court culture

in the Benin and Ethiopia: Art, Power, Resilience

hall, whilst at the same time reporting on the

continent’s colonial acquisition. The rise and fall of

the Native American cultures are explored in the An

Austrian Mosaic of Brazil hall, along with the collections

that have made it to Vienna as a result of Maria

Leopoldina of Austria’s marriage to Brazil in 1817.

Collecting craze

A stroll through the new exhibition halls does not

only provide a geographic journey through the continents,

the Collecting Craze. I Suffer from Museomania!

hall, for example, focuses on the Habsburg

Family’s obsession with collecting precious items. In

1892/93, Archduke Franz Ferdinand went on a

10-month long exploratory and diplomatic journey

around the world. He returned with as many as

14,000 ethnographic objects. ‘Right at the centre of

the hall, there is a display case that, and this is unusual,

does not contain one shadow puppet from Indonesia,

but 42, with the purpose of illustrating

Franz Ferdinand’s obsession with precious items,

where, just as it was the case with his hunting endeavours,

quantity probably mattered more than quality,’

explains Christian Schicklgruber, Curator and

Deputy Director at the Weltmuseum Wien. Excerpts

from the Archduke’s travel logs cast a light on the

prevailing view of the world during his time.

There is plenty of material for discussion in the In

the Shadow of Colonialism hall. ‘Contrary to the popular

belief that Austria had never been a great colonial

power, in other words, that the topic doesn’t

even concern Austria, there are actually many objects

that have come to us in a colonial context,’ explains

Curator Claudia Augustat. And the Weltmuseum

Wien does not shy away from tackling

controversial topics such as the restitution of objects

from the collection or even addressing modern-day

slavery. ‘A new investigation into colonialism is, of

course, beyond our reach here, but a profound engagement

with the history of this establishment is not,’

Augustat adds.

New perspectives

The historical collections from the Imperial Era

continue to make up the foundation of the permanent

exhibition of the 14 halls in the mezzanine,

PHOTOS: KHM-MUSEUMSVERBAND, RAJKAMAL KAHLON, LISL PONGER, DEJAN KALUDJEROVIĆ, SUZY STÖCKL

around the entry hall, the Weltmuseum Wien continues

to use an area of around 1500 m 2 to present special

exhibitions that tackle contemporary issues and

connect the museum’s historical content with the

present. And that is also why Steven Engelsman cares

a lot about the intensive collaboration with the Diplomatic

Corps, which has not only resulted in exhibition

projects but also in artistic interventions. This

includes the large-format project by the artist Lisa

Reihana from New Zealand, which is currently being

displayed at the Biennale in Venice, after which it

will enrich the South Seas: Encounters with the

Paradise Lost hall at the Weltmuseum Wien for five

years.

Additional interventions, such as Lisl Ponger’s

photo piece, The Master Narrative, crack open old

ways of looking at things. In the spirit of the Weltmuseum

Wien’s new self-image, which no longer sees

itself as just an exhibition centre for the public, but as

a meeting point for people of all cultures, Engelsman

emphasizes: ‘In this sense, the Weltmuseum Wien is,

primarily, a place where people meet and a centre for

vivid culture!’

www.karikaturmuseum.at

Open-Air Eröffnungsfest

Weltmuseum Wien mit André

Heller, 25.10.2017.

Open-air opening celebration

Weltmuseum Wien with André Heller

Tag der offenen Tür, 26.10.2017.

Open day

INFO:

weltmuseumwien.at

„Als junger Mensch besuchte ich häufig

das Wiener Völkerkundemuseum, um das

sogenannte Fremde zu erleben. Es war mir

ein Staunen, ein Trost, eine wunderbare Inspiration

und die Ermutigung später einmal

selbst ein Expeditionswesen zu werden, um

mir selbst und der Welt auf den Grund zu

gehen. Endlich wird nun das Weltmuseum

Wien, in Inhalt und Form klug verwandelt,

wiedereröffnet. Welche Freude! “

‘When I was young, I frequently visited the Museum

of Ethnology in order to experience the socalled

foreign. It was a source of astonishment,

of solace, of inspiration and of encouragement to

embark upon my own travels to explore both the

world as well as myself. On the 25th of October

2017, the long slumber will finally come to an end

and the Museum of Ethnology will be reopened,

smartly transformed in both content and form,

with the much more appropriate name Weltmuseum.

What a delight!’

André Heller

Verleiht Flüüügel.

30 JAHRE

CARTOONS

VON RED BULL

28.05.17–11.03.18

SAVOIR VIVRE WELTMUSEUM WIEN

SINCE 1707

INFO

NACHGEFRAGT | ENQUIRED

WIENMUSEUM 2017

HIGHLIGHTS

Schausammlung in 14

Sälen | Display collection

in 14 halls

ab 27.10.2017. täglich außer

Mittwoch 10 - 18 Uhr;

Freitag 10 - 21 Uhr.

From 27/10/2017. Open daily,

except Wednesday, 10:00 to

18:00; Friday 10:00 to 21:00.

Sonderausstellungen

ab 25.10.2017.

Special exhibitions

from 25/10/2017.

Rajkamal Kahlon:

„Staying with Trouble“

Lisl Ponger:

„The Master Narrative“

Dejan Kaludjerović:

„Conversations“

„Sharing Stories“ / Dinge

sprechen

„Pop-Up World“ /

Erzählungen

Kulturpatenschaften

Culture partnerships

Die Patenschaft für eines der

einzigartigen Objekte der

neu konzipierten

Schausammlung des

Weltmuseum Wien zu

übernehmen, ist auch

weiterhin möglich. Cercle

Diplomatique darf sich stolz

Kulturpatron eines

australischen Bumerangs

aus der ehemaligen

Sammlung Erzherzogs Franz

Ferdinand von Österreich-

Este nennen.

You can continue to sponsor

one of the many unique

objects of the newly

conceptualised permanent

exhibition of the

Weltmuseum Wien. Cercle

Diplomatique proudly calls

itself the culture patron of

an Australian boomerang

from Archbishop Franz

Ferdinand’s former

collection.

Steven Engelsman

Direktor Weltmuseum Wien | Director Weltmuseum Wien

Steven Engelsman studierte in Utrecht Mathematik und Wissenschaftsgeschichte und leitete mehr als 20 Jahre lang das Museum für

Völkerkunde in Leiden. 2012 wurde Steven Engelsman zum Direktor des Weltmuseums Wien bestellt.

Steven Engelsman studied Mathematics and History of Science in Utrecht and has led the National Museum of Ethnology in Leiden for more than

20 years. In 2012, Steven Engelsman was named the Director of the Weltmuseum Wien.

Was darf sich das Publikum vom neuen Weltmuseum Wien

erwarten?

Wir zeigen eine großartige Perlenkette von Geschichten, die man so

nur in Wien erzählen kann. 14 Säle mit absolut einzigartigen Objekten

und absolut einzigartigen Geschichten über Österreich und die Welt -

warum diese Sammlungen nach Österreich gekommen sind, was sie so

wichtig macht. Und wir haben einen der besten Ausstellungsdesigner

der Welt – Ralph Appelbaum – gewonnen, für uns die Einrichtung zu

gestalten. Da sind wir schon sehr stolz darauf!

Die Bestände des Weltmuseums Wien reichen sehr weit zurück

in der Zeit. Gibt es auch Objekte, die Sie gerne zeigen würden,

die aber aus Gründen der Fragilität nicht präsentiert werden

können?

Der Penacho de Moctezuma (Federkopfschmuck, Azteken, frühes 16.

Jahrhundert) ist sicherlich das fragilste Stück der Sammlung, doch

selbst dieses können wir zeigen - das ist technisch zwar sehr

aufwändig, aber möglich. Es gibt natürlich einige tolle Objekte, die im

Depot verbleiben müssen. Die rund 3.000 Objekte, die die

Kuratorinnen und Kuratoren für die Dauerausstellung ausgewählt

haben, sind auf jeden Fall eine fantastische Auswahl!

Wie meistert das Weltmuseum Wien die Balance zwischen den

ausgedehnten Beständen aus der Kaiserzeit und den

Ansprüchen der Gegenwart?

Das Erbe der Monarchie, diese ganz einzigartigen Sammlungen, die uns

weltberühmt machen, sind die Rechtfertigung der Existenz des Hauses.

Wir thematisieren aber auch wichtige Fragen von heute: Einerseits die

kolonialen Ursprünge des Hauses - im Saal „Welt in Bewegung“

wiederum geht es um Migration. Neben den 14 Sälen der Dauerausstellung

bespielen wir zudem 1.500 m 2 mit Sonderausstellungen. Und wir

haben außerdem eine Reihe von künstlerischen Interventionen im

Haus, etwa von Lisl Ponger oder Dejan Kaludjerović. Das sind starke

Statements von heute, die wir da zeigen.

Wie definieren Sie die Aufgaben des Weltmuseums Wien in

einer globalisierten Welt am Beginn des 21. Jahrhunderts?

Die Repräsentation anderer Kulturen sehen wir heute nicht mehr als

unsere Aufgabe, das war das Völkerkundemuseum. Das Weltmuseum

Wien versteht sich als Treffpunkt für Menschen aller Kulturen, wo es

um Wertschätzung und Begeisterung für kulturelle Vielfalt geht!

What can the public expect from the newly designed exhibition

halls?

We present a fantastic chain of histories that could only be told in this

way in Vienna. We will present 14 halls with absolutely unique objects

and unique stories from Austria and all over the world —and show why

these collections have come to Austria and what makes them so

important. We got one of the best exhibition designers in the world

– Ralph Appelbaum – to design the interior for us. We are especially

proud of that!

The inventory of the Weltmuseum Wien reaches far back into

time. Are there any objects that you would like to show but

cannot due to fragility issues?

The Penacho de Moctezuma (feather headdress, Aztecs, early 16th

century) is surely the most fragile piece in the collection, but we are still

able to present it, which may be very demanding from a technical point

of view, but it’s doable. But of course, there are a few great objects that

must stay in the inventory. However, the 3,000 objects that the

curators have chosen for the permanent exhibition are, without a

doubt, a fantastic selection!

How does the Weltmuseum Wien manage the balance between

the extensive inventory from the Imperial Era and contemporary

tastes?

The heritage of the monarchy alone, these very unique collections that

have made us famous around the world, justify the existence of our

establishment. We do, however, also explore contemporary issues: On

the one hand, the colonialist origins of the establishment – in the Welt

in Bewegung (World in Motion) exhibition hall, we explore the topic of

migration. We also make the leap into the present by offering 1500 m 2

of special exhibitions next to our other 14 halls. And we also have a

series of artistic interventions, such as Lisl Ponger or Dejan

Kaludjerović. In other words, we’re presenting several contemporary

statements.

How do you define the mission of the Weltmuseum Wien in a

globalised world at the beginning of the 21st century?

We no longer consider the representation of other cultures as our

mission; that was the former Museum of Ethnology. The Weltmuseum

Wien sees itself as a meeting point for people of all cultures, where

everything revolves around appreciating and being astonished by our

world’s cultural diversity.

PHOTO: KHM_MUSEUMSVERBAND

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weltmuseumwien.at

122 Cercle Diplomatique 3/2017

SAVOIR VIVRE MUSEUM VISIT

120 Jahre am Puls der Zeit

120 years of keeping pace with the times

Secession, Wien | Vienna

Text & Interview: Rois & Stubenrauch

DIRECTOR’S TALK

INFO

Jugendstil-Ikone: Das markante

Wiener Secessionsgebäude

mit seiner goldenen Blätterkuppel.

Art nouveau icon: The striking

building of the Vienna Secession

with its cupola of golden leaves.

Mit Gustav Klimt, Koloman Moser und Josef

Hoffmann unter den Gründungsmitgliedern,

war die Vereinigung bildender

KünstlerInnen Wiener Secession die Keimzelle des

Wiener Jugendstils. Heute zählt das 1898 von Joseph

Maria Olbrich gestaltete, unverwechselbare Secessionsgebäude

mit seiner goldenen Blätterkuppel zu

den bedeutendsten Jugendstilbauten – und ist weltweit

das älteste unabhängige, der zeitgenössischen

Kunst gewidmete Ausstellungshaus. Gustav Klimts

berühmter „Beethovenfries“, der im Untergeschoss

der Secession ausgestellt ist, entstand 1902 für eine

Ludwig van Beethoven gewidmete Ausstellung. Der

monumentale Wandzyklus mit seiner allegorischen

Darstellung menschlicher Sehnsucht nach dem

Glück gilt als eines der Hauptwerke des Jugendstils.

With Gustav Klimt, Koloman Moser and Josef

Hoffman among its founding members,

the Vienna Secession, Association of Visual

Artists quickly became a breeding ground for the Viennese

Art Nouveau movement. Today, the unmistakable

Secession building, originally designed in 1898 by

Joseph Maria Olbrich, is considered among the most

significant Art Nouveau constructions, with its golden

leafy dome, and is the oldest independent exhibition

house dedicated to contemporary art in the world. Gustav

Klimt’s famous “Beethoven Frieze”, exhibited in the

basement of the Secession, came to be as part of a programme

in 1902 dedicated to Ludwig van Beethoven.

The monumental “Wandzyklus”, with its allegorical depiction

of the desire for bliss, is considered among Art

Nouveau’s most important pieces.

PHOTOS: SECESSION / OLIVER OTTENSCHLÄGER; COURTESY NICOLE EISENMAN, SUSANNE VIELMETTER LOS ANGELES PROJECTS UND ANTON KERN GALLERY NEW YORK;

COURTESY TONI SCHMALE UND GALERIE CHRISTINE KÖNIG / JOHN MCKENZIE, TONI SCHMALE.

Herwig Kempinger

Der markante Jugendstilbau der Secession und Klimts

Beethovenfries sind touristische Highlights Wiens, andererseits

fährt die Secession ein sehr ambitioniertes Ausstellungsprogramm

internationaler Gegenwartskunst. Wie ist dieser

Spagat zu schaffen?

Ich sehe das nicht als Spagat. Vielmehr bin ich der Meinung, dass

hervorragende Kunst aus jeder Zeit auch immer sehr gut mit

zeitgenössischer Kunst zusammenleben kann. Wichtig ist bei

beiden die Qualität und nicht das Alter.

Worin sehen Sie das Bahnbrechende in Klimts Beethovenfries?

Sicherlich in der Übersetzung von Musik in visuelle Inhalte. Mit

lauten und leisen Passagen und auch Pausen gestaltet Klimt ein

Kunstwerk, das auch die Leere als Form erlaubt.

Wie positioniert sich die Secession mit ihren 12 bis 15

jährlichen Ausstellungen in der Wiener Museumslandschaft

und im internationalen Kontext?

Die Secession ist eine unabhängige Institution, die seit ihrer

Gründung vor 120 Jahren sehr erfolgreich von Künstlern geführt

wird. Dies allein macht uns in Wien schon einzigartig. Wir zeigen

relevante internationale Kunst, die meist noch nie in Österreich zu

sehen war. Dabei legen wir Wert auf eine entsprechende

Choreographie der unterschiedlichen medialen Ausdrucksformen

von jungen experimentellen Positionen und älteren etablierten

Künstlern aller Geschlechter. Das alles findet zudem im

Präsident der Wiener Secession, Vereinigung bildender KünstlerInnen | President

of the Vienna Secession, Association of Visual Artists

Herwig Kempinger arbeitet als Künstler in den Bereichen Malerei, Fotografie, Film und Skulptur. Von 1984 - 1994 war er Lektor für

Medienkunst an der Hochschule für angewandte Kunst Wien. Seit 2013 ist Herwig Kempinger Präsident der Vereinigung Bildender

KünstlerInnen Wiener Secession.

Herwig Kempinger works as an artist in the fields of painting, photography, film and sculpting. Between 1984 and 1994, he was a Media Arts reader at

the University of Applied Arts Vienna. Since 2013, Herwig Kempinger has been the President of the Vienna Secession, Association of Visual Artists.

architektonisch bedeutendsten Ausstellungshaus des Landes

statt. International gesehen sind wir auf jeden Fall unter die

besten unabhängigen Institutionen für zeitgenössische Kunst

einzuordnen.

Ihre Position wurde in der Vergangenheit u.a. von Gustav

Klimt und Josef Hoffmann besetzt – wie gehen Sie als

gegenwärtiger Präsident der Künstlervereinigung mit

dieser mächtigen Vergangenheit um?

Die hohe Reputation und die Geschichte einer Institution sind

Verpflichtung, einen relevanten Beitrag zu ihrer Zukunft zu leisten.

Eine große Vergangenheit darf nicht einschüchtern, sondern muss

motivieren.

The striking Art Nouveau style of the Secession and Klimt’s

Beethoven Frieze are among Vienna’s touristic highlights, but

the Secession also maintains a very ambitious exhibition

programme for contemporary art. What helps you maintain

this balancing act?

I don’t see it as a balancing act. I am much rather of the opinion that

excellent art from any period can live in harmony with contemporary

art. Here, quality plays a much bigger role than age.

What do you think makes Klimt’s Beethoven Frieze so

groundbreaking?

Surely it is the translation of music into visual content. Using both loud

as well as quiet tones, Klimt crafts a piece of art that also permits

emptiness to act as a form.

What role does the Secession, with its 12 to 15 exhibitions a

year, play in Vienna’s museum environment as well as in the

international context?

The Secession is an independent institution that has been successfully

led by artists since its inception 120 years ago. We often present

relevant international art that has never been seen before in Austria.

Here, we also place particular emphasis on a corresponding

choreography of young experimental approaches as well as older, more

established artists of all genders. All of this takes place in the

architecturally most significant exhibition house in the country.

Internationally, we can certainly be counted among the best

independent institutions for contemporary art.

Your own position was held in the past by Gustav Klimt and

Josef Hoffman, among others — how do you, as the current

President of the Association of Visual Arts, deal with the

reputation of these great predecessors?

The reputation and history of an institution mean the responsibility to

contribute to its future. A great history should not intimidate, but

motivate.

CONTEMPORARY ART

Aktuelle Ausstellungen

14.9.-5.11.2017:

Current exhibitions

Nicole Eisenman

Hauptwerke und neuere

Arbeiten der in New York

lebenden Malerin.

Key works and new pieces by

the New York based painter.

Toni Schmale

Die Wiener Künstlerin

thematisiert in ihren Installationen,

Performances, Skulpturen

und Animationen Geschlechterkonstruktionen.

The Viennese artist uses her

installations, performances,

sculptures and animations to

explore gender constructions.

Chadwick Rantanen

In Skulpturen, Installationen und

ortsspezifischen Interventionen

funktioniert der in Los Angeles

lebende Künstler Gebrauchsgegenstände

und industriell

hergestellte Massenprodukte

um.

The Los Angeles based artist

uses everyday objects and

industrially manufactured mass

products and reconfigures them

into sculptures, installations and

location-specific interventions.

Künstlerbücher, in limitierter

Auflage zu den jeweiligen

Ausstellungen publiziert, sind im

Museumsshop erhältlich.

Books about the respective

artists, which are published on a

limited basis, can be purchased

in the museum shop.

Gustav Klimt

„Beethovenfries“

Permanente Präsentation

“Beethoven Frieze”

Permanent exhibition

Führungen jeden Samstag,

14 Uhr in Deutsch.

Guided tours every Saturday,

11 a.m. in English.

Klimt trifft auf Contemporary Art/Klimt

meets contemporary art: Nicole Eisenman,

Achilles Heel, 2014 (links/left);

Toni Schmale, the good enough mother,

2017 (Mitte/middle)

Gustav Klimt, Beethovenfries/ Beethoven

Frieze, 1902 (großes Bild oben und

rechts/ big picture on top and right).

Links/ left:

Toni Schmale,

feuerbock, 2015.

INFO:

SECESSION

Friedrichstraße 12

1010 Wien

secession.at

124 Cercle Diplomatique 3/2017

Cercle Diplomatique 3/2017 125

SAVOIR VIVRE AMBASSADORS OF MUSIC

Culture Talk Julia Fischer

Die deutsche Stargeigerin und Artist in Residence der Wiener Symphoniker der Spielzeit 2017/18, Julia Fischer im CD-

Exklusivinterview über musikalisches Vertrauen, das Leben als „Wunderkind“ und Mendelssohn-Bartholdys Violinkonzert.

Julia Fischer, the German star violinist and the Wiener Symphoniker’s Artist in Residence for the 2017/18 season, talks about

musical trust, life as a “prodigy“ and Mendelssohn-Bartholdy’s violin concerto in E minor, in this exclusive CD-interview.

Interview: Rois & Stubenrauch

INFO

PERSONAL DETAILS

PHOTOS: DECCA / FELIX BROEDE, KASSKARA; BBC CHRIS CHRISTODOULOU

Was hat Sie bewogen, die Einladung zum Artist in

Residence der Wiener Symphoniker für die Saison

2017/18 anzunehmen?

Meine Zusammenarbeit mit den Wiener Symphonikern geht bis

ins Jahr 2006 zurück, insofern mag ich das Orchester sehr

gerne und schon sehr lange sehr gerne! Philippe Jordan, ihr

Chefdirigent, ist ein sehr geradliniger, ehrlicher Musiker ohne

Mätzchen. Ich mag ihn sehr, es geht ihm wirklich um die Sache,

um die Musik. Wenn alle Seiten bereit sind, die Äußerlichkeiten

wegzulassen, kann man wirklich hohe Kunst zustande bringen.

Sie werden als „die große Intellektuelle unter den

Geigenvirtuosen der Gegenwart“ beschrieben – eine

Charakterisierung mit der Sie sich identifizieren können?

Ich glaube schon, dass es Musiker gibt, die weniger intellektuell

an Musik herangehen. Ich lese und denke viel über die Werke

nach, die ich spiele. Ich bin auch intuitiv, aber ich finde, alles,

was man musikalisch tut, muss Sinn und Verstand haben! Die

Konzertbesucher sollen ein emotionales Erlebnis haben, aber in

der Vorbereitung ist die intellektuelle Arbeit essentiell.

Seit Ihrem gefeierten internationalen Debüt mit 19

gelten Sie als Weltstar – wie gehen Sie mit den hohen

Erwartungen an Sie um?

Erwartung von anderen – die interessieren mich gar nicht!

Natürlich habe ich extrem hohe Erwartungen an mich selbst.

Wenn ich abends auf die Bühne gehe, habe ich selbstverständlich

im Kopf, wie das im Idealfall ablaufen soll. Aber ich hatte

nie den Eindruck, ich müsse irgendwelche Erwartungen von

Außen erfüllen.

Es gab nie den Druck von Seiten Ihrer Eltern, Sie müssen

das Wunderkind sein?

Nein, überhaupt nicht. Ich hätte auch einfach sagen können, ich

höre heute auf. Den Wunsch, dass ich Geigerin werden möchte,

habe ich selbst sehr deutlich formuliert. Wenn man mich mit

vier oder fünf gefragt hat, habe ich als Antwort gegeben: Ich

bin Geigerin! Bei meinen Auftritten hat meine Mutter auch nie

gesagt: „Pass´ auf diese oder jene Passage auf und bitte keine

falschen Noten und immer freundlich lächeln!“ Sie hat stets nur

gesagt: „Und jetzt geh´ raus und habe Freude auf der Bühne!“

Das Publikum wird Sie auch am Konzertflügel erleben

– zusammen mit Philippe Jordan geben Sie die Fantasie

in F-Moll für Klavier zu vier Händen von Franz Schubert.

Ein Stück, das eine große Vertrautheit mit ihrem

musikalischen Partner voraussetzt.

Die Vertrautheit, die man bei so etwas braucht, die hat man

gleich oder gar nicht, die kann man nicht üben. Es gibt diesen

gemeinsamen Herzschlag. Ich bin sehr stolz, dass Philippe

Jordan bereit ist, mit mir vierhändig Klavier zu spielen.

Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdys Violinkonzert steht

ebenfalls am Programm. Was macht dieses Werk zum

richtungsweisenden Klassiker?

Erstmal gehört es zu den schönsten Werken, die geschrieben

wurden! Für mich steht Mendelssohn total ebenbürtig neben

Mozart. Die Revolution, dass sofort die Geige einsetzt – dass

nicht mehr zuerst das Orchester die Themen vorstellt, hat

dieses Stück zum Klassiker gemacht. Und ich freue mich extrem

darauf, es in Wien zu spielen.

What made you accept the invitation to become the Wiener

Symphoniker‘s Artist in Residence for the season 2017/18?

My collaboration with the Wiener Symphoniker goes all the way

back to the year 2016, so I quite like the orchestra and have

been liking it for a while, too! Philippe Jordan, the Chief

Conductor, is a very straightforward, honest musician who

doesn’t fool around. I am quite fond of him. He really cares

about music. When all parties are ready to leave appearances

and superficial things behind, that’s when truly great art is

created.

You are described as ‘the great intellectual among

contemporary violin virtuosos’ – can you relate to this

description?

I do believe that there are musicians that have a less

intellectual approach to music. I read and think a lot about the

pieces that I play. I’m also intuitive, but I think that when you

do something musically it should make sense and follow certain

logic! The audience sitting in the concerto should have an

emotional experience, but during preparation intellectual work

is indispensable.

You started playing the violin when you were three years old

and since your much-celebrated international debut at 19 you

have been considered an international star – how do you deal

with the high expectations?

The expectations of others don’t interest me at all! But I have

very high expectations of myself, of course. When I go out on

the stage in the evening, I naturally have a plan of how things

should go down in the ideal case. But I was never under the

impression that I was obligated to fulfil any external

expectations.

You never felt pressure from your parents to be the prodigy?

No, not at all, I could easily have said, today I quit. The desire to

become a professional violinist was entirely my own. When

people asked me what I wanted to be when I was four or five, I

gave them a clear answer: I’m a violinist! During my shows,

my mother never told me to watch this or that passage and not

to play any wrong notes and to please keep on smiling. She

would always just say: Now go out and enjoy yourself on the

stage!

The audience will also get to experience you at the grand

piano – together with Philippe Jordan, you will play Fantasia

in F minor for piano four-hands by Franz Schubert.

This is a piece that requires great trust in your musical partner;

you either have or don’t have the kind of trust that is needed

for such an endeavour. You can’t learn it. There is this shared

heartbeat. I am very proud that Philippe Jordan is prepared to

play the piano four-hands with me; I wasn’t expecting it.

Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy’s Violin Concerto is also part of

the program. What makes this piece such a significant

classic?

First of all, it is among the most beautiful pieces ever written!

To me, Mendelssohn is absolutely on par with Mozart. The

revolution to use the violin straight away – that the orchestra

doesn’t introduce the themes first – has made this piece a

classic. And I’m very much looking forward to playing it in

Vienna.

Fischer, Jordan, Wiener

Symphoniker

Mendelssohn-Bartholdy,

Brahms

17.11.2017, Fridays@7, Wiener

Konzerthaus

Fischer, Jordan, HABE

Quartett

Schubert, Bruch, Dvorák

18.11.2017, Wiener Konzerthaus

Fischer, Jordan, Wiener

Symphoniker

Beethoven, Mendelssohn-

Bartholdy, Mahler

19.11.2017, Wiener Konzerthaus

juliafischer.com

wienersymphoniker.at

Julia Fischer, geboren in München, begann im Alter von drei Jahren mit dem

Geigen- und kurz darauf mit dem Klavierspiel. Ihr internationales Debüt gab die von

der Süddeutschen Zeitung als „Jahrhunderttalent“ geadelte Musikerin mit 19 in der

Carnegie Hall in New York, mit 23 wurde sie die jüngste Professorin Deutschlands.

In der Saison 2017/18 ist Julia Fischer Artist in Residence der Wiener Symphoniker.

Julia Fischer, born in Munich, began playing the Violin at the age of three —

shortly afterwards, she started playing the piano. The young musician, named by

the Süddeutsche Zeitung newspaper as ‘The Talent of the Century’, gave her

international debut at Carnergie Hall in New York at the age of 19, at the age of 23

she became the youngest professor in Germany. For the season 2017/18, Julia

Fischer will be the Wiener Symphoniker’s Artist in Residence.

126 Cercle Diplomatique 3/2017

Cercle Diplomatique 3/2017 127

SAVOIR VIVRE ARTS

Kultur-Highlights Herbst 2017

Cultural highlights autumn 2017

Text: Evelyn Rois

Heißer Kunstherbst

Exciting art autumn

viennacontemporary 2017: Gil

Heitor Cortesão, Ola

Kolehmainen.

Zauberflöte: Sophie

Karthäuser ist in der Rolle der

Pamina zu erleben.

Magic Flute: Sophie Karthäuser

can be experienced in the role

of Pamina.

128 Cercle Diplomatique 3/2017

Deutschsprachige Oper im Fokus | German-language opera in the spotlight

Wiens jüngstes Opernhaus, das Theater an der Wien, arbeitet sich diesen Herbst an den

Meilensteinen der deutschsprachigen Oper ab: Mozarts Zauberflöte unter der musikalischen

Leitung von René Jacobs macht im September den Anfang – Wozzek von Alban Berg mit

Star-Bariton Florian Boesch in der Titelpartie folgt dann im Oktober. Eine völlig neu entwickelte

Ring-Trilogie, die Richard Wagners epochalen Opernzyklus an drei Abenden aus der Perspektive

von Hagen, Siegfried und Brünnhilde aufrollt, feiert im November Premiere. Spannend!

Vienna’s youngest opera house, the Theater an der Wien, is working its way through the many

milestones of German operatic history: Mozart’s The Magic Flute under the musical leadership of

René Jacobs is launching in September, Wozzeck by Alban Berg with the celebrity baritone Florian

Boesch in the title role follows in October. A completely new Ring Trilogy, which unpacks Richard

Wagner’s epic opera series on three evenings from the perspectives of Hagen, Siegfried and

Brünnhilde, premieres in November. Exciting!

theater-wien.at

PHOTOS: MOLINAVISUALS / HARMONIA MUNDI; GIL HEITOR CORTESÃO / CARBON 12; OLA KOLEHMAINEN / GALLERY TAIK PERSONS; PICCININI / ARNDT ART AGENCY; KHM-MUSEUMSVERBAND; ELECTRIC CHURCH

Ab Mitte September verdichtet sich in Wien das Kunstgeschehen regelmäßig zu einem wahren Ausstellungsmarathon: Angefangen mit dem Galerienfestival curated by_vienna (15.09.-

14.10.2017; curatedby.at), über Österreichs wichtigste Messe für Gegenwartskunst viennacontemporary in der Marx Halle (21.-24.09.2017; viennacontemporary.at) und ihrer wilden

Schwester Parallel Vienna, die dieses Jahr die Alte Sigmund Freud Universität in Erdberg bespielt (19.-24.09.2017; parallelvienna.com), über die Vienna Design Week mit Gastland Rumänien

(29.9.-8.10.2017; viennadesignweek.at), bis zur vom Dorotheum initiierten Vienna Art Week mit ihren zahlreichen Spielorten (13.-19.11.2017; viennaartweek.at), jagt ein Pflichttermin den

nächsten.

Beginning in mid-September, Vienna’s art scene seems to be taking on the form of an exhibition marathon: Starting with the Galerienfestival curated by vienna (15/09 –

14/10/2017; curatedby.at), Austria’s most important fair for contemporary art viennacontemporary at the Marx Halle (21/-24/09/2017; viennacontemporary.at) and its wild

sibling Parallel Vienna, which will take place at the old Sigmund Freud University Vienna in Erdberg this year (19/-24/09/2017; parallelvienna.com), the Vienna Design Week

with Romania as a guest country (29/09/ – 08/10/2017; viennadesignweek.at), all the way to the Vienna Art Week, initiated by the Dorotheum auction house, with its many

locations (13/-19/11/2017; viennaartweek.at), one unmissable event follows the next.

Unfurled, Patricia Piccinini.

Terra Incognita

Kunst aus Australien, Südostasien

und der Pazifikregion ist in unseren

Breitengraden (noch) eine große

Unbekannte. Terra Incognita nennt

sich denn auch die Ausstellung in

der BROTKunsthalle der Galerie

Ernst Hilger an der Absberggasse

im 10. Bezirk, die im Rahmen von

curated by_vienna 2017 vom

15.9.-28.10.2017 sechzehn

spannende Positionen aktueller

Gegenwartskunst aus dieser Region

nach Wien bringt.

Art from Australia, Southeast Asia

and the Pacific Region remains

relatively unknown around here.

Terra Incognita is thus the title of

the exhibition in the BROTKunsthalle

of the Ernst Hilger Gallery at

Absberggasse in the 10th district,

which will bring 16 exciting pieces

from the region’s contemporary art

scene to Vienna between 15/09 and

28/10/2017 as part of curated by

vienna 2017.

hilger.at

Selbstbildnis, um 1638.

Unten: „Das Pelzchen“,

um 1636/1638.

Self portrait, around

1638.

Below: “The Fur“,

around 1636/1638.

Opulenter Rubens Rausch |

Opulent Peter Paul Rubens

Das Kunsthistorische Museum Wien feiert im Herbst

den bedeutendsten flämischen Barockmaler Peter

Paul Rubens: Die große Schau „Kraft der Verwandlung“

vom 17.10.2017 bis 21.01.2018 vereint dabei den

großartigen Wiener Bestand wie „Das Pelzchen“ mit

70 internationalen Leihgaben zu einem spektakulären

Ensemble.

This autumn, the Kunsthistorisches Museum Wien

celebrates the most significant Flemish Baroque

Painter Peter Paul Rubens. The large exhibition, The

Power of Transformation, between 17/10/2017 and

21/01/2018, unites great Viennese pieces such as

‘The Fur’ together with 70 international loan pieces

into one spectacular ensemble.

khm.at

Gabriel on tour

Elf Kurzgeschichten rund um den

Erzengel Gabriel, untermalt mit

spektakulären Visuals, elektronischen

Beats und einem live

gespielten Streichensemble unter

Klassik-Stargeiger Yury Revich –

Mastermind und Star-DJ Sergio

Manoel Flores verwandelt sakrale

Kirchenräume zu eindrucksvollen

Bühnen für ein einzigartiges,

90-minütiges Klangerlebnis.

Premiere ist am 28. und 29.09.2017

in der Wiener Kirche am Hof.

Eleven short stories about the

archangel Gabriel, accentuated with

spectacular visuals, electronic beats

and a live string ensemble under the

celebrity classic violinist Yury

Revich, mastermind and celebrity,

DJ Manoel Flores transforms sacred

church interiors into impressive

stages for a unique, 90-minute-long

auditory experience. Premiere is on

28/ and 29/09/2017 at the Kirche

am Hof, Vienna.

electric-church.at

Yury Revich, Sergio Manoel Flores.

Cercle Diplomatique 3/2017 129

SAVOIR VIVRE ARTS

Clara Jumi Kang.

Portrait Rudolf IV., um 1360.

Portrait Rudolph IV, around 1360.

Tango Operita!

Große Gefühle, sehnsüchtige Bandoneon-Klänge und natürlich

temperamentvolle Tango-Tanzeinlagen: „Una Noche en Buenos Aires“

zaubert argentinische Leidenschaft auf die Bühne des Theater Akzent in

Wien. Unter der musikalischen Leitung von Pablo Boggiano bringt ein

hochkarätiges Ensemble von 4.10. bis 6.10.2017 die beiden Tango-Opern

„Maria de Buenos Aires“ von Astor Piazzolla und Martin Palmeris „Mateo“

zur Aufführung.

Strong emotions, longing bandoneon tunes and, of course, fiery tango

dance moves: Una Noche en Buenos Aires casts the spell of Argentinian

passion onto the stage of the Theater Akzent in Vienna. Under the

musical leadership of Pablo Boggiano, a top-notch ensemble will bring

the two tango operas, Maria de Buenos Aires, by Astor Piazzolla and

Mateo, by Martin Palmeries, to life. akzent.at

ARNULF RAINER

DIE FARBEN DES MALERS

MAI – OKTOBER 2017

Täglich von 10 bis 17 Uhr

Josefsplatz 5, 2500 Baden

www.arnulf-rainer-museum.at

Korea Connection

Gleich zwei koreanische Orchester sind diesen Herbst im Brucknerhaus in Linz zu hören: Einmal das

Tongyeong Festival Orchestra – das bereits 2016 begeisterte – beim Brucknerfest 2017 am 29.09. mit

Werken von Maurice Ravel und dem koreanischen Komponisten Yun Isang. Solistin ist die deutsch-koreanische

Stargeigerin Clara Jumi Kang. Am 25.10.2017 tritt dann das Gwangju Symphony Orchestra erstmals im

Brucknerhaus auf.

Not one but two Korean orchestras will perform at the Brucknerhaus in Linz this autumn: the first is the

Tongyeong Festival Orchestra, which already performed and impressed in 2016, at the Brucknerfest 2017 on

29/09 with works by Maurice Ravel and the Korean composer Yun Isang. The soloist is the German-Korean

celebrity violinist Calara Jumi Kang. On 25/10/2017, the Gwangju Symphony Orchestra will deliver its

Brucknerhause debut performance.

brucknerhaus.at

Dommuseum reloaded

Das Dommuseum der Erzdiözese Wien öffnet, nach langer

Umbauphase, am 7.10.2017 seine von Boris Podrecca neu

gestalteten und zum Stephansplatz hin geöffneten Räume.

Die Höhepunkte der Sammlung umspannen sieben

Jahrhunderte – vom berühmten Portrait Herzog Rudolfs IV.

aus dem Jahr 1360, über Klassiker der österreichischen

Avantgarde aus der Sammlung Otto Mauer, bis zu aktuellen

Arbeiten.

After a long reconstruction phase, the Cathedral Museum

Vienna is reopening its doors on 07/10/2017, completely

redesigned by Boris Podrecca and now facing Stephansplatz.

The highlights of the collection cover seven centuries,

from the famous portrait of Rudolf IV, Duke of Austria from

Otto Mauer’s collection, to more contemporary works.

dommuseum.at

PHOTOS: MARCO BORGGREVE; DOM MUSEUM WIEN; WILHELM VON STARCK; MAH GENÈVE / BETTINA JACOT DESCOMBES

Hodler revisited

Ferdinand Hodler (1853-1918) war mit seiner äußerst erfolgreichen

Ausstellung 1904 in der Secession wichtiger Impulsgeber der Wiener

Moderne von Klimt bis Kokoschka. Das Leopold Museum zeigt nun vom

13.10.2017–22.01.2018 eine umfangreiche Retrospektive des Schweizer

Nationalmalers, Exponenten des Jugendstils und Wegbereiter des

Expressionismus. Der Bogen spannt sich von Hodlers reduzierten

Landschaftsbildern über expressive Portraits bis zu seinen allegorischen

Figurengruppen.

With his exceptionally successful exhibition at the Secession in 1904,

Ferdinand Hodler (1853-1918) was the most important contributor to

the rise of the Viennese Modernist movement from Klimt to Kokoschka.

The Leopold Museum now presents an extensive retrospective of the

Swiss national painter, art nouveau representative and expressionist

pioneer from 13/10/2017 to 22/01/2018. The event reaches all the way

back to Hodler’s reduced landscapes, his expressive portraits to his

allegorical figure groups. leopoldmuseum.org

Genfersee mit Mont-Blanc, 1918

Lake Geneva with Mont Blanc, 1918

Berühmte Wiener Palais –

ihre Geschichte, ihre Bewohner

Blick ins Buch ...

€ A/D 25,– ISBN 978-3-99050-097-2

Erhältlich im Buchhandel oder unter amalthea.at

130 Cercle Diplomatique 3/2017

SAVOIR VIVRE CITY APARTMENTS

Wohnkomfort auf Zeit

Temporary living comfort

MULTIFUNKTIONELL. | MULTIFUNCTIONAL.

„Wohnen, Leben und Arbeiten in Einklang“ lautet das Konzept

von room4rent Serviced Apartments.

‘Residing, living and working in harmony’ is the concept behind

room4rent Serviced Apartments.

Mit oder ohne Concierge, am Stadtrand oder mitten im Zentrum: Der Wohntrend

„Servicierte Apartments“ wird immer beliebter.

With or without concierge, on the edge of the city or right in the centre: The trend

of serviced residential apartments is becoming increasingly popular.

Text: Michaela Hocek

PHOTOS: RENÉE DEL MISSIER, LUKAS ILGNER, BEIGESTELLT

Wiens Attraktivität in der Welt – sei es als

Arbeits-, Studien- oder Urlaubsort – ist

ungebrochen. Der Wohnbau kann kaum

Schritt halten mit der demografischen Entwicklung.

Umso erfreulicher ist es, dass immer mehr Anbieter

von servicierten Apartments den Anforderungen von

neuen Strukturen am Arbeitsmarkt und dem steigenden

Mobilitätsverhalten gerecht werden. Die Vorteile

liegen auf der Hand: Das Einleben in einer neuen

Stadt gelingt schneller. Die Formalitäten sind minimal,

der Ein- und Auszug unkompliziert. Zusatzangebote

wie Wellness, Fitness, Wäscheservice verschönern

den Alltag. Nicht selten werden sonst oft

unerschwingliche Penthouse-Wohnungen zum Zuhause,

wie bei „Singerstraße 21/25“, das bereits seit

Oktober 1995 besteht.

Hohes Potenzial

Bereits das vierte room4rent-Apartmenthaus in

Wien wird „Hoch 33“ im Stadtviertel Monte Laa sein

(Eröffnung 2018). Der Blick über die Stadt wird von

Loggia, Balkon oder Terrasse aus genossen, der Concierge

dient als Kommunikationsdrehscheibe. Geschäftsführerin

Helga Mayer erklärt die Idee hinter

room4rent: „Mit unserem Konzept treffen wir genau

die Anforderungen von modernen, temporären

Wohnbedürfnissen. Wir freuen uns sehr, dass wir

erfolgreich eine breite Zielgruppe erreichen und attraktive

Standorte in Wien schaffen. Wir bieten

komfortable Lösungen für Wohnen auf Zeit zu leistbaren

Konditionen. Gerade für jene, die schnell verfügbare,

kostengünstige und provisionsfreie sowie

möblierte und servicierte Apartments für einen Zeitraum

ab zwei Monaten bis zu zwei Jahren suchen.

Der steigende Bedarf im Business-Segment hat uns

vergangenes Jahr ein eigenes Buchungstool für Firmen

entwickeln lassen, das ein optimales Eingehen

auf unterschiedliche Gegebenheiten, Bedürfnisse

und Wünsche von Firmenkunden ermöglicht.“

Rund 350 Wohnungen an drei Standorten (Citygate,

Messeecarrée Nord, Storchengasse im 15. Bezirk)

stehen zur Verfügung.

Feine Selektion

In kleinerem Umfang operiert Klaus Biedermann

mit dem Projekt „Top Apartments Vienna“. Der

Quereinsteiger war in seiner früheren Karriere als

Musiker, DJ und Musikproduzent tätig. „Ich habe

damals hunderte Reisen weltweit gemacht, die dabei

gewonnenen Erfahrungen sind in die Top Apartments

Vienna eingeflossen. Mir sind kleine Details,

wie Audio-Kabel, schöne Abendbeleuchtung per

LED, die farblich individuell eingestellt wird und

Boxspringbetten wichtig.“ Die Spezialisierung auf

russische Gäste mit russischsprachiger Vollbetreuung

ist ein weiteres spannendes Detail. Eine beliebte

Anlaufstelle für Architekturbegeisterte sind die

Apartments von „LiV‘iN Residences Wien-Parlament

by Fleming‘s“ im 8. Bezirk. Logiert wird in einem

Gründerzeithaus aus dem Jahr 1900.

Der Wohlfühlfaktor wird durch das charmante

Zusammenspiel von Jahrhundertwendearchitektur

und modernem Design gesichert. Stuckverzierte Decken

und edle Möbel bieten das perfekte Ambiente

für Kurz- und Langzeitaufenthalte. Die großzügigen

Arbeitsbereiche schätzen Geschäftsreisende besonders.

Martin Sperl, Hoteldirektor des Fleming’s Selection

Hotel Wien-City, nennt weitere Vorteile: „Ein

Gefühl wie zu Hause mit geringem administrativen

Aufwand und der Möglichkeit eines kurzfristigen

„Wir gehen auf moderne,

temporäre Wohnverhältnisse

ein.“

‘We strive for modern, contemporary

living conditions.’

Helga Mayer

Geschäftsführerin room4rent

Managing Director room4rent

132 Cercle Diplomatique 3/2017

Traumhafter

Ausblick.

Amazing view.

Seit Oktober 1995 erfreut sich

Singerstrasse 21/25 nicht

zuletzt dank traumhafter

Dachterrassen mitten in der

Wiener Innenstadt großer

Beliebtheit.

Since October 1995,

Singerstrasse 21/25

has become increasingly

popular, not least because of

the amazing roof terraces in the

centre of Vienna’s city centre.

room4rent

SERVICED APARTMENTS

• temporary living

• 3 x in Vienna

• completely furnished

• Concierge-Service

• starting at EUR 805,-/month

• free of commission

www.room4rent.at/en

SAVOIR VIVRE CITY APARTMENTS

ABSEITS DER INNENSTADT. | BEYOND THE CITY CENTRE.

Im Derag Livinghotel Kaiser Franz Josef in Wien-Döbling wohnt man im Grünen mit eigenem Balkon

und fühlt sich rasch wohl.

In the Derag Livinghotel Kaiser Franz Josef in Wien-Döbling, you get to live surrounded by lush greenery

and will quickly feel at home.

Serviced Apartments –

Nicht daheim und doch

zu Hause

Maximale Flexibilität und

minimaler administrativer

Aufwand sind das

Geheimnis des Erfolgs der

modernen Wohnform für

Auslandsaufenthalte – egal,

ob aus beruflichem oder

privatem Anlass.

A maximum of flexibility and

a minimum of administrative

expenditures are the secret

to success for modern ways

of living abroad - whether

for professional or private

reasons.

Appartement-Hotel an der

Riemergasse

riemergasse.at

DERAG Livinghotels

deraghotels.de/hotels/wien

LiV‘iN Residence by

Fleming’s

basedinvienna.at

My Place Premium

Apartments

my-place.at

room4rent

room4rent.at

Singerstrasse 21/25

singerstrasse2125.at

TAV Top Apartments Vienna

top-apartments-vienna.com

VCA Vienna City Apartments

schottenring33.com

Bezugs sind heutzutage unerlässlich. Zusätzlich besteht

die Möglichkeit, Einrichtungen wie Fitnessbereich,

Sauna und Dampfbad des gegenüberliegenden

Fleming’s Selection Hotel Wien-City kostenfrei zu

nutzen oder dort das tolle Frühstück zu genießen.“

Mehr Wohnraum

Auch Alfred Krammer, Geschäftsführer der Vienna

City Apartments kennt die Bedürfnisse seiner

Gäste genau: „Ein eigenes Apartment in der Wiener

Innenstadt, in unserem Fall lautet die Adresse Schottenring

33, bietet neben zentraler Lage und ausgezeichneter

Verkehrsanbindung und Infrastruktur

vor allem eines: mehr Raum. Er wird bewusst als

Luxus erlebt und mit mehr Privatsphäre verbunden.

Viele Gäste schätzen aber auch den persönlichen

Kontakt mit dem Manager bei unserem VIP Checkin,

wo wir in sehr komprimierter Form speziell abgestimmte

Informationen und Empfehlungen geben –

aus erster Hand und von echten Wienern.“

In diese Kerbe schlägt auch Andreas Hölzl, General

Manager der Derag Livinghotels Wien: „Unsere

Räumlichkeiten sind wesentlich größer als klassische

Hotelzimmer. In Döbling haben die Apartments zudem

eigene Balkone. Unsere Häuser liegen bewusst

dort, wo der Wiener auch selbst gerne wohnt. Im Gegensatz

zu einer Mietwohnung hat man flexible Buchungsbedingungen.

Es fallen keine Kosten für Makler,

Kaution, Reparaturen oder Amtswege an. Hohe

MITTEN IM ZENTRUM. | RIGHT IN THE CENTRE.

Die zentrale Lage des Derag Livinghotels an der Oper lässt den

Gast im Nu das Lokalkolorit sehen und spüren.

The central location of the Derag Livinghotel at the opera will make

any guest feel like a local from the start.

Standards geben zusätzlich das Gefühl von Sicherheit.“

Die Derag Livinghotels bieten inkludiert Shuttle-Service,

Ticketkauf für kulturelle und musikalische

Veranstaltungen, Restaurant-Reservierungen,

Städteführungen, Brötchenservice, Wäscherei und

vieles mehr. Man merkt es schon: In servicierten

Apartments steht das Gefühl, zuhause zu sein, an

oberster Stelle.

Vienna‘s allure in the world – whether as a

work, study or holiday destination – continues

to soar. Residential construction can barely

keep up with the demographic changes. Which is why

it is so great that more and more providers of serviced

apartments are beginning to address the emerging

structures on the labour market and the increasing

need for mobility. The advantages are clear: Settling

into the new city becomes so much easier. The formalities

are kept to a minimum, moving in and out is

uncomplicated. Extra offers, such as spa, gym, and

laundry service make everyday life easier. This often

turns exorbitant penthouse apartments into real homes.

Just like “Singerstrasse 21/25“, which has been

around since 1995.

High potential

Hoch 33 is set to become the fourth room4rent

apartment building in Vienna in the Monte Laa district

(opening 2018). The view of the city can be enjo-

PHOTOS: CHRISTIAN BEHNKE, MAXIMILIAN SYDOW, FRANZ HELMREICH, BEIGESTELLT

A Steinway

yed via the loggia, balcony or terrace, the concierge

acts as a communication hub. General Manager Helga

Mayer explains the idea behind room4rent: ‘With our

concept, we’re meeting modern, temporary residential

needs. We’re very happy that we are successfully

reaching such a broad target group and thereby create

attractive locations across Vienna. We offer comfortable

solutions for short-term living at affordable rates.

Especially for those looking for quickly available,

affordable and commission-free as well as furnished

and served apartments for a time span of two months

to two years. The growing demand from the business

sector has led us to create a booking tool for companies

last year which allows us to optimally accommodate

various circumstances, needs and wishes from

business customers.’ Around 350 apartments are

available at three different locations (Citygate, Messeecarrée

Nord, Storchengasse in the 15th district).

Fine selection

Klaus Biedermann operates on a smaller scale with

his Top Apartments Vienna project. The newcomer

CAN TRANSFORM EVERY ROOM

i N TO A CONCERT HALL.

Including yours. Contact us for more information regarding

our unique pianos, grand pianos and offers to mark

„20 years Steinway in Austria“: 01-512 07 12.

UNKOMPLIZIERTER AUFENTHALT. | UNCOMPLICATED STAY.

Die vollausgestatteten Apartments von LiV‘iN Residences Wien-Parlament by Fleming‘s vermitteln

ein Gefühl wie zu Hause mit geringem administrativem Aufwand.

The fully furnished apartments by LiV’in Residences Wien-Parlament by Fleming’s provide a feeling of

being at home with little administrative effort.

STEi N w AY i N A u STRi A

1010 wien, opernring 6-8

tel: +43 1-512 07 12

www.steinwayaustria.at

134 Cercle Diplomatique 3/2017

SAVOIR VIVRE CITY APARTMENTS

Specialized areas

Refractive Surgery

LASIK/LASEK/PRK

Laser Cataract Surgery

Refractive Lens Exchange

KAMRA Inlay

Presbyopia Treatment

2RT Laser Treatment of early AMD

Floater Laser Treatment

E-Eye Laser Treatment of Dry Eye Sydrom

Minimally invasive Glaucoma Treatment

PERSÖNLICHER KONTAKT. | PERSONAL CONTACT.

Viel Raum, maßgeschneiderter Service und dennoch 100 %

Privatsphäre erlebt der Gast bei Vienna City Apartments.

Plenty of space, custom-tailored service and 100% privacy are what

await the guests of Vienna City Apartments.

ERFOLGREICHER QUEREINSTEIGER. | THE NEWCOMER.

Seine reiche Reiseerfahrung und hoher Wohnkomfort stecken in

den Top Apartments Vienna von Klaus Biedermann, der als

Musiker und DJ lange Zeit weltweit im Einsatz war.

His rich travel experiences and high residential comfort standards

have become part of Top Apartments Vienna by Klaus Biedermann,

who used to work around the globe as a musician and DJ.

contact data

Goldenes Quartier

Seitzergasse 6

1010 Wien

Tel. +43 (0)1 9048889

www.sehkraft.at

„Der Service und

Mehrwert, den wir

bieten, übertrifft vielfach

jenen in Hotels. “

‘The service and value

that we offer exceed

those of hotels.’

Alfred Krammer

Geschäftsführer Vienna City

Apartments

General Manager Vienna City

Apartments

used to work as a musician, DJ and music producer.

‘Back then I travelled very, very frequently and my experiences

from that time have gone into creating Top

Apartments Vienna. I really care about small details,

like audio cables, nice LED evening lights that can be

individually customised in terms of colour, as well as

our box spring beds.’ The focus on Russian guests and

Russian-language care and support are an additionally

exciting factor. The LiV’in Residence Wien-Parlament

by Fleming’s in the 8th district is a popular

point of contact for architecture enthusiasts. You get

to lodge in an historical building from the year 1900.

Comfort is ensured by the charming interplay between

century-old architecture and modern design.

Stucco-decorated ceilings and fine furniture create the

perfect atmosphere for short and long stays. Business

travellers particularly appreciate the generous workspace.

Martin Sperl, Hotel Director of the Fleming‘s

Select Hotel Wien-City, adds additional advantages:

“Feeling like you are at home with little administrative

effort and the possibility of short-term accommodation

are indispensable today. Furthermore, guests can

use the facilities of the Fleming’s Selection Hotel

Wien-City across the street, such as the gym, sauna

and steam bath, completely free of charge.“

More living space

Alfred Krammer, Managing Director of the Vien-

na City Apartments, is similarly well-versed when it

comes to the needs of his guests: ‘One’s own apartment

in Vienna‘s city centre, in our case the address is

Schottenring 33, offers more than just a central location

and excellent public transport connections and

infrastructure: There‘s also more space. This is a true

luxury that also offers more privacy. However, many

guests also appreciate the personal contact with the

manager at our VIP check-in, where we can provide

specially tailored information and recommendations

in a very condensed form — from real Viennese locals.“

Andreas Hölzl, General Manager at Derag Livinghotels

Vienna, has a similar approach: “Our accommodations

are significantly bigger than classic

hotel rooms. In Döbling, the apartments have their

own balconies. Our buildings are consciously located

where the locals feel at home too. In contrast with a

rental apartment, you have flexible booking conditions.

There are no fees for agents, you don’t have to

pay a deposit or cover repairs or register with the authorities.

High standards also add a feeling of security.“

The Derag Livinghotels offer included services

such as shuttle service, ticket purchases for cultural

and musical events, table bookings, city tours, breakfast

bread service, laundry and much more. It doesn‘t

take too long to figure it out: When it comes to serviced

apartments, the feeling of being at home is the

number one priority.

PHOTOS: MONI FELLNER, PHG@VIENNA.AT, BEIGESTELLT

WORLD CLASS EYE SURGERY IN VIENNA

sehkraft are the worldwide Leading Experts in Eye Surgery

OUR PASSION, EXPERIENCE AND EXPERTISE FOR YOUR EYES

sehkraft is one of the most prestigious and experienced eye clinics worldwide and famous for individual

state-of-the-Art solutions for a life without glasses or contact lenses, improved visual performance, highend

laser-assisted Cataract surgery as well as the prevention and treatment of early stages of AMD. Led by

internationally renowned ophthalmic surgeon Matthias Maus, sehkraft it is equipped with the very latest

technology and employs an unmatched team of experts. Worldwide, no other center can match this setting.

Matthias Maus and his team have been constantly involved in the development of new laser platforms, Premium

Intraocular Lenses (IOL) and diagnostic devices since the early nineties. This situation guarantees,

that sehkraft always is first and has continuous access to the most advanced technology and a permanent

innovative advantage over other refractive and cataract surgery centres worldwide.

The experienced and highly skilled team is composed of over 50 employees in an exceptional constellation;

it includes ophthalmologists, optical engineers, Masters of Science in vision, professional optometrists and

specialized medical assistants. Every year, more than 100 international ophthalmologists from all over the

world are trained by this sehkraft team.

Find us on facebook /

sehkraft Augenzentrum Wien

Therefore not only the world’s best ophthalmic surgeons from all over the world (i.g. USA, China, Ireland,

Japan, Australia) come to sehkraft to experience first class medical care for their own eyes but also send their

difficult patients to Vienna to get a special treatment by Matthias Maus.

136 Cercle Diplomatique 3/2017

sehkraft is also the number one choice of Olympic Gold Medal Winners and world champions like Fabian Hambüchen,

Jonas Reckermann and is also the official eyecenter of the Professional Golfers Association (PGA)

of Germany.

SAVOIR VIVRE LIFESTYLE

Eleganter Herbst

Elegant autumn

Text: Michaela Hocek

Kosmopolitisch

Cosmopolitan

Wer auf der Suche nach ausgesuchter Designermode, exklusiven Accessoires und außergewöhnlichem Schmuck für Damen und Herren ist, ist bei Alexis Fernández González

richtig. In seinem Runway-Store hat er sich auf die Auswahl kosmopolitischer internationaler und österreichischer Gustostücke spezialisiert. Liebhaber maßgeschneiderter

Herrenschuhe werden beispielsweise die Modelle von Lukacs Laszlo lieben.

Those on the lookout for selected designer fashion, exclusive accessories and exceptional jewellery for both ladies and gents, have come to the right place with Alexis

Fernández González. He offers a fine selection of international and Austrian gems in his runway store. Aficionados of tailored men’s shoes will fall in love with the pieces by

Lukacs Laszlo. runwayviennat.at

Körperbetonter Look

Figure-focused look

Individuelle Patina

Individualised patina

Der deutsche Taschenhersteller Bree hat mit der Serie „Stockholm“ ein besonders schönes Herbstmodell

designt, das durch das exklusiv entwickelte Leder jeder Tasche ihren eigenen Charme verleiht. Es ist nachhaltig

gegerbt, wird in einer traditionsreichen Ledermanufaktur gefertigt und in puristischem Design finalisiert, was

den natürlichen Farben ihre besondere Wirkung verleiht.

The German bag manufacturer Bree has designed a particularly beautiful autumn piece for their new

Stockholm series. Each and every bag is endowed with its own charm as a result of the exclusively processed

leather. It is tanned sustainably, produced in a traditional leather manufactory and finalised with a pure design

that gives the natural colours their special glow. bree.com

„Magic Forest“ und „Wild One“ sind die Leitmotive der

aktuellen Herbst-/Winterkollektion von Airfield. Das

khakifarbige Jerseykleid ist eines der Modelle, die mit

raffinierter Schnittführung eine körperumschmeichelnde

Silhouette schaffen. Die hellen Linien an Schultern,

Kragen und Ausschnitt sind Ausdruck der unaufgeregten

Detailverliebtheit, die das modische Fingerspitzengefühl

des Labels unter Beweis stellen.

´Magic Forest´and´Wild One´are the two leading motifs

of Airfield’s current autumn and winter collection. The

khaki-coloured jersey dress is one of several pieces

boasting a figure-flattering silhouette. The light lines

around the shoulders, the collar and the neckline are an

expression of the passion for detail and demonstrate the

brand’s stylish sophistication.

airfield.at

PHOTOS: BEIGESTELLT

Urban reisen

Urban travelling

Absolut Kurztrip- und

businesstauglich ist die

Kollektion „Alpha 2“ von Tumi.

Die robuste Reisetasche ist aus

dem speziellen, patentierten

„FXT Ballistic Nylon“ gefertigt.

Praktische Fächer wie das

separate Vorderfach sorgen

unterwegs für sofortigen Zugriff

auf schnell Benötigtes.

Tumi’s Alpha 2 collection is the

perfect solution for quick

holidays and business trips. The

sturdy travel bag is made from

the special and patented FXT

Ballistic Nylon. Practical

compartments, such as the

separate front pouch, provide

easy access to all your travel

necessities.

tumi.com

Bereit zum Abtauchen

Ready to dive

Ein robustes Stahlgehäuse, das ultralesbare

Zifferblatt, die drehbare Hightech-Keramik-Lünette

und COSC-Zertifizierung zeichnen die „Superocean

44 Spezial“ von Breitling aus, mit der man bis in

1.000 Meter Tiefe abtauchen kann. Besonders schön

ist die Variation mit blauem Zifferblatt.

The robust steel case, the super readable watch face,

the rotatable high-tech ceramic bezel and the COSC

Certification are what define the Superocean 44

Special watch by Breitling, which you can use while

diving up to 1,000 metres. The model with the blue

face is simply gorgeous. breitling.com

Charakterstark

Strong character

Eine Damenuhr, die ebenso feminin wie

unverkennbar ist und mit Mondphasen-

Komplikation und ästhetischer Balance

überzeugt: „Cat’s Eye Celestial“ von

Girard-Perregaux. Das blau-glitzernde

Zifferblatt harmoniert mit guillochierten

Perlmutt-Details und dem Alligator- oder

Roségold-Armband.

A ladies’ watch that is as feminine as it is

distinctive, with a lunar phase feature

and clear aesthetic appearance: Cat’s

Eye Celestial by Girard-Perregaux.

The shiny blue watch face

creates a perfect harmony with

its guilloche nacre details and

the alligator or rose gold

wristband.

girard-perregaux.com

Eigene Schmucklinie | Own jewellery line

Mit „edition bleu“ präsentiert Uhrmachermeister Hübner eine eigene

Schmucklinie mit unkonventionell geformten Stücken und wohlüberlegtem

Steinbesatz. 18 Karat Weißgold und Diamanten im Brillantschliff

stehen im Fokus und sind die Schmuckempfehlung von Andrea

Daum-Hübner und Astrid Stüger-Hübner, weil diese exklusive

Kombination perfekt zu jedem Anlass passt und auf sympathische

Weise die Persönlichkeit der Trägerin unterstreicht.

With edition bleu, master watchmaker Hübner has introduced their own

jewellery line with unconventionally formed parts and a carefully

thought-out selection of gems. 18-carat white gold and brilliant-cut

diamonds are the focus here. Andrea Daum-Hübner and Astrid

Stüger-Hübner have made the watch their jewellery of choice, as this

exclusive combination perfectly matches any occasion, thus pleasantly

emphasizing the wearer’s own personality and style. zeit.at

138 Cercle Diplomatique 3/2017

Cercle Diplomatique 3/2017 139

SAVOIR VIVRE LIFESTYLE LIVING

Genuss und Wohnkomfort

Enjoyment and comfort

Text: Michaela Hocek

Multifunktionelle Leichtigkeit

Multifunctional lightness

Platz für ein entspanntes Nickerchen oder geselliges Zusammensitzen mit

Freunden und Familie: Das neue Anreihsofa „hs.420“ von Rolf Benz ist für jede

Situation gerüstet. Der feine Holzrahmen und das filigrane Fußgestell tragen die

Sofavarianten mit neu entwickeltem Rückenteil. Dieser lässt sich auffalten und

mehrstufig nach hinten falten. Bei abgeklappten Seitenteilen erwächst im Nu ein

Querlieger.

As a space for a relaxing nap or for a cosy get-together with family and friends:

The hs.420, the new sectional sofa by Rolf Benz, is perfectly suited for any event.

The fine wood frame and the filigree pedestal hold the various sofa options with

the newly developed back parts. The back can recline to different positions. Fold

the side parts all the way down and in a matter of seconds you’ve got yourself a

daybed.

rolf-benz.com

Home Spa

Die selbst auflösenden Aroma-Duschtabs von Waltz 7 verwandeln jedes

Badezimmer in eine duftende Wellness-Oase. Das in Wien beheimatete

Unternehmen arbeitete 18 Monate an der Produktentwicklung. Das

Ergebnis sind mit ätherischen Ölen versetzte Presslinge, die in den

Noten „Inspiring Lemongrass“, „Energizing Mint“, „Inspiring Limette“

und „Relaxing Lavender“ das Duschen zum Erlebnis machen.

The dissolving aroma showering tabs by Waltz 7 transform any

bathroom into a fragrant wellness oasis. The Vienna-based company

took 18 months to develop this new product. The result is a pellet

containing essential oils that will — with scents like Inspiring

Lemongrass, Energizing Mint, Inspiring Limette and Relaxing Lavender

— take your shower beyond a soothing experience. waltz7.com

Design District 1010

Ein Pflichttermin für Design-Liebhaber: Drei Tage lang wird die Wiener City zum begehbaren Showroom. 80 nationale und

internationale Premiummarken (z.B. Grünbeck, Minotti, Fitz Hansen, Leo Schulmeister) aus den Bereichen Interieur, Lifestyle, HiFi,

Kunst und Accessoires zeigen in der Hofburg und diversen “Design-„Grätzeln“ wie Börseviertel und Ringstraße die neuesten Trends.

An unmissable spot for those passionate about all things design: For three days, the Vienna city centre will transform into a walk-in

showroom. 80 domestic and international premium brands (such as Grünbeck, Minotti, Fitz Hansen, Leo Schulmeister) in the areas

of interior design, lifestyle, HiFi, art and accessories, will show off the newest trends in the Hofburg as well as various other spots

throughout the centre, such as the Börseviertel and Ringstraße.

design-district.at

Eventtipp

Design District 1010

6. bis 8. Oktober 2017

Wiener Hofburg

Öffnungszeiten:

Freitag und Samstag

von 10-19 Uhr, Sonntag

von 10-18 Uhr

PHOTOS: BEIGESTELLT

SAVOIR VIVRE LIFESTYLE LIVING

Heißes Startup

Hot start-up

Otto Wilde Grillers setzen neue

Maßstäbe beim Grillen. Der

O.F.B. (Over-Fired Broiler) mit

separat regelbaren Brenneinheiten

und flexibler Höhenverstellung

ist ein Infrarot-Gasgrill

made in Germany, der über

900˚C erreicht. Er verleiht

Steaks außen eine köstliche

Kruste und sorgt innen für

saftig-zarte Verhältnisse – und

das in nur drei Minuten.

Otto Wilde Grillers is setting

new standards when it comes to

grilling. The O.F.B. (Over-Fired

Broiler) with separately

configurable heating and flexible

height adjustment is an infrared

grill, made in Germany, which

can reach temperatures of up to

900˚C. Steaks are crispy on the

outside and deliciously juicy and

tender on the inside—all that in

just three minutes!

ottowildegrillers.com

NEW!

24-hour online booking

www.zwd.at

IMPLANTOLOGY | FULL CERAMICS | PROPHYLAXIS

Designelement Klimaanlage

Air conditioner as designer piece

Die Kollektion „Tiroch Art“ des österreichischen Unternehmens Klima Klement

macht mit individuellen Klimaanlagen aus einem in der Regel rein zweckmäßigem

Gerät, ein designlastiges Wohnaccessoire. Airbrushkünstler Knud Tiroch

setzt in G-Rave-Technik Wünsche hinsichtlich Motiv, Farbe, Logo oder auch

Graffiti um.

The Tiroch Art collection, by the Austrian company Klima Klement, turns an

otherwise purpose-driven appliance into a designer living accessory. Airbrush

artist Knud Tiroch uses G-Rave technology to implement requests pertaining to

motifs, colours, logos or even graffiti.

klimaklement.at

Stilsicheres Interior

Stylish interior

Hochwertige Stoffe, die eine einfache und dennoch luxuriöse Umgestaltung

ermöglichen, lassen repräsentative Räumlichkeiten entstehen, in denen man sich

gleichzeitig wohlfühlt. Eine breite Auswahl an Raffinesse verheißenden Motiven,

inklusive hochprofessioneller Beratung, bietet Viktor Steinwender.

High-quality fabrics that allow for simple yet luxurious redesigns, help create

customised spaces that promise a state of peace and well-being. Viktor

Steinwender offers a wide selection of smart motifs and top-notch professional

consultation.

viktorsteinwender.at

PHOTOS: BEIGESTELLT

A BEAMING SMILE

AND HEALTHY TEETH

ENRICH YOUR LIFE!

The Zahnklink Wien Döbling is a modern dental clinic

specialising in implantology and complex dental

restoration. In our clinic, you are greeted by a highly

qualified team and a friendly atmosphere. State-of-the-art

treatment methods, the very latest dental technology with

the utmost precision and prompt appointments ensure a

bright smile.

We offer

• Emergency treatments

• Dental implants

• Restorative dentistry

• Cosmetic dentistry

O P E N I N G H O U R S : MO - FR, 8.00 am - 4.00 pm

Your advantages

• Dentistry and aesthetics at the highest level

• In-house technical laboratory

• Innovative treatment methods

• Highly qualified, motivated team

142 Cercle Diplomatique 3/2017

C O N T A C T : Zahnklinik Wien Döbling, Sieveringerstraße 17, 1190 Vienna, +43 1 320 97 97, office@zwd.at, www.zwd.at

SAVOIR VIVRE HEALTHCARE

Fokus Gesundheit

Focus Health

Text: Michaela Hocek

Mit ausgezeichneter ärztlicher Betreuung und höchsten medizinischtechnischen

Standards nimmt Wien einen renommierten, internationalen

Platz in Sachen Privatmedizin ein.

In terms of excellent healthcare and top-notch medical and technical

standards, Vienna is becoming a renowned and international player

when it comes to private medicine.

144 Cercle Diplomatique 3/2017

Wiener Privatklinik.

Personalisierte Krebsbehandlung:

Das neue WPK Cancer

Center bietet erstmals in einem

österreichischen Privatspital

ein umfassendes Programm

von Diagnose, Behandlung und

Nachsorge an.

Personalised cancer treatment:

For the first time in an Austrian

private clinic, the new WPK

Cancer Center provides an

extensive diagnosis, treatment

and follow-up care program.

PHOTOS: XYXXYXYXY

PHOTO: KARLHEINZ FESSL

DDer Gesundheitsstandort Österreich punktet

mit angesehenen Privatkliniken und spezialisierten

Ärztezentren. Die sehr hohe Reputation

der medizinischen Kompetenz und

innovativen Technologien wird von der internationalen

Klientel geschätzt. Man ist auf die präventive, korrektive

und postoperative Medizin sowie Betreuung

von schweren Erkrankungen wie beispielsweise

Krebs bestens vorbereitet.

Interdisziplinäre Vorteile

Neu eingereiht in den Reigen der hochqualifizierten

Institutionen hat sich das „RC Radiology Center“

in der Wiener Lazarettgasse 25. Hier treffen Patienten

auf modernste Radiologie und Nuklearmedizin.

Interdisziplinäre Kooperation wird täglich gelebt.

Die Vorzüge erläutert Dr. Martha Hoffmann, Leiterin

des PET/CTS und der Nuklearmedizin des Radiology

Centers: „Wir sind das einzige private Institut,

das alle radiologischen und nuklearmedizinischen

Möglichkeiten unter einem Dach anbietet – inklusive

der nötigen Hybridgeräte. Die Verbindung der

beiden Fachgebiete PET/CT und SPECT/CT ist unsere

Stärke. Außerdem sind wir für unsere Patienten

sichtbar und ansprechbar. Wir machen nicht nur

Untersuchungen auf bestem technischem Standard

und ausführliche, prompte Befunde, sondern erklären

auf Wunsch die Untersuchung. Wir zeigen auf,

was den Patienten erwartet und was er sich vom Ergebnis

erwarten darf. Hybridbefunde (PET/CT,

SPECT/CT) werden immer von zwei Fachärzten der

jeweiligen medizinischen Disziplin gemeinsam erstellt

und freigegeben.“ Man richtet sich im Radiology

Center an alle Patienten, die prompte Termine

benötigen, gute Qualität erwarten, ein angenehmes

Ambiente und persönliche Betreuung wünschen

und sich rasche Befunderstellung erwarten. Angeboten

werden praktisch alle Untersuchungen und interdisziplinäre

Kontakte. Hoffmann hebt einige Beispiele

exemplarisch hervor: „Wir sind in der Lage

mit gut funktionierenden Kooperationen rasch zu

reagieren, z.B. in der Brustdiagnostik, wo im Anlassfall

nach suspekter Mammographie innerhalb eines

We clear

cases to allow

timely therapy

Radiology Nuclear Medicine PET/CT MRI

You breast health is our concern

A clear and safe diagnostic statement

about your breast health within one day

with state of the art medical imaging

technology and superior clinical know

ledge – combined with seamless individual

support across the diagnostic pathway:

We are at your service.

– Clarification of incomplete

mammography reports (BIRADS 0)

– Biopsy of lesions reported to be

suggestive of cancer (BIRADS 4 and 5)

– Staging and follow-up examinations

of breast cancer during therapy

– Imaging diagnostics and therapy of

lymphoma and other malignancies of

the lungs, colon, skin or thyroid gland

– Mammography, radiography,

sonography

– MRI, bone density measurement

– PET/CT, scintigraphy, bone scan

Call us +43 (0)1 408 12 82

or use the callback service

www.radiology-center.com/rueckruf-service

SAVOIR VIVRE HEALTHCARE

PREMIQAMED GROUP.

Die Wiener Häuser Privatklinik Döbling, die im heurigen Sommer ihr

30-jähriges Bestehen feierte, und Confraternität in der Josefstadt,

sind Aushängeschilder des Gesundheitsspezialisten.

The Vienna establishments Privatklinik Döbling, which celebrated its

30th anniversary this summer, and Confraternität in Josefstadt, are

the health specialist’s flagships.

ZAHNKLINIK WIEN

DÖBLING.

Spezialisierung auf

Implantologie, Gebissaufbau

im Leerkiefer und sonstige

schwierige Fälle mit

Augenmerk auf natürliches

Aussehen.

Specialising in implantology,

empty jaw dentitions and

other difficult cases, with

special attention to natural

aesthetics.

Tages ein MRT, eine Biopsie und die Vorstellung

beim entsprechenden Facharzt erfolgt. Auch in der

Prostataabklärung von der Bildgebung bis zur Biopsieplanung

gibt es eine enge Zusammenarbeit mit

Spezialisten der Urologie. Orthopädische oder rheumatologische

Fragen können durch die Kombination

von MRT, Röntgen und Knochenszintigraphie

verlässlich beantwortet werden. Häufig kommt es

auch zur unkomplizierten, kompletten Schilddrüsenabklärung

(inkl. Sonographie, Szintigraphie, Labordiagnostik,

Biopsie, Therapie). Der gemeinsame

Standort mit der Wiener Privatklinik ist von großem

Vorteil.“

Zahnspezialist mit neuem Standort

Die Zahnklinik Wien Döbling in der Sieveringer

Straße 17 ist Anlaufstelle für Menschen, die auf der

Suche nach Experten mit dem Schwerpunkt Implantologie

sind. Unter der kompetenten Leitung von

Primarius Dr. Ernst Kolb setzt man beispielsweise

auf Vollkeramik ohne Metalluntergerüst. „Das ist ästhetisch

und biologisch besser verträglich. Licht

dringt besser durch, was für ein natürliches Aussehen

der Implantate sorgt“, so Kolb. „Unsere Stärken

liegen in Großsanierungen. Wir übernehmen gerne

schwierige Fälle, wie z.B. den Gebissaufbau im Leerkiefer.

Wir bieten Patienten Alternativen zu unbeliebten

Totalprothesen an und achten darauf, dass

die Beißkraft wie bei natürlichen Zähnen erhalten

bleibt und kein Kieferschwund mehr befürchtet werden

muss.“ Die Serviceleistungen der Zahnklinik

Wien Döbling sind umfangreich. Patienten erreichen

das Ärzteteam montags bis freitags ganzjährig.

Es ist immer ein Ansprechpartner vor Ort und auch

das klinikinterne Labor trägt zur direkten Kommunikation

zwischen Zahntechniker und Patienten bei.

Bewährte Institutionen mit Weltruf

Spricht man vom Gesundheitsstandort Wien sind

drei weitere renommierte Häuser impliziert: Die

Wiener Privatklinik mit den Schwerpunkten Sportmedizin

und Traumatologie, kardiovaskuläre Medizin,

Orthopädie, periphere Nervenchirurgie (Millesi

Center), allgemeine Chirurgie, Gastroenterologie

und Hepatologie, interventionelle Radiologie und

Mikrotherapie ist nicht zuletzt für das WPK Cancer

Center mit innovativen Methoden der Krebsdiagnostik

und individuellen Behandlung bekannt. Die

PremiaQaMed Group, die mit der Privatklinik Döbling

und der Confraternität in der Josefstadt zwei

Häuser mit umfangreichem Leistungsspektrum betreibt,

ist ein weiterer Garant für nachhaltigen Erfolg

moderner Medizin. Mit mehr als 140-jähriger Tradition

kann das Rudolfinerhaus aufwarten, das die

Schwerpunktfächer interne Medizin, Chirurgie,

Herz-Kreislauf, Orthopädie, Unfallchirurgie, Neuro-

PHOTOS: GATTERMAYR, JOHANNES ZINNER (2), BEIGESTELLT

logie, Urologie, Gynäkologie und Geburtshilfe mit

exzeptionellem Fachwissen besetzt. Bekannt ist die

Privatklinik auch für ihre Spezial-Ambulanzen mit

interdisziplinärem Ansatz für Patienten mit Burnout,

Demenz- und Gedächtnisstörungen und

Schmerzen.

Austria, an international hub for healthcare,

scores with respected private clinics and specialised

health centres. The country has an

excellent reputation for medical competence, and offers

innovative technologies that are highly sought after

by international clients. Much emphasis is placed

on corrective and postoperative medicine, as well as

care for patients with serious illnesses, such as cancer.

Interdisciplinary advantages

The RC Radiology Center at Wiener Lazarettgase

25 is the most recent addition to the ranks of highly

qualified medical institutions. Here patients receive

access to state-of-the-art radiology and nuclear medicine.

Interdisciplinary collaboration is practiced on a

regular basis. Dr. Martha Hoffman, Leader of PET/

CTS and Nuclear Medicine at the Radiology Center,

explains: ‘We are the only private institute that offers

all radiological and nuclear medical options under a

single roof — including the necessary hybrid machi-

PremiQaMed:

Comprehensive competence

in health service

PremiQaMed Group is one of the leading Austrian operating

companies of private health care facilities – with private hospitals,

medical centers and rehabilitation facilities under one brand roof.

Over 25 years of experience and more than 1,750 employees stand

for excellent medical care, modern infrastructure and equipment

as well as highest service quality.

Privatklinik Confraternität

Privatklinik Döbling

Ambulatorium Döbling

Privatklinik Graz Ragnitz

Privatklinik Goldenes Kreuz

Privatklinik Wehrle-Diakonissen

Klinikum Malcherhof Baden

146 Cercle Diplomatique 3/2017

Find out more about PremiQaMed Group: www.premiqamed.com

SAVOIR VIVRE HEALTHCARE

Tried and tested institutions with international reputations

RC RADIOLOGY CENTER.

Neu in Wien: Interdisziplinäre

Kooperation, modernste

Technik und Fachexpertise

am Standort in der

Lazarettgasse 25.

New in Vienna: Interdisciplinary

cooperation, state-ofthe-art

technology and

specialist expertise on site at

Lazarettgasse 25.

INFO

WEITERFÜHRENDE LINKS:

radiology-center.com

zwd.at

wiener-privatklinik.com

premiqamed.at

privatklinik-confraternitaet.at

privatklinik-doebling.at

rudolfinerhaus.at

stillmann.at

dentalhealthcare.at

sanlas.at

austrianhealth.at

nes. The link between the two specialist fields PET/CT

and SPECT/CT is our strength. Furthermore, we are

accessible and accountable to our patients. This means

that we do not only conduct the examination on the

highest technical level to create quick and comprehensive

results, but are also happy to explain the process

of the examination if desired. We explain what is

expected of the patient and what he or she may anticipate

from the result. Hybrid results (PET/CT, SPECT/

CT) are always generated and presented by a collaboration

of two relevant medical specialists.“ The Radiology

Center caters to those patients who need prompt

appointments, expect good quality, desire a pleasant

environment and personal care, and expect fast results.

Almost all types of examinations and interdisciplinary

contacts are offered. Hoffman offers a couple

of examples: ‘As a result of our well-functioning partnerships,

we are able to react quickly. This can be seen

when it comes to breast diagnostics, for example,

where, if required, a suspect mammography is followed

up with an MRT, a biopsy and then presented to

the corresponding specialist doctor within one day.

Also, when it comes to the evaluation of the prostate,

from imagining to biopsy planning, there is tight collaboration

with the urology specialists. Orthopaedic

or rheumatologic questions can be answered reliably

through the combination of MRT, X-ray and bone

scintigraphy. We also frequently conduct uncomplica-

ted and complete thyroid evaluations (including sonography,

scintigraphy, laboratory diagnostics, biopsy

and therapy). The shared location with the Wiener

Privatklinik is a great advantage.’

Dental specialist with new location

The Dental Clinic Vienna Döbling at Sieveringer

Straße 17 is the number one spot for people looking

for experts specialising in implantology. Under Primarius

Dr. Ernst Kolb’s competent leadership, all-ceramic

solutions without metal underframes are especially

sought after. ‘It is both aesthetically and biologically

more compatible’, says Kolb. ‘Our strength is largescale

restoration. We like to take on more difficult cases,

for example, the dentition of an empty jaw. We offer

our patients alternatives to unpopular full

prostheses and ensure that the bite force remains intact

as with natural teeth, making concerns regarding jaw

bone loss unwarranted.’ The Dental Clinic Vienna

Döbling’s range of services is extensive. Patients can

reach the medical team from Monday to Friday,

throughout the entire year. A contact person is always

on the ground and the in-clinic laboratory contributes

to the direct communication between orthodontist

and patient. Dr. Robert Stillmann’s team also specialises

in modern dental medicine, which provides implantology

services, complex restorations and aesthetic

dentistry at Naglergasse 11 in the city centre.

PHOTOS: NUNO FILIPE OLIVEIRA (2), BEIGESTELLT

When you talk about Vienna as a healthcare hub,

three renowned establishments usually come to mind

quickly: The Wiener Privatklinik, with its focus on

sports medicine and traumatology, cardiovascular medicine,

orthopaedics, peripheral neurosurgery (Millesi

Center), general surgery, gastroenterology and hepatology,

interventional radiology and microtherapy, is

also known for the WPK Cancer Center with innovative

cancer diagnostics tools and individualised treatments.

The PremiaQaMed Group, which operates two

establishments with an extensive spectrum of services

in Josefstadt, the Privatklinik Döbling and the Confraternität,

is an additional guarantor for the continued

success of modern medicine. The Rudolfinerhaus private

clinic boasts over 140 years of tradition and experience

and focuses on internal medicine, surgery, cardiovascular

diseases, orthopaedics, trauma surgery,

neurology, urology, gynaecology and obstetrics and

provides exceptional expertise. The private clinic is

also renowned for its special outpatient clinics with an

interdisciplinary approach, treating patients for burnout,

dementia, memory disorders and pain.

Looking for the beautiful and healthy smile?

Looking for the anti-age effect?

Looking for long lasting comforting restorative solutions?

Looking for the implant care of its highest standards?

We do these all!

Dr. Robert Stillmann, your Premier Provider for Implantology

and High End Esthetic Dentistry in Vienna

For your treatment choose between the clean and slick atmosphere of the

Ordination for Implantology and Aesthetic Dentistry in 19th district or and the

exclusive Ordination in the historical heart of Vienna, offering highest level of

privacy and comfort. While offering the whole range of dental treatments, we

specialize on complex dental rehabilitation methods, subject to implantology

and high-end aesthetic restorations.

We offer dental treatments as unique as you are.

RUDOLFINERHAUS.

Spezial-Ambulanzen, außergewöhnliche Pflegekompetenz, hoher Servicecharakter und Komfort im

5-Sterne-Ambiente für österreichische und internationale Patienten.

Special outpatient clinics, extraordinary care competence, strong patient service and comfort in a

5-star environment for Austrian and international patients.

Naglergasse 11/1

Krottenbachstr. 82-86 / St. I / 2. St.

1010 Vienna 1190 Vienna

+43 / 676 / 83 1815 86 +43 / 1 / 368 2121

www.stillmann.at | info@stillmann.at

148 Cercle Diplomatique 3/2017

SAVOIR VIVRE AMBASSADOR´S DRIVE

Auf der Straße: Land Rover Discovery. Am Steuer: S.E. Leigh Turner

On the road: Land Rover Discovery. At the steering wheel: H.E. Leigh Turner

Interview: Rainer Himmelfreundpointner

Der Botschafter des Vereinigten Königreiches auf CD-Testfahrt.

The Ambassador of the United Kingdom performs a test drive for CD.

PHOTOS: RALPH MANFREDA

Bereits nach nur einem Jahr als Botschafter von

Großbritannien in Österreich ist Leigh Turner

hier einer der bekanntesten Diplomaten.

Das liegt vor allem an der lockeren Medienstrategie

des zweifachen Vaters. Gleich zu Amtsantritt stellte

er sich via Youtube-Video vor. Gemächlich spaziert

er darin durch Wien, wo er schon in den 1980er Jahren

stationiert war. Beiläufig lässt er seine bisherige

Karriere (Moskau, Berlin, Kiew, Istanbul) Revue passieren.

Und mit viel Selbstironie offenbart er seine

Schwäche für hiesige Zungenbrecher. Turner sagt

etwa Sachen wie „Des Oachkatzl hot an schenan Oachkatzlschwonz“,

„Grias enk“ oder „Wien is afoch

leiwaund“. Dann gibt er noch seine Kaffeehausliebe

preis, besonders für das Café Sperl, wie auch auf seinem

Twitter-Hashtag #keenonwien („Scharf auf

Wien“) nachzulesen ist. Richtig bekannt hat ihn aber

ein unglücklicher Wanderunfall gemacht, der vorigen

Herbst für Schlagzeilen sorgte. Turner war im

Wienerwald nur mit knapper Not und kühnem

Sprung einer Wildschweinattacke entkommen.

Obwohl Turner immer noch am übel verletzten

Handgelenk laboriert, lässt er sich den sechsten

„Ambassador's Drive“ von „Cercle Diplomatique“ an

diesem schwülen Juli-Mittwoch nicht entgehen. Immerhin

lockt ein Inbegriff britischer Coolness in Sachen

Fahrvergnügen – der neue Land Rover Discovery

in seiner mächtigen 2.0l-Sd4-HSE-Variante, das

aktuelle Prachtstück der erfolgreichen Marke Jaguar

Land Rover, dem größten britischen Hersteller von

Luxus- und Premiumfahrzeugen.

Schon der Sichtkontakt gleicht einer zarten Begegnung

mit einer lang ersehnten Liebschaft. Turner,

in edles Tuch gekleidet, umkreist leise den Allradbullen,

streichelt seine Kurven, schmeichelt der Maschine,

die ein etwas anderes Kaliber ist als sein erstes

Auto, ein Renault 5, mit fast ehrfürchtigem Auge.

„Ein Blick reicht, und du spürst seine ganze Kraft“,

sagt der leidenschaftliche Fahrrad-Fahrer und düst

los in Richtung UNO-City, um auf dem Weg dorthin

auf eines der derzeit schwierigsten Themen der internationalen

Diplomatie einzugehen – den Brexit.

Rund 25.000 Österreicher, die momentan in

Großbritannien leben und arbeiten, und etwa 250

heimische Unternehmen, die dort zirka 38.000 Arbeitsplätze

gewährleisten, sind potentiell vom EU-

Austritt des Königreichs betroffen. „Aber alle, die

schon bei uns im Land sind“, bekräftigt Turner die

jüngste Klarstellung seiner Regierung, „können

selbstverständlich mit allen bisherigen Rechten blei-

Leigh Turner, der Botschafter von Großbritannien,

steht vor einer der momentan

schwierigsten diplomatischen Aufgaben – er

muss den Brexit seines Landes erklären.

Leigh Turner, the Ambassador of the United

Kingdom, is confronted with one of most

challenging tasks in todays diplomacy – he has

to explain the Brexit of his country.

150 Cercle Diplomatique 3/2017

SAVOIR VIVRE AMBASSADOR´S DRIVE

ben. Schließlich lieben wir unsere EU-Mitbürger.“

So jung die immens komplexen politischen Scheidungsverhandlungen

noch sind, so zuversichtlich ist

der Botschafter über deren Ausgang – auch wenn er

bei jedem heikleren Aspekt wie aus einem Reflex heraus

ganz leicht Gas gibt, aber schnell wieder in kontrollierten

Cruising-Modus übergeht. „Wir verlassen

ja nur die EU“, resümiert Turner. „Aber wir bleiben

weiterhin in Europa. Dort, wo wir schon immer waren.“

Sagt's, und leitet elegant auf ein anderes Thema

über, das ganz Europa gleichermaßen eint und entzweit

– Fußball. Erst jüngst, erzählt er, hätte man ihn

in der Pause des Matches FC Außenamt gegen FC

Foreign Office mit ähnlichen Fragen über den Ausgang

des Brexit bedrängt. Und als sei's ein Hinweis

darauf, sagt er noch, welches Team verloren hat: FC

Außenamt.

Botschafter Leigh Turner im Gespräch mit CD Autor Rainer

Himmelfreundpointner und CD-Herausgeber Alexander Bursky (unten).

Ambassador Leigh Turner and CD's author Rainer Himmelfreundpointner and

CD's publisher Alexander Bursky (below).

Land Rover Discovery 2.0l Sd4 HSE – pure Kraft, extra cool

Land Rover Discovery 2.0l Sd4 HSE – pure power, extra cool

Bereits beim ersten Land Rover Discovery vor 27 Jahren war der Name Programm: Abenteuerlust auf die

coole britische Art. Jetzt treibt der neue Discovery (fünfte Generation) die Land-Rover-Philosophie „Above

and Beyond“ abermals auf die Spitze. Der Fullsize-Geländewagen – egal ob Basismodell (2.0l Td4 S ab 56.950

Euro) oder Luxusvariante – glänzt durch gleich „7 Wunder“. Von sieben vollwertigen, per Smartphone flexibel

konfigurierbaren Sitzen in drei Reihen, über sein edles Innen- und Außendesign mit extrem leichter

Alu-Karosserie bis zu 2.500 Liter Stauraum und einer digitalen Ausstattung vom Allerfeinsten. Deswegen

kommt der Discovery auch regelmäßig bei humanitären Hilfprojekten in schwierigem Gelände zum Einsatz.

Once again the Discovery, first introduced 27 years ago, takes the Land Rover philosophy „Above and

Beyond“ into a new dimension. The new Land Rover Discovery stands for pure adventure, the cool British

way. Its „7 wonders“ – starting with seven fullsize seats, which can be reconfigured via smartphone up to

2,500 liters of loading capacity – turn the Discovery into a cross-country-icon playing in a league of its own.

Technische Daten Technical data

Motor Engine

2.0l Sd4 Ingenium Diesel (4-Zylinder)

Antrieb Drive

Allradantrieb / four-wheel drive

kW (PS) kw (HP) 177 (240)

Hubraum Capacity 1.999 ccm

Kraftstoffverbrauch/

Fuel consumption

6,3 - 6,4 l/100 km (kombiniert / combined)

Preis Price

ab | from € 74.200,– (inkl./ incl. NoVA & 20% Mwst./ VAT)

Nevertheless, the British Ambassador eagerly followed

Cercle Diplomatique's invitation for the sixth

Ambassador's Drive in the new Land Rover Discovery.

The first sight was like an encounter with a secret

object of desire. Caressing the curves of the Discovery,

Turner says with admiration: ”You only have to

look at it and you feel the power of the machine“.

Then he sets off for a drive to Vienna's International

City, which provides enough time to dive into

one of the currently most difficult issues in diplomacy

– Brexit. There are some 25,000 Austrians living

and working in the UK, plus around 250 Austrian

companies providing roughly 38,000 jobs there – all

of them longing for clarity about their legal status as

of spring 2019, when the United Kingdom terminates

its membership in the European Union. ”Those

who are living in the United Kingdom will be allowed

to remain with all their rights“, Turner confirms

the recent offer of his government in the first round

of Brexit negotiations. ”We like our EU citizens. And

do not forget: We will be leaving only the EU, not

Europe. Great Britain is and will always be an integral

part of Europe.“

Leigh Turner, Ambassador of the United Kingdom

to Austria, is one of best-known international

diplomats here, despite having assumed

his office in Vienna after postions in Moscow, Berlin,

Kiev and Istanbul just a year ago. This is mainly due

to a youtube-video, in which he presented himself as

a worshipper of Vienna (”Wien ist einfach leiwand“)

and a lover of Austrian tongue-twisters, trying his

language skills with sentences like ”Des Oachkatzl

hot an schenen Oachkatzlschwonz“ (meaning that

quirrels have nice tails). But he also made headlines

last fall when he escaped an attack of a wild boar during

a walk in the Wienerwald, suffering a painful

wrist injury.

INFO:

landrover.at

152 Cercle Diplomatique 3/2017

PHOTOS: RALPH MANFREDA

„Ein Blick auf den neuen Land Rover

Discovery reicht“, schwärmt der Botschafter

von Großbritannien, „und

du fühlst seine ganze Kraft.“

”You only have to look at the new

Discovery and you immediately can

feel its full power“, praises the Ambassador

of the United Kingdom.

REGIE

Andreas Gergen

DAS MUSICAL MIT DEN HITS VON

RAINHARD FENDRICH

WELTPREMIERE

IM SEPTEMBER 2017

BUCH

Titus Hoffmann

Christian Struppeck

#WeAreMusical

AUSTRIA.MUSICALVIENNA.AT

BUCH & LIEDTEXTE MICHAEL KUNZE MUSIK JIM STEINMAN ORIGINALREGIE ROMAN POLANSKI REGIE WIENER FASSUNG CORNELIUS BALTUS

ORIGINALCHOREOGRAPHIE & WIENER FASSUNG DENNIS CALLAHAN BÜHNENBILD / KOSTÜME / MAKE-UP / MASKE / PERÜCKEN WIENER FASSUNG KENTAUR MUSICAL SUPERVISION / ARRANGEMENTS MICHAEL REED

BASIEREND AUF DEM FILM VON TURNER ENTERTAINMENT CO. „THE FEARLESS VAMPIRE KILLERS“

PRODUZIERT MIT FREUNDLICHER GENEHMIGUNG VON WARNER BROS. THEATRE VENTURES INC.

VON REGISSEUR ROMAN POLANSKI, DREHBUCH GÉRARD BRACH UND ROMAN POLANSKI

Cercle Diplomatique 3/2017 153

SAVOIR VIVRE MOTOR

Die Grenzen ausweiten

Pushing the limits

Text: Rois & Stubenrauch

Audi A8:

Selbstfahrende Luxuslimousine

Self-driving luxury limousine

Vollautomatisches Fahren ist auch beim neuen Audi A8 das große Thema. Die 4. Generation der Oberklasse-Limousine parkt

auf Knopfdruck selbsttätig ein. Voraussichtlich ab 2018 wird der Staupilot freigeschaltet, der den A8 mittels einer ganzen Reihe

hochkomplexer Sensoren bis 60 km/h komplett autonom unterwegs sein lässt. Bei eindrucksvollen 5,17 Metern Länge ist der

Innenraum entsprechend großzügig bemessen. Edle Materialien und höchster Luxus – inklusive Fußmassage und Liegeposition

für den rechten hinteren (Chef-)Sessel – sind bei Audis Premiummodell ohnehin Pflicht.

Fully autonomous driving is a major topic when it comes to the new Audi A8. The 4th generation of this luxury class limousine

parks automatically with the push of a button. In 2018, we will see the

activation of the congestion pilot, which will allow the A8 to drive completely

autonomously at a speed of up to 60 km/h with the help of a series of highly

complex sensors. With an impressive length of 5.17 metres, the interior is

likewise generously proportioned. Finest materials and top-notch luxury -

including an electric foot massager and a reclining feature for the right-side

(executive) backseat - are requisite when it comes to Audi’s premium model.

Motor Engine

Antrieb Drive

kW (PS) kw (HP)

Hubraum Capacity

Kraftstoffverbrauch Fuel consumption

Preis Price

V6 und V8 Diesel und Benziner (ab 2018 W12 und Hybridantrieb)

Allradantrieb quattro

210 - 338 (286 - 460)

2.967 - 3.990 ccm

Derzeit noch keine zertifizierte Werte verfügbar / Xyxyxy

ab ca. | from approx. € 102.000,–

Jaguar XF Sportbrake: Nobler Alleskönner

Noble all-rounder

Motor Engine

R6 Diesel / R6 (Hybrid) und V8 Benziner

Antrieb Drive

Allradantrieb 4MATIC / Four-wheel drive

kW (PS) kw (HP) 210 - 345 (286 - 469)

Hubraum Capacity

2.925 - 3.982 ccm

Kraftstoffverbrauch Fuel consumption Diesel ab/from 5,2 / Benziner ab/from 6,6 (mit 16kW Elektromotor) l/100km

Preis Price ab | from € 99.090,–

Mercedes S-Klasse: Facelift für das Flaggschiff | Mercedes S-Class: Facelift for the flagship

Das Facelift, das Mercedes seinem Topmodell angedeihen lässt, beschert der S-Klasse neben einer leicht veränderten Frontpartie auch eine völlig neu entwickelte Motorenpalette:

Beim Reihen 6-Zylinder etwa sorgt ein direkt auf die Kurbelwelle gesetzter, riemenloser Elektromotor plus elektrischem Zusatzverdichter für optimale Performance im

niedrigen Drehzahlbereich. Viel Innovation gibt es auch bei den Assistenzsystemen – etwa eine Abstandsmessung, die aktiv auf Kartenmaterial der gefahrenen Strecke

zurückgreift – womit Mercedes mit seinem Flaggschiff einen weiteren großen Schritt in Richtung autonomes Fahren macht.

The facelift, that Mercedes has given to its number one model, not only adds a slightly modified front end but also a completely new engine range: When it comes to the

straight-six engine, for example, a strapless electric engine that’s placed directly onto the crankshaft, as well as an electric compressor, provide optimal performance during

lower speeds. The assistance systems have also been revolutionized, including a distance-radar that actively accesses maps of the travelled route, enabling Mercedes to take

an additional big step toward autonomous driving.

FOTOS: XYXXYXYXY

PHOTOS: DAIMLER AG, AUDI AG, BMW GROUP, JAGUAR LAND ROVER

BMW X3: Kraftpaket in neuem Look

Power house with a new look

Nach rund 1,5 Mio. verkauften Fahrzeugen geht im Herbst die dritte Generation des

BMW Erfolgsmodells mit geschärftem, kraftvollen Design an den Start. Intelligenter

Leichtbau, eine verbesserte Aerodynamik und die neueste Motorengeneration

machen den X3 agiler und effizienter – sowohl auf als auch abseits der Straße. Im

Cockpit sorgen Touchscreen und Gestensteuerung für Fahrkomfort auf Höhe der

Zeit.

After approximately 1.5 million vehicles sold, autumn will see the third generation

of BMW’s more than successful model launch with a more sharpened and powerful

design. Smart lightweight engineering, improved aerodynamics and the newest

generation of engines make the X3 more agile and efficient - both on and off road.

In the cockpit, a touchscreen, as well as gesture control, provide driving comfort

that is state-of-the-art.

Motor Engine

R4 und R6 Diesel / R6 Benziner

Antrieb Drive

BMW xDrive

kW (PS) kw (HP) 140 - 265 (190 - 360)

Hubraum Capacity

1.995 - 2.998 ccm

Kraftstoffverbrauch Fuel consumption Diesel ab/from 5,0 / Benziner ab/from 8,2 l/100km

Preis | Price ab | from € 50.600,–

Dynamik, Fahrsicherheit, eine tolle Performance und viel Platz – all diese Attribute

bringt der Jaguar XF Sportbrake unter einen Hut. Unter der Heckklappe ist – wenn

die Rücksitze auf Knopfdruck zurückklappen – für ein Volumen von 1.675 l Platz.

Ausgestattet mit dem Ingenium V6 Twinturbodiesel bringt der XF Sportbrake 300

PS auf die Straße. Neueste Assistenzsysteme wie eine adaptive Geschwindigkeitsregelung

mit Verkehrszeichenerkennung und die gewohnt detailverliebte

Ausstattung komplettieren den britischen Alleskönner.

Dynamics, driving safety, great performance and plenty of space — the Jaguar XF

Sportbrake manages to cram all these features under a single roof. Underneath

the tailgate - once the backseats have been folded back via the push of a button

- you will find 1,675 litres of storage. Equipped with the Ingenium V6 Turbo Diesel,

the XF Sportbrake brings 300 hp onto the road. The newest assistance systems,

such as an adaptive speed regulator with traffic sign recognition, as well as the

brilliant interior design with a passion for detail, complement the British

all-rounder.

Motor Engine

R4 und V6 Diesel / R4 Benziner

Antrieb Drive

Heckantrieb / AWD

kW (PS) kw (HP) 120 - 221 (163 - 300)

Hubraum Capacity

1.997 - 2.993 ccm

Kraftstoffverbrauch Fuel consumption Diesel ab/from 4,5 / Benziner 6,8 l/100km

Preis | Price ab | from € 46.310,–

Test the best.

Or nothing.

Test the new

Mercedes-Benz S-Class.

Please contact our salesteam.

Mr Clemens Neukomm

Wiesenthal Troststraße

Troststraße 109–111,1104 Wien

T: +43 1 60 176-9046

clemens.neukomm@wiesenthal.at

Mr Ingobert Könczöl

Wiesenthal Troststraße

Troststraße 109–111, 1104 Wien

T: +43 1 60 176-9041

ingobert.koenczoel@wiesenthal.at

Mr Adrian Cyrus

Wiesenthal Donaustadt

Donaustadtstraße 51, 1220 Wien

T: +43 1 202 53 31-7343

adrian.cyrus@wiesenthal.at

SAVOIR VIVRE WEEKENDER

BARCELONA, Spanien | Spain

Eine Stadt für alle Sinne

A city for the senses

Lust auf ein schönes Wochenende mit gutem Essen, eleganten Hotels,

hervorragendem Shopping und dem besten Fußballclub der Welt?

Dann auf nach Barcelona!

How about a weekend of fine dining, elegant hotels, excellent shopping

opportunities and the best football club in the world? Well, off to Barcelona!

Der Hafen von Barcelona (unten) und

Shopping auf La Rambla (ganz unten).

The harbour of Barcelona (below) and

shopping at La Rambla (very bottom).

Text: Gerald Sturz

Blaue Stunden.

Blick von Gaudis Parc Güell

auf Barcelona und aufs

Mittelmeer.

Blue hours.

The view from Gaudi´s Parc

Güell, facing Barcelona and

the Mediterranean Sea.

PHOTOS: KLEMEN KUNAVER, TADEJ BERNIK, ROZLEBREGAR

Selbstverständlich kann man nach Barcelona

kommen, um ein ganz klassisches Kultur- und

Besichtigungsprogramm zu absolvieren. Zu sehen

und zu besichtigen gibt es mehr als genug und

was man zu sehen bekommt, ist so einzigartig, so

spektakulär, so ikonisch, so verrückt, dass man nach

diesem Wochenende ganz glücklich und zufrieden,

ganz angeregt und erstaunt nach Hause zurückkehren

wird.

Wer nach Barcelona kommt, um vor allem Kunst

und Kultur zu erleben, der wird der Ruta del Modernisme

folgen, die zu den berühmten Gebäuden von

Gaudi, Domènech i Montaner und all den anderen

führt. Sie haben einen Stil geprägt, der sich Modernisme

nennt und der weniger mit der Kunstrichtung

der Moderne zu tun hat, als mit dem Jugendstil, wie

wir ihn auch aus Wien kennen. Zu den architektonischen

Meisterwerken zählen die – immer noch unvollendete

- Sagrada Familia, das Wohnhaus La Pedrera,

der unvergleichliche Palau de la Música

Catalana sowie der Parc Güell, der sich auf einem

Hügel über der Stadt befindet und von dem aus man

einen großartigen Rundblick hat. Verspielte, bunte

Gebäude unter einem leuchtenden, blauen mediterranen

Himmel. Wer wegen der Kunst und der Kultur

nach Barcelona gekommen ist, der wird durchs Barri

Gòtic schlendern, das Herz der Stadt und eine der

besterhaltenen Altstädte Europas mit Sehenswürdigkeiten

wie der Kathedrale, der Plaça Reial und der

vielen schönen Paläste und Kirchen. Und der wird

selbstverständlich zu Ludwig Mies van der Rohes Pavillon

am Fuß des Montjuic pilgern. Dieser Pavillon,

der von ihm zur Weltausstellung 1929 errichtet wurde,

schrieb Architektur- und Designgeschichte. Er

gilt als ein Meilenstein der Moderne. Nach der Weltausstellung

wurde er zerstört, 1986 wurde die originaltreue

Rekonstruktion fertiggestellt.

Man kann es aber auch ganz anders machen. Man

kann auch nur für ein Wochenende nach Barcelona

kommen, die Kunst mal ganz außen vor lassen, und

sich durch eine fröhliche, sinnliche, genussfreundliche

Stadt treiben lassen, in der man weiß, wie man

gut lebt.

Man wird sich dann in einem dieser smarten,

charmanten Boutique-Hotels einquartieren, in die in

jüngster Zeit Paläste und Kontorhäuser verwandelt

wurden. Ein gutes Beispiel ist das Cotton House Hotel

im Stadtteil Eixample. Es befindet sich in jenem

Gebäude unweit vom Passeig de Gràcia, in dem einst

die Associació Industrial Tèxtil del Procés Cotoner,

die Vereinigung der Baumwollhändler, ihre Headquarters

hatte. Heute ist es ein elegantes und extrem

stylisches Hotel, vielleicht das schönste und romantischste

von Barcelona.

Und essen sowieso. Essen und trinken. Tapas

Bars, „Xiringuitos“, Restaurants, die zu den besten

der Welt gehören, altmodische Kaffeehäuser, neumodische

Coffee Bars, Strandbars, Wine Bars, Wermut

Bars. Man kann sich hier treiben lassen von Lokal

zu Lokal und wenn es einem gelingt, die

unvermeidlichen Touristenfallen zu umschiffen, so

gut essen und trinken wie kaum anderswo. Zu den

156 Cercle Diplomatique 3/2017

Cercle Diplomatique 3/2017 157

SAVOIR VIVRE WEEKENDER

Köstlichkeiten

im Tapas24.

Delicacies at Tapas24.

Das Cotton House Hotel

(links Mitte) und die Roca

Bar im Hotel Omm (links).

The Cotton House Hotel

(left, middle) and the Roca

Bar at the Hotel Omm

(left).

Gaudis unvollendetes

Meisterwerk: die Sagrada Familia.

Gaudi´s unfinished masterpiece:

the Sagrada Familia.

FC Barcelona

Und dann ist da noch der FC

Barcelona, der beste

Fußballclub der Welt.

„Més que un club“ ist sein

Leitspruch, und mehr als

bloß ein Stadionbesuch ist

auch ein Abend im Camp

Nou. Alles stimmt hier: das

Spiel, die Atmosphäre, das

riesige Stadion, die

fröhlichen und aggressionsfreien

Fans. Eintrittskarten

sind dank eines ausgeklügelten

Kartenvorverkaufs-

Managements auf der

Vereins-Homepage

überraschend leicht zu

bekommen. Vor Spielbeginn

empfiehlt sich ein Besuch

des Vereinsmuseums.

And then there is FC

Barcelona, the best football

club in the world. The club’s

motto is “Més que un club”,

and an evening at the Camp

Nou is also much more than

a mere visit to the stadium.

Here, everything is just right

— the game, the

atmosphere, the huge

stadium, the excited and

aggression-free fans. Entry

tickets are surprisingly easy

to acquire thanks to a clever

ticket presale system on the

club’s website.

We recommend a visit to the

club museum before the

beginning of the match.

fcbarcelona.com

Tapas Bars, die man aufsuchen sollte, gehören das

Tapas24, ein Kellerlokal in einer Seitengasse des Passeig

de Gràcia, die Roca Bar im Hotel Omm, hinter

der die gefeierten Roca-Brüder stehen, deren Restaurant

El Celler de Can Roca in Girona zu den weltbesten

gehört, das Cometa Pla im Barri Gòtic sowie

das Dos Palillos und das Dos Pebrots im Stadtteil

Raval, die beide von Albert Raurich, einem Schüler

des großen Ferran Adrià, betrieben werden.

Apropos Ferran Adrià. Der Küchenchef, der mit

seinem El Bulli an der Costa Brava zum meistgefeierten

Koch der letzten Jahrzehnte avancierte, betreibt

mit seinem Bruder Albert gleich mehrere Lokale

in Barcelona, alle im Stadtteil Sant Antoni, nahe

der Av. del Parallel: das Tickets mit seinen experimentellen

Tapas, das Pakta mit japanisch-peruanischer

Küche und die Wermut-Bar Bodega 1900. Sie

alle sind einzigartig.

Ein besonderes Erlebnis, das man sich nicht entgehen

lassen sollte, ist die Opera Samfaina im Gran

Teatre del Liceu an der Rambla, eine theatralischen

Reise durch Kataloniens kulinarische und gastronomische

Geschichte. Auch hier mit dabei: die Roca-

Brüder.

Der Passeig de Gràcia ist nicht nur Barcelonas

schönster Boulevard, er ist auch eine erstklassige

Einkaufsstraße. Hier sind all die großen Labels aus

aller Welt vertreten, aber auch originelle Stores, wie

man sie woanders nicht findet. Unsere Favoriten: der

immer originell gestaltete Store von Loewe, dem spanischen

Luxuslederlabel mit den umwerfenden Taschen,

und Santa Eulàlia, das elitäre Modegeschäft.

Auch durchs Raval sollte man flanieren, das sehr lebendige

Viertel mit vielen originellen und hippen

Galerien, Shops, Café und Bars.

Barcelona wartet!

It goes without saying that one can come to Barcelona

simply to enjoy a regular, classic cultural

and sight-seeing programme. There’s more than

enough to be seen, ranging from the unique to the

spectacular, iconic and crazy. And by the end of it all,

you will return home happy and satisfied, as well as

amazed and inspired by what you’ve just witnessed.

Those specifically coming to Barcelona to experience

the city’s art and cultural scene will want to follow

the Ruta del Modernisme, which will lead you to

the most famous buildings by Gaudi, Domènech i

Montaner and all the rest of them. Together, they

have shaped a style called Modernisme, which has

less to do with modernism than it does with art nouveau

as we know it from Vienna. Among the architectural

masterpieces are the still incomplete Sagrada

Familia, the residential building La Pedrera,

the unique Palau de la Música Catalana as well as the

Parc Güell, located on a hill overlooking the city, allowing

for an incredible 360-degree view. Playful,

colourful buildings under the glowing blue Mediterranean

sky.

If you’ve come to Barcelona for art and culture,

you must also not miss out on a stroll through the

Barri Gòtic, the heart of the city and one of Europe’s

best-preserved old towns with sights like the Barcelona

Cathedral, the Placa Reial and the many beautiful

palaces and churches. And you will, naturally,

also want to make your way to Mies van der Rohe’s

Pavilion at the foot of the Montjuic. This pavilion,

erected by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe for the 1929

World Fair, made architectural and design history. It

is considered to be one of the milestones of Modernism.

After the World Fair, it was destroyed but then

authentically reconstructed in 1986. Or you may also

take a completely different approach. You could, for

example, come to Barcelona for a weekend, put all art

aside and let this joyful, sensual and pleasure-seeking

city take you in and just live the good life.

To do that, you will want to book a space in one of

the smart and charming boutique hotels that occupy

former palaces and contour houses today. One good

CERCLE DIPLOMATIQUE - issue 03/2017