CERCLE DIPLOMATIQUE - issue 04/2018

Winter 2018|19 

Nr. 4 | Dezember – Februar | December - February 

International Affairs Global Business Exclusive Lifestyle 

cercle-diplomatique.com 

MALAYSIA 

AUFSTREBEND UND MODERN 

MALAYSIA 

EMERGING AND ADVANCED

EDITORIAL 

Liebe Leserinnen, liebe Leser! | Dear Readers, 

150 JAHRE OPERNHAUS AM RING 

DIE PREMIEREN DER JUBILÄUMSSAISON: 

LES TROYENS | 14. Oktober 2018 

SYLVIA | 10. November 2018 (Ballett) 

DIE WEIDEN | 8. Dezember 2018 (Uraufführung) 

WAS IST LOS BEI DEN ENAKOS? | 26. Jänner 2019 (Kinderopern-Uraufführung) 

LUCIA DI LAMMERMOOR | 9. Februar 2019 

OREST | 31. März 2019 

FORSYTHE | VAN MANEN | KYLIÁN | 14. April 2019 (Ballett) 

DIE FRAU OHNE SCHATTEN | 25. Mai 2019 

OTELLO | 20. Juni 2019 

NUREJEW GALA | 28. Juni 2019 (Ballett) 

PHOTO: OURIEL MORGENSZTERN 

Das Jahr 2018 war für Österreich – vor allem 

politisch betrachtet – ein sehr wichtiges und 

geschäftiges. Einerseits hatte das Land im 

zweiten Halbjahr die EU-Ratspräsidentschaft inne, 

andererseits wurde auch des Jahres 1918 intensiv gedacht. 

Das Ende des Ersten Weltkriegs markierte den 

Zerfall der Monarchie der Habsburger. Und hatte andererseits 

auch eine neue Ordnung aller Staaten zur 

Folge, die in den Krieg involviert waren. Mehr zu 

spannender Zeitgeschichte finden Sie auch in unserem 

„Museum Visit“ ab Seite 104, der dem gerade 

neu eröffneten „Haus der Geschichte Österreich“ gewidmet 

ist. 

Neu in Wien begrüßen durften wir auch 15 Botschafterinnen 

und Botschafter aus allen Teilen der 

Welt, die ihr Akkreditierungsschreiben an Bundespräsident 

Van der Bellen überreichten, zu finden ab 

Seite 8. 

Unsere Coverstory ist diesmal Malaysia gewidmet 

(ab Seite 36). Seit Beginn der 1990er-Jahre erfolgte 

eine rasante industrielle Entwicklung, die das Land in 

die Reihe der aufstrebenden Schwellenländer aufrücken 

ließ. Davon konnten wir uns auch bei einer Reise 

vor Ort kürzlich überzeugen. 

Unsere Serie über engagierte Honorarkonsule in 

Österreich wird diesmal mit einem Interview des 

emeritierten Rechtsanwalts und Honorarkonsuls für 

Portugal in Tirol und Vorarlberg, Ernst Wunderbaldinger 

fortgeführt (S. 76). 

Ebenso gelang es uns, ein Interview mit dem Ersten 

Präsidenten des Nationalrats, Wolfgang Sobotka, 

zu bekommen, der trotz seiner vielen Termine, nicht 

zuletzt rund um das Gedenkjahr 1918, Zeit dafür 

fand (ab S. 72). 

Muße und Zeit finden Sie sollten Sie jedenfalls für 

einen kleinen Ausflug nach Venedig, das sich in der 

Winterzeit von seiner ganz romantisch-melancholischen 

und, wenn es nicht gerade rund um den Jahreswechsel 

ist, auch von seiner ruhigen Seite zeigt (S. 

128). Wer lieber Almen und Wälder bevorzugt, sollte 

sich einen Aufenthalt in einem der wunderbaren 

Chalets und gemütlichen Almdörfer gönnen, die Österreich 

in vielen Bundesländern zu bieten hat (S. 86). 

Wir wünschen Ihnen eine angenehme Lektüre 

und alles Gute für ein tolles Jahr 2019! 

2018 as hectic year for Austria. On the 

was – particularly in the political 

arena – a very important as well 

one hand, the country was put in charge of the Presidency 

of the EU Council, and, on the other hand, it 

was also a year in which we thought back to 1918. The 

end of the First World War also marked the demise of 

the Habsburg Monarchy. And this, in turn, resulted in 

a complete reorganisation of all the nations that had 

been involved in the war. You will also find more on 

our exciting history in our “Museum Visit” from page 

104, this time dedicated to the “House of Austrian 

History” which has just opened its doors. 

Further new additions to Vienna were also the 15 

ambassadors from all over the world who submitted 

their letters of accreditation to Federal President Van 

der Bellen – find out more starting on page 8. 

This issue’s cover story is dedicated to Malaysia 

(from page 36). Since the beginning of the 1990s, the 

nation has seen rapid industrial development and has 

become a key emerging market. We were able to witness 

this for ourselves on our recent trip to the Southeast 

Asian nation. 

We are continuing our series on dedicated honorary 

consuls in Austria with an interview with Ernst 

Wunderbaldinger, emeritus lawyer and honorary 

consul for Portugal to Tyrol and Vorarlberg (p. 76). 

We were also able to get an interview with the first 

President of the National Council, Wolfgang Sobotka, 

who, despite his busy schedule (not least because of 

the 1918 memorial year) made time available for us 

(from p. 72). 

And hopefully, you will have time for a short trip 

to Venice which presents itself from its most romantic, 

melancholic and – provided that it’s not the time 

just around New Year’s – quietest side during the winter 

months (p. 128). Those who prefer mountain pastures 

and forests, however, should treat themselves to 

a cosy stay at one of the magnificent chalets and 

mountain villages that Austria has to offer in several 

of its provinces (p. 86). 

We wish you pleasant reading and all the best for 

2019! 

Herzlichst, | Yours, 

Andrea Fürnweger 

Herausgeberin | Editor 

45 Liveübertragungen in HD: www.staatsoperlive.com | www.wiener-staatsoper.at 

GENERALSPONSOREN DER WIENER STAATSOPER 

Mag. Alexander Bursky 

Herausgeber | Editor

CERCLE DIPLOMATIQUE – 

ECONOMIQUE et TOURISTIQUE 

Nr. 317 

Ausgabe | Issue 04/2018 

Dezember – Februar 

CONTENTS 

Coverstory 

MALAYSIA 

Seite | page 36 

Malaysias Wirtschaft ist im 

schnellen Wachstum 

begriffen. Und auch 

Reisende finden sowohl eine 

große Vielfalt unberührter 

Natur vor, wie auch 

wunderbare Strände. 

The economy of Malaysia 

is growing fast. And 

travellers find a wide variety 

of untouched nature or 

beautiful beaches. 

08 

12 

36 

48 

54 

56 

62 

66 

72 

76 

80 

82 

86 

92 

94 

96 

100 

LE BULLETIN 

Die neuen Botschafter | The new Ambassadors 

Akkreditierungen durch Bundespräsident Alexander Van der Bellen. 

Accredidationsby 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 Malaysia 

Aufstrebend und modern. Emerging and modern. 

Jordanien | Jordan 

Himmlischer Frieden im Nahen Osten. A haven of peace in Middle East. 

Essay 

Ein Marschall-Plan mit Afrika. A Marshall Plan with Africa. 

News 

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

L‘AUTRICHE 

Startups in Österreich | Start-ups in Austria 

Jung, innovativ, international. Young, innovative, global. 

FRA 

Die Agentur für Grundrechte. The Fundamental Rights Agency. 

Interview 

Wolfgang Sobotka über den demokratischen Gedanken Europas. 

Wolfgang Sobotka on the democratic spirit within Europe. 

Honorarkonsul | Honorary Consul 

Ernst Wunderbaldinger vermittelt für Portugal. Ernst Wunderbaldinger on duty for Portugal. 

Zukunftslabor | Future Lab 

Eugen B. Hug über den Erfolg von MedAustron. Eugen B. Hug on MedAustron‘s success. 

Wirtschaftsnews | Business news 

Neues aus Österreich. News from Austria. 

SAVOIR VIVRE 

Hideaways zur Entspannung | Relaxing Hideaways 

Chalets & Almhüttendörfer in Österreich. Chalets & mountain lodges in Austria. 

Connaisseur | Connoisseur 

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

Suite Dreams 

Die Präsidentensuite im Palais Hansen Kempinski Vienna. 

The Presidential Suite at the Palais Hansen Kempinski Vienna. 

Reise | Travel 

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

Österreichs imperiale Geschichte | Austria‘s Imperial history 

Kulturdenkmal Schloß Schönburnn. Cultural landmark Schloss Schönbrunn. 

104 

106 

108 

112 

118 

122 

126 

128 

132 

134 

136 

140 

152 

3 

4 

153 

Museum Visit 

Zu Besuch im Haus der Geschichte Österreich. Visiting the House of Austrian History. 

Botschafter der Musik | Ambassadors of Music 

Star Pianist Daniil Trifonov. Star pianist Daniil Trifonov. 

Kunst | Arts 

Kulturelle Highlights im Winter 2018/19. Cultural highlights in winter 2018/19. 

Immobilien | Real Estate 

Exklusiver Wohnbau. Exclusive residential development. 

Lifestyle 

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

Ambassador‘s Drive 

Der Botschafter der Slowakei auf CD-Testfahrt. Slovakia‘s Ambassador on a test drive. 

Motor 

Tradition und Innovation. Tradition and innovation. 

Weekender 

Venedig im Winter. Venice in winter. 

Upcoming 

Wo es uns gefällt. Where we love to be. 

Buchempfehlungen | Must read 

Lesenswertes über Österreich. Book tips on Austria. 

Mein Wien | My Vienna 

Der Botschafter Albaniens. The Ambassador of Albania. 

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. 

Titelbild | Cover 

In der Hauptstadt Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. | In the capital Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. 

Editorial 

Inhalt | Contents 

Impressum | Imprint 

COVERPHOTO: FOTOLIA/TTSTUDIO - STOCK.ADOBE.COM; PHOTO: TOURISM MALAYSIA 

TUNKU ABDUL RAHMAN NATIONAL PARK - SABAH. 

Der Park erstreckt sich auf rund 5.000 Hektar, von denen zwei 

Drittel mit Meer bedeckt sind. Er wurde nach Tunku Abdul 

Rahman benannt, Malaysias ersten Ministerpräsidenten. 

The park is spread over 4,929 hectares, two-thirds of which cover 

the sea. It was named after Tunku Abdul Rahman, Malaysia‘s first 

Prime Minister.

LE 

BULLETIN 

IN LE BULLETIN ERFAHREN 

SIE, WER DIE NEU 

AKKREDITIERTEN 

BOTSCHAFTER IN 

ÖSTERREICH SIND UND 

WELCHE OFFIZIELLEN 

EMPFÄNGE UND EVENTS IN 

DEN VERGANGENEN DREI 

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. 

Finest dining with a view over Vienna. 

For club members only: Enjoy exquisite private dining in a luxurious atmosphere 

with a unique view over Vienna at Grand Ferdinand’s Grand Étage. 

INFO AND RESERVATION 

Schubertring 10-12, 1010 Vienna 

Grand Ferdinand Hotel 

guestrelation@grandferdinand.com 

or +43 1 91 880 200 

www.grandferdinand.com

LE BULLETIN CREDENTIALS 

Wir begrüßen die neuen Botschafter herzlich in Österreich: Willkommen! 

We cordially welcome the new Ambassadors to Austria! 

Ghislain Jean 

Maurice D‘Hoop 

Ambassador of the Kingdom of 

Belgium 

H. E. H. E. 

H. E. 

Kemal 

Kozarić 

Ambassador of the Republic of 

Bosnia Herzegovina 

Gloria 

Navarrete Pinto 


Chile 

Credentials: September 2018 Credentials: November 2018 

Credentials: September 2018 

H. E. 

Miguel Camilo 

Ruiz Blanco 


Colombia 

Credentials: September 2018 

Alejandro 

Solano Ortiz 


Costa Rica 

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

René Rosgar 

Dinesen 

Ambassador of the 

Kingdom of Denmark 

Toomas 

Kukk 


Republic of Estonia 

Credentials: November 2018 Credentials: September 2018 Credentials: September 2018 

Born on October 2, 1958 

Married 

Education 

Studied International Affairs, Economics 

and European Affairs at Leuven and 

Louvain-la-Neuve Universities 

Professional Career 

2014-2018 : Ambassador of Belgium to 

Germany 

2013-2014 : Secretariat-General at the 

Belgian Foreign Ministry (global affairs, EU, 

strategic planning) 

1997-2013: Diplomatic Advisor to His 

Majesty King Albert II 

1995-97: Minister-Counsellor, Belgian 

Embassy Rome 

1992- 95: Chief Spokesman, Head of the 

Press Division at the Belgian Foreign Ministry, 

Spokesman of the Belgian EU 

Presidency 

1988-92: First Secretary, later Counsellor, 

Belgian Embassy London, Deputy 

Permanent Representative of Belgium to 

the Western European Union Summer 

1988: Second Secretary, Belgian EU 

Representation 

1997-88: Member of the Secretariat of 

European Political Cooperation 

1986: at the Foreign Office London: 

Member of the Secretariat (Troika) of European 

Political; Cooperation during the UK’s 

EU Presidency 

1984: Entered Belgian diplomatic service 

Born on Oktober 13, 1956 

Married, two children 

Education 

Graduated at the Faculty of Economics, 

Marketing Department Sarajevo and 

acquired the academic degree of the Ph.D. 

in Economics 


2005: Assumed the duties of the Governor 

of the Central Bank of Bosnia and 

Herzegovina and Chairman of the CBBH 

Governing Board; he has been 

re-appointed to the CBBH Governing 

Board by the Presidency of Bosnia and 

Herzegovina on 10 June 2009 and the 

Governing Board of the CBBH has 

re-appointed him for the Governor for the 

second mandate for next six years; during 

his academic career holds the post (2016 

– 2018) of the Dean of Faculty of 

Economics in Sarajevo 

1996-2000: Minister of Finance in the 

Sarajevo Canton Government and after 

that he was appointed Vice Governor of 

the Central Bank of Bosnia and 

Herzegovina 

Based on the Decision of the BH 

Presidency dated 2003: Member of the 

Governing Board of the CBBH and the BH 

Presidency 

Born on September 6, 1959 

Married 

Education 

Diploma in administrative Law; Magister in 

Law (LLM) London School of Economics 

and Political Science University; 


2014–2018: Ambassador, Director-General 

of the Chile State protocol 

2014: Coordinator for the transition of the 

presidential power to the elected 

President of Chile 

2011–2014: Minister-Counsellor, Deputy 

Head of the Embassy of Chile to Belgium / 

Alternate Permanent Representative of the 

Mission of Chile to the European Union 

2009–2011:Department of the 

International Court of Justice, Ministry of 

Foreign Affairs of Chile 

2004–2009: Counsellor, Embassy of Chile 

to Ireland 

2002–2004: Head of Cabinet of the 

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs 

1999-2002: First Secretary, Embassy of 

Chile to the United Kingdom 

1997- 1999: Second Secretary, Embassy of 

Chile to Austria/ Permanent Mission to the 

United Nations in Vienna (UNOV) 

PHOTOS: BAUER, KARLOVITS & HEINISCHEK/ HBF 


Born on July 28, 1959 


Education 

Graduated the Academy of Public 

Administration, ESAP 


2017–2018: Advisor and Director to the 

Minister of Foreign Affairs 

2011–2017: Ambassador, Deputy 

Permanent Representative of Colombia to 

the United Nations 

2010–2011: Acting Deputy Minister of 

Foreign Affairs 

2009–2011: Director of America, Ministry 

of Foreign Affairs 

2009: Secretary Pro Tempore of the 

Association of Caribbean States 

2005–2009: Ambassador of Colombia to 

Honduras 

2002–2005: Director for Multilateral Political 

Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs 

2002: Disarmament Coordinator of the 

Direction for Multilateral Political Affairs 

2000–2002 : Minister Counsellor, 

Permanent Mission of Colombia to the 

United Nations and other International 

Organizations, Geneva 

1997 – 2000 Counsellor, Permanent 

Mission of Colombia to the United Nations 

and other International Organizations, 

Geneva 

1994–1997: Advisor to the Deputy Minister 


Born on June 10, 1969 

Education 

Attorney at law. University of Costa Rica; 

Msc. International Affairs FLACSO; Msc. 

Aeronautical and Space Law; Curses of 

integration law and International 

Organization 


2014-2018: Deputy Minister of Foreign 

Affairs 

2010-2014: Minister Counsellor and Consul 

General. Embassy of Costa Rica in Belgium. 

2008-2010: Director General of Foreign 

Policy. Ministry of Foreign Affairs 

2007–2008: Deputy Director of Foreign 

Policy. Ministry of Foreign Affairs 

2003-2004: Charge d’affairs. Embassy of 

Costa Rica in Bern, Switzerland. 

2001–2006: Minister Counsellor. Mission 

of Costa Rica to United Nations. 

1999–2001: Desk Officer Human Rights. 

Ministry of Foreign Affairs 

1998 –1999: Officer in the Passport 

Department. Ministry of Foreign Affairs 

1994- 1998: Counsellor and Consul. 

Embassy of Costa Rica in Argentina 

1986 – 1994: Assistant and Lawyer in Fallas 

Solano Attorney at Law Firm 

Born on April 13, 1971 


Education 

BA and MA Political Science, International 

Relations; Knight of the Danish National 

Order of “Dannebrog”; Knight 1st Degree 

of the Romanian National Order “Serviciul 

Credincios” 


2016-2018: Under-Secretary of State, 

Ambassador, Ministry of Foreign Affairs 

2015-2016: CEO / Executive Director 

2012-2015: Ambassador of Denmark to 

South Africa, Royal Danish Embassy 

2011-2012: Ambassador of Denmark to 

Afghanistan, Royal Danish Embassy 

2010–2011: Director, Department for 

Stabilisation 

2009-2010: Director, Strategy and Policy 

Planning 

2007–2009: Deputy Permanent 

Representative / Counselor, Permanent 

Mission of Denmark to the United Nations, 

2005–2007: Private Secretary to the 

Foreign Minister 

2004–2005: Private Secretary to the 

Permanent Secretary of State 

2003 –2004: Head of Section, Foreign 

Policy Department 

1999 –2003: Deputy Head of Mission, 

Royal Danish Embassy 

1997–1999: Head of Section, Trade Policy 

and International Environmental issues 

Born on August 10, 1971 

Married, three children 

Education 

1995: Graduated from Estonia School of 

Diplomacy 

1994: Graduated from Tallinn Technical 

University, Department of Information 

Technology 


2016-2018: Head of Division 

2012-2016: Ambassador of the Republic 

Estonia to the Republic of Lithuania 

2011-2017: Ambassador of the Republic 

Estonia to the Republic of Bulgaria 

2009-2011: Foreign Policity Adviser to the 

Prime Minister of Estonia 

2008-2009: Director, Coreper II 

Coordination Division, European Union 

Department 

2003-2008: Deputy Permanent 

Representative, Delegation of Estonia to 

NATO 

2002: Second Secretary, 1st Political 

Department 

2001-2002: Second Secretary, External 

Economic Policy Department 

1998-2001: Third Secretary, Embassy of 

Estonia in Poland 

1996-1998: Third Secretary, External 

Economic Policy Department 

1995-1996: Attaché, Protokol Department 

8 Cercle Diplomatique 4 /2018 

Cercle Diplomatique 4/2018 

9

LE BULLETIN CREDENTIALS 

Andor 

Nagy 


Republic of Hungary 

H. E. H. E. 

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

H. E. 

H. E. 

Leena 

Al-Hadid 

Ambassador of the Hashemite 

Kingdom of Jordan 

Natasha Meli 

Daudey 


Republic of Malta 

Eric Anderson 

Machado 


Republic of Peru 

Nebojša 

Rodić 

Ambassador of the Republic 

of Serbia 

Mirghani A.A. 

Bakhet 


Republic of Sudan 

Mikaela 

Kumlin Granit 

Ambassador of the Kingdom 

of Sweden 

Sherzod 

Asadov 

Ambassador of the Republic 

of Uzbekistan 

Credentials: September 2018 Credentials: September 2018 Credentials: November 2018 Credentials: November 2018 Credentials: September 2018 Credentials: November 2018 

Credentials: November 2018 

Credentials: November 2018 

Born in 1963 

Married, four children 

Education 

Graduated at Eötvös Loránd University in 

legal and political studies; Advanced 

Management Program, Harvard Business 

School ; Berlin, Freie Universität, Law and 

Social Studies 


2013-2018: Ambassador, Embassy of 

Hungary in Tel-Aviv 

2004-2010: Member of the Hungarian 

Parliament, Vice-President, Parliamentary 

committee for Sustainable Development, 

Member of Foreign Affairs Committe, Head 

of the Hungarian Delegation to OSCE PA 

2001-2002: Hungarian – Baden 

Württemberg Joint Commission, 

Co-Chairman 

2000-2002: Joint Venture Association of 

Hungary Co-president 

1998-2002: Former Head of Staff of the 

Prime Minister, Viktor Orbán 

Born on January 30, 1971 

Education 

Bachelor’s Degree in General Law 


2014-2018: Director of International 

Relations & Organizations Department 

2009-2014: Deputy Consul General 

General Consulate of Jordan-Dubai 

2006-2009 : Deputy Director of Human 

Rights and Humanitarian Security 

Department 

2004-2006: Chief Diplomatic Human 

Rights Officer 

2002-2004: Political Officer in charge of 

European Parliament, Human Rights & 

Humanitarian Affairs 

2001-2002: Political Officer at the 

Department of Human Rights and 

Humanitarian Security 

2000-2001: Political Officer for Media 

Affairs at the Private Office of the Minister 

1996-2000: Diplomatic Attaché in charge 

of the UN & Communication/ Alternate 

Permanent Representative to the UN 

1995-1996: Political Officer at the Private 

Office of the Minister 

1993-1995: Research Assistant at the 

UNESCWA 



Education 

Masters in European Politics and 

Administration; Bachelor (Hons) in 

International Relations 


2016–2018: Resident Ambassador to the 

Republic of Poland and non-resident 

Ambassador to the Republics of Georgia, 

Moldova, Belarus and Armenia 

2014–2016: Counsellor and Deputy 

Permanent Representative 

Permanent Mission of Malta to the United 

Nations, New York 

2008–2014: Counsellor and Deputy Head 

of Mission Embassy of Malta to France 

2003–2006: First Secretary - Antici 

Permanent Representation of Malta to the 

European Union, Brussels 

2002–2003: Visiting Lecturer on 

Euro-Med Relations European 

Documentation and Research Centre, 

University of Malta 

2001–2003: Desk Officer 

Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Malta 

(covered relations with UNESCO, ILO, 

WHO, IPU, OSCE) 

1999-2001: Stagiaire Information Office, 

European Commission, Brussels 

1998-1999: Producer and Reporter 

Public Broadcasting Services, Malta 

Born on October 21, 1960 


Education 

Master in International Law; Bachelor and 

Bachelor‘s degree in International 

Relations and professional qualification of 

diplomat 


2016-2018: Secretary-General, Ministry of 

Foreign Affairs. 

2012-2016: Ambassador of Peru to the 

Republic of El Salvador and concurrent in 

Belize 

2011: Ambassador of Peru to the Bolivarian 

Republic of Venezuela 

2010: Director General, World Trade 

Organization and International Economic 

Negotiations, Ministry of Foreign Affairs 

2009: Director General of the South 

American Community and of the Andean 

Community, Under-secretariat of Economic 

Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs 

2008: Director of Negotiations of Free 

Trade Agreements 

2009: Trade, Under-secretariat for 

Economic Affairs, Ministry of Foreign 

Affairs 

2003-2008: Embassy of Peru in Uruguay 

Minister and Head of Chancellery 

2003-2008: Permanent Representation of 

Peru to the Latin American Integration 

Association and MERCOSUR Alternate 

Representative of Peru. 



Born in 1953 

Married, four children 

Education 

Graduated the Law Faculty of International 

Relations and Foreign Policy 


2014-2018: Ambassador Extraordinary and 

Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Serbia in 

the Republic of Azerbaijan 

2014: Director of the National Security 

Agency, the member of the Government, 

as well as the Minister of Defense 

Until 2013: Secretary General of the 

President of the Republic 

Since 2000: Ambassador of the Ministry 


For a long time served as Assistant 

Minister for Information, then Deputy 

Secretary of State in the State 

Administration; Worked as Deputy 

Secretary General of the National 

Assembly of Serbia, the Head of the Office 

of the Assembly President and Head of the 

President’s Office 


Married, five children 

Education 

Masters Degree, Political Sience; 

Certificate in International Relations; 

BSC-Faculty of Engineering and 

Architecture 


2016–2018: DIrector General, Human and 

Financial Resources 

2015–2016: Ambassador, Director of the 

Subregional Department Ministry of 


2011–2015: Ambassador Extraordinary and 

Plenipotentiary 

2008–2011: Ambassador, Director of Real 

Estate Department Ministry of Foreign 

Affairs 

2006–2008: Promoted to Ambassador 

2007: Deputy Head of Mission 

2004–2006: Minister Plenipotentiary- 

Chargé D‘ Affairs 

2003-2004: Deputy Director of European 

Department; Ministry of Foreign Affairs 

2000: Minister Plenipotentiary 

1995-1996: Office Director 

1994-1995: First Secretary, Protocol & 

International Organizations Departments 

1990-1994: Second Secretary 

1985-1990: Architect, Ministry of 

Education 

Born on November 1, 1967 


Education 

B.Sc. in Economics 


2012-2018: Deputy Director General, Head 

of Department for European Affairs, 

Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs 

2010-2012: Foreign Policy Adviser, Cabinet 

of the President of the European Council 

2007-2010: Director, Foreign Policy 

Adviser, Office of the Prime Minister of 

Sweden 

2005 - 2007: Head of Unit, Institutional 

Issues, Department for European Affairs, 


2005: European Correspondent, Head of 

Unit, Swedish Ministry for Foreign 

Affairs 

2004: Deputy Director for US-Affairs, 


1999-2004: First Secretary, Swedish 

Embassy in Washington, USA 

1997-1999: Second Secretary, Swedish 

Embassy in Harare, Zimbabwe 

1994: Joined the Swedish Ministry for 


Born on May 4, 1981 


Education 

Bachelor’s Degree in International 

Economic Relations and a Master’s Degree 

in Geopolitics from the University of World 

Economy and Diplomacy, Tashkent 


2017-2018: Counsellor, Chargé d‘affaires 

a.i., Permanent Representative to the 

United Nations, OSCE and other 

International Organizations in Vienna 

2015-2017: Assistant to the Minister of 

Foreign Affairs of the Republic of 

Uzbekistan 

2014-2015 : Head of the Division for 

Cooperation with the Shanghai 

Cooperation Organization, Ministry of 


2012-2014: Second Secretary, First 

Secretary, Department for Cooperation 

with the Structures of the Commonwealth 

of Independent States, Collective Security 

Treaty Organization and Shanghai 

Cooperation Organization, Ministry of 

Foreign Affairs; 

2008-2012: Attaché, Third Secretary 

2007-2008: Referent, Attaché, General 

Department for analysis and strategy of 

the foreign policy 

2007: Joined the diplomatic service 

10 Cercle Diplomatique 4/2018 


11

LE BULLETIN REVIEW 

Official receptions 

Find more 

photos online 


September 2018 

Presentation of the autumn issue of „Cercle Diplomatique“ 

at the new SO/VIENNA, the former Sofitel Vienna Stephansdom 

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

welcome the third issue of 2018 with the cover story on the Czech Republic, enjoying delicious food and pleasant encounters. 

The editors as well as Markus Sorgo, Deputy Sales Director 

SO/VIENNA (2nd r.) and Christoph Horak, Sales Director Accor 

Hotels, welcomed Jakub Novák, Permanent Representative of the 

Ambassador of the Czech Republic (middle) as guest of honour. 

Andrea Fürnweger with the GM of SO/VIENNA, Peter 

Katusak-Huzsvar (top, 2nd row, middle), enjoying the 

fantastic view on the 18 th floor with around 100 guests. 

PHOTOS: DODGE & BURN 



13


August 2018 

Austrian Council Presidency 

On the occasion of the Austrian Council Presidency, EU Councilor in Lower Austria, Martin Eichtinger received over 

30 ambassadors and international guests in Grafenegg, Lower Austria. 

The discussions 

centered on the 

current Brexit 

negotiations as well 

as the classic 

highlight of the 

evening: a concert 

by Hilary Hahn and 

the Orchestre 

Philharmonique de 

Radio France. 


Slovak Republic 

National Day was celebrated with a reception at the residence. 

H.E. Peter Mišik 

(left) with his wife, 

Libuša Mišiková 

(2nd l.) and H.E. 

Radomir Boháč 

(3rd left) with Zora 

Boháčová (3rd 

right) also enjoyed 

the Slovak band 

Banda, famous for 

their world music. 

August 2018 

Turkey 

Victory Day was celebrated with a reception at the Embassy. 


Brazil 

On the occasion of the 196 th Independence Day, a reception was given at Palais 

Rothschild, the seat of the Brazilian Embassy. 

PHOTOS: DODGE & BURN, BEIGESTELLT 


H.E. Mehmet Ferden Carikci (r.) and Colonel Abdülkadir Akturan (2nd l.) 

commemorated the 30 th of August as the day of the Turkish victory at 

the Battle of Dumlupınar during the Greek-Turkish War under Mustafa 

Kemal Atatürk. 

H.E. Ricardo Neiva Tavares (left) and H.E. Marcel Fortuna Biato (2nd r.) 

with their spouses. 

14 



15



Indonesia 

On the occasion of the 73 rd Independence Day, a reception was held at the residence. 

Left: H.E. Darmansjah 

Djumala amd his wife 

Dewiyanti Djumala. 

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Macedonia 

On the occasion of the 8 th September, the Independence Day, a reception was 

given at the Federation of Austrian Industries. 

Left: H.E. Vasilka Poposka 

Trenevska (2nd right) and Chargé 

d´Affaires a.i at the Permanent 

Mission of the Republic of 

Macedonia to the International 

Organisations in Vienna, 

Evgenija Ilieva (left). 


Mexico 

The 208 th Independence Day was celebrated with a 

reception at the residence. 

H.E. Alicia 

Buenrostro 

Massieu (middle) 

and Javier 

Montalvo Wilmot 

(left) 

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Liechtenstein 

The traditional annual reception was held at the 

beautiful setting of Liechtenstein Garden Palace. 

H.H. Maria-Pia Kothbauer with the two Ministers of Liechtenstein, 

H.E. Adrian Hasler (right) and H.E. Daniel Risch. 

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18 


• STORES • AUCTIONS • HUNTING Cercle Diplomatique •WORKSHOP 

4/2018 19



Vietnam 

To celebrate National Day, a reception was held at the Grand Salon of the Park Hyatt Vienna. 

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Iran 

On the occasion of the Armed Forces Day, a reception was given at the residence. 

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Left: H.E. Ebadollah Molaei (right) and 

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Saudi Arabia 

On the occasion of the 88 th National Day, a reception was given at the Hilton Stadtpark. 


Ukraine 

To celebrate Independence Day and the 100 th Anniversary of 

the Ukrainian diplomatic representation in Vienna, a reception 

was held at the Embassy. 

Top: H.E. Khalid Al Jindan (right) and his wife (2nd r.) 

Below: H.E. Olexander Scherba and 

his wife, Yaroslava Scherba. 


Nepal 

National Day was celebrated with a reception at the 

Vienna Marriott Hotel. 

Top: H.E. Prakash Kumar Suvedi and 

his wife Susan Suvedi. 



22 

Cercle Diplomatique 4/2018


October 2018 

Germany 

The Day of German Unity was celebrated with a reception at Liechtenstein 

Garden Palace. 

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A “Rolling Ambassador“ was presented by the 

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the roof is perfect for relaxing and unwinding. Each room features contemporary and high-end furnishing throughout, with special 

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The car of the Austria & Germany Society was 

shown to around 1,000 guests at a ceremony 

on the occasion of the Day of German Unity. It 

will now serve as an advertising medium and 

draw attention to Austria and Germany. 

PHOTOS: DODGE & BURN, BEIGESTELLT 

PHOTOS: Sunresidences 

24 


Am Hof 11, 1010 Wien I +43 (0) 50 113 444 I verkauf@supernova.at I www.sunresidences.at



100 years „Republic of Austria“ 

A ceremony in the presence of EU Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker 

was held at Palais Niederösterreich. 


Nigeria 

The 58 th Independence Day was celebrated with a reception at the residence. 

Top: Federal President Alexander Van 

der Bellen, EU Commission President 

Jean-Claude Juncker (middle) as well as 

Governor Johanna Mikl-Leitner were 

commemorating the 100 th anniversary 

of the return of the founding of the 

Republic of Austria. 

Top: H.E. Vivian 

Nwunaku Rose 

Okeke. 

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Afghanistan 

On the occasion of the 99 th National Day, a reception was given at the Diplomatic 

Academy Vienna. 

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Spain 

National Day was celebrated with a reception at the Embassy. 


Korea 

On the occasion of National Day, a reception was given at Wiener Börsensäle. 

Left: H.E. Dong-ik 

Shin (middle) and his 

wife, Jung-wha KIm 

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area and conference room. 

H.E. Juan Sunyé Mendia 

(right) with his wife (2nd r.). 


Taiwan 

On the occasion of the 107 th anniversary of the founding of the Republic of 

China, Taiwan, a reception was held. 

Left: Vanessa Shih, Director 

of the Taipei Economic and 

Cultural Office in Austria 

(middle) 

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Hungary 

On the occasion of National Day, the new Ambassador to Austria invited to 

a reception in the Embassy. 


Czech Republic 

To celebrate National Day as well as the 100 th anniversary of the 

founding of the Czech Republic, a reception was given at the Embassy. 

Rudolfinerhaus 

Vienna´s Leading Private Hospital 

Left: H.E. Andor Nagy (left) 

with the former Austrian 

Chancellor, Wolfgang 

Schüssel (middle) as guest of 

honour, and H.E. Károly Dán. 

Left: H.E. Ivana 

Červenková 

Rudolfi nerhaus is Austria’s most prestigious Private 

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National Celebration at Heldenplatz 

The Austrian National Day was celebrated in front of Vienna‘s Hofburg with exhibitions and shows of the Austrian 

Armed Forces as well as the inauguration of young Austrian soldiers. 

PHOTOS: DODGE & BURN, CARINA KARLOVITS, PETER LECHNER, HARALD MINICH/HB 


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Turkey 

On the occasion of the 95 th National Day, a reception was held at the Embassy 

which was also a farewell party for the Ambassador. 

November 2018 

Belgium 

On the occasion of King‘s Day, the new Ambassador invited to a 

reception at the residence. 

Left: H.E. Mehmet 

Ferden Carikci and his 

wife are leaving Vienna. 

H.E. Ghislain D‘Hoop (right) with his wife and H.E. Paul Huynen. 

INTERNATIONALE 

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The night before the 15 th high class event took place, a welcome cocktail reception 

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PHOTOS: DODGE& BURN 


32 


LE 

MONDE 

NEU 

Kapstadt 

KAP FÜR ENTDECKER 

myAustrian fliegt mich mit herzlichem Service nonstop ins eindrucksvolle Kapstadt. Denn die 

schönsten Orte sind jene, die mich jeden Tag mit etwas Neuem zum Staunen bringen. 

the charming way to fly 

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 MALAYSIA 

MALAYSIA 

EMERGING 

AND PEACEFUL 

Malaysia is known as a place of peace. The economy of the country is growing fast, 

travellers find a wide variety of booming cities like Kuala Lumpur, untouched nature, 

beautiful beaches and the best street food of Asia. 

Text: Robert Winter 

PHOTO: FOTOLIA 

With a height of 452 

metres, the Petronas 

Twin Towers in Kuala 

Lumpur are a 

worldwide renowned 

icon of Malaysia. 



37


The Ubudiah Mosque, one of 

Malaysia's most beautiful mosques, 

is located in the royal town of Kuala 

Kangsar, Perak. 

Coastline at the Baku National Park 

in Sarawak, Borneo. 

FACTS & 

FIGURES 

MALAYSIA 

PHOTOS: TOURISM MALAYSIA 

The most visited place is still the capital Kuala 

Lumpur. But there, for sure, are plenty of other 

destinations which are well worth going. 

Much of modern Malaysia was British or Dutch, controlled 

in the 20 th century. And there is still a lot of 

their influences left in cities like George Town, Malacca 

and Ipoh, whereas the peninsula region is home 

to many fascinating old towns. On a journey to Malaysia, 

vistors shouldn't miss to make a stop in George 

Town in Penang which is located north of Kuala 

Lumpur. Travellers will find plenty of very good hotels 

in this area. One of these is the luxury hotel 

Shangri-La's Rasa Sayang Resort & Spa which is about 

ten kilometres outside of the city George Town. 

The city itself is well known for the so called “Street 

Art“ with it's realistic paintings on the walls of houses 

and Street-Rod sculptures. And if one is interested in 

a wide variety of food, George Town is the place to go 

as well. Because of the fact that George Town is 

known to offer the best street food in Asia. And generally, 

tourists will enjoy the great variety in Malaysia's 

cuisine which can be found in just about every city 

and town in a wide range of local delicacies. 

Malaysia is also very well known for watersports. 

Excellent scuba diving and snorkeling spots dot the 

coast, islands like Perhentian, Tioman and Langkawi 

are perfect for relaxation. The easter states of Malaysia 

– which include Sabah and Sarawak – offer stunning 

islands und access to untouched rainforests. 

River cruises and rafting are popular activities in 

Borneo-Malaysia. If a guest prefers hiking – the right 

place is to go to Mount Kinabalu, with a height of 

4,095 metres the highest mountain between the Himalaja 

and New Guinea and where only 137 climbers 

per day are permitted. 

Pure nature offer many National Parks which are 

spread all over Malaysia. One of them is the National 

Park Gunung Mulu. The park is a protected area loca- 

Official Name: 

Federation of Malaysia or 

Malaysia Federation 

Capital: Kuala Lumpur 

Government: Federal parliamentary 

elective constitutional 

monarchy 

- King: Sultan Muhammad V. 

- Prime Minister: Tun Mahathir 

bin Mohamad 

Area: 330,803 sqkm 2 (66th 

largest country in the world) 

Population: 32,049,700 (2017 

estimate) 

Ethnic Groups: 68,8% 

Bumipetera, 23,2% Chinese, 7,0% 

Indian, 1,0% Others 

Currency: Ringgit (RM) 

GDP: 314,5 billion $ (2017) 

GDP per capita: 9.812,88 $ 

(2017) 

Formation: 

- Independance of the 

Federation of Malaya from 

United Kingdom, 

31 August 1957 

- Sarawak self-government, 

22 July 1963 

- Malaysia Act 1963, 

31 July 1963 

- North Borneo self-government, 

31 August 1963 

- Proclamation of Malaysia, 

16 September 1963 

- Secession of Singapore, 

9 August 1965 

- ASEAN Declaration, 

8 August 1967 

Kuala Lumpur, the capital 

of Malaysia, from the bird's 

eye view. 

The Museum Kapal Selam is a submarine 

museum in Melaka (left). 

The state Kelantan is well known for its 

Keris makers (middle). 

Hello Kitty Town in Johor is the permanent 

home for Hello Kitty and friends (right). 

Bharat Tea Estate in Pahang is 

well known for producing fine 

highland tea (left). 

The Eight Deity Temple is 

located on the island Labuan 

(right). 

38 

Cercle Diplomatique 4/2018 Cercle Diplomatique 4/2018 39


INFO 

George Town on the island 

Penang is famous for its street 

art. 

Campaign for 

tourism and 

building electric 

cars 

Tourism is important for 

Malaysia's economy. In 

2016, nearly 27 million 

international guests arrived 

in the country. With this 

number, Malaysia is ranked 

under the twelve most 

visited countries of the 

world. "The Tourism 

Malaysia integrated 

promotional plan 2018 to 

2020" has been 

implemented to tackle 

existing challenges and 

improve Malaysia’s tourism 

performance. The kick-off 

of the "Visit Malaysia 

2020“-campaign in various 

countries is targeting 36 

million tourists. 

Petronas is Malaysia's fully 

integrated oil and gas 

multinational company. The 

group is ranked number 191 

of the world's largest 

corporations in the 

FORTUNE Global Ranking 

500 of 2018. 

Proton is very relevant as 

well. The company is active 

in automobile design, 

car-manufacturing, distribution 

and sales. Building 

electric cars will be an 

important task in the near 

future. 

The KL Monorail Line in Kuala 

Lumpur runs 8.6 kilometres and 

is the only operational monorail 

system in Malaysia. 

ted in Borneo. In the year 2000, Gunung Mulu made 

it on the list of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites. 

With a land mass of more than 330,803 square 

kilometres, Malaysia is about four times as big as 

Austria. Nearly the same relation shows the comparison 

of the population of the two countries. Malaysia 

has about 32 million inhabitants, the corresponding 

figure for Austria is 8.7 million. Like in many 

other countries, the population of Malaysia is supposed 

to grow. According to estimations published by 

the United Nations, the population of the Asian 

country could reach a number of nearly 37 million in 

2030 and approximately 42 million in 2050. 

Malaysia is located in the southeast of Asia and is 

separated by the South China Sea into two regions. 

These areas are Peninsular Malaysia and East Malaysian 

which is also known as East Malaysia. Malaysia 

borders Thailand, Indonesia, Singapore and Brunei. 

The country consists of 13 states and the three federal 

territories Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya as the seat of 

the government and the island Labuan which is located 

in the east of Malaysia. These three territories do 

not belong to any of the 13 states. 

From the political point of view, Malaysia is organised 

as a constitutional election monarchy. Since 

December 2016, Sultan Muhammad V. is as elected 

monarch King of Malaysia. Usually, the king carries 

the official title "Yang di-Pertuan Agong“. The head 

of the government which is closely modelled on the 

Westminster parliamentary system, is Tun Mahathir 

bin Mohamad. Ganeson Sivagurunathan, the Ambassador 

of Malaysia to Austria: „Tun Mahathir bin 

Mohamad is known under the name Dr. M as well. 

Since March 2018, he is prime minister of Malaysia. 

He was already in office between 1981 and 2003.“ In 

the last general elections, Tun Mahathir bin Mohamad 

was the candidate of the opposition which won 

the elections. With this win, a new era started, since 

it was the first time of change in more than 60 years. 

According to Ambassador Ganeson Sivagurunathan, 

the transition was peaceful. 

And peace is generally a term that can be used if 

one is talking about the country in the southeast of 

Asia. Mainly, because of the fact that different indigenous 

groups and different races of people following 

different religions, are living together in peace. 

Malaysia definitely is a multinational, multicultural 

country. The peaceful coexistence has been lasting 

very long already. In this respect, Malaysia may serve 

as a role model for many other countries. 


About half of Malaysia's population belongs to 

the ethnic group of Malays. About eleven percent are 

Chinese, nearly eight percent are Indians and around 

seven percent belong to indigenous peoples like 

Orang Asli and Dayak. The Islam is the official religion 

of Malaysia. About 61 percent of the Malaysian 

population are Muslims. The Malaysians that belong 

to the Chinese part of the inhabitants are Buddhists, 

Confucians or Christs. There is a wide mix of religions 

that inhabitants – who have their roots in India 

or Sri Lanka – believe in. They are Hindus, Muslims, 

Sikhs, Christs or Buddhists. 

Over the centuries, Malaysia had to live with major 

influences from other countries. In the 16 th century, 

the town of Malakka was conquered by the Portuguese. 

This enabled the European country to take 

control over the trade of spices between Europe and 

Asia. In 1641, the Dutch occupied Malakka and a big 

part of the Malayan peninsula. Architecture that was 

influenced by the Dutch, is visible in Malakka until 

now. Great Britain's influence rose step by step from 

the first quarter of the 19 th century. 

The independence of Malaysia goes back to the 

31 st of August 1957. This was the time, when the federation 

under the name Malaya was founded. In 

these days, Sarawak und Sabah weren't members of 

the federation. The next step was set in 1963. On the 

31 st of July 1963, the Malaysia Act which was an Act 

of the Parliament in the United Kingdom, came into 

operation. The Act led to a merge of the states of 

North Borneo, Sarawak and Singapore with the existing 

states of the Federation of Malaya. As a result of 

the Act the Federation of Malaya was renamed Malaysia 

in September the 16 th of 1963. But Singapore 

wasn't a part of the Federation for a long time. On 

August the 9 th of 1965, Singapore became an indipendent 

state. 

In some parts of Malaysia's every day life, the influence 

of the United Kingdom is still visible. The 

official language of Malaysia is called Bahasa Malaysia, 

which means Malaysian. But many Malaysians 

are still using English as a second language. This 

seems to be a practical detail for tourists, travelling to 

Malaysia. Yet travellers have to notice that the Eng- 

Penang Cityscape (above). 

Penang CHEO Skyline from 

George Town, the capital city 

of the Malaysian state of 

Penang (below). 

IT’S ALL ABOUT 

FLAVOR 

The Dstrikt Steakhouse has gained renown for its rare 

prime cuts of only the highest quality beef, sourced from 

Austrian producers and grilled to perfection on an original 

charcoal-fired Josper grill. For those keen on pairing cuisine 

with wine, there’s an inspired list of vintages overseen by 

award-winning sommeliere, Sindy Kretschmar. 

BUSINESS LUNCH AT THE 1 st DSTRIKT 

Let us spoil you with only the finest seasonal dishes 

by Executive Chef, Andreas Mahl during your lunch 

break on weekdays. 

€ 14,00 per person / including one soft drink 

12 pm until 2.30 pm 

Dstrikt Steakhouse 

The Ritz-Carlton, Vienna 

Schubertring 5-7 

Vienna, 1010 Austria 

dstriktsteakhouse 

Reserve a table at the restaurant: 

Phone: +43 1 311 88 150 

vienna.restaurant@ritzcarlton.com 

www.ritzcarlton/vienna 

40 



Aquaria is an 

impressive oceanarium 

in Kuala Lumpur. 

Putrajaya, the administrative 

centre of Malaysia. 

Seri Saujana Bridge is a main 

bridge in the planned city Putrajaya. 

The Mantanani Islands form a 

small group of three islands off 

the north-west coast of the 

state of Sabah. 

lish that Malaysians are speaking is very different 

from the British language itself. It is not easy to understand 

and is more sort of a slang. Due to that fact 

it is known under the term Manglish. Another mark 

of the colonial past is the fact that in Malaysia cars – 

like in the United Kingdom – are driven on the left 

side of the road. 

Contemporary Malaysia is well known as an important 

player among Asia’s most promising nations. 

Malaysia was a founding member of the Association 

of Southeast Asian Nations ASEAN. Besides Malaysia, 

the countries Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, 

Indonesia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, 

Thailand and Vietnam belong to the association. 

Malaysia’s independence location is right in the 

centre of the ASEAN-countries. Additionally to that, 

Malaysia is a member of the group of the “Developing 

8 Countries“ (D-8) and a member of G15, 

which is a group of 15 developing countries. The international 

alignment of Malaysia led to relevant 

changes and enforced the development from an agricultural 

to an industrialised country. 

This development goes hand in hand with the economic 

growth of the country. According to data published 

by the World Bank, Malaysia's economy has 

been growing fast since the middle of the last decade. 

And the development of the real gross domestic product 

is quite impressive. In 2006 the growth rate of the 

Malaysian economy reached 5.6 percent followed by 

9.4 percent in 2007. After slowing down the year after, 

Malaysia the financial crisis brought a setback in 

2009. The growth rate was minus 2.5 percent. Ambassador 

Ganeson Sivagurunathan: “Malaysia was affected 

by the financial crisis as well. But the former Prime 

Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi took his own 

measures and set the right steps. This brought us out 

of the crisis. The International Monetary Fund IMF 

and the World Bank acknowledged that the decisions 

were right. This shows that there is new one-shoefits-all-solution.“ 

That the unusual steps showed positive 

effects, was already visible in 2010, when the real 

GDP rose to seven percent. Since then, the economy 

has developed stable in a positive way, the yearly 

growth rates reached between 4.2 und six percent. 


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42 


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LE MONDE MALAYSIA | INTERVIEW 

H.E. Ganeson Sivagurunathan 

“Malaysia is a role model for many countries.“ 

The Ambassador of Malaysia to Austria is giving insights into the development of Malaysia‘s economy, 

chances for international investors and the best places to visit in the “land of peace“. 

Interview: Robert Winter 

PHOTO: RALPH MANFREDA 

CD: Your Excellency, you became Ambassador of 

Malaysia to Austria in February 2018. What are 

your impressions since you started in Vienna? 

Ganeson Sivagurunathan: Since the assumption 

of my post as the Ambassador of 

Malaysia and Permanent Representative to 

the United Nations Vienna in February 

2018, I am am very impressed about the 

fact that I could get in touch with many 

very talented Austrian people already. Austria 

is generally well known for high education 

in music. If one should evaluate Austria‘s 

strength on a corporate level, it is 

obvious, that many companies are strong 

in innovation and in developing technologies. 

That is something we are looking at 

closely. Malaysia is especially looking at 

Austrian enterprises that are experts in 

green technologies and renewable energy. 

How would you describe the relation between 

Malaysia and Austria? 

The relation between Austria and Malaysia 

is very good. We would enjoy to receive 

more visits from high-level-representants 

– like Austrian ministers – to strenghten 

the relations between the two countries. 

Austrian companies are investing in Malaysia. 

The last figure that was published showed 

investments of 160 million US-Dollars. 

It is also good for Austria to have a look at 

the ASEAN region, using Malaysia as a 

base. ASEAN stands for Association of 

Southeast Asian Nations and consists of ten 

member states. The ASEAN region has a 

population of about 600 million people. 

That‘s a huge market. We want to encourage 

other countries to use Malaysia as a stepping 

stone into the region. Additionally, it is 

very easy to establish business in Malaysia. 

Malaysia is known as the “land of peace“. Do you 

think this is a saying which describes your country 

in a proper way? 

For sure. Malaysia is a multinational, multicultural 

country. Our country is well 

known for the fact that different indigenous 

groups, that different races of people 

live together in peaceful coexistence. It has 

been like that since the indipendency of 

Malaysia in the year 1957. Malaysia is a role 

model for many countries. And economi-cally, 

Malaysia is doing very well. 

What is the political situation like? 

Tun Mahathir bin Mohamad, who is 

known under the name Dr. M, has been appointed 

on May 2018 as Prime Minister of 

Malaysia. He was already in office between 

1981 and 2003. In the last general elections 

he was the candidate of the opposition. 

They won the elections. It is the first time 

that there is a change in more than 60 years 

now. But it was a peaceful transition. Our 

prime minister is 93 years old. So he has 

got very much experience. 

What are the main goals of the government? 

The current government is looking to 

strenghten the economy. Our economic 

numbers are good. The government follows 

a five-year-development-plan. In the 

recent mid-term-review it was decided to 

focus on six sectors. We are talking about 

reform of governance, enhancing inclusive 

development, empowering human capital, 

balancing regional developments, enhancing 

environmental sustainability and 

strengthening economic growth across all 

sectors. The plan is not only lead from the 

government. Participants of the business-sector 

or NGO‘s will make contributions 

to reach the targets. Governance is something 

that has to be worked on 

domestically. Good governance and the 

rule of law are very important. There is always 

room for improvement. We are still a 

developing country. There is good potential 

for growth. Now we are trying to find 

synergies. 

As you just mentioned - Malaysia is an emerging 

country. How is Malaysia‘s economy developing? 

The economic growth is strong. According 

to data published by the World Bank and 

the OECD, the annual growth rate of Malaysia‘s 

Gross Domestic Product, GDP reached 

5.9 percent in 2017. The growth rates 

between 2010 and 2016 laid between 4.2 

and 7.4 percent. 

There are various well known business rankings that 

show how an economy is doing in the international 

context. What are the results for Malaysia? 

Our country is doing very well in these 

rankings. For example, Malaysia has re- 

FOTOS: XYXXYXYXY 

H.E. GANESON SIVAGURUNATHAN 

was born in Kuala Lipis, Pahang Darul Makmur. 

He is the Ambassador of Malaysia to Austria. Before 

coming to Vienna in February 2018, he served as 

Undersecretary East Asia Division of the Ministry of 

Foreign Affairs in Malaysia. 

44 Cercle Diplomatique 4/2018 Cercle Diplomatique 4/2018 45

LE MONDE MALAYSIA | INTERVIEW 

LE MONDE EXPERT‘S VIEW 

„Austrian companies are strong in 

developing technologies. We are 

looking at that closely.“ 

Malaysia – Our largest export market 

in South East Asia 

Werner Somweber, Austrian Commercial Counsellor in Kuala Lumpur 

cently regained its place among the top 20 

economies in the world, at number 15 in 

the World Bank Doing Business 2019 Report. 

According to the Global Competitiveness 

Index 2018 which is published by 

the World Economic Forum, Malaysia 

ranks 25 th out of 140 countries. Austria is 

ranked 22 nd . 

Which goods are important for Malaysian trade? 

Malaysia is a trading nation. Oil is important. 

Manufacturing products are very important 

as well. One of the drivers of our 

economy are SME‘s, are small and medium 

enterprises. The new Malaysian government 

wants to enhance the role of SME‘s as 

major drivers of the economy. A good 

example for the development is Austria 

where SME‘s are very important as well. 

That is something I have also recommended 

to our Ministry of Entrepreneur Development. 

Malaysia is an important producer 

of palmoil. To protect the nature, we 

are focussing on the certification of palmoil-plantations. 

By the end of next year, all 

plantations will be certified. This is the way 

to sustainability. We still refer to the commitments 

we made at the Rio Summit in 

the year 1992. Malaysia is one of the top 

producers of durian. Durian is known as 

the „king of fruits“. We produce pineapple, 

mangos and other tropical fruits as well. A 

lot of the fruit-exports go to China. 

Which countries are the most important trading 

partners? 

Singapore, followed by China and the European 

Union. In the EU, Germany and the 

United Kingdom are very important. 

What are the most important Malaysian companies? 

One example is Petronas, Malaysia‘s fully 

integrated petroleum corporation. Petronas 

reached in the Fortune 500 ranking 

2018, which is a ranking of the 500 biggest 

companies of the world, place 191. The 

company Proton is very important as well. 

It is a corporation that is active in automobile 

design, car-manufacturing, distribution 

and sales. Building electric cars will be 

an importat task for the company. In doing 

so, technology from Austrian companies 

will be important. 

What is Malaysia doing to be attractive for 

international companies and investors? 

International companies find it easy to 

start business in Malaysia because of the 

fact that we have a commitee that is called 

Bermudah. It is sort of a one-stop-center. 

The ministry of trade is also involved as is 

the chamber of commerce. It is a mix between 

government and industry which gives 

direct feedback. There are a lot of incentives 

for investors too. The Malaysian 

Investment Development Authority MIDA 

is a one-stop-center too. MIDA assists 

companies which intend to invest in the 

manufacturing and service sectors and 

helps during the implementation of projects. 

It is very important for us to be business-friendly. 

Malaysia is an interesting destination for 

travellers. How important is tourism for your 

country? 

The slogan “Malaysia – truly Asia“ describes 

our country in a few words. This is very 

important for tourism. The number of tourists 

that travel to Malaysia has been increasig 

for years. Last year, around 25 million 

of international guests arrived in 

Malaysia. This is in comparison to our population 

of about 32 million inhabitants 

very much. Tourism is increasing because 

of the rising connectivity of Malaysia. There 

are many flights and a number of low 

cost carriers vailable. 

What are the most popular destinations? 

Malaysia offers a lot – from trips to cities 

like Kuala Lumpur to enjoy wildlife. We 

have beautiful beaches, highlands and 

jungles and some of the best diving-spots 

in the world. Additionally to that, Malaysia 

offers around 200 golf courses. There is the 

chance to play golf at night on courses that 

are lit with floodlight. 2020 is going to be 

our year of “Visit Malaysia“ again. There is 

a programme that will attract people to travel 

to our country. And the good thing for 

people from Europe is that a trip to Malaysia 

is affordable. The purchasing power of 

the Euro to our currency, the Malaysian 

Ringgit, is high. One Euro is about 4.9 Malaysian 

Ringgit at the moment. Guests who 

attend the best hotels like the Mandarin 

Oriental, which is located in the Petrona 

Towers in the centre of Kuala Lumpur, pay 

around 660 Ringgit per day. That‘s about 

120 Euro for accomodation in a luxury hotel. 

That is very cheap in comparison to international 

room rates. 

Which sites should tourists visit? 

I would recommend to visit historical sites 

on Penang Island as well as Malakka, the 

capital of the state Malakka in the southwest 

of Malaysia. Penang is also very well 

known – for its variety of street food. This 

is because of the influences of the Malay, 

Indian and Chinese. If travellers go to 

Malaysia, they dont‘t have to worry about 

opening hours. Usually everything is open 

for seven days and 24 hours. The diving 

spots in the state Sabah on Malaysian 

Borneo are excellent and worldwide 

known. The best diving resorts are on the 

beautiful and small islands of Sabah. The 

beaches are covered with white sand, palms 

and coconut trees. And if travellers like to 

get in the jungle, they have a choice of well 

known resorts like the national park 

Gunung Mulu in the state of Sarawak. 

PHOTOS: RALPH MANFREDA 

PHOTO: VALERI ANGELOV / VOGUESPOT.AT 

Werner Somweber 

serves currently as 

Austria‘s Commercial 

Counsellor in Kuala 

Lumpur, the capital of 

Malaysia. 

QUALITY 

INSIDE 

Malaysia is one of the most technologically developed countries in ASEAN. 

Malaysia has successfully diversified its economy over the last 

decades from an agriculture and commodity-based, to one that now 

plays host to robust manufacturing and services sectors and 

established itself as one of the most technologically developed 

countries in ASEAN. 

As a leading trading nation in Southeast Asia, Malaysia has 

traditionally been an important trading partner for Austria. Our exports 

have steadily increased over the years and regularly exceed the 500 

million EUR threshold. Thus, Malaysia has become the largest export 

market for Austrian companies in ASEAN for a wide range of high-tech 

products such as electronic devices, equipment for power stations, rail 

technology as well as machinery for the packaging and plastics 

industries. While Malaysia ranked 50 th amongst Austrian export 

destinations in 2010, it has since then advanced to the 35 th place. 

The Austrian Commercial Counsellor’s Office supports Austrian 

companies with a broad spectrum of services such as market analysis 

and market research, organisation of trade missions and group 

exhibitions in international trade fairs. During the past two years we 

have participated in trade fairs for water technology, defence services, 

railway engineering, metallurgy, oil and gas, architecture, interior 

design and green technologies. 

Other promising sectors of cooperation are tourism and food 

industry. In October this year, our office in cooperation with the 

Austrian National Tourist Office, hosted an Austrian Showcase with 20 

Austrian tourism experts to discuss ways and means of closer 

cooperation with Malaysian outbound travel agents and tour 

operators. Also in October, a delegation of Malaysian foodstuff 

importers participated in “Marketplace Food”, organised by the 

Austrian Federal Economic Chamber and met with exporters of food 

and beverages. The Malaysian importers got the unique opportunity to 

explore new sales channels with Austrian food and beverage 

companies. 

Malaysia‘s political and economic stability, investor friendly 

business environment and developed infrastructure make it also an 

attractive place for investors. The newly elected government’s agenda 

includes the creation of an investment friendly policy as one of their 

top priorities which should greatly benefit the country’s reputation on 

a global level. This, and the central location in the ASEAN region, 

attract more and more international players. 70 Austrian companies 

have meanwhile set up shop in Malaysia. They are manufacturing 

medical gloves, plastic pipes and motor cycles and assemble 

gearboxes, geared motors and scaffolding structures to name but a 

few. More and more companies are choosing Kuala Lumpur also as 

their regional headquarter for the Asia/Pacific region, thus, making use 

of the excellent connectivity to all major markets in Asia as well as far 

cheaper operating costs then in neighbouring Singapore. 

H.E. Ganeson Sivagurunathan during the interview 

in his embassy office, located in the Florido Tower 

in Vienna‘s 21 st district. 

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LE MONDE THE HASHEMITE KINGDOM 

OF JORDAN 

History, nature and Arabian hospitality 

FACTS & 

FIGURES 

Jordan is a jewel for tourists, an oasis of stability and has excellent, 

long-standing relations with Austria. 

Text: Gerhard Bitzan 

PHOTOS: VISITJORDAN.COM 

To discover Wadi Rum, a hot-air balloon would be best; the walk 

to the entrance of Petra is impressive. Handicrafts are sold all 

over the country. 

From the Citadel Hill, the 360° panorama view 

on the Jordanian capital is really wonderful 

and breathtaking. One could hardly believe 

that only a few decades ago, Amman was not a metropolis, 

but an average Arab town. Today, the city 

that’s spreading on 19 hills, inhabits more than 2.3 

million people, in the metro region more than four 

million. That’s Amman today: a modern capital of a 

friendly Mid-eastern country, despite being surrounded 

by turmoil and breeding grounds of terrorism 

in the last couple of years. 

The Jordanian capital is the perfect starting point 

for business and also for a touristic voyage of discovery. 

Amman is full of Arabic history and, in particular, 

Roman history. You can find it not only on 

Citadel Hill, but also in the centre. One shouldn’t 

forget to see the impressive Roman amphitheatre 

with 6,000 seats, where cultural events still take place. 

Or stroll through the city. Like Harald Deller, the 

Jordanian honorary consul in Upper Austria, who 

knows Amman as a businessman quite well and recommends 

“a walk off the crowded tracks, where one 

can find interesting cafes and restaurants in Arabic 

style”. 

Tourism is an important economic factor in Jordan. 

That’s why, economy was heavily affected, when 

some years ago in neighbouring Syria the war broke 

out. Because of security reasons, many western tourists 

stopped travelling to Jordan. But meanwhile, 

there is some hope. The situation in Syria has calmed 

down, at least in the border region to Jordan. Consequently, 

tourists are slowly coming back, among 

them are also quite a lot of Austrians. 

Number one of the tourist attractions is undoubtedly 

Petra, an ancient city deep inside a narrow gorge, 

which was half built, half carved into a rock by 

the Nabataeans in the 6 th century BC. The UNESCO 

World Heritage Site is a must-see in Jordan, located 

approximately three hours away from Amman. 

But there is a lot more in Jordan: In Jerash one can 

find impressive Roman columns, in Kerak an interesting 

old crusader castle. The shores of the Dead 

Sea offer a unique experience of a special environmental 

surrounding and an exciting “swim” in saltwater. 

There, the water is not only warm and soothing, 

but also ten times saltier than normal sea water. 

This has attracted visitors since ancient times. King 

Herod and Queen Cleopatra have enjoyed this salty, 

mineral-rich water. Today, it is a major hub of health 

and wellness tourism. In recent years, a dozen of modern 

resorts were developed at the Dead Sea. 

And finally, one should not miss the desert spot 

Wadi Rum. It’s not only a highlight for outdoor tourists, 

who stay overnight in a Bedouin tent. If you are 

ready to get up early in the morning you can take a 

bird’s eye view of the majestic mountains and the 

sandstone formations of Wadi Rum by riding in a 

hot air balloon. 

But a stay in Wadi Rum is also a symbolic ride 

back in Arabic history. 

It was in 1916, today’s Jordan was under the occupation 

of the Ottomans, when an army of 5,000 men 

– half of them Bedouins, half Hashemites - gathered 

in Wadi Rum and headed off to Aqaba to attack Ottoman 

outposts. With the active support of the British, 

in particular the famous spy T.E. Lawrence, better 

known as Lawrence of Arabia, who promised the 

Arabs an own country for their military help. But in 

fact it took still some years, until the country was 

granted real independence in 1946. 

But it wasn’t a peaceful start: In 1948 Jordan was 

involved in the first Arab-Israeli war and 1967, in the 

Six-Day War, it lost the Westbank to Israel. 

All political and military actions in the Middle 

East had always in some way an impact on Jordan. In 

particular, one should mention the refugee problem, 

that affected the country very much: More than two 

million Palestinians live in Jordan and after the Syrian 

war had started, about 1.4 million Syrians fled in 

the neighbouring country and the majority stills lives 

there. That’s why the kingdom is very often called 

an “oasis of stability in a turbulent region”. And even 

the Arab spring, that plunged some Arab countries 

into chaos, didn’t affect Jordan very much. 

Since the kingdom shares borders with countries 

like Syria, Iraq, Saudi Arabia and Israel, it often has 

to play the role of a quiet mediator in the Middle 

East. And therefore, it’s also an interesting stop for 

western countries. At this point one has to mention 

the special relationship between Austria and Jordan. 

This goes back to the days of the former Austrian 

Chancellor Bruno Kreisky, who was very interested 

in Middle East politics and very engaged in Middle 

East diplomacy. He built up a genuine friendship to 

the late King Hussein of Jordan. His Majesty was a 

frequent guest in Austria and he even possessed for 

some time a villa in Vienna. Even today, when Aust- 

Jordan 

Official name: 

Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan 

Population: 10,000,000 

Area: 89.341 squarekilometres 

Capital and largest city is 

Amman (2.3 million) 

Religion: 93 percent Sunni 

Islam; 5 percent Christians; 2 

percent other religions. 

Government: Jordan is a Unitary 

Parliamentary Constitutional 

Monarchy; 

King Abdullah II is monarch 

since 1999. Prime Minister is 

Omar Razzaz since 2018. 

The parliament consists of the 

Senate and the House of 

Representatives. 

History: Until 1916, Jordan was 

under the rule of the Ottoman 

empire. Afterwards, it was part 

of the British Empire. In April 

1921. the Emirate of Jordan was 

established. In 1946 Jordan 

gained independence. 

Tourism: One of the main 

industries is tourism. The most 

popular places are – besides 

Amman – the Nabataean site 

Petra; Wadi Rum as a place for 

desert adventures; Aqaba for 

watersports and leisure; the 

historic Romanian place Jerash. 

And the Dead Sea with its salty 

water. 

Impressive buildings in Amman 

AMMAN, the capital of 

Jordan, is a modern and 

vibrant metropolis. 

Exciting days at the Dead Sea: 

health-resorts and salt 

formations. 



49


OF JORDAN 

Left: Exciting view of Amman during sunset. 

Right: Tourists enjoy the ride on a horse to ancient Petra. 

Corner stones of mobility in style. 

The Mercedes-Benz E- and S-Class. 

Experience your test drive now at Wiesenthal Diplomatic Sales. 

rian politics doesn’t pay a lot of attention to Middle 

Eastern affairs, the current Jordanian ruler Abdullah 

II is still maintaining good relations with Austria. 

Once, I even had the chance to personally experience 

the hospitality of the late King Hussein. It was 

in January 1991, on the eve of the Second Gulf War. 

The Austrian President at that time, Kurt Waldheim, 

who was well respected in the Middle East, tried to 

prevent this war by last minute negotiations in the 

region. When he stayed in Cairo, he talked to King 

Hussein on the phone. And the monarch invited him 

to Amman and offered Waldheim to pick him up. So 

he sent over his airplane, a well equipped Boeing 

747, to bring Waldheim and a few Austrian journalists 

to Jordan. Unfortunately, a few hours later it was 

clear, that the two personalities have tried in vain to 

convince the Iraqi government. In the following 

hours, missiles flew over the skies of Amman and 

Jordan was once again directly affected by a war. 

Today, Jordan is one of two Arabic countries to 

have a peace agreement with Israel. And the relationship 

between the two countries is arguably one of the 

most important for stability in the region – but it had 

become strained over the last years. The main reason 

is water. Jordan is one of the driest countries in the 

world and it is in desperate need of water. But the 

dwindling level of the rivers, mainly the river Jordan, 

is a big problem. There is a basic agreement about a 

huge water project, called “Red Sea Dead Sea”. Under 

that deal, a desalination plant should be built in Aqa- 

ba. And the by-product brine should be pumped in a 

pipeline to the Dead Sea. A really ambitious project, 

which due to political reasons is stuck. 

Jordan in general is not blessed by natural ressources. 

It has no oil, no gas and has to import about 

97 percent of its energy. The main industry products 

are potash, phosphates and fertilizers. And due to 

the war in Syria, the sales markets in the region have 

broken away. Despite this difficult economic environment, 

Jordan’s economy is moderately growing. 

In 2017, the economic growth was two percent, for 

2019 2.8 percent are forecast. 

The economic relations to Austria do not correlate 

with the good political relations. In the last two, 

three years the imports from and also the exports to 

Jordan declined. This is partly due to the security situation, 

but also due to some economic decisions in 

Amman. 

One very positive example of Austrian economic 

engagement is worth to be mentioned: In 2006, 

Backaldrin, a company of the food industry in Upper 

Austria, started a production facility in Amman. Bakery 

products (Kornspitz is a famous one) from there 

are now sold all over the Middle East. Harald Deller, 

CEO of Backaldrin and also honorary consul in upper 

Austria, stresses, that Jordan is still a very important 

location for doing business in the region. And he recommends 

interested business people to visit the 

country, meet the people there and gain their trust. 

That’s what we also warmly recommend. 

PHOTOS: VISITJORDAN.COM, DARKOTODOROVIC, ERIC KRÜGL 

A spice shop, a children’s 

museum and a view on the 

Roman columns of Jerash 

(from 2nd top to bottom). 

www.wiesenthal.at 


Backaldrin production site in 

Jordan, CEO Harald Deller. 

Mr Clemens Neukomm 

Troststraße 109–111, 1104 Wien 

T: +43 1 60 176-9046 

clemens.neukomm@wiesenthal.at 

Mr Ingobert Könczöl 

Troststraße 109–111, 1104 Wien 

T: +43 1 60 176-254-9041 

ingobert.koenczoel@wiesenthal.at 

Mr Adrian Cyrus 

Donaustadtstraße 51, 1220 Wien 

T: +43 1 202 53 31-7343 

adrian.cyrus@wiesenthal.at


OF JORDAN | INTERVIEW 

H.E. Leena Al-Hadid 

“Jordan is a safe haven in a region of conflicts.“ 

The Ambassador of Jordan on the bilateral relations, the refugee crisis, the Arab spring – 

and why she loves Vienna. 

Interview: Gerhard Bitzan 


CD: Your Excellency, it is already the second time 

you have taken over a diplomatic post in Vienna. 

What are your experiences in Austria? 

Leena Al-Hadid: I am in Vienna as Ambassador 

since August. But it is my second 

time, I was here in the Nineties, as a junior 

diplomat. So, Vienna is not new for me. 

Vienna was beautiful then and is still beautiful 

today. And it has so much to offer: the 

museums, the historic sites, the culture, the 

restaurants. And it’s beautiful to just walk 

in the streets. 

How do you see the political relations between 

the two countries? 

We have always had wonderful bilateral 

relations. We understand each other, we 

see eye to eye on so many issues. When I 

had my swearing in with his Majesty before 

I went to Vienna, he said: “We have such 

excellent relations with Austria.” But Vienna 

has a lot to offer, not just bilaterally. In 

Vienna, we also have the United Nations 

and that keeps us busy. 

Tourism is very important for Jordan, but the war 

in Syria made it difficult. How is the situation 

now? 

It’s a shame. There’s so much to see in 

Jordan. There are so many historical sites. 

But there’s a misconception in general. The 

turmoil in the region does not mean that it 

is not safe in Jordan. The country has remained 

a safe haven in a region where we 

see a lot of conflicts. It’s a safe country, a 

safe Kingdom. 

How do you see the economic relations between 

our two countries? 

It’s part of my mandate here in the embassy 

to look into ways and means to improve 

the business and business exchanges 

between our two countries. That’s the problem 

we face: When there is a conflict, it’s 

not only tourism that gets hit hard, it’s also 

the whole business. But we have quite a few 

Austrian businesses in Jordan and we are 

trying to encourage more. 

More than a million Syrian refugees came to your 

country. How did you handle this problem? 

We had 1.3 million Syrians coming in 

and we have also got 2.1 million Palestinian 

refugees - an issue, that’s not solved. In total, 

we have about 46 different nationalities 

of refugees in Jordan. We are about nine 

million people – you can imagine how that 

has impacted our economy in all aspects. 

But still, the Jordanians continue to be kind 

and warm and have not been antagonized 

by the presence of the refugees. 

And now? Is there a chance to solve the 

refugee-problem? 

As the borders have reopened, we have 

seen some small numbers going back. But 

there need to be services in Syria, so they 

can feel confident and go back. There is always 

the misunderstanding in Europe that 

the refugees are all in camps. In Jordan, the 

majority of the refugees are in the host 

communities. And many Jordanians say: 

We are also being impacted by the presence 

of refugees, we are just as vulnerable as these 

refugees. Jordanians are not rich, don’t 

have too much to offer. But what they did 

have, they were offering to and sharing 

with these refugees. 

And there is also the problem with Palestinian 

refugees. We don’t know when 

they are able to go back to the country they 

will call their own. 

How do you see the EU-politics in the refugee 

crisis? 

As Jordanians we always say: just because 

we are bordering these countries 

when the conflict erupted, does not mean 

that Jordan is alone responsible for the 

spillover of this conflict. It’s not a problem 

for Jordan or the region, it’s one for the international 

community. It’s not for me to 

say to the EU, how many refugees they 

should take. But it would be only fair to 

share the responsibility. 

When the Arab Spring erupted some years ago, 

Jordan was not very much affected. Why? 

First I would say, that Jordanian people 

in general are very educated people. They 

want to see their country progress and continue 

to develop. There was a time that was 

difficult for the whole region. But awareness 

of the Jordanians and also the wisdom 

of the leadership enabled the communication 

channels to stay open. In these challenging 

times, the number one issue that 

had always priority was communication. 

Many demands by the people were reasonable 

ones and His Majesty the King listened 

very closely to what was being said. 

How do you see the chances for the peace-process 

between Israel and the Palestinians? Which 

role is Jordan playing? 

We continue to be very actively involved 

in all the discussions. The Israeli-Palestinian-conflict 

is an issue that’s at the core of 

our foreign policy. We want to see a viable 

Palestinian state next door. If we are able to 

settle the conflict, it will have positive 

aspects on so many other issues. We signed 

a peace treaty many years ago with the Israelis. 

I hope, in my lifetime I will see a Palestinian 

state. The two state solution is the 

best way forward and the sooner we come 

to this, it’s better for the region. 


H.E. LEENA AL-HADID 

joined the Jordanian foreign service in 1995. Later she 

represented her country in Dubai, in Geneva and Brussels. 

In Vienna, she is also Jordan’s representative to the UN 

and other international organisations. 



53

LE MONDE ESSAY 

CONTINUING 

EDUCATION 

CENTER 

A Marshall Plan with Africa 

BENITA FERRERO- 

WALDNER 

studied law and holds a 

doctorate from 

the University of 

Salzburg. She is 

an Austrian diplomat 

and politician and 

served as the Foreign 

Minister of Austria 

from 2000 to 2004. 

From 2004 to 2009 she 

served as the 

European Commissioner 

for External 

Relations and European 

Neighbourhood Policy, 

and as the European 

Commissioner for Trade 

and European 

Neighbourhood 

Policy from 2009 to 

2010. 

The topic of migration has become one of the biggest political issues 

to which both Europe and our nation must find a solution. 

We continue to face an explosively 

rising population in Africa. Within 

the last century, the number 

of people on the African continent alone has 

increased by a factor of six to now 1-1.2 billion 

people. This number is expected to 

double by the year 2050 and, under certain 

circumstances, may even quadruple to approximately 

4-4.5 billion people by 2100. 

It is unfathomable how this many people 

in Africa could possibly manage to get by in 

the future! This is especially at a time when 

the effects of climate change are becoming 

more and more felt in the hottest parts of 

Africa, causing even more droughts and aridity 

and thereby further constricting the habitats 

of people and animals alike. 

We must, therefore, expect that millions 

of Africans will want to come to us in order 

to find work and be able to live a dignified 

life. The goal is thus a large-scale joint effort! 

This is also the reason why a “Marshall Plan 

with Africa” is being discussed, for the European 

partner nations will have to position 

this project within a larger context. It is, of 

course, critical that the African partners and 

initiatives, such as the African Union, the 

“Compact with Africa”, the plans of Africa, 

in relation to Agenda 2063, and also considering 

the “MENA Region” (the region 

comprising the Near and Middle East), the 

cooperation with Europe (MENA and 

OECD), are also integrated into the “Marshall 

Plan with Africa”. 

As much as all these countries may differ 

from one another, the number of adolescents 

in all of them is rising much faster 

than the number of jobs. Many young people 

cannot find work, except for, in the best 

case, low-pay positions in the service sector 

without social security. The problem isn’t 

new, but it has worsened. 

No other area in the world has as many 

unemployed youths and such a low number 

of women in the workforce as these countries, 

meaning that economic development is 

not keeping up with the growth in population. 

The biggest challenges facing us in the 

world today are due to the fact that prosperity 

is inevitably linked to resource use and 

climate gas emissions. The future solution 

for billions of people as proposed by the discourse 

on sustainability, namely high prosperity 

with low resource use and low greenhouse 

gas emissions per person, has not yet 

been realised anywhere in the world. We 

know that development in Africa has only 

led to marginal improvements for many reasons, 

despite some of the strong efforts 

made by the international aid community. 

We must try to bring our concept of the 

eco-social market economy and sustainable 

energy sector development to Africa and 

implement it on a large scale. Otherwise, we 

may expect a huge migration wave from Africa 

that we will not be able to handle. 

The goal of a “Marshall Plan with Africa” 

is thus the creation of prosperity in Africa, 

particularly in North Africa. This ‘explosion 

of prosperity’ is to be developed in such a 

way that it is compatible with all the requirements 

of long-term sustainability, including 

being ‘green’ and ‘inclusive’, to prove that our 

model of prosperity can indeed deliver – 

also in regard to Agenda 2030. 

Funds for Africa must be deployed in the 

right way, especially when it comes to renewable 

energy, infrastructure and reforestation. 

Africa has plenty of opportunities here. 

The Sahara offers great potential, just like 

parts of the Near East, especially in regard to 

renewable energy. 

Solar energy is particularly essential: 

Consider massive solar panels creating 

energy in the Sahara, but also wind parks 

wherever the climate conditions permit 

them. The energy yielded could be used to 

build desalination plants that can then employ 

pipelines to bring the processed sea water 

to regions that do not have water. This 

water can then, in turn, be used to generate 

PHOTO: MAHMOUD ASHRAF 

humus and develop agriculture. Many simple 

agricultural technologies that have already 

rendered positive results in Israel could 

be realised here. This would allow the people 

living there to start farming and, ultimately, 

sell and distribute their own products. 

This could lead to a rise in small and medium-sized 

businesses, which would be the 

basis for additional economic development. 

Infrastructure expansion, however, must 

also be intensified in order for the yielded 

products to be transported. On top of that, 

people will need to be educated so that they 

can make a living in an increasingly qualified 

manner, meaning that education will 

also be a core element of the “Marshall Plan 

with Africa”, just like the development of a 

basic health care system. 

Significant funding will be necessary to 

carry out all of these measures: As per the 

Addis Ababa’s 2015 “From Billions to Trillions” 

formula, there will need to be a significant 

increase in aid funding. In the end, only 

the private sector will be able to make such 

large and necessary investments. But public 

initiatives such as taxation will also need to 

be significantly increased in Africa in order 

to fulfil basic functions. 

The strategic approach of the Marshall 

Plan is to be linked to independent African 

plans, such as those of the African Union, 

which are to last up to the year 2063. The 

approach being suggested here is a cooperative 

one, which is why it is being referred to 

as a “Marshall Plan with Africa”. There is a 

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lot more to be done when it comes to international 

aid as well. The funds also need to 

be used intelligently in the respective partner 

nations so that a joint effort can be agreed 

upon. 

This would, for example, include acknowledgment 

of advancements in the area 

of governance, the willingness to implement 

country-to-country reporting of internationally 

operative corporations to ensure 

taxation transparency, which in turn 

would massively increase the productivity 

of the relevant African nations. In contrast, 

investments should also be made in the 

creation of a social safety system. On the 

other hand, significant industry, infrastructure 

and agricultural investments are 

likewise necessary. Here, millions of new 

jobs are to be created, which are absolutely 

necessary. What is especially important 

here is that the expanded use of resources 

must be compatible with the needs of the 

environment and the climate. Wood is to 

play a central role in the form of reforestation, 

also in order to remove CO2 from the 

atmosphere. Funds for Africa are to be invested 

in the areas of renewable energy, 

agriculture, infrastructure building and reforestation. 

There are great opportunities 

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world. The Sahara in particular is a real ace 

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funding of 12 of the international community’s 

17 sustainability goals as part of Agenda 

2030 in Africa and will absorb significant 

amounts of CO2 (negative emissions). The 

same goes for the accelerated humus production 

in the agricultural sector. 

The allocation of funds should, however, 

be tied to good governance and respect for 

human rights. 

It is an exceptionally positive development 

that after so many years in which Africa 

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L’AUTRICHE NEW ECONOMY 

Jung, innovativ, international 

Young, innovative, global 

weXelerate will 

Startup-Brennpunkt 

in Zentraleuropa sein. 

weXelerate wants to become the 

hub for start-ups in Central 

Europe. 

Die Startup-Szene boomt. Immer mehr junge Unternehmen werden gegründet, immer größer wird das 

Interesse von Investoren. Und Wien will zur führenden Startup-City in Zentraleuropa werden. 

The start-up scene is booming. Every day, more and more new businesses are being founded and investors 

are increasingly taking notice. Vienna plans on becoming the leading start-up city in central Europe. 


Die Startup-Szene 

in Wien boomt 

Vienna’s start-up 

scene is booming 

Innovation am Laptop: 

Gute Ideen kennen keine 

Grenzen. 

Innovation on the laptop: 

Good ideas don’t care about 

borders. 

PHOTOS: TIRZA OG, DAVID BOHMANN 

Der wohl bekannteste Vertreter der Startup-Szene 

in Österreich ist Florian 

Gschwandtner. Wenn von wirklich erfolgreichen 

österreichischen Jung-Unternehmen gesprochen 

wird, dann kommt seine Erfolgstory ins Spiel 

und wird gerne als Vorbild hingestellt: Im Jahr 2009 

hat Gschwandtner mit drei Studienkollegen das Startup 

Runtastic gegründet, eine Fitness-App, die sich 

erfolgreich am Markt etablierte. So erfolgreich, dass 

2015 der renommierte deutsche Sportkonzern Adidas 

zugriff und das Unternehmen um 220 Millionen 

Euro kaufte. 

Jetzt hat der millionenschwere Unternehmer ein 

Buch geschrieben und darin erzählt er über die Entstehungsgeschichte 

von Runtastic und wie schwierig 

es damals war, so ein Unternehmen aufzubauen. 

„Egal zu wem wir gegangen sind, wir haben immer 

ein Nein gehört, oft wurden wir belächelt, unser Produkt 

wurde angezweifelt.“ 

Zehn Jahre später hat offenbar ein Turbo die Szene 

erfasst. Startups schießen nur so aus dem Boden, 

parallel dazu werden zahlreiche unterstützende Firmen 

gegründet, sogenannte Acceleratoren und Inkubatoren. 

Offizielle Institutionen wie die Stadt 

Wien, die Wiener Wirtschaftskammer und die Regierung 

setzen voll auf das Thema und bieten Information 

und teilweise auch großzügige Förderungen 

an. Und was ganz wichtig ist: Investoren springen auf 

den Zug auf, immer mehr Menschen mit Geld wollen 

in Startups investieren. Im internationalen Städteranking 

befindet sich Wien schon unter den zehn 

besten Startup-Städten in Europa. Wenngleich immer 

noch leicht abgeschlagen zu den führenden drei: 

London vor Berlin und Paris. 

Was kennzeichnet eigentlich ein Startup, was ist 

der Unterschied zu einer „normal“ gegründeten Firma? 

Im Europäischen Startup-Monitor werden solche 

Unternehmen als Startup definiert, die innovativ 

arbeiten, also neue Geschäftsideen oder Marktzugänge 

entdecken, die ein signifikantes Umsatz- oder 

Beschäftigungswachstum aufweisen und jünger als 

zehn Jahre alt sind. Möglich geworden ist der Startup-Boom 

erst durch die immer stärker werdende 

Digitalisierung. Auch vom Inhaltlichen her geht es 

bei Startups weitgehend um IT-Themen, Kreativwirtschaft, 

Neue Medien, Life Science und Technologie. 

Parallel zu den eigentlichen Startups hat sich eine 

Vielzahl von kleinen Unternehmen gebildet, die sich 

in irgendeiner Form als Unterstützer anbieten: die 

Prozent 

der Startups werden erfolgreich. 

10Percentage of start-ups become successful. 

Kontakte zu Investoren schaffen, die beim Aufbau 

von Netzwerken helfen oder sogenannte Co-Working 

Plätze zur Verfügung stellen, wo man sich trifft 

und austauscht. Hunderte solcher Räume gibt es bereits 

in Wien, vor zehn Jahren gab es gerade zwei. 

Die Universitäten wiederum wollen das Potenzial 

ihrer Studenten nutzen und errichten in ihrem Umfeld 

Gründerzentren. Natürlich wird auch in den 

Bundersländern geforscht und gegründet, die Hälfte 

der Startups entsteht aber in Wien. Was natürlich 

mit der größeren Zahl der Hochschulen und damit 

der Studenten zu tun hat. 

Die Zahl der im Startup-Business tätigen Unternehmen 

ist fast unüberschaubar. Als Überblick gibt 

es mittlerweile einen umfassenden Startup-Guide, 

einen Startup-Monitor und mit dem „brutkasten“ 

ein Onlinemagazin. Vor Kurzem hat die Wirtschaftsagentur 

Wien ein „Ökosystem für Startups“ herausgegeben, 

in dem mehr als 150 kleine bis größere 

Unternehmen alleine in Wien aufgelistet sind, die 

für Startups Hilfe leisten oder Einrichtungen zum 

gemeinsamen Arbeiten zur Verfügung stellen. 

Mittlerweile haben sich auch große private Unternehmen 

etabliert. So hat 2017 mit weXelerate ein 

Startup-Campus eröffnet, der zum Brennpunkt der 

zentralund osteuropäischen Startup-Szene werden 

will. Auf der Homepage bezeichnet sich weXelerate 

als „CEE’s largest Innovation Hub“. Doch Konkurrenz 

droht: Denn Talent Garden hat einen Campus 

in Wien eröffnet, in dem flexible Arbeitsplätze, 

Events und Trainings für einige hundert Startups angeboten 

werden. Dass Talent Garden 23 Standorte in 

8 Ländern hat, ist für die international denkende 

Klientel von Vorteil. Es ist dies offenbar ein weiteres 

Networking ist die 

Basis für erfolgreiche 

Gründungen. 

Networking is the foundation 

for successful launches. 



63

L’AUTRICHE NEW ECONOMY 

76 500 

new 

Prozent 

von Wiens Startups sind international tätig. 

Percentage of Vienna’s start-ups are 

internationally active. 

neue Startups 

werden jährlich in Wien gegründet. 

start-ups are formed in Vienna every year. 

Team-Arbeitsplätze im 

Space 24 (oben); Wien 

unterzeichnete ein 

Startup-Abkommen mit 

Sofia (darunter). 

Co-working places at Space 

24 (top); Vienna and Sofia 

recently signed a start-up 

convention (below). 

unausgesprochenes Kriterium für ein Startup: global 

denken, international arbeiten. 

Hier setzt auch die Stadt Wien an und forciert den 

Kontakt zu internationalen Netzwerken. Seit Ende 

2017 ist Wien Mitglied bei der „Start Alliance“, einem 

Netzwerk, in dem Metropolen wie New York, 

Tel Aviv, Schanghai, Paris, London und einige mehr 

dabei sind. Hier können sich heimische Startups internatonal 

vernetzen und bekommen so Zugang zu 

wichtigen Weltmärkten. 

Aus Standortgründen ist für Wien auch Zentralund 

Osteuropa besonders wichtig. Vor diesem Hintergrund 

wurde kürzlich die Zusammenarbeit mit 

Bulgarien intensiviert. Zur Unterzeichnung eines 

Abkommens kam Sofias Bürgermeisterin Jordanka 

Fandakova nach Österreich. Wiens Bürgermeister 

Michael Ludwig fand dabei vorausblickende Worte: 

„Europas Startup-Szene boomt. Es ist deshalb wichtig, 

dass europäische Städte sich nicht als Konkurrenten, 

sondern als Verbündete mit gemeinsamen 

Interessen sehen.“ 

Florian Gschwandtner is perhaps the bestknown 

representative of Austria’s start-up 

scene. Whenever truly successful new Austrian 

businesses are the topic of discussion, then his 

success story often makes an appearance as an example 

and as a role model. In 2009, Gschwandtner and 

three university colleagues set up the company 

“Runtastic”, a fitness app that has managed to successfully 

establish itself on the market. So successful, 

in fact, that the renowned German sports company 

Adidas reached out and acquired the business for 

220 million euro. 

Now, the entrepreneur worth millions has written 

a book in which he details the creation story of Runtastic 

and how difficult it was back then to build such 

a company. “No matter where we went, all we would 

hear was ‘no’, we were often laughed at, nobody believed 

in our product.” 

Ten years later, the scene appears to be booming. 

Start-up companies are popping up everywhere and 

countless supporting companies are being founded 

at the same time, the so-called accelerators and incubators. 

Official institutions, such as the City of Vienna, 

the Austrian Economic Chamber in Vienna and 

the government are counting on the industry and are 

offering information and even generous grants. 

What’s most important: Investors are getting on 

board and an increasing number of people want to 

invest their money in start-ups. In the international 

city ranking, Vienna is already among the top ten 

best start-up cities in Europe. Despite the fact that it’s 

still behind the leading three: London, Berlin and 

then Paris. 

But what actually defines a start-up and what differentiates 

it from a “regularly” founded company? 

The European Startup Monitor defines businesses as 

start-ups if they work innovatively, meaning that 

they uncover new business ideas or new accesses to 

markets, show significant revenue or employment 

growth potential and are younger than ten years old. 

The start-up boom was only made possible by the 

increasing trend of digitalisation. And when it comes 

to content, start-ups tend to revolve around IT issues, 

the creative economy, new media, life sciences 

and technology. 

In parallel to the actual start-up companies, a 

large number of small businesses has now formed 

that see themselves as a kind of support. They create 

connections to investors, help with the development 

of networks and provide so-called co-working 

spaces, where people can meet and exchange knowhow. 

There are hundreds of such spaces in Vienna 

already, two years ago there weren’t more than two. 

The universities, on the other hand, likewise want 

to take advantage of the potential of their students 

and are beginning to set up start-up centres. Naturally, 

research and new company formations are also 

PHOTOS: TIRZA OG, DAVID BOHMANN, CHRISTIAN JOBST/PID 

being carried out in the provinces, but half of all startups 

are still launched in Vienna. This, of course, has 

to do with the large number of universities, and thus 

students, in the city. 

The number of businesses in the start-up scene is 

vast. To provide an overview, there is now a comprehensive 

“Startup Guide”, the Startup Monitor and the 

“Brutkasten” (“Incubator”) online magazine. And 

just recently, the Vienna Business Agency released an 

„Ökosystem für Startups”, listing more than 150 smaller 

to larger firms in Vienna alone that provide assistance 

to start-up companies or offer office spaces for 

shared working. 

By now, several such companies have managed to 

establish themselves as large private firms. In 2017, 

weXelerate opened a start-up campus that aims at becoming 

the central hub for the Central and Eastern 

European start-up scene. On their website, weXelerate 

describes itself as “CEE’s largest Innovation Hub”. 

The competition is watching closely, however. Not 

long ago, Talent Garden launched a campus in Vienna, 

offering flexible workspaces, events and training 

for several hundred start-ups. The fact that Talent 

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Garden has 23 locations in 8 countries is a clear advantage 

for the internationally-minded audience. 

And this appears to be an additional, often unspoken 

criterion for a start-up: thinking globally, working internationally. 

This is also where the City of Vienna is active right 

now, establishing contact with international start-up 

networks. Vienna has been a member of “Start Alliance” 

since the end of 2017, which is a network that 

includes metropoles such as New York, Tel Aviv, 

Shanghai, Paris, London and several more. Here, local 

start-ups can network internationally, gaining access 

to the most important global markets. 

Due to its location, Vienna is particularly important 

for Central and Eastern Europe. And that is also 

one of the reasons why the collaboration with Bulgaria 

was recently intensified. Sofia’s mayor Jordanka 

Fandakova recently came to Austria to sign a convention. 

Vienna’s mayor Michael Ludwig expressed his 

forward-looking thoughts on the occasion: “Europe’s 

start-up scene is booming. This is why it is important 

for European cities not to act as competitors, but to 

stand together for their shared interests.” 

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64 Cercle Diplomatique 4/2018

L’AUTRICHE FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS AGENCY 

Im Dienst der Menschen 

In the service of people 

Die in Wien ansässige Fundamental Rights Agency ist für den 

Schutz der vielfältigen Grundrechte in der EU zuständig. 

The Vienna-based Fundamental Rights Agency is dedicated to the 

protection of the various fundamental human rights in the EU. 


Seit vor 40 Jahren die UNO-City in Wien errichtet 

wurde, ist die österreichische Hauptstadt 

nicht nur der vierte UN-Amtssitz, es befinden 

sich auch mehrere Organisationen der UNO hier. 

Weniger bekannt ist, dass in der Donaumetropole 

auch eine der wichtigsten Agenturen der Europäischen 

Union ansässig ist: Nämlich die European 

Union Agency for Fundamental Rights. Dass diese 

Agentur am 15. Februar 2007 offiziell nach Wien 

kam war sicher eine besondere Auszeichnung für die 

österreichische Hauptstadt. Denn allzu viele Agenturen 

hat die EU nicht zu vergeben: Das sah man im 

vergangenen Herbst auch an dem Gerangel um zwei 

EU-Agenturen die wegen des drohenden Brexit von 

London wegziehen. Mit viel Aufwand und Lobbying 

bewarb sich eine Vielzahl von europäischen Städten. 

Letztlich gewannen Amsterdam und Paris – allerdings 

erst nach Losentscheiden. 

Somit ist es etwas verwunderlich, dass die FRA 

(Fundamental Rights Agency), wie sie kurz genannt 

wird, einer breiten Wiener Öffentlichkeit nicht allzu 

bekannt ist. Das liegt auch daran, dass die Arbeit der 

Agentur eine eher stille ist und sich viel um rechtliche 

Materie dreht. Dabei sind die Aufgaben vielfältig: 

Der aus Irland stammende Direktor Michael 

O’Flaherty fasst das so zusammen: „Die FRA ist eine 

vor mehr als elf Jahren gegründete Einrichtung der 

EU, die den Zweck hat, die EU und seine Institutionen 

wie die Kommission, das Parlament und den Rat 

sowie die EU-Mitglieder zu beraten.“ Das ist dem 

Direktor wichtig: „Unsere Rolle ist es zu beraten – 

wir treffen keine Entscheidungen und wir sprechen 

nicht Recht. Aber wir leisten einen großen Dienst an 

den Menschenrechten, indem wir Forschung und 

Analyse machen und Daten sammeln.“ 

Die FRA ist die Nachfolgeorganisation der „Europäischen 

Stelle zur Beobachtung von Rassismus und 

Fremdenfeindlichkeit“, die bereits seit Mitte der 

neunziger Jahre in Wien aktiv war. Der große Unterschied: 

Die FRA befasst sich zwar weiter mit rassistischer 

Diskriminierung, aber hat ein viel weiteres 

Mandat, das alle Menschenrechts-Aspekte behandelt 

und nicht nur Rassismus. 

Grundsätzlich ist das FRA-Mandat der Schutz der 

Grundrechte in Europa, basierend auf der Grundrechtecharter 

der EU. Konkret arbeitet die Agentur 

in den Bereichen Asyl und Migration, gegen Diskriminierung 

aus Gründen des Geschlechts, Rasse oder 

Farbe, hilft bei der Integration von Roma, hilft bei 

der Durchsetzung von Kinderrechten, stellt sich gegen 

die Diskriminierung aufgrund von Behinderung 

und sexueller Orientierung und hilft zudem bei der 

Achtung der Privatsphäre in unserer Informationsgesellschaft, 

um nur einige der vielfältigen Aufgaben 

zu nennen. Dafür werden Umfragen gemacht, jährliche 

Reports über die erwähnten einzelnen Rechte 

ebenso verfasst wie der jährliche „Fundamental 

Rights Report“. 

Die Agentur hat aber auch einen starken politischen 

Bezug, da sie sich mit oft umstrittenen Aspekten 

befasst. Etwa mit den Themen Migration und 

Integration. Zur Migrationspolitik der EU hat O’Flaherty 

eine deutliche Meinung. „Wir brauchen eine 

europäische Politik. 28 europäische nationale Politiken 

werden nicht effektiv sein. Was wir brauchen ist 

Kooperation und der Rahmen dafür ist die EU. 

Wenn es um Migrationspolitik geht, dann ist die EU 

die Antwort und nicht das Problem.“ 

Eine weitere FRA-Studie, die letztes Jahr veröffentlicht 

wurde, sorgte ebenfalls für Diskussionen. 

Da ging es um Fragen der Integration von Muslimen 

in Europa. O’Flaherty: „Wir haben bei dieser Umfrage 

herausgefunden, dass die Muslime mehr Vertrauen 

in unsere öffentlichen Institutionen haben, als die 

lokale Bevölkerung. Das ist doch eine beeindruckende 

Geschichte über erfolgreiche Integration.“ 

Die erst vor kurzem veröffentlichte Studie über 

die Situation von Kindern in Europa hat ebenfalls 

starke Reaktionen hervorgerufen. Demnach leben 

2,5 Millionen Kinder in extremer Armut. Ein Viertel 

der europäischen Kinder lebt am Rande von Armut. 

Welche Lösung hat die FRA dafür anzubieten? „Wir 

müssen eine gesetzliche Kinder-Garantie erlassen. 

Das sollte eine Garantie er EU und ihrer Mitgliedstaaten 

sein, dass kein Kind hungrig ins Bett gehen 

würde oder ohne Zugang zu Schulen und medizinischer 

Versorgung sein würde“, meint Direktor O’Flaherty. 

Und er fügt hinzu: „Wir sind ein reicher Teil 

der Welt, wir können eine solche Garantie aussprechen.“ 

Eine interessante Persönlichkeit ist ihr Direktor 

Michael O’Flaherty, der im Dezember 2015 den Pos- 


Der Ire O’Flaherty ist seit drei Jahren 

Chef der Grundrechteagentur. 

The Irishman O‘Flaherty has been head 

of the Fundamental Rights Agency for 

three years. 



67

L’AUTRICHE FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS AGENCY 

INFO 

FRA: Der Schutz 

von Grundrechten 

The protection of 

fundamental rights 

Gründung: Die Agentur der 

Europäischen Union für 

Grundrechte (FRA) wurde 2007 

gegründet. Ihr Sitz ist am 

Schwarzenbergplatz in Wien. 

Aufgaben: Die FRA soll EU-Institutionen 

und Mitgliedstaaten 

mit Expertisen aus verschiedenen 

Bereichen versorgen. 

Basisaufgabe ist, die 

Grundrechte der Menschen in 

der EU zu schützen. 

Team: Die FRA hat 105 

Mitarbeiter, dazu kommen 

nationale Sachverständige und 

Praktikanten. Direktor ist seit 

Dezember 2015 der Ire Michael 

O’Flaherty (im Bild unten). 

Foundation: The European 

Union Agency for Fundamental 

Rights (FRA) was founded in 

2007. Its seat is on Schwarzenbergplatz 

in Vienna.Tasks: The 

FRA should provide EU 

institutions and Member States 

with expertise from various 

fields. The basic task is to 

protect the fundamental rights 

of the people of the EU. 

Team: The FRA has 105 

employees, plus national 

experts and interns. Since 

December 2015, the Irishman 

Michael O‘Flaherty is the 

organisation‘s director 

(pictured below). 

Eine der vielen Aufgaben 

der FRA ist der Kampf gegen 

Diskriminierung aufgrund 

von Behinderung. 

One of the FRA‘s many 

responsibilities is the fight 

against disability discrimination. 

ten übernahm. O’Flaherty ist Ire und er stammt aus 

Galway, wo sein Vater und schon sein Großvater 

Bürgermeister waren. „Ich war sehr glücklich, in eine 

Familie geboren zu werden, die den öffentlichen 

Dienst schätzt. Beide gehörten zu keiner politischen 

Partei und wollten nur der Stadt dienen.“ Dann aber 

entschied O’Flaherty Priester zu werden. Danach 

aber setzte er sich ein weiteres Ziel: „Ich wollte nützlich 

für die Gesellschaft sein, studierte Jus und wurde 

Anwalt vor allem im Bereich der Menschenrechte“. 

Since the Vienna International Centre was erected 

in the city over 40 years ago, the Austrian 

capital has not only been the fourth seat of the 

UN but also that of many additional organisations 

connected to it. What’s less known, however, is that 

one of the most important agencies of the European 

Union is also based in the city on the Danube: Namely, 

the European Union Agency for Fundamental 

Rights. The fact that the agency officially came to 

Vienna on 15 February 2007 was most certainly a 

special recognition for the Austrian capital. The EU 

does not have that many agencies to spare, after all: 

This also became apparent in the scuffle over two EU 

agencies that are planning to move out of London as 

a result of Brexit. With much effort and lobbying, 

countless European cities applied to host the agencies. 

In the end, Amsterdam and Paris won – the decision 

was made by lot. 

And this is why it is indeed a little surprising that 

Zahlreiche Diskussionsveranstaltungen gab es heuer im 

September beim Fundamental-Rights-Forum in Wien. 

Numerous discussions took place at the Fundamental Rights 

Forum in Vienna this September. 

the FRA (Fundamental Rights Agency) isn’t too wellknown 

among the Viennese public. This is partly due 

to the fact that the agency’s work is a rather quiet endeavour, 

where efforts are primarily focused on legal 

matters. Nevertheless, their range of activities is very 

diverse. Director Michael O’Flaherty from Ireland 

summarises is as such: “The FRA is an EU institution 

that was founded more than 11 years ago and whose 

purpose is to advise the EU and its institutions, such 

as the Commission, the Parliament and the Council, 

as well as the EU member states.” The director considers 

this aspect very important. “Our role is to advise 

– we do not make decisions and we do not administer 

justice. However, we make important efforts toward 

human rights by conducting research and analysis 

and by gathering data.” 

The FRA is the successor organisation to the ‘European 

Monitoring Centre on Racism and Xenophobia’, 

which was already active in Vienna in the mid- 

90s. The big difference: Though the FRA continues 

to work against racist discrimination, it has a much 

larger mandate now and tackles all aspects of human 

rights and not just racism. 

Fundamentally, the FRA’s mandate is that of protecting 

fundamental rights in Europe on the basis of 

the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European 

Union. Concretely, the agency is active in areas such 

as asylum and migration, against discrimination on 

the basis of gender, race or colour, assists with the integration 

of Roma people, assists in the enforcement 

of children’s rights, works against discrimination on 

PHOTOS: FRA – WOLFGANG VOGLHUBER (2), FOTOLIA 

the basis of disability and sexual orientation and additionally 

assists in the guarding of privacy in our information-driven 

society, to name only some of the 

agency’s diverse set of tasks. To do so, surveys are 

conducted and annual reports on the just-mentioned 

rights are created, such as the annual Fundamental 

Rights Report. 

However, the agency also has a very strong political 

aspect, as it often deals with controversial subjects. 

This includes topics such as migration and integration. 

O’Flaherty has a clear take on the subject 

of migration policy. “We need a European policy. 28 

European national policies are not going to be effective. 

What we need is cooperation and the framework 

for this is the EU. When it comes to migration 

policy, the EU is the solution and not the problem.” 

Furthermore, an FRA study that was published 

last year also led to discussions. It concerned questions 

surrounding the integration of Muslims in Europe. 

“With the help of the survey, we found out that 

Muslims have more trust in our public institutions 

than the local population. That is an impressive 

achievement in regard to successful integration,” 

O’Flaherty explained. 

The just recently published study about the situation 

of children in Europe has also triggered strong 

reactions. According to the study, 2.5 million children 

live in extreme poverty. A quarter of European 

children live on the brink of poverty. What solution 

does the FRA propose? “We have to pass a legal guarantee 

for children. This should be a guarantee by the 

EU and its member states that no child should go to 

be hungry or not have access to schools and medical 

support.” O’Flaherty adds, “We are a rich part of the 

world, we could adopt such a guarantee.” 

Director Michael O’Flaherty, who assumed the 

position in December 2015, is an interesting person. 

He is from Galway in Ireland, where his father and 

even his grandfather were mayors. “I was very fortunate 

to have been born into a family that valued 

public service. Neither one of them was a member of 

any political party and simply wanted to serve the 

city.” Then, however, O’Flaherty decided to become a 

priest. Afterward, he set himself another goal, “I 

wanted to be useful to society, I studied law and became 

a lawyer with a focus on human rights.” 

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68 


L’AUTRICHE FRA | INTERVIEW 

Michael O’Flaherty 

„ Unser Mandat deckt alle Dimensionen unserer Rechte.“ 

“Our mandate covers all dimensions of our rights.” 


Aspire - Create - Excel 

Der Direktor der FRA ist 

überzeugt, dass seine 

Agentur in Zukunft noch 

wichtiger sein wird denn je. 

The director of the FRA is 

convinced, that his agency 

will become more 

important than ever 

in the future. 

CD: Sie sind der Direktor einer Agentur die 

Menschenrechte in Europa fördert und schützt. 

Können Sie sagen, welche Rechte damit genau 

gemeint sind? 

Michael O’Flaherty: Es ist ein sehr 

umfangreiches Mandat und deckt alle Dimensionen 

unserer Rechte ab: unsere politischen 

Rechte, unsere wirtschaftlichen 

Rechte und sogar unsere kulturellen Rechte. 

Wir sehen uns zum Beispiel die Situation 

mit den sechs Millionen Roma in der 

Europäischen Union an, deren Lebensumstände 

erbärmlich sind. Wir betrachten die 

Situation der Migranten in Verbindung mit 

dem Zuzug von 2015. Wir achten auch auf 

Kinderrechte sowie auf die Integration. 

Aber wir blicken nicht nur auf Probleme; 

wir suchen nach Lösungen. Wir suchen 

und identifizieren erfolgreiche Maßnahmen 

in den Europäischen Mitgliedsstaaten 

und versuchen, diese Praktiken zu übertragen. 

Im nächsten Februar wird die FRA zwölf. Was 

waren Ihre größten Erfolge bis jetzt? 

Die meisten Erfolge für eine Organisation 

wie unsere sind unsichtbar. Ich spreche 

von den Dingen, die nicht passiert 

sind, der Missbrauch der nicht geschehen 

ist. Die Tatsache, dass Kinderschutzsysteme, 

einschließlich für Migranten, heute 

besser funktionieren als vor vier Jahren. 

Die Tatsache, dass wir Menschenrechtsschutz 

in großen Teilen des europäischen 

MICHAEL O’FLAHERTY 

Gesetzes haben, die nicht dort stehen würden, 

hätten wir es nicht so verhandelt. 

Eine neue FRA-Studie über Kinder hat kürzlich 

sehr viel Diskussion verursacht. Worum ging 

es in der Studie? 

Wir haben eine Studie über die Kinderarmut 

veröffentlicht, mit einigen sehr 

schockierenden Ergebnissen: Eins von vier 

europäischen Kindern ist von Armut gefährdet. 

Das hört sich vielleicht nicht nach 

viel an, aber Armutsrisiko bedeutet, dass 

man in einem Zuhause aufwächst, in dem 

es kein Geld für Grundversorgungen gibt 

und in dem es keinen Zugriff auf jene Dinge 

gibt, die wir als selbstverständlich betrachten, 

wie zum Beispiel Bildung und 

ärztliche Versorgung. 

Wie sehen Sie die Zukunft der FRA? Wird sie in 

einigen Jahren immer noch gebraucht werden? 

Die Zeiten sind schwierig für Menschenrechte 

und Menschenrechtsschutz-Systeme. 

Agenturen wie die FRA sind daher wichtiger 

als je zuvor. 

CD: You are the director of an agency that is 

promoting and protecting human rights in the EU. 

Can you specify which rights this entails in particular? 

Michael O’Flaherty: It’s a very wide 

mandate and it covers all dimensions of our 

rights: our political rights, our economic 

rights and even our cultural rights. For 

example, we look at the situation of the six 

million Roma in the European Union, whose 

living conditions are deplorable. We look 

at the situation of migrants in connection to 

the influx of 2015. We look at children’s 

rights, and also at the story of integration. 

But we don’t only look at problems; we look 

at solutions. We identify good practices 

across the European member states and we 

aim to transfer these practices. 

Next February, the FRA is turning twelve: What 

have been your biggest successes up to this 

point? 

Most successes for an agency like ours 

are the invisible ones. I’m talking about the 

things that did not happen, the abuse that 

did not occur. The fact that child protection 

systems, including for migrants, are working 

better today than they were four years 

ago. The fact that we have human rights 

protections in vast bodies of European law 

that would not be there if we had not negotiated 

to have them included. 

A new FRA-study on children recently prompted a 

lot of discussion. What’s in the study? 

We published a report on child poverty 

in the EU with some pretty shocking figures: 

One in four European children lives at 

risk of poverty. That doesn’t sound like 

much, but risk of poverty means that you 

live in a home where there is not the money 

for basic services and there isn’t access to 

the things that are taken for granted, like 

education and hospital care. 

How do you see the future of the FRA? Is it still 

going to be needed in upcoming years? 

Times are tough for human rights and human 

rights protection systems, so agencies like 

the FRA are more important than ever. 


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70 

ist seit 2015 Direktor der Grundrechteagentur. Der 

irische Jurist war zuvor 20 Jahre im Menschenrechtsbereich 

international tätig gewesen. 

has been Director of the Fundamental Rights Agency 

since 2015. The Irish lawyer had previously worked 

internationally for 20 years in the human rights field. 


Michael O’Flaherty im Gespräch 

mit CD-Autor Gerhard Bitzan. 

Michael O‘Flaherty in the talk with 

CD author Gerhard Bitzan. 

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L’AUTRICHE INTERVIEW 

Wolfgang Sobotka 

„Nationalismus ist Gift für unsere Gesellschaft.“ 

”Nationalism is poison for our society.“ 

Der Nationalratspräsident ist überzeugt, dass in Europa der 

demokratische Gedanke stark verwurzelt ist. 

The President of Austria’s National Council is convinced that 

the democratic spirit is deeply anchored within Europe. 



FOTOS: PARLAMENTSDIREKTION / JOHANNES ZINNER 

CD: Herr Präsident: Nach dem Bundespräsidenten ist 

Nationalratspräsident formell das zweitwichtigste Amt in 

Österreich. Wie groß ist die Macht tatsächlich? 

Wolfgang Sobotka: Die Frage nach der Macht 

ist nicht wesentlich. Die Macht liegt bei den Wählerinnen 

und Wählern – also beim Souverän. Das Amt 

bietet viele Möglichkeiten zur Gestaltung von wichtigen 

gesellschaftlichen Fragen und somit auch viel 

Spielraum zur Gestaltung. Das schätze ich an dieser 

Funktion sehr, denn die demokratische Weiterentwicklung 

unseres Landes ist mir ein ganz zentrales 

Anliegen. 

Sie haben vor knapp einem Jahr das Amt übernommen. 

Was sind Ihre Schwerpunkte, welche Markierungen 

möchten Sie setzen? 

Das Parlament steht für mich für viele Aspekte 

unserer Gesellschaft. Das Parlament ist für mich ein 

Ort der historischen Verantwortung, aber auch eine 

Stätte der Diskussion von Zukunftsfragen. Wir haben 

das Hohe Haus natürlich auch als internationale 

Visitenkarte zu betrachten. Maßnahmen, wie zum 

Beispiel die Demokratiewerkstatt, die wir in Österreich 

seit vielen Jahren kennen, versuchen wir vor 

allem in Staaten Südosteuropas zu implementieren. 

In dieser Region möchte ich einen Schwerpunkt des 

Parlaments in der Begleitung und Unterstützung der 

EU-Annäherung setzen. 

Wie kann man der jüngeren Generation Demokratieverständnis 

vermitteln? 

Demokratie und Parlamentarismus müssen von 

jeder Generation immer wieder aufs Neue erarbeitet 

werden. Man darf diese Errungenschaften nicht einfach 

als gegeben annehmen. Demokratie ist etwas 

Unvollendetes – das Arbeiten mit Fokus auf Dialog 

und Beteiligung der Bürgerinnen und Bürger müssen 

im Fokus stehen. Das muss man den jungen 

Menschen durch politische Bildung und Maßnahmen 

wie die Demokratiewerkstatt näherbringen. 

In der EU scheint die Demokratie, scheinen demokratische 

Strukturen unter Druck zu geraten. Was kann man dagegen 

tun? 

WOLFGANG SOBOTKA 

Das, was wir in Österreich im Kleinen versuchen 

zu leben, muss auf die Europäische Union umgelegt 

werden. Das sind Hausaufgaben, die von den Mitgliedstaaten 

zuallererst erledigt werden müssen. Darüber 

hinaus müssen wir bei zukünftigen Erweiterungsprozessen 

die sozio-kulturellen Aspekte stärker 

berücksichtigen. Daraus kann sich dann ein neues 

gemeinsames Verständnis der europäischen Idee 

entwickeln. 

Die EU wird derzeit viel kritisiert, oft auch von Regierungen. 

Wie groß ist die Krise in der EU? Wird sie das alles 

überstehen? 

Die Europäische Union ist das größte Friedensprojekt 

des 21. Jahrhunderts. Daran kann es keinen 

Zweifel geben. Ich für meinen Teil möchte auch 

nicht von einer Krise sprechen. Wir stehen vor Herausforderungen, 

für die wir gemeinsame europäische 

Lösungen brauchen. 

America first, Italien first, Ungarn first - und so weiter: 

Derzeit blüht der Nationalismus - auch in der EU. Wie 

bedenklich ist dieser Trend? 

Nationalismus ist Gift für unsere Gesellschaft. 

Egal wo und in welcher Form sich dieser zeigt. Ich 

bin aber der Überzeugung, dass in den europäischen 

Gesellschaften der demokratische Gedanke stark 

verwurzelt ist – das stimmt mich zuversichtlich. 

Sie waren gerade erst in Mazedonien und Serbien. Wie 

wichtig ist es, den Westbalkan an die EU rasch heranzuführen? 

Die Heranführung der Staaten des Westbalkans 

an die EU ist alternativlos. Die Zukunft des Westbalkans 

liegt in Europa. Dieses Versprechen hat die EU 

bereits vor 15 Jahren abgegeben. Es kann jedoch keinen 

„Beitritt light“ geben, die Erfüllung der Kriterien 

ist Voraussetzung für eine Mitgliedschaft. Fortschritte 

der Kandidatenländern müssen umgekehrt 

von der EU auch honoriert werden. Es braucht ein 

verstärktes Engagement der Kommission und der 

EU-Partner am Westbalkan. 

CD: Mister President, after the Federal President, the 

President of the National Council is formally the most 

important office in Austria. How great is the office’s power, 

really? 

Wolfgang sobotka: The question of power is not 

important. The power lies with the voters – in other 

words, with the sovereign. The office provides the 

opportunity to direct important social questions, 

offering plenty of opportunities to do so. This is 

ist ein Politiker der VP. Er ist seit Dezember 2017 Nationalratspräsident. 

Zuvor war er Innenminister und niederösterreichischer 

Landesrat. 

is a politician from the Austrian People’s Party. He has been the 

President of the National Council since December 2017. 

Previously, he was the Interior Minister and Councillor for Lower 

Austria. 



73

L’AUTRICHE INTERVIEW 

We cannot simply take these achievements for granted. 

Democracy is something incomplete – continued 

efforts with a focus on dialogue and citizen participation 

have to take the centre stage. This needs to 

be communicated to every young person through 

political education as well as measures such as the 

Demokratiewerkstatt. 

1 

3 

2 

4 

In the EU, democracy and democratic institutions appear to 

be under pressure. What can be done about this? 

The things that we are trying to put into practice 

on a smaller scale here in Austria need to be transferred 

to the European Union. These are challenges that 

must first be tackled by the member states themselves. 

Additionally, we have to take a closer look at socio-cultural 

aspects during future expansions. Out of 

this, a new, shared understanding of the European 

idea can develop. 

Bild: Kästenbauer/Ettl 

1 Sobotka mit Monika 

Sommer, der Direktorin 

des Haus der Geschichte 

Österreich. 

Sobotka with Monika 

Sommer, the director of The 

House of Austrian History. 

2 Er beantwortet im Chat 

die Fragen von Schülern. 

He answers students’ questions 

in the chat. 

3 Sobotka empfängt eine 

chinesische Delegation. 

Sobotka welcomes a 

Chinese delegation. 

4 Und trifft die israelische 

Botschafterin, I.E. Talya 

Lador-Fresher. 

And meets the Israeli 

Ambassador, H.E. Talya 

Lador-Fresher. 

what I really value about this position, as the 

continued democratic development of this country 

is one of my primary concerns. 

You assumed the office roughly one year ago. What are you 

focusing on, what accents would you like to place? 

To me, the parliament represents many aspects of 

our society. I see it as a place of historical responsibility, 

but also as a place for discussions and questions 

pertaining to the future. Of course, we also have to 

look at the parliament as an international business 

card. We are trying to implement measures, such as 

the “Demokratiewerkstatt” (“Democracy Workshop”) 

– which we have now known in Austria for 

many years – in countries in South-Eastern Europe. 

I would like one of the parliament’s focus areas to be 

the support and assistance for rapprochement with 

the EU. 

How can we communicate democratic values to the younger 

generations? 

With every new generation, democracy and parliamentarianism 

must be worked out all over again. 

The EU is currently being heavily criticised, often even by 

governments. How big is the crisis in the EU? Is it going to 

survive? 

The European Union is the greatest peace project 

of the 21st century. There can be no doubt about this. 

I, for my part, do not wish to speak of a crisis. We are 

standing before challenges for which we need joint 

European solutions.. 

America first, Italy first, Hungary first – and so on: 

Nationalism is blooming – even in the EU. How do you view 

this trend? 

Nationalism is poison for our society. No matter 

where and in what form it appears. I am also convinced 

that the European spirit is deeply anchored in 

European societies – this gives me confidence. 

You just returned from Macedonia and Serbia. How important 

is the quick approximation of the countries of the Western 

Balkans to the EU? 

There is no alternative to the approximation of 

the countries of the Western Balkans to the EU. The 

future of the Western Balkans lies with Europe. The 

EU already made this promise 15 years ago. However, 

there can be no “light entry”, the fulfilment of all 

criteria is the requirement for membership. On the 

other hand, advancements among the candidate 

countries must be honoured by the EU. The Commission 

and the EU partners need to be engaged 

more strongly with the Western Balkans. 

FOTOS: PARLAMENTSDIREKTION / JOHANNES ZINNER; THOMAS JANTZEN; THOMAS TOPF 

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wurde. Ein Teilchenbeschleuniger beschleunigt 

die geladenen Teilchen auf bis zu zwei Drittel der 

Lichtgeschwindigkeit, bevor diese in die Bestrahlungsräume 

und dort millimetergenau auf den 

Tumor gelenkt werden. 

Seit Ende 2016 werden bei MedAustron Patientinnen 

und Patienten behandelt, darunter auch Kinder. Die 

Behandlung erstreckt sich über einen Zeitraum von 

mehreren Wochen, in denen täglich eine ambulante 

Bestrahlung erfolgt. Parallel zum Klinikbetrieb werden 

die Behandlungsmodalitäten erweitert und die 

Anlage für Forschung auf den Gebieten der Strahlenbiologie 

und der (medizinischen) Strahlenphysik 

genutzt. 

◆ 

Ion beam therapy or particle therapy is an evolution 

of radiation therapy and is mainly used for 

tumors which are resistant to conventional radiation, 

or are 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 

significantly 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 charged particles: 

protons and carbon ions. 

In order to achieve this, complex technology is 

necessary, which was 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 enter the treatment rooms, where 

they emit their energy directly to the tumor volume 

with millimeter-precision. 

MedAustron started treating patients, including 

children, in late 2016. In the outpatient clinic, patients 

receive one irradiation session daily over the 

course of several weeks. In parallel, not only the 

treatment modalities are being expanded step by 

step, but also non-clinical research is conducted in 

the fiels of radiobiology and (medical) radiation 

biology. 


www.facebook.com/medaustron 

www.medaustron.at

L’AUTRICHE HONORARY DUTY 

ErnstWunderbaldinger 

„Portugal ist ein wunderschönes Land!“ 

”Portugal is a beautiful country!“ 

Interview: Daniela Pötzl 

Der Innsbrucker Honorarkonsul für Portugal für den Amtsbereich Tirol und Vorarlberg 

über seine Tätigkeiten im Amt, die Wirtschaft und die Schönheiten, die das Land mit 

dem westlichsten Punkt Kontinentaleuropas bietet. 

The Innsbruck native honorary consul for Portugal for the jurisdiction of Tyrol and 

Vorarlberg on the activities of his office, the economy and the beautiful sights that the 

country with the westernmost point in continental Europe has to offer. 

CD: Herr Honorarkonsul Wunderbaldinger, wann 

wurden Sie in diese Funktion, in der Sie für den 

Amtsbereich Tirol und Vorarlberg tätig sind, 

berufen? 

ernst Wunderbaldinger: Ich habe 

bereits im Jänner 1998 die Exequatur bekommen. 

Für die Bundesrepublik Deutschland 

war ich auch jahrelang als Honorarkonsul 

tätig. Durch den Baubeginn des 

Brenner Basistunnels kamen damals vor 

rund 10 Jahren viele Portugiesen nach Tirol. 

Sie sind als hervorragende Bauarbeiter 

und gute Facharbeiter bekannt. Einige von 

ihnen blieben in Tirol. 

Welche Verbindungen bestehen zwischen Tirol 

und Portugal und wie werden diese – auch von 

Ihrer Seite – intensiviert? 

Als Honorarkonsul berichte ich auch 

über Strömungen und Entwicklungen in 

kultureller und wirtschaftlicher Hinsicht. 

Das kann auch politische Aussagen beinhalten. 

Ein wirtschaftliches Zukunftsgebiet 

ist der Tourismus, da tut sich viel – Österreicher 

investieren mittlerweile in Portugal, 

in Immobilien-Projekte und Golfplätze. 

Ich unterstütze auch portugiesische 

Unternehmen, in anderen Ländern Fuß zu 

fassen. Es gibt zudem einen regen Austausch 

mit Firmen des ehemaligen Osteuropas, 

vor allem Industrieunternehmen 

und Baufirmen, die Geschäfte anbahnen 

wollen und die ich begleite. 

Sie sind ja auch als Vizepräsident der Österreichisch-Portugiesischen 

Gesellschaft aktiv. 

Mit Joana Daniel-Wrabetz, deren Ehemann 

in Portugal als österreichischer Botschafter 

akkreditiert war, haben wir eine 

sehr aktive Präsidentin. Wir kümmern uns 

da aber auch um die Jugend, etwa mit 

Tanzveranstaltungen und Taekwondo-Unterrichtseinheiten. 

Und wir fördern auch 

die kulturelle Ebene. Wir bieten Sprachunterricht 

auf Portugiesisch und Deutsch an, 

für Jugendliche wie Erwachsene. Unter anderem 

veranstalten wir immer wieder Lesungen 

portugiesischer Schriftsteller und 

fördern die Vorführung portugiesischer 

Filme, die österreichische Auszeichnungen 

bekommen haben. Aber auch die tolle Kulinarik 

soll nicht zu kurz kommen: mit 

Portwein- oder portugiesischen Wein-Verkostungen 

oder gar Gourmet-Reisen, die 

wir auch immer wieder vorstellen. 

Welche Regionen Portugals haben Sie bereits 

besucht? 

Portugal ist ein landschaftlich beeindruckendes 

Land. Ich besuche es mindestens 

einmal im Jahr. Ich bin gerne auf den Azoren, 

Porto Santo und auf Madeira, wo man 

entlang den Bewässerungskanälen wandern 

gehen kann. Von diesen wunderbaren 

Inseln ist es ja nicht ganz so bekannt, dass 

diese zu Portugal gehören. Das Land bietet 

von der Algarve für Sonnenanbeter über 

die Berge in der Mittelregion und sogar 

Steppe, für jeden Urlauber-Geschmack etwas. 

Für den Herbst kann ich besonders 

die Wal- und Delfin-Beobachtung empfehlen. 

Auch geschichtlich gibt es interessante 

Verbindungen zu Österreich. Kaiser Maximilian 

I. ist ja als Sohn einer Portugiesin in 

Wiener Neustadt geboren. Ihm wird 2019 

mit „Max 500“ in Tirol ein Gedenkjahr mit 

Ausstellungen und diversen Aktivitäten gewidmet. 

Und auch Madeira hat einen historischen 

Bezug zu Österreich, da der letz- 

te österreichische Kaiser, Karl I., dort im 

Exil lebte und auch verstarb. 

Vernetzen sich Honorarkonsuln auch international 

untereinander? 

Wir hatten in Portugal ein weltweites 

Konsuln-Treffen, bei dem es um Förderentwicklungen 

in Portugal, die ökonomische 

Situation, den Tourismus und auch 

rechtliche Zusammenhänge ging. Da kamen 

rund 200 Konsuln zusammen, von 

Australien über die USA bis hin zu Ost-Europa 

waren vertreten, auch aus Pakistan 

und Bangladesch. Und die baltischen Staaten 

sind sehr interessiert, neue Freundschaften 

zu schließen. Es ist ein fantastisches 

Netzwerk. 

Sprechen Sie Portugiesisch bzw. lernen Sie die 

Sprache und können Sie die Nationalhymne 

schon mitsingen? 

Die Hauptsprachen der Honorarkonsuln 

sind ja Englisch und Spanisch. Ich 

spreche auch Französisch und etwas Portugiesisch. 

Und ja, ich kann die Nationalhymne 

schon mitsingen. 

CD: Honorary Consul Mr Wunderbaldinger, when 

were you appointed to the office that you are 

currently representing in Tyrol and Vorarlberg?? 

ernst Wunderbaldinger: I already 

received the exequatur in January of 1998. I 

was also active as an honorary consul of the 

Federal Republic of Germany for many years. 

With the commencement of the construction 

of the Brenner Base Tunnel, many 

Portuguese people made their way to Tyrol 



ERNST WUNDERBALDINGER 

Der Jurist war viele Jahre als Rechtsanwalt und im Bankenwesen auch 

international tätig, außerdem arbeitet er als Berater in der Unternehmensund 

Vermögensverwaltung. Spezialisiert auf Firmen-Sanierungen und 

Immobilien-Entwicklungen, hat er einige Geschäftsführungs- und 

Aufsichtsrats-Positionen inne. Der dreifache Großvater fährt Ski, spielt Golf 

und jagt gerne. 

The legal expert spent many years working as a lawyer and in the international 

banking industry. He additionally works as a consultant in enterprise and 

wealth management. He specialises in corporate reconstruction and property 

development and holds several business leadership and supervisory board 

positions. The grandfather of three likes skiing, playing golf and hunting. 



77

L’AUTRICHE HONORARY DUTY 

PROMOTION 

Ganz rechts: Portugals Botschafter, S.E. 

António Almeida Ribeiro (Mitte) zu Gast in 

Innsbruck, bei Tirols Landeshauptmann 

Günther Platter. Far right: The Ambassador of 

Portugal, H.E. António Almeida Ribeiro (m.), 

while visiting Tyrol‘s Governor Günther Platter. 

Ein Land im Aufschwung 

A country gains traction 

In den ersten drei Monaten 2018 wuchs 

Portugals Wirtschaft um 2,1%. Dies ist die 

Fortsetzung der positiven Wirtschaftsentwicklung, 

die sich bereits im Jahr 2017 mit dem 

höchsten jährlichen Wirtschaftswachstum 

(+2,7%) des Jahrhunderts manifestierte. Neben 

dem Tourismus tragen auch die steigenden 

Exporte, eine höhere Inlandsnachfrage sowie 

der Bausektor maßgeblich zu diesem Wachstum 

bei. Nach einem rekordverdächtigen Plus von 

24% im Gesamtjahr 2017 stiegen die 

österreichischen Exporte nach Portugal im 

ersten Quartal 2018 weiter an (+9,3%). Für 

Überraschung sorgte jedoch eine Importsteigerung 

von +54,7%. Diese ist fast ausschließlich 

auf Kfz-Importe aus Portugal zurückzuführen. 

Die Arbeitslosigkeit sinkt weiter. Im ersten 

Quartal 2018 lag die Rate bei 7,9. 

the first three months of 2018, Portugal’s 

economy grew by 2.1%. This continues the 

nation’s positive economic development which 

already manifested in the biggest annual 

economic growth rate of the century (+2.7%). 

Next to tourism, it is also the increasing exports, 

amplified domestic demand and the construction 

industry that are contributing to these 

numbers. Following what was likely a 

record-breaking plus of 24% in the overall year 

of 2017, Austrian exports to Portugal continued 

to increase in the first quarter of 2018 (+9.3%). 

A real surprise, however, was the import 

increase of +54.7%, largely a result of increased 

motor vehicle imports from Portugal. 

Unemployment continues to fall. In the first 

quarter of 2018, the rate was at 7.9%. 

Quelle/Source: WKO 

Farbenfrohe Impression aus Lissabon. 

Colourful impression of Lisbon. 

around 10 years ago. They are well known 

as excellent construction workers and good 

skilled labourers in general. Many of them 

decided to stay in Tyrol. 

What are the connections between Tyrol and 

Portugal and how are they intensified, by you as 

well? 

As an honorary consul, I also report on 

changes and developments in the areas of 

culture and the economy. This may also include 

political statements. One economic 

sector with immense promise is tourism, 

where a lot is happening right now — Austrians 

are investing in property developments 

and golf courses in Portugal. I also 

support Portuguese businesses when it comes 

to settling in other countries. Additionally, 

there is a lot of exchange with companies 

in Eastern Europe, especially 

industrial firms and construction firms 

who want to commence trade and who I 

am assisting in this endeavour. 

You are also active as a vice president of the 

“Österreichisch-Portugiesische Gesellschaft” 

(“Austrian-Portuguese Society”) 

In Joana Daniel-Wrabetz, whose husband 

was accredited as an Austrian ambassador 

to Portugal, we have a very active 

president. We also look after the youth, 

such as, for example, with dance events and 

Taekwondo lessons. And we promote cultural 

engagement. We offer language lessons 

in Portuguese and German, for adolescents 

as well as adults. 

Among other things, we also organise 

readings by Portuguese writers and promote 

the exhibition of Portuguese films that 

have received Austrian awards. 

And we have a culinary programme: 

with port wine or Portuguese wine sampling 

and even gourmet travel journeys, 

which we often present. 

Which of Portugal’s regions have you already 

visited over the years? 

Geographically, Portugal is an astonishing 

country. I visit at least once a year. I 

like to be in the Azores, Porto Santo and on 

Madeira, where you can hike along the irrigation 

canals. Not that many people know 

that these brilliant islands belong to Portugal. 

From the Algarve for sun worshippers, 

the mountains in the central region and 

even the steppe, all the way to the westernmost 

part of Europe with Lisbon, Sintra 

and Porto and around the Douro river with 

excellent steep slope vineyards, the country 

offers something for every travel taste. In 

the autumn, I would strongly recommend 

whale and dolphin watching. 

Historically speaking, there are also several 

interesting connections to Austria. 

Emperor Maximilian I was born in Wiener 

Neustadt to a Portuguese mother. In 2019, 

an entire memorial year will be dedicated to 

him with “Max 500”, along with exhibitions 

and a range of activities. Madeira also has a 

historic relationship with Austria, since the 

last Austrian emperor, Charles I, spent his 

time in exile there and died there, too. 

Do the various honorary consuls network and 

communicate internationally? 

We had a global meeting of consuls in 

Portugal where funding for development in 

Portugal, the economic situation, tourism 

and legal matters were under discussion. 

The event brought together around 200 

consuls, ranging from representatives from 

Australia, the USA and Eastern Europe, as 

well as from Pakistan and Bangladesh. 

And the Baltic States are also very interested 

when it comes to forming new 

friendships. It’s a fantastic network. 

Do you speak Portuguese or are you currently 

learning to speak it? And can you already sing 

along to the national anthem? 

Well, the main languages of the honorary 

consuls are English and Spanish. I also 

speak French and a little bit of Portuguese. 

And yes, I can sing along to the national 

anthem. 

Honorarkonsul Erich 

Wunderbaldinger mit 

CD-Chefredakteurin Daniela 

Pötzl im Hotel Bristol Wien. 

Honorary Consul Ernst 

Wunderbaldinger with Daniela 

Pötzl, CD-Editor in chief, at the 

Hotel Bristol Vienna. 

FOTOS: RALPH MANFREDA (3), FOTOLIA 

ENTGELTLICHE EINSCHALTUNG • PHOTO: BMDW/HARTBERGER 

Sucesses of the Austrian Presidency 

of the Council of the EU 

After 1998 and 2006, Austria holds the Presidency 

of the Council of the European Union for the third 

time from July to December 2018. The Austrian Federal 

Government has drawn up a National Presidency 

Programme, which defines priorities. Following 

the Presidency’s motto „A Europe that 

protects“, the main focus of the Presidency was placed 

on 1) security and the fight against illegal migration, 

2) securing prosperity and competitiveness 

through digitalisation and 3) stability in the European 

neighbourhood – EU perspective of the Western 

Balkans. 

New European industrial policy 

The Federal Ministry for Digital and Economic Affairs 

has contributed significantly to a European industrial 

strategy post 2030. In order to raise awareness 

of a new – innovative and digital – industrial 

policy, the competitiveness ministers (internal market 

and industry) agreed on a threefold approach in 

Vienna on July, 16th: 

Boost innovation - focusing on Europe’s substantial 

competitive advantage by strengthening the innovation 

principle. 

Make good use of digitalisation - recognising and 

harnessing the major potential of artificial intelligence 

(AI), using digitalisation to reindustrialise 

Europe. 

Build on skills - remaining prepared for the future 

with highly qualified skilled workers. 

The Presidency Paper “Rethinking European Industry” 

presents visions and inputs for strengthening 

the innovation capacity of EU industry, capturing 

the potential of digitalisation and AI and the skills 

needed for digital transformation. Monitoring mechanisms 

for the implementation of European industrial 

policy and for effective governance structures 

were discussed as well. 

Prosperity and competitiveness through digitalisation and skills 

Among the Presidency’s ambitions is making full use 

of the potential of digitalisation, AI and robotics for 

business and industry - to safeguard Europe’s prosperity 

and competitiveness. Decisive steps were taken 

towards a digital single market in Europe. The roaming 

directive and the regulation on the Single Digital 

Gateway, which have been adopted during the Austrian 

Presidency, are examples that create benefits for all 

users and dismantle barriers impeding use in the European 

Union. 

No success without skills: A well-established and 

functioning professional education system is an important 

factor for economic development and offers 

young people a stable base for successful future careers. 

Innovative vocational education - the best practice 

Austrian model - was intensively promoted and 

discussed at the European Vocational Skills Week in 

Vienna. 

Trade as a driver for innovation and growth 

EU trade agreements are an opportunity to shape globalisation 

based on European values. During the informal 

trade ministers’ meeting on October, 5th in 

Innsbruck, the Austrian Presidency supported the 

EU’s common strategy to not only further develop the 

global trade system by new rules that take into account 

current developments in our globalised world, 

but also to combat unfair trade practices. This can be 

achieved by modernising the World Trade Organization 

(WTO) and by concluding trade agreements with 

like-minded partners who share similar values. In this 

vein, negotiations on free trade agreements were recently 

started with Australia and New Zealand. The 

Austrian Presidency highly welcomes the agreement 

of the EU and the US to start talks on abolishing tariffs 

on industrial goods, non-tariff trade barriers and subsidies 

and on establishing a dialogue on standards - 

keeping in mind that the US is Austria’s second most 

important export destination. An important milestone 

was the signature of a free trade agreement and an 

investment protection agreement with Singapore at 

the 12th Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) summit in 

Brussels on October, 18th and 19th 2018. 

INFO 

www.eu2018.at 

www.bmdw.gv.at 


L’AUTRICHE FUTURE LAB 

Prof. Dr. Eugen B. Hug 

„Die Medizin hat in den vergangenen Jahren enorme Fortschritte gemacht.“ 

“In recent years, Medicine has made enormous progress.” 

Synchrotron als Herzstück der Beschleuniger- 

Anlage; Patientenbestrahlung. Synchrotron is the 

core of the accelerator facility; Patient treatment. 

MedAustron 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR 

Prof. Dr. Eugen B. Hug ist Ärztlicher Direktor und 

medizinischer Geschäftsführer des MedAustron 

Ionentherapiezentrums. Er absolvierte seine 

Facharzt- und Zusatzausbildung in Radioonkologie am 

Massachusetts General Hospital und in Protonentherapie 

am Harvard Cyclotron Laboratory in den frühen 

90er Jahren. Er ist ein international anerkannter 

Pionier der Partikeltherapie mit über 20 Jahren 

klinischer und wissenschaftlicher Erfahrung und Autor 

zahlreicher Publikationen. Er war unter anderem am 

Massachusetts General Hospital, am Loma Linda 

University Medical Center, als Direktor des Paul 

Scherrer Institute Proton Center in der Schweiz und 

als Professor an der Universität Zürich tätig. Als CMO 

bei Procure etablierte er 4 Protonenzentren in den 

USA. Seine klinische Spezialisierung liegt auf 

pädiatrischen Malignomen, Schädelbasistumoren und 

Sarkomen. 

Prof. Dr. Eugen B. Hug holds the position of Medical 

director and co-managing Director of MedAustron Ion 

Therapy Center. Prof. Hug completed his residency in 

Radiation Oncology at Massachusetts General 

Hospital followed by a fellowship in Proton Therapy 

at the Harvard Cyclotron Laboratory in the early 

90’s. He is an internationally acknowledged pioneer of 

particle therapy with over 20 years of clinical and 

scientific experience and author of numerous 

publications. Amongst others, he held senior and 

leadership positions at the Massachusetts General 

Hospital, the Loma Linda University Medical Center, 

as Director of the Paul Scherrer Institute Proton 

Center in Switzerland and Professor at the University 

of Zürich. As CMO at Procure he established 4 Proton 

Centers in the USA. His clinical specialization focuses 

on pediatric malignancies, skull base tumors and 

sarcomas. 

Der Spezialist über die Fortschritte im Kampf gegen den Krebs. 

The specialist on the progress in the fight against cancer. 

Die Diagnose Krebs stellt Betroffene 

vor eine der größten Herausforderungen 

ihres Lebens und belastet 

auch ihr unmittelbares Umfeld. Die 

Medizin hat in den vergangenen Jahren 

auf dem Gebiet der Onkologie enorme 

Fortschritte gemacht, auch wenn nicht alle 

Krebserkrankungen derzeit heilbar sind. 

Obwohl die Anzahl an Neuerkrankungen 

steigt, sinkt die Mortalität. Ein wichtiger 

Indikator für den Erfolg von Krebstherapien 

ist das relative 5-Jahres-Überleben, 

das in Österreich kontinuierlich zunimmt 

und aktuell bei 61% liegt. 

Exzellente Zentren wenden hierzulande 

zeitgemäße Therapiemethoden zur Diagnose 

und Behandlung von Tumorerkrankungen 

an und widmen sich der Forschung, 

um Verfahren zu verbessern und 

neue Behandlungskonzepte zu ermöglichen. 

Ein junger „Player“ auf diesem Gebiet 

ist – zumindest in Österreich – die 

Ionentherapie, eine spezialisierte Form der 

Strahlentherapie. Die Verfügbarkeit dieser 

Therapie ist mit nur etwa 70 Zentren weltweit 

betrachtet gering – das gilt für ihren 

Teilbereich der Protonentherapie, aber 

noch viel mehr für das Teilgebiet der Kohlenstoffionentherapie. 

Österreich hat das 

Privileg, über ein Therapiezentrum für beide 

Formen zu verfügen. 

Mit Protonen sind weltweit etwa 160.000 

Patienten behandelt worden, mit Kohlenstoffionen 

etwa 25.000. Wie für alle Therapiemethoden 

gilt auch für die Ionentherapie, 

dass sie den Beweis der Evidenz der 

Überlegenheit antreten muss, warum und 

in welchen Fällen sie anderen überlegen ist 

– wie in der Medizin üblich, geschieht dies 

im Rahmen von klinischen Studien. Auf 

dem Gebiet der Ionentherapie sind weltweit 

derzeit etwa 150 klinische Studien offen – 

eine Zahl, die für ein derart spezialisiertes 

Teilgebiet beachtlich ist. Direkt oder indirekt 

erlauben diese Studien den Vergleich 

der Ionentherapie mit anderen Methoden. 

Dabei ist nicht nur die Kollaboration unter 

den einzelnen Ionentherapie-Zentren unerlässlich, 

sondern auch die Zusammenarbeit 

mit anderen onkologischen Disziplinen. 

Aber nicht nur der Vergleich, auch die 

Kombination der Ionentherapie mit anderen 

Behandlungsformen ist Gegenstand der 

Forschung und lässt uns auf ganz neue Therapiekonzepte 

hoffen. 

Andere spannende Forschungsfragen 

sind von eher grundlegender Natur, zum 

Beispiel jene nach den biologischen Mechanismen 

von Nebenwirkungen – warum 

entstehen sie, warum ist ihre Ausprägung 

derart unterschiedlich? Oder aber die Frage, 

was die wirkungsvolle Bekämpfung 

mancher Krebserkrankungen verhindert – 

warum können wir manche Tumore nicht 

heilen? Lassen sich diese Mechanismen beeinflussen? 

Die Antworten darauf werden weitere 

Bausteine auf dem Weg zur Verbesserung 

von Therapiemethoden ganz allgemein 

sein. Ich bin überzeugt, dass verschiedenste 

heimische Wissenschaftseinrichtungen 

entscheidende Beiträge leisten werden, die 

die Krebsmedizin in den kommenden Jahren 

voranbringen. 

The diagnosis of cancer presents those 

affected with one of the greatest 

challenges of their lives and also 

burdens their immediate environment. In 

recent years, medicine has made enormous 

progress in the field of oncology, even 

PHOTOS: EMIL & EMILIA BY KAESTENBAUER BILDER OG, THOMAS KAESTENBAUER 

though not all types of cancers are currently 

curable. Although the number of new cases 

is increasing, mortality is decreasing. An 

important indicator for the success of cancer 

therapies is the relative 5-year survival 

rate, which is continuously increasing in 

Austria and currently stands at 61%. 

Excellent centers in Austria apply modern 

therapy methods for the diagnosis 

and treatment of tumor diseases and engage 

in research in order to improve procedures 

and make new treatment concepts possible. 

A young player in this field - at least 

in Austria - is ion therapy, a specialized 

form of radiation therapy. With only about 

70 centers worldwide, the availability of 

this therapy is low - this applies to its subarea 

of proton therapy, but much more so 

to the subarea of carbon ion therapy. Austria 

has the privilege of having a therapy 

center for both forms. 

Around 160,000 patients worldwide 

have been treated with protons and around 

25,000 with carbon ions. As with all therapy 

methods, ion therapy must prove evidence 

of superiority, why and in which cases 

it is superior to others - as is common in 

medicine, this is done within the framework 

of clinical studies. In the field of ion 

therapy, about 150 clinical studies are currently 

open worldwide - a number that is 

considerable for such a specialized field. 

Directly or indirectly, these studies allow 

the comparison of ion therapy with other 

methods. Not only collaboration between 

the individual ion therapy centers is essential, 

but also cooperation with other oncological 

disciplines. However, not only the 

comparison, but also the combination of 

ion therapy with other forms of treatment 

is the subject of research and gives us hope 

for completely new therapy concepts. 

Other exciting research questions are of 

a rather fundamental nature, for example 

those on the biological mechanisms of side 

effects - why do they arise, why are they so 

different? Or the question of what prevents 

the effective treatment of some cancers - 

why can we not cure some tumors? Can 

these mechanisms be influenced? The answers 

to these questions will be further building 

blocks on the way to improving therapy 

methods in general. I am convinced that 

a wide variety of domestic scientific institutions 

will make decisive contributions that 

will advance cancer medicine in the coming 

years. 

MedAustron, das Zentrum für Ionentherapie 

und Forschung, befindet sich in Wiener 

Neustadt in Niederösterreich, etwa 50 

Kilometer südlich von Wien. 

Wiener Neustadt ist ein Bildungs-, Forschungsund 

Wirtschaftsstandort mit dynamischer 

Entwicklung. 

MedAustron verfügt über vier Bestrahlungsräume. 

Drei davon stehen der Patientenbehandlung 

zur Verfügung, einer dient ausschließlich der 

nicht-klinischen Forschung. 

Den Therapiestrahl punktgenaue im Tumorgewebe 

zu applizieren ist das Um und Auf in der 

Ionentherapie. Unerlässlich für eine erfolgreiche 

Behandlung ist die millimetergenaue Ausrichtung 

des Patienten zum Strahl und die stete 

Überwachung der Position während der 

Bestrahlung. 

Der Teilchenbeschleuniger generiert den für 

Behandlung und Forschung notwendigen 

Teilchenstrahl. Die komplexe Anlage besteht aus 

über 1.000 Komponenten, die von über 230 

Herstellern aus 22 verschiedenen Ländern 

bezogen werden. 

MedAustron, the center for ion therapy and 

research is located in Wiener Neustadt in Lower 

Austria, about 50 kilometres south of Vienna. 

innovation and sustainability, as well as the 

optimisation of complex production and supply 

chains. 

MedAustron has four irradiation rooms. Three 

will be used for patient treatment and one for 

non-clinical research. 

A precise application of the therapy beam to 

the tumor is the most essential trait of ion beam 

therapy. Therefore it is imperative to position 

the patient to the nearest millimeter to the 

beam and to closely observe the position during 

the whole treatment. 

The particle accelerator generates the particle 

beam used for medical treatment and research. 

MedAustron’s whole particle accelerator 

consists of over 1,000 parts produced by more 

than 230 manufacturers in more than 22 

countries. 

medaustron.at 



81

L‘AUTRICHE BUSINESS 

Neues aus Österreich 

News from Austria 


PHOTOS: TOURISMUSSCHULE WASSERMANNGASSE, FLORIAN WIESER, CHRISTIAN JOBST/PID, 

ECOWIN VERLAG 

Universität | University 

CEU kommt nach Wien | Vienna as CEU‘s new venue 

„Wien ist die größte Universitätsstadt im deutschsprachigen Raum, es freut 

mich, dass mit der Central European University 2019 eine weitere international 

renommierte Universität in Wien starten wird”, erklärte kürzlich 

Bürgermeister Michael Ludwig anlässlich eines Treffens mit dem Gründer der 

Central European University (CEU), George Soros. Der Investor und gebürtige 

Ungar zeigte sich vom Standort Otto Wagner Areal beeindruckt. 

“Vienna is the largest university city in the German-speaking countries, and I am 

pleased that the Central European University will be launching another 

internationally renowned university in Vienna in 2019,“ said Mayor Michael 

Ludwig at a meeting with the founder of the Central European University (CEU), 

George Soros. The investor, who was born in Hungary, was impressed by the 

location Otto Wagner Areal. 

ceu.edu 

Buchtipp | Book tip 

Ein Spaziergang zum Geburtstag | Celebrating with 

a stroll 

Querdenker und Vordenker, Publizist, Minister, leidenschaftlicher Sozialdemokrat 

und Alt-Bundespräsident der Republik Österreich: Heinz Fischer hat die 

Geschichte des Landes aus vielen Blickwinkeln erlebt und mitgestaltet. Seinen 

heurigen 80. Geburtstag nahm er zum Anlass, auf die Wege seines Lebens 

zurückzublicken. So spannt sich ein großer Bogen über die Zeitgeschichte bis hin 

zu aktuellen politischen Themen. 

Maverick and pioneer, publicist, minister, passionate social democrat and former 

President of the Republic of Austria: Heinz Fischer has seen and shaped the nation’s 

history in a multitude of ways. He used the occasion of his 80th birthday to look 

back on the many paths taken in his life. The result is a long arc that spans from 

historical events all the way to contemporary political 

issues. Last but not least, Heinz Fischer makes a clear 

appeal for the strengthening of democracy. 

Heinz Fischer 

Spaziergang durch die Jahrzehnte 

Ecowin Verlag, ISBN: 978-3-7110-0176-4 

Tourismus | Tourism 

Zukunft mit Roboter | The future with Pepper the robot 

Mit der neuen Ausbildung „Programmieren im Tourismus“ bietet die Tourismusschule 

Wassermanngasse im 21. Wiener Gemeindebezirk eine Spezialisierung an, die Schüler auf die 

Digitalisierung speziell in der Tourismusbranche vorbereitet. Humanoide Roboter wie der Roboter 

Pepper werden in naher Zukunft sehr viele Routineaufgaben übernehmen können. Mit Kameras 

und Sensoren ausgestattet, nehmen sie – einem Menschen ähnlich – ihre Umwelt wahr und 

agieren dabei völlig autonom. Sie gehen proaktiv auf Kunden zu, nehmen Anfragen entgegen und 

erfüllen diverse Anliegen. 

With the new “Programming in the Tourism Industry” course, the Tourismusschule 

Wassermanngasse in Vienna’s 21 st district is offering a specialisation course that will 

specifically prepare students for digitalisation in the tourism industry. In the near future, 

humanoid robots such as Pepper will be able to take over all kinds of routine tasks. Equipped 

with cameras and sensors, they – just like humans – perceive their environment and act upon it 

completely autonomously. They proactively approach customers, take requests and carry out 

a variety of tasks. 

wassermanngasse.at 

Unternehmertum | Entrepreneurship 

Innovative Unternehmen ausgezeichnet | 

Innovative companies honoured 

Seit 1987 holt die Wirtschaftskammer Wien die innovativsten 

Unternehmen des Landes vor den Vorhang. Mit dem Mercur 

Award ausgezeichnet wurden TCA Systems, AOP Orphan 

Pharmaceuticals AG, Lackner Ventures & Consulting GmbH und 

eguana GmbH. Der Start-up Star ging an die usePAT GmbH. Der 

Mercur ist kein Ideenwettbewerb. Die eingereichten Projekte 

müssen bereits am Markt sein oder eine wirtschaftliche 

Verwertung unmittelbar und nachweislich bevorstehen. 

The Austrian Economic Chamber in Vienna has been presenting the 

most innovative companies in the country since 1987. TCA Systems, 

AOP Orphan Pharmaceuticals AG, Lackner Ventures & Consulting 

GmbH and eguana GmbH were all awarded with the Mercur Award. 

The Start-Up Star went to usePAT GmbH. The Mercur Award is not 

an idea contest. The projects submitted must already be 

established on the market or be able to provide direct and 

demonstrable economic utility. wko.at/wien/mercur 

2016 93% 

2017 100% 

25 YEARS 

‘striving for 

EXCELLENCE, by 

ENGAGING minds, 

EXCITING learners, 

acting ETHICALLY and 

showing EMPATHY’ 


Ages 3-18 

Öffentlichkeitsrecht 

Boarding School option available

SAVOIR 

VIVRE 

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IN „SAVOIR VIVRE“ DREHT 

SICH ALLES UM DIE SCHÖNEN 

DINGE DES LEBENS WIE KULTUR 

& REISEN, KULINARIK & HOTELS, 

AUTO & SPORT, UHREN & 

SCHMUCK, MODE & DESIGN, 

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UND VIELES MEHR. 

"SAVOIR VIVRE" FOCUSES ON 

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AS CULTURE & TRAVELLING, 

HOTELS & RESTAURANTS, CARS & 

SPORTS, WATCHES & JEWELLERY, 

FASHION & DESIGN, WELLNESS 

& HEALTH AND MUCH MORE. 

Def.: The incredibly refreshing feeling when 

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time, stirring your emotions in a way you 

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derived from Croatian 

RESIDENCES SENIA 

Invest in your Croatian dream property and benefit from all the advantages 

of the Falkensteiner Hotel group, such as 5* hotel and concierge service or 

access to the wellness & spa area. www.premiumliving.com

SAVOIR VIVRE RELAXING HIDEAWAYS 

Zeit für mehr Gemütlichkeit! 

More time for cosiness! 

Cercle Diplomatique hat für Sie Orte entdeckt, wo das Mit der Seele-Baumeln glücklich macht. 

Cercle Diplomatique has uncovered the perfect locations to give body and soul their hard-earned and 

well-deserved rest. 

Die Franzosen sind Meister im Savoir Vivre, sagt man, die 

Italiener im Dolce Vita. Die Dänen üben sich in der Kunst 

der Zufriedenheit, die sie Hygge nennen. Und wir? Wir 

schätzen die Gemütlichkeit! 

The French, so they say, are the best when it comes to “savoir 

vivre”, while the Italians are the masters of “la dolce vita”. 

The Danes have focused on the art of contentment which 

they call “hygge”. And the Austrians? We like it cosy! 

MONTAFONER HOF BERGHÄUSER 

Den Bergen ganz nah | Up close with the 

mountain 


Die Berghäuser des Hotels Montafoner Hof sind um ein 

Schmuckstück reicher: Seit Kurzem zählt auch das „Alte 

Schulhaus“ mit einem beeindruckenden Rundum-Blick oberhalb 

von Schruns dazu. Mit viel Liebe zum Detail sind die schönen 

historischen Elemente des Hauses erhalten geblieben und wurden 

mit modernem Wohnkomfort kombiniert. In den wunderbaren 

Berghäusern, alle in eindrucksvoller Einzellage, können 5 bis 35 

Personen erholsame Tage verbringen. Die Gäste können zudem 

das Kulinarik-Paket des Hotels dazu buchen oder ein tolles Menü 

aus der Zwei Gault Millau Hauben-Küche genießen. 

The mountain lodges of the Montafoner Hof hotel have added 

another jewel to their treasures: As of late, they now also count 

the “Altes Schulhaus” (“Old School Building”) with its impressive 

panorama view on top of the Schruns municipality among its 

properties. The various elements of the house have been 

preserved with much attention to detail and combined with 

state-of-the-art living comfort. In the great lodges, all in single 

location, 5 to 35 persons can spend many relaxing days here. 

Guests can also book the hotel’s culinary package or enjoy a great 

menu prepared by the establishment which was awarded with 

two toques by Gault Millau. 

berghäuser.com 

PRIESTEREGG 

Über dem Tal schweben | Floating above the valley 

Das Priesteregg der Familie Oberlader bietet das weltweit einzige 

Willy Bogner-Chalet, das in Zusammenarbeit mit der renommierten 

Mode- und Lifestylemarke entstand. Highlight ist der 56 m 2 

große und 14 Meter lange Edelstahl-Infinity-Pool. Dieser wird 

mittels Biomasseheizung in der kalten Jahreszeit auf bis zu 34 

Grad Celsius erwärmt und vermittelt durch seine Hanglage das 

Gefühl, über dem Tal zu schweben. 

The Priesteregg by the Oberlader family offers the only Willy 

Bogner chalet in the world, created in collaboration with the 

renowned Bogner fashion and lifestyle brand. One 

highlight is the 56 m 2 and 14-metre-long stainless-steel 

infinity pool. During the colder months, it 

is warmed up to a temperature of up to 34 degrees 

Celsius by way of a biomass heating system and 

conveys the feeling of floating above the valley as 

a result of its hillside location. 

priesteregg.at 

PHOTOS: PATRICK SÄLY/HOTEL MONTAFONER HOF, GÜNTER STANDL 

PHOTOS: GERNOT GLEISS/HOLLMANN AM BERG, ALMDORF SEINERZEIT, AADLA 

HOLLMANN AM BERG 

Inmitten des Zirbenwaldes | Amid the arolla pine 

forests 

Der Wiener Hotelier und Schauspieler Robert Hollmann kreierte 

mit seiner Frau Petra neben seinen Projekten in Wien, Paris und 

Triest sowie auf Sri Lanka im Vorjahr nun auch eines auf der 

Turracher Höhe in Kärnten, wo er die Winter seiner Kindheit 

verbrachte. Benannt sind die drei außergewöhnlichen und mit 

alter Zimmermannskunst gefertigten Holzbauten mit Dorf-Charakter, 

nach den 3 Hollmann-Kindern, Toni, Franzi und Luki. 

Next to his projects in Vienna, Paris, Trieste and Sri Lanka, the 

Viennese hotelier and actor Robert Hollmann, together with his 

wife Petra, created a holiday destination last year in Turracher 

Höhe in the province of Carinthia. This is where he spent many 

winters during his childhood days. The three exceptional wooden 

buildings, built in accordance with old carpenter’s traditions and 

fitted with village-like charms, are named after the three 

Hollmann children Toni, Franzi and Luki. 

hollmann-turrach.at 

ALMDORF SEINERZEIT 

Mit einer Haube gekrönt | Gault Millau toque 

winner 

Der wahre Luxus beginnt hier bereits mit der klaren Luft, die einen 

allabendlich tief und erholsam schlafen lässt. Bei der Ausstattung 

der Chalets in Patergassen (Kärnten) wurde Wert auf eine 

sinnvolle und verantwortungsvolle Bauweise aus Holz gelegt wie 

etwa bei den gesteckten Betten ohne Metall mit einer eingefrästen 

Lebensblume. Das Gasthaus Fellacher im Almdorf Seinerzeit 

(im Bild) bekam kürzlich höhere Weihen und hat nun eine Gault 

Millau-Haube, nicht zuletzt wegen der hervorragenden 

Fisch-Spezialitäten. 

Here, the luxury already begins with the crystal clear air, enabling 

you a deep sleep and soothing nights. When it came to the 

furnishing of the chalets in Patergassen (Carinthia), emphasis was 

placed on a sensible and responsible construction method using 

wood, such as the beds made without metal decorated with a 

milled-in flower of life. The Gasthaus Fellacher inn at the Almdorf 

Seinerzeit (pictured) recently received high honours and can now 

call a Gault Millau toque award its own, not least because of the 

excellent selection of seafood dishes. 

almdorf.com 

AADLA CHALETS 

Beeindruckende Bergkulisse | Impressive 

mountain scenery 

Michaela und Elmar Schwarzmann haben sich mit dem Bau der 

Aadla Walser-Chalets am Arlberg ihren Traum erfüllt. Das kleine 

Dorf im alpinen Baustil der Vorfahren besteht aus sieben Chalets 

und wurde nach dem Mundartausdruck der Walser für Bergkiefer 

benannt. Die großen Fenster, Balkone und Terrassen geben den 

Blick auf das beeindruckende Bergpanorama frei. 

Michaela and Elmar Schwarzmann have made their dream reality 

with the construction of the Aadla Walser chalets at the Arlberg 

mountain. The little village built in the alpine construction style of 

their ancestors consists of seven chalets and was named after the 

local slang for ‘mountain pine’ used by the speakers of Walser 

German. The big windows, balconies and terraces are the perfect 

stage from which to gaze at the impressive mountain panorama. 

aadla.at 



GOLDEN HILL 

Lässige Edel-Wohlfühlatmosphäre | Relaxing & 

exquisite feel-good atmosphere 

Wer etwas ganz Individuelles sucht, ist in diesem Private 

Hideaway in der Südsteiermark goldrichtig. Das charmante 

Gastgeber-Paar Barbara und Andreas Reinisch hat die bestehenden 

Häuser nun noch um drei weitere Luxus-Chalets – wie dem 

Goldfuchs (im Bild) – im lässig-eleganten Country-Stil, einen 

600 m² großen, verträumten Naturschwimmteich und eine 

Parkanlage mit eigenem Sauna- und Fitness-Kubus sowie 

Champagner-Lounge erweitert. Buchbar auch als Weihnachtspaket 

vom 20. bis 27. Dezember 2018. 

Those looking for something very personal have come to the right 

place at this private hideaway in southern Styria. The charming 

host couple, Barbara and Andreas Reinisch, has now expanded 

the existing selection of homes with three additional luxury 

chalets – such as the “Goldfuchs” (“Golden Fox”, pictured) – with 

a cool, elegant country style, a 600 m 2 dreamy natural swimming 

pond and a park facility with its own sauna and fitness cube, as 

well as a champagne lounge. It’s also available for bookings as a 

Christmas package from 20 to 27 December 2018. 

golden-hill.at 

LICHTEBEN 

Im Einklang mit der Natur | In tune with nature 

Das besondere Augenmerk bei der Konzeption der fünf exklusiven 

Chalets im Zillertal lag auf der Reduktion: rund, eckig oder oval als 

gezielte architektonische Akzente in nachhaltiger Bauweise. Denn 

alle verwendeten Materialien, wie die Steine der Wände und 

Zirben, Fichten und Lärchen sowie Schafwolle, kamen aus der 

Gegend. Auch Strom und warmes Wasser wird hier selbst mittels 

Sonnenkraft erzeugt. 

During the conceptualisation of the five exclusive chalets in the 

Zillertal valley, special attention was paid to minimisation. Round, 

angular or oval forms as deliberate architectural accents, 

constructed sustainably. All the materials utilised, such as the 

stones used for the walls, the pines, spruces and larches, as well 

as the sheep’s wool, were sourced locally. Even the electricity and 

the warm water are generated with the help of the sun. 

lichteben.at 

SPORER ALM 

Weit weg vom Alltag | Far away from the woes 

of everyday life 

Natürliche Materialien wie edles Altholz, Loden und Stein 

verleihen jedem der drei Luxus-Chalets einen ganz eigenen Stil. 

Die Küchen sind bestens ausgestattet – von Tee und Kaffee bis hin 

zu einem gefüllten Kühlschrank fürs erste Bio-Frühstück mit 

selbstgemachter Marmelade, Honig, Holzofenbrot, Speck und 

Bergkäse. Im Weinklimaschrank befindet sich eine feine Auswahl 

österreichischer Weine und Biere. 

Natural materials like fine scrap wood, loden cloth and stone give 

each of the three luxury chalets their own unique style. The 

kitchens are expertly furnished – from tea and coffee all the way 

to a fridge filled with all the ingredients for an organic breakfast, 

such as homemade jam, honey, traditional oven-baked bread, 

bacon and mountain cheese. In the wine storage refrigerator, 

visitors will find a fine selection of Austrian wines and beers. 

sporer-alm.com 

PHOTOS: GOLDEN HILL COUNTRY CHALETS & SUITES, LICHTEBEN, ANDRE SCHÖNHERR 

PHOTOS: ZUCHNA VISUALISIERUNGEN; CHALETDORF PRECHTLGUT 

CHALETDORF PRECHTLGUT 

Neueröffnung am 1. Dezember 2018 | New opening on 1 December 2018 

Im Baustil ganz der Tradition im Salzburger Alpenraum verpflichtet, öffnen am 1. Dezember 2018 die 

Chalets im Prechtlgut erstmals ihre Holztüren. „Wohnen wie damals mit dem Luxus von heute“ ist das 

Motto in den 85 bis 150 m² großen Ferienhäusern, die mit Altholz, Naturstein und Lehmputz gefertigt 

wurden, und in denen man von den engagierten Wagrainer Betreibern Carina und Manuel Aster 

willkommen geheißen wird. Zum Luxus in den Prechtlgut Chalets zählen eine eigene Sauna-Dampf-kabine, 

ein Ruheraum sowie ein Hot Tub auf der Terrasse. Für das gemütliche Ambiente sorgen edle 

Zirbenmöbel, Loden und Leinen, gemütliche Kuschelecken und ein Diwan um den offenen Kamin. 

With an architectural style in the tradition of the Salzburg alpine region, the new Prechtlgut chalets 

are set to open their wooden doors for the first time on 1 December 2018. “Living like yesterday with 

the luxury of today” is the motto of the 85 to 150 m² holiday homes built with mature timber, natural 

stone and clay plaster, and in which you can count on a hearty welcome by the Wagrain native 

managers Carina and Manuel Aster. Among the many luxuries in the Prechtlgut chalets are the private 

sauna-steam cabin, a relaxation room, as well as a hot tub on the terrace. The cosy atmosphere is 

additionally ensured by the brilliant arolla pine furniture, traditional loden cloth and linen, cosy 

snuggling blankets and a divan around the open fireplace. 

prechtlgut.at 




PURADIES 

Natur pur | Nature at its purest 

Das Puradies Hotel & Chalets liegt in exklusiver Alleinlage auf 

einem Sonnenplateau in Leogang im Salzburger Land und an der 

Grenze zu Tirol. Mit der architektonischen Gesamtgestaltung 

gelingt es den beiden Eigentümern Michael und Philipp Madreiter 

mit Naturmaterialien wie Holz und Stein gepaart mit den Farben 

Grün und Grau zum Abschalten einzuladen. Ein echtes 

Design-Highlight ist die preisgekrönte Bar & Lounge Freiraum, die 

mit bodentiefen Glasfronten aufwartet und für Hotelgäste sowie 

für externe Besucher geöffnet ist. 

The Puradies Hotel & Chalets is located on a sunny plateau in 

Leogang in SalzburgerLand and on the border to Tyrol. For its 

overall architectural concept, owners Michael and Philipp 

Madreiter have managed to combine natural materials such as 

wood and stone with the colours green and grey, inviting guests 

to come and relax. An additional design highlight is the 

award-winning “Freiraum” bar & lounge, equipped with 

ceiling-high glass fronts. It’s open to hotel guests and external 

visitors alike. 

puradies.com 

INNS HOLZ CHALETDORF BÖHMERWALD 

Oberösterreichische Winterwelt | Upper 

Austrian winter wonderland 

Im Mühlviertel, nahe der Grenze zu Tschechien, steigen Gäste des 

Inns Holz Chaletdorf Böhmerwald direkt vor den Toren in das 

weitläufige Loipennetz ein. Das Schneemobil bringt die Skifahrer 

auf die Piste. Zurück ins Resort geht es mit den Skiern. 

Entspannendes Highlight ist der private Wellnessbereich in jedem 

Chalet. 

In the Mühlviertel region near the Czech border, guests of the Inns 

Holz Chaletdorf Böhmerwald will find a dense network of 

cross-country skiing trails right in front of its doors. The 

snowmobile takes skiers directly to the slopes. On the way back, 

however, you can simply ski right to the resort. A relaxing 

highlight is the private wellness area in every chalet. 

innsholz.at 

HOCHLEGER LUXURY CHALET RESORT 

Exquisite Berg-Auszeit | Exquisite mountain 

time-out 

Jedes der einzigartigen Chalets in Luxus-Ausführung hat sein 

eigenes Farb- und Stoffkonzept. Alle Küchen sind aus massivem 

Holz nach alter Handwerkskunst handgefertigt und mit steinernen 

Arbeitsplatten versehen. Eine Open-Air-Badewanne mit Blick ins 

Tal und das Champagner-Tischchen sorgen für eine private 

Wohlfühl-Atmosphäre und unvergessliche Momente. 

Each and every one of these luxury chalets has its own colour and 

textile theme. Every kitchen was made from solid wood in 

accordance with traditional craftsmanship practices and comes 

equipped with stone worktops. An open-air bathtub with a view 

of the valley and the little champagne table create the right 

environment for a perfect and private feel-good atmosphere and 

many unforgettable moments. 

hochleger.at 

PHOTOS: PURADIES, INNS HOLZ, HOCHLEGER, 

Fotos: lepsi/ metropol Entgeltliche Einschaltung 

PHOTOS: HOLZLEBN, ALMDORF REITERALM 

HOLZLEB‘N 

Auszeit im Großarltal | Time-off in the Grossarltal 

valley 

Acht exklusive Chalets stehen den Gästen im Feriendorf Holzleb‘n 

für unbeschwerte Ferientage zur Verfügung. Der Familienhund 

darf auch mitkommen. In jedem Chalet finden von 2 bis 14 

Personen Platz. Zirbenholz-Betten in den Schlafzimmern sorgen 

für einen erholsamen Schlaf. Und in der privaten Sauna mit einem 

schönen Ruheraum kann man völlig ungestört entspannen. Die 

Außenbadewannen beim eigenen Chalet krönen den privaten 

Wellness-Genuss. Im heißen Wasser (33 bis 42°C) zu baden und 

dabei den Schneeflocken zuzuschauen, ist dann Romantik pur. 

Visitors to the Holzleb’n holiday village can choose from eight 

exclusive chalets for carefree vacation days. Every chalet fits 

between two to 14 people. Arolla pine wood beds in the 

bedrooms make for relaxing nights and deep rest. Meanwhile, the 

private sauna with relaxation room will surely ease all of your 

tensions. The outdoor bathtubs top off the private spa delights in 

the personal chalet. It doesn’t get much more romantic than 

taking a bath in the hot water (33 to 42°C) as you watch the 

snowflakes trickle down. 

holzlebn.at 

Premiere: 

14.02.2019 

ALMDORF REITERALM 

Mit Dachstein-Blick | Complete with views of 

the Dachstein mountain 

Die 18 Komfort-Almhütten, darunter zwei neue Komfort-Almhütten 

Enzian Deluxe, und zwölf Premium-Chalets schmiegen sich 

auf unterschiedlichen Ebenen auf vier Hektar an den Berghang. 

Direkt an der Piste gelegen, erreicht man in wenigen Minuten den 

Einstieg ins Skigebiet amadé. 

The 18 cosy mountain huts, among them two new “Enzian Deluxe” 

comfort mountain huts as well as 12 premium chalets, nestle 

around the mountainside on different levels and across a total 

area of four hectares. Located right next to the slope, you can 

make your way to the Ski amadé skiing area in just a few minutes. 

almdorf-reiteralm.at 

Der Publikumsrenner aus London und allen anderen Hauptstädten 

weltweit, nun als österreichische Erstaufführung im 

Wiener Theater Metropol: 

Jonathan Sayer, Henry Shields und Henry Lewis 

„Wird schon schiefgehen!“ 

(The play that goes wrong) 

In London 2014 uraufgeführt, wurde es mit dem Laurence- 

Olivier-Preis als Beste Komödie ausgezeichnet und läuft am Londoner 

Westend seitdem ununterbrochen. Das Metropol wird dieses, 

inzwischen in Berlin, Paris und anderen europäischen Städten bejubelte 

Stück, als österreichische Erstaufführung zeigen. 

Inhalt: 

Eine ambitionierte Laientruppe führt einen altehrwürdigen englischen 

Krimi-Klassiker auf. Dabei geht – wie schon der Titel verrät – alles 

schief. Türen lassen sich nicht öffnen, Requisiten sind nicht an ihrem 

Platz, Dialoge laufen in der falschen Reihenfolge ab und Schauspieler 

werden bewusstlos geschlagen. Die drei Autoren haben ein Gag-Feuerwerk 

entworfen, das nicht nur Freunden des englischen Humors und 

des entgrenzten Slapsticks Bauchweh vor Lachen verursacht. Denn so 

britisch steif das Krimistück auch ist oder, anders gesagt, so gnadenlos 

die Auftritte der einzelnen Akteure auch danebengehen, das Wichtigste 

ist: Haltung bewahren und sich nur ja nichts anmerken lassen. 

The show must go on! 

Es spielen: Ali Jagsch, Claudia Rohnefeld, Leila Strahl, Bernhard 

Viktorin, Paul König, Michael Duregger, Martin Gesslbauer u.a. 

Regie: Marcus Strahl 

Bühne: Martin Gesslbauer 

Kostüm: Ariane Maino

SAVOIR VIVRE CONNOISSEUR 

Essen und trinken mit Stil 

Wine and dine in style 

Im neuen Glanz | In new splendour 

Das Café Westend am Ende der inneren Mariahilferstraße und gegenüber dem Westbahnhof hat einen neuen Betreiber: Der Sohn der 

Traditions-Kaffeesiederfamilie Diglas, Johann Diglas, hat nach dem Café Weimar nahe der Wiener Volksoper nun auch hier übernommen. 

Und dem stark in die Jahre gekommenen Kaffeehaus einen dezent-edlen Neuanstrich in warmen Braun- und Grüntönen verpasst: Die 

Wände und Decken wurden neu gestrichen, die Polstermöbel neu überzogen und auch das Getränke- und Speiseangebot wurde adaptiert 

sowie die Service-Crew verjüngt. Aber keine Sorge – das wunderbare Alt-Wiener Kaffeehausflair, das bereits seit 1895 dort zu Hause war, 

wurde beibehalten. 

The Café Westend located at the end of the inner Mariahilferstrasse and across the Westbahnhof railway station has a new owner. 

After Café Weimar close to the Vienna Volksoper, the well-known proprietors of coffee houses, the Diglas Family, especially son 

Johann, has now also assumed the operations of this establishment. And they have given the dated coffee house a discreet, yet 

exquisite paint job using warm green and brown tones. The walls and ceilings have been repainted, the upholstery received new 

covers, the food and beverage offer was adapted and the service crew has been updated. But don’t worry – the charming old 

Viennese coffee shop atmosphere that has graced the place since 1895 has been completely preserved. 

cafe-westend.at 


Eine Frage der 

Qualität | A question 

of quality 

Anlässlich des „Tag des Sekts“ 

im Oktober wurde die höchste 

Qualitätsstufe „Große 

Reserve“ präsentiert. Dabei 

müssen die Trauben aus einer 

Gemeinde von Hand gelesen 

und nach der traditionellen 

Flaschengärung mindestens 

30 Monate auf der Hefe 

gelagert werden. Österreichischer 

Sekt geprüfter Qualität 

ist nun endgültig in der 

internationalen Schaumweinspitze 

angekommen. 

On the occasion of the “Day 

of Sparkling Wine” in 

October, the highest quality 

grade titled “Grande Reserve” 

was presented. To earn the 

designation, the grapes of a 

single municipality must be 

picked by hand and stored 

with the yeast for at least 30 

months in accordance with 

the traditional bottle-fermentation 

methods. Austrian 

quality-tested Sekt has now 

finally found its place among 

the top international sparkling 

wines. 

oesterreichsekt.at 

Foto © Peter M. Mayr 

PHOTOS: CAFÉ WESTEND, KIRCHGASSER PHOTOGRAPHY, ALEXANDER HAIDEN, FOTOLIA, 

ANKARSRUM KITCHEN AB, ATELIER KARASINSKI 

Imperial und fruchtig 

Imperial and fruity 

BESONDERE 

OPERNERLEBNISSE 

SCHENKEN 

Die traditionell quadratische und exquisite Imperial Torte in elegant-kaiserlicher Verpackung ist nun auch in der 

fruchtigen Variation „Feine Himbeere“ erhältlich. Die Imperial Torte wurde gemäß Legende anlässlich der Hotel-Eröffnung 1873 

vom Küchenjungen Xaver Loibner zu Ehren von Kaiser Franz Joseph I. erfunden. Das Rezept ist seit jeher geheim und wird stets 

wie ein Schatz gehütet. 

The traditionally square-shaped and exquisite “Imperial Torte”, sold in its classic imperially elegant packaging, now also comes in 

the fruity “Fine Raspberry” variety. According to legend, the Imperial Torte was created by the young kitchen porter Xaver Loibner 

in honour of Franz Joseph I of Austria. The recipe has been kept secret ever since and continues to be guarded like a treasure. 

imperialtorte.com 

Was essen Genies? | What do geniuses eat? 

Das sind die Gerichte, mit denen Nelson Mandela, Ikea-Gründer Ingvar 

Kamprad und Schriftstellerin Selma Lagerlöf großgeworden sind. Die 

Rezepte für Maismehlbrei, Hechtpastete und Johannisbeertörtchen sind 

im einzigartigen Rezeptbuch „Eat like a genius“ (Essen wie ein Genie) der 

schwedischen Firma Ankarsrum Kitchen zu finden. 

These are the dishes that Nelson Mandela, Ikea-founder Ingvar 

Kamprad and writer Selma Lagerlöf grew up with. The recipes ranging 

from cornmeal porridge and pike pâté all the way to currant tartlet can be found in the unique recipe book “Eat like a Genius” by 

the Swedish company Ankarsrum Kitchen. 

geniusrecipes.ankarsrum.com 

beyond | Herwig Zens 

a priori 

im morgengrau 

TOP 5 OPENINGS 

Neu in Wien | New in Vienna 

Bar con Cucina in der Lobby, 

1010 / Bar con Cucina at the 

lobby 

ritzcarlton.com 

Martin Hos neues Werk, 

1010 / Martin Ho’s new 

creation 

oneofone.at 

Chinesisch-französische 

Fusion, 1160 / 

Chinese-French fusion 

whattheduck.at 

Zweisam statt einsam, 

1020/ Twosome not 

lonesome 

cafezweisam.at 

Tacos, Bowls und Burritos, 

1010 / Tacos, bowls and 

burritos 

tacotante.at 

SPIELPLAN AB DEZEMBER 

Weber 

EURYANTHE 

Constantin Trinks | Christof Loy | RSO Wien 

Arnold Schoenberg Chor | Jacquelyn Wagner, 

Norman Reinhardt, Andrew Foster-Williams, 

Theresa Kronthaler, Stefan Cerny 

Premiere: 12. Dezember 2018 

Purcell 

KING ARTHUR 

Stefan Gottfried | Sven-Eric Bechtolf 

Concentus Musicus Wien | Arnold Schoenberg Chor 

Jonathan Lemalu, Martina Janková, 

Robin Johannsen, Mark Milhofer, 

Johannes Bamberger, Dumitru Mădărăśan 

Premiere: 17. Januar 2019 

Mendelssohn Bartholdy 

ELIAS 

Jukka-Pekka Saraste | Calixto Bieito 

RSO Wien | Arnold Schoenberg Chor 

Christian Gerhaher, Maria Bengtsson, 

Maximilian Schmitt, Ann-Beth Solvang 

Premiere: 16. Februar 2019 

Ravel | Offenbach 

L’ENFANT | OLYMPIA * 

Raphael Schluesselberg | Barbora Horáková-Joly 

Wiener KammerOrchester 

Junges Ensemble Theater an der Wien 

Premiere: 26. Februar 2019 

DAS OPERNHAUS 

Tschaikowski 

DIE JUNGFRAU VON ORLEANS 

Oksana Lyniv | Lotte de Beer 

Wiener Symphoniker | Arnold Schoenberg Chor 

Lena Belkina, Daniel Schmutzhard, 

Dmitry Golovnin, Willard White, Martin Winkler 

Premiere: 16. März 2019 

Händel 

ORLANDO 

Giovanni Antonini | Claus Guth 

Il Giardino Armonico 

Christophe Dumaux, Florian Boesch, 

Anna Prohaska, Giulia Semenzato, 

Raffaele Pe 

Premiere: 14. April 2019 

Bernstein 

CANDIDE * 

Benjamin Bayl | Christoph Zauner 

Wiener KammerOrchester 

Junges Ensemble Theater an der Wien 

Premiere: 30. April 2019 

Weber 

OBERON 

Thomas Guggeis | Nikolaus Habjan 

Wiener KammerOrchester | Arnold Schoenberg Chor 

Mauro Peter, Annette Dasch, Daniel Schmutzhard, 

Vincent Wolfsteiner, Natalia Kawalek 

Premiere: 13. Mai 2019 

www.theater-wien.at 

* Theater an der Wien in der Kammeroper 

SAISON 

Änderungen vorbehalten 


Hauptsponsor 

Theater an der Wien 

Tageskasse: Mo-Sa 10-18 Uhr 

Linke Wienzeile 6 | 1060 Wien 

www.theater-wien.at

SAVOIR VIVRE SUITE DREAMS 

Suite Dreams 

Präsidenten Suite | Presidential Suite - Palais Hansen Kempinski Vienna 


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 März 2013 komplettiert das 

PalaisHansen Kempinski Vienna den Reigen glanzvoller Wiener Ringstraßenhotels. Cercle Diplomatique hat Generaldirektor Florian 

Wille um ein paar Worte zur Präsidenten Suite in seinem Haus 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 March 2013, the Palais Hansen 

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

Manager Florian Wille for a chat about the Presidential Suite at the Palais Hansen Kempinski Vienna. 

PHOTOS: PALAIS HANSEWN KEMPINSKI VIENNA 

Das Gebäude, das nun das Palais Hansen Kempinski Vienna 

beheimatet, kann ja auf eine lange und auch wechselhafte 

Geschichte zurückblicken. Welche Funktion hatten die 

Räumlichkeiten des Palais ursprünglich? 

Das prachtvolle Haus wurde von Theophil Hansen im Stil der 

Neorenaissance entworfen und für die Weltausstellung im Jahr 

1873 als Hotel gebaut, eröffnete jedoch nie für Gäste. Bis Mitte 

der 1990er Jahre beherbergte das Palais Hansen die Polizeidirek-tion 

sowie verschiedene Ämter der Stadt Wien. Im März 2013 

wurde es als Fünf-Sterne-Hotel Palais Hansen Kempinski eröffnet. 

Wie würden Sie den Stil der Präsidenten Suite im Palais 

Hansen Kempinski Vienna charakterisieren? 

Die Präsidenten Suite ist die größte ihrer Art in der Stadt. Auf 

320 m 2 bietet sie Platz für zwei Erwachsene und zwei Kinder mit 

eleganten Räumlichkeiten: Ein geräumiges Schlafzimmer, ein 

bequemes Wohnzimmer, ein Esszimmer, eine eigene Kitchenette 

sowie einen Office Bereich mit Schreibtisch. Das Interieur der 

Suite prägen dezente Farben, edle Stoffe und hochwertige 

Materialien. Neben der Lounge Area mit begrünter Wand und dem 

Piano ist auch das luxuriöse Badezimmer aus weißem und 

schwarzem Marmor mit Blick über die Ringstraße ein weiteres 

Highlight. Und sollte noch mehr Platz benötigt werden, kann die 

Präsidenten Suite noch mit einem zusätzlichen Deluxe Zimmer 

verbunden werden. 

Sie haben Sie in den USA, der Schweiz, Großbritannien, 

Deutschland, Ungarn, Bahrain, Katar, Jordanien und in der 

Türkei gelebt und gearbeitet. Vor Kurzem haben Sie das 

Haus als General Manager übernommen. Verraten Sie uns 

Ihre ersten Pläne, die Sie umsetzen möchten? 

Wien hat ja weltweit einen ganz tollen Ruf und ich freue mich wie 

ein kleines Kind, dass ich heute hier arbeiten kann. Gerade erst 

wurde das 26° EAST von Falstaff als „Beste Hotelbar des Jahres“ 

ausgezeichnet. Das Team um Bar Manager David Penker betreibt 

die Bar mit Herz und Respekt vor dem Produkt und dem Gast. Ich 

möchte auch verstärkt Familien ins Haus bringen, für Feiern jeder 

Art und Größe. Alte Gemäuer verdienen junge Impulse. Ich sehe 

es als meine Aufgabe, die Geschichte des Hauses auch für unsere 

Gäste erlebbar zu machen. Zudem sollen hier neue Ecken 

begehbar gemacht werden, mit abwechslungsreichen Nachmittagen 

– etwa mit jungen Musikern, die in der Lobby ein Konzert 

geben. 

The building that today harbours the Palais Hansen 

Kempinski Vienna has a long and multifarious history. What 

was its original function? 

Our magnificent building was designed by Theophil Hansen in the 

Renaissance Revival style and built as a hotel for the 1873 Vienna 

World’s Fair, though it never opened its doors to guests. Until the 

middle of the 1990s, the building contained a police department 

and various offices of Vienna’s City Government. In March 2013, it 

reopened as the five-star Palais Hansen Kempinski Vienna. 

How would you characterise the style of the Presidential 

Suite at the Palais Hansen Kempinski Vienna? 

The Presidential Suite is the largest of its kind in the whole city. 

Across an area of 320 m 2 , it offers more than enough space for two 

adults and two children in very elegant rooms, including a spacious 

bedroom, a comfortable living room, a dining room, a kitchenette 

and an office area with desk. The interior of the suite is 

characterised by discreet colours, exquisite textiles and high-end 

materials throughout. Next to the lounge area with a green wall 

and a piano, the luxurious bathroom made from white and black 

marble with a view of the Vienna Ringstrasse is another highlight. 

Should you require even more space, the Presidential Suite is easily 

connected with an additional Deluxe Room. 

You have lived and worked in the USA, Switzerland, Great 

Britain, Germany, Hungary, Bahrain, Qatar, Jordan and 

Turkey. Recently, you assumed the position of general 

manager of the hotel. Can you tell us about your initial plans 

that you intend to implement? 

Vienna enjoys an excellent reputation around the world and I’m as 

excited as a little child that I now get to work here. Just recently, 

26° EAST was honoured as the “Best Hotel Bar of the Year” by 

Falstaff. The team around bar manager David Penker runs the bar 

with passion and respect for the product and the guests. 

Old walls deserve young impulses. I consider it my main task to 

make the building’s history come alive for our guests. And I also 

want new parts of the hotel to become more accessible and offer 

interesting afternoons with young musicians, who could, for 

example, give concerts in the lobby. 

Kempinski The Spa 

Presidential Suite 

- Bedroom 

Generaldirektor Florian Wille über die Präsidenten Suite 

im Palais Hansen Kempinski Vienna. 

General Manager Florian Wille on the Presidential Suite at 

Palais Hansen Kempinski Vienna. 

INFO: 

PALAIS HANSEN KEMPINSKI 

VIENNA 

Schottenring 24 

1010 Wien 

Tel.: +43 1 236-0 

kempinski.com/vienna 

26°EAST Bar Presidential Suite - 

Bathroom

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 

Penang 

Shangri-La‘s Rasa Sayang Resort 

Ein Besuch im Paradies: Jahrhunderte alte Bäume 

umgeben den Gast im Shangri-La‘s Rasa Sayang 

Resort auf der Insel Penang in Malaysia; das Wasser 

des Meeres ist von unglaublicher Klarheit, Chi, das 

Spa, ermöglicht Entspannung und Regeneration, die 

Restaurants bieten erstklassige Küche. Ein kostenloses 

Shuttle-Service bringt die Gäste nach George Town, 

der an historischen Sehenswürdigkeit reichen 

Inselhauptstadt, die von der UNESCO als Weltkulturerbe 

anerkannt ist. So ist das Resort auch eine ideale 

Location für Konferenzen, Meetings und selbstverständlich 

auch für Hochzeiten. 

Step into paradise: Century-old trees surround the 

guests of the Shangri-La’s Rasa Sayang Resort on the 

island of Penang in Malaysia, set within crystal clear 

water. Chi, the spa, provides relaxation as well as 

regeneration and the restaurants offer top-notch 

cuisine. A free shuttle service brings guests to George 

Town, the island’s capital city recognised by UNESCO 

as a World Heritage Site and rich in historic 

destinations. This also makes the resort an ideal 

location for conferences, meetings and as a venue for 

weddings. 

shangri-la.com/en/penang/rasasayangresort/ 


Malediven | Maldives 

Ozen at Maadhoo 

Gerademal etwas mehr als zwei Jahre alt ist eines der schönsten Resorts auf den Malediven. Das Ozen by 

Atmosphere at Maadhoo befindet sich im Südosten des Süd-Malé-Atolls; es ist nur 35 Minuten mit dem 

Luxus-Speedboat von Malé entfernt. Die 900 Meter lange und 80 Meter breite Insel ist von feinen, weißen 

Sandstränden und leuchtendem türkisfarbenen Wasser umgeben. Das Ozen ist das erste Luxury All-inclusive- 

Resort auf den Malediven. Es umfasst 90 freistehende Villen in sechs Kategorien – auf der Insel und über dem 

Wasser. Exklusiv bei Ozen by Atmosphere at Maadhoo ist der „Atmosphere Indulgence“- Plan, der alle Elemente 

eines Lifestyle Luxus Urlaubserlebnisses auf den Malediven umfasst. „The Joy of Giving“ lautet das Motto von 

Atmosphere. Dem werden nicht nur die vielen kulinarischen Köstlichkeiten, die in mehreren Restaurants 

angeboten werden, gerecht, sondern auch das gesamte Sport- und Unterhaltungsprogramm: von Ausflügen mit 

dem Speedboot über Sunset-Fishing, Stand-Up-Paddeling, Kayak, Windsurfing bis hin zum entspannten 

Schnorcheln. Ein Highlight ist auch das erste Unterwasser-Restaurant im Süd-Malé-Atoll, dessen Besuch für 

Gäste pro Aufenthalt einmalig im All-inclusive-Plan inkludiert ist. 

Barely more than two years old, it’s one of the most beautiful resorts in the Maldives. The Ozen by Atmosphere at 

Maadhoo is located in the southeast of the South Malé Atoll, only 35 minutes away from Malé via luxury speedboat. 

The 900-metre-long and 80-metre-wide island is surrounded by fine, white sandy beaches and vibrant turquoise 

water. The Ozen is the first luxury all-inclusive resort on the Maldives. It contains 90 detached villas in six different 

categories – on the island as well as over water. The “Atmosphere Indulgence Plan” is exclusive to the Ozen by 

Atmosphere at Maadhoo and includes all the elements that 

make up a lifestyle luxury holiday experience on the 

Maldives. “The Joy of Giving” is Atmosphere’s motto. And it’s 

not just the many culinary delicacies that are offered at 

several restaurants that do it justice, but also the full sports 

and entertainment programme: from speedboat trips, sunset 

fishing, stand-up paddle boarding, kayaking, windsurfing, all 

the way to relaxing snorkelling. An additional highlight is also 

the first underwater restaurant in the South Malé Atoll, to 

which one visit is included in the all-inclusive plan for guests. 

ozen-maadhoo.com 

PHOTOS: BEIGESTELLT 

Kopenhagen | Copenhagen 

Restaurant Noma 

Als vor zwei Jahren das Noma in Kopenhagen, das wohl einflussreichste Restaurant der letzten Jahrzehnte, schloss, 

trugen die Gourmets in aller Welt Trauer. Neulich hat es Küchenchef René Redzepi an neuer Location wiedereröffnet: 

als „urban farm“. Sie befindet sich im Stadtteil Christiania auf einem Gelände, das einst als Militärstützpunkt 

diente. Errichtet wurde sie von dem gerade sehr gefragten Kopenhagener Architekturbüro BIG von Bjarke Ingels. 

Die Menüs sind auf die Saison abgestimmt, dreimal im Jahr wird gewechselt: die Seafood Season ist im Winter und 

Frühling, die Vegetable Season im Sommer und Frühherbst und die Game & Forest Season schließt das Jahr ab. 

Und auch hier gilt: Wer Redzepis Küche verkosten will, muss sehr lange im Voraus reservieren. 

When the Noma, perhaps the most influential restaurant in the last decades, closed its doors in Copenhagen two years 

ago, gourmets all over the world expressed their disappointment. Not long ago, however, head chef René Redzepi 

reopened it at a new location, and now as an “urban farm”. It is located in the city district of Christiania on premises 

that once used to serve as a military base. It was built by Bjarke Ingels’ sought-after Copenhagen-based architectural 

firm BIG. The menus are tailored to the respective seasons and are changed three times a year. Winter and spring are 

seafood season, summer and early autumn vegetable season and the game & forest season concludes the year. The 

same rule applies as before: Those who want to sample Redzepi’s creations must book way in advance. 

noma.dk 


97

SAVOIR VIVRE TRAVEL 

Dream winter vacation 

with ROBINSON 

Tel Aviv 

The Jaffa Hotel 

Jaffa, die historische Hafenstadt, ist der aktuelle Hotspot 

im Großraum Tel Aviv. Hier gibt es eine boomende 

Kreativszene, zahllose großartige Restaurants, viel 

Szene-Leben. Und nun auch ein ganz formidables Hotel: 

das Jaffa Hotel, das Teil der Luxury Collection von Marriott 

ist, befindet sich in einem ehemaligen Kloster, das in 

detailverliebter, zehnjähriger Arbeit umgebaut wurde und 

von dem britischen Architekten John Pawson, der für 

seinen minimalistischen Stil bekannt ist, in eines der 

schönsten Hotels der Region verwandelt wurde. 

Jaffa, the historic port city, is the current hotspot of Tel 

Aviv’s larger metropolitan area. Here, you will find a 

booming creative scene, countless fantastic restaurants 

and all kinds of different scenes coming together. And 

now, there’s a new and very formidable hotel, too: The 

Jaffa Hotel, part of Marriott’s Luxury Collection and 

located in a former monastery that was repurposed during 

the course of 10 years. It was transformed by British 

architect John Pawson, well known for his minimalistic 

style, into one of the most beautiful hotels in the region. 

thejaffahotel.com 

Oman 

Al Bustan Palace 

Der Oman ist wohl ohne Zweifel eines der 

attraktivsten Reiseziele der Welt. Tolle Strände, 

eindrucksvolle Bergmassive, traditionelle Dörfer, 

eine noch authentische Kultur. Nun hat in der 

Hauptstadt Muscat nach einer umfangreichen 

Renovierung das Al Bustan Palace wiedereröffnet. 

Das Palasthotel, das von Ritz-Carlton Hotels 

gemanagt wird, gilt als ikonisches Symbol für 

die Kultur und Gastfreundschaft des Oman. Das 

Haus wurde jetzt neukonzipiert, um den 

Wünschen und Bedürfnissen von Familien und 

modernen globalen Reisenden zu entsprechen; 

es bietet nun inspirierende Erlebnisse, bei denen 

das historische Erbe mit moderner Technologie 

und einem zeitlosen Design zusammenfließt. 

Oman is, without a doubt, one of the most 

attractive travel destinations in the world. 

Beautiful beaches, impressive mountain ranges, 

traditional villages, a culture that is still authentic. 

Following extensive renovations, the Al Bustan 

Palace has now reopened in the capital city of 

Muscat. The palace hotel managed by 

Ritz-Carlton Hotels is considered an iconic symbol 

of Oman’s culture and hospitality. The building 

was completely reconceptualised in order to meet 

the needs and desires of families and modern 

travellers. It offers inspiring experiences in which 

historic heritage and modern technology flow into 

a unique, timeless design. 

ritzcarlton.com/albustanpalace 


ROBINSON provides the perfect winter sports experience 

with its clubs in the best ski resorts in Austria 

and Switzerland. Winter sports fans are spoilt for choice 

at ROBINSON, Germany’s premium provider of first-class 

club holidays. Whether you choose ROBINSON CLUB AROSA 

in Switzerland, or the clubs AMADÉ, ALPENROSE ZÜRS, 

LANDSKRON or SCHLANTIZEN ALM in the mountains of 

Austria: skiers, snowboarders, tobogganists or hikers will find 

everything they need for a carefree winter holiday – beautiful 

facilities, first-class cuisine and outstanding service. And, 

best of all: the ROBINSON CLUBS include ski passes and ski 

courses (except for CLUB ALPENROSE ZÜRS). Courses are 

offered for all ages and levels, from beginners to professional. 

Experienced ski instructors ensure that all guests feel 

secure and safe on the slopes and cross-country skiing trails. 

ROBINSON Club Amadé 

ROBINSON Club Landskron 

ROBINSON Club Arosa 

ROBINSON CLUB AROSA - a great mix of sports, 

WellFit ® and nightlife 

A particular gem in the mountains of Switzerland is the CLUB 

AROSA, situated at 1,800 meters on a south-facing slope, 

which is tailored exclusively to guests over the age of 18. The 

high-alpine ski region Arosa-Lenzerheide is one of Switzerland’s 

largest ski resorts and offers magnificent downhill 

runs, rustic mountain lodges and record-breaking sunny days. 

The Arosa and Lenzerheide ski regions are linked together 

by a state-of-the-art gondola lift. This network has created 

the largest ski region in Graubünden, with 225 kilometres of 

marked slopes. The downhill slopes include 30 kilometres 

of cross-country ski trails, a 4 kilometre-training track, 40 

kilometres of freeride slopes, a modern snow park and a fun 

park. In the morning, after a nutritious breakfast, guests can 

take the shuttle bus free of charge to the valley station, which 

is just five minutes away. Those who like it more tranquil can 

take part in the guided winter hikes. The ROBINSON CLUB 

mountain restaurant is located right in the ski region. If the 

snow conditions are good, it is even possible to ski down to 

the club resort. After the day‘s adventures, the WellFit ® Spa 

offers a bio sauna, a steam sauna, a Finnish sauna, a sanarium 

and an indoor pool. In the massage rooms, experienced 

massage therapists ensure that muscles and tendons become 

supple again. A gym on site rounds off a day of sporting 

adventures. Also legendary are the evening programme and 

the après ski parties. As a special event, the CLUB AROSA will 

host the Arosa Electronica Festival from 15th to 24th March 

2019. This Event is guaranteed to inspire all fans of electronic 

music and promises unforgettable moments during the day 

and night and throughout the week. A great line-up with DJs 

and artists from Switzerland together with guests from abroad 

and an exceptionally beautiful ski resort is certain to make 

Arosa the centre of the electronic music scene this week. On 

Wednesday, March 20, 2019, the big party in the evening will 

take place at the CLUB AROSA. 

The four ROBINSON CLUBS in Austria 

The distinctive features of the CLUB ALPENROSE ZÜRS are 

the exciting mix of sports, lifestyle, good food and extraordinary 

parties. For relaxation, the club also offers a spacious 

spa area. Above all, however, the club is characterised by 

a gigantic ski area. The CLUB AMADÉ is also situated in the 

middle of one of the best ski resorts in Austria. The CLUB 

LANDSKRON lies within one of the most beautiful family ski 

areas in Carinthia and is, with its 60 kilometres of pistes and 

16 ski lifts, perfect for beginners and advanced skiers. If you 

are looking for adventures on the slopes during the daytime 

and party experiences in the night, ROBINSON CLUB 

SCHLANITZEN ALM is the perfect place to be. 

The ROBINSON snow guarantee 

Through the ROBINSON snow guarantee you can be sure not 

to land on a green meadow in winter. If at least 75% of the ski 

lifts are not open due to lack of snow 7 days before arrival 

at your club, you can rebook your stay up to 5 days before 

arrival for a later period or an alternative ROBINSON CLUB for 

the same or a different period within the 2018/2019 winter 

season according to availability - free of charge. The ROBIN- 

SON snow guarantee is valid for the winter from 05.01.2019 

(first arrival) to 30.03.2019 (last departure). Excluded from 

the snow guarantee are lift closures due to extreme weather 

conditions, e.g. storms or thunder. 

All information about ROBINSON offers can be found in your 

ROBINSON travel agency or at www.robinson.com 


ROBINSON Club Schlanitzen Alm 

ROBINSON Club Alpenrose Zürs

SAVOIR VIVRE AUSTRIA‘S IMPERIAL HISTORY 

Imperiales Erbe 

Imperial heritage 

Text und Interview: Rois & Stubenrauch 

Zeitvertreib für einstige Generäle und Offiziere – das 

Billardzimmer (links). Die Große Galerie (unten). 

Leisure time for former generals and officers – the 

billiard room (left). The Great Gallery (below). 

Das heute bestbesuchte Kulturdenkmal Österreichs macht derzeit mit der 

Digitalisierung einen großen Schritt ins 21. Jahrhundert. 

Today, Austria’s most-visited cultural landmark is undergoing digitalisation, 

thereby making a big leap into the 21 st century. 

Faszination 

Schönbrunn. 

Fascinating 

Schönbrunn. 

Heute zählt das Schloss 3,8 

Millionen Besucher jährlich. 

Today, the castle counts 3.8 

million visitors annually. 

PHOTOS: WIENTOURISMUS / PETER RIGAUD; SCHLOSS SCHÖNBRUNN KULTUR- UND BETRIEBSGES.M.B.H. / ALEXANDER EUGEN KOLLER (2) / EDGAR KNAACK; SKB / AGENTUR ZOLLES 

Zuerst heißt es warten – das beliebteste Kulturdenkmal 

des Landes fordert zunächst einmal 

Geduld ein. Dann beginnt die Tour entlang 

der imperialen Raumfluchten, durch das Gardezimmer, 

gefolgt vom Billardzimmer und dem opulenten 

Audienzraum. Der Schreibtisch im Arbeitszimmer 

Franz Josephs vermittelt mit dem bereit liegenden 

Füllfederhalter das Gefühl, als wäre der Kaiser gerade 

erst aufgestanden. Mit seiner großteils im Original 

erhaltenen Einrichtung, von den Privaträumen Elisabeths 

und Franz Josephs bis zu den, gemäß den Moden 

des Rokoko ausgestatteten Zimmern aus der Zeit 

Maria Theresias, gibt Schloss Schönbrunn einen 

manchmal fast intimen Blick ins Innenleben der Monarchie 

frei. 

Schlossbesichtigung 

Die Ausrufung der Republik am 12. November 

1918 beendete die 640 Jahre andauernde Herrschaft 

des Hauses Habsburg über Österreich. Im neu konstituierten 

Staatsgebilde hielten nicht nur das Frauenwahlrecht 

und die Demokratie Einzug, die junge Republik 

fand sich auch plötzlich im Besitz einer großen 

Anzahl Möbel, Kunstobjekte und Immobilien wieder, 

die vormals dem Kaiserhof gehörten. Während 

etwa die Hofburg rasch für Amtsräume und Repräsentationszwecke 

der Ersten Republik in Beschlag 

genommen wurde, war das Schicksal von Schloss 

Schönbrunn zunächst ungewiss, und der Weg zur 

identitätsstiftenden und heute meistbesuchten Touristenattraktion 

Österreichs, mit zuletzt 3,8 Millionen 

Besuchern jährlich, nicht so klar vorgezeichnet. 

Nach Unterzeichnung der Verzichtserklärung und 

dem Auszug der Kaiserfamilie am 11. November 

1918 stand Schönbrunn nämlich keinesfalls leer. 

Zahlreiche Bedienstete und ihre Familien behielten 

das Wohnrecht im Schloss, bald erhielten hochgestellte 

Politiker Wohnungen in Schönbrunn, es gab 

Pläne für ein Kinderheim für 350 Kinder, die teilweise 

umgesetzt wurden, Kriegsinvalide, Pfadfinder und 

zwei Arbeiterräte bezogen Räumlichkeiten im Gebäudekomplex. 

Parallel dazu wurde das Schloss, wie 

bereits zur Kaiserzeit, wieder für Besichtigungen geöffnet. 

Ende der 1920er Jahre, mit der beginnenden 

Verklärung der Monarchie, verzeichnete Schönbrunn 

dann rund 20.000 Gäste monatlich. 

Digitaler Sprung ins 21. Jahrhundert 

Zahlen, die aus heutiger Sicht beinahe verschwindend 

klein wirken, wie auch Klaus Panholzer bestätigt, 

seit einem Jahr Geschäftsführer der Schloß 

Schönbrunn Kultur- und Betriebsges.m.b.H. Die 

hundertprozentige Tochtergesellschaft des Staates 

Österreich ist seit 1992 mit der Verwaltung von 

Schloss Schönbrunn betraut und hat es geschafft, 

Schönbrunn in die Gewinnzone zu führen – was 

unter allen UNESCO Welterbestätten sonst nur 

noch dem Tower of London gelingt. Mittlerweile 

liegt die Herausforderung eher darin, die Faszination 

Schönbrunn bei Besucherzahlen von bis zu 10.000 

täglich, weiterhin erlebbar zu machen. Der wachsende 

Zustrom aus Fernost – 2017 stand erstmals China 

als Herkunftsland an der Spitze – und der ungebrochene 

Sisi-Mythos werden die Zahlen weiter steigen 

lassen. Schönbrunn reagiert mit einem großen 

Schritt in die digitale Zukunft. Bereits seit einiger 

Zeit werden die Besucherströme mittels spezieller 

Software analysiert, um sie zukünftig noch optimaler 

zu leiten. Nun wird mit Hochdruck an der Digitalisierung 

des gesamten Komplexes gearbeitet. Über 

das Smartphone sollen die Gäste bald mit Informationen, 

von kunsthistorischen Details bis zu Erlebnis-Angeboten 

am Areal, versorgt werden. Das 

Flaggschiff Schönbrunn fährt mit dieser „Digital Experience“ 

auch im 21. Jahrhundert als strahlender 

Repräsentant der Hinterlassenschaften des Habsburgerreiches 

mit voller Kraft voraus. Durch die Schauräume 

des Schlosses, die in ihrer Authentizität belassen 

und von den digitalen Interventionen 

ausgenommen bleiben, werden die Besucherinnen 

und Besucher auch weitere hundert Jahre, auf knarzendem 

Original-Parkett, durch Österreichs imperiale 

Vergangenheit wandeln. 

Von links: Der Zeremoniensaal. 

Vom Flügeladjudantenzimmer aus 

wurden militärische Informationen 

direkt an den Kaiser weitergereicht. 

From left: The ceremonial hall. 

From the wing adjudant room, 

military information was passed on 

directly to the Emperor. 


SAVOIR VIVRE AUSTRIA‘S IMPERIAL HISTORY 

Das 2017 aufwendig renovierte 

Chinesische Ovalkabinett. 

The 2017 elaborately renovated 

Chinese Oval Cabinet. 

NACHGEFRAGT | ENQUIRED 

INFO 

Schloß Schönbrunn, 

Kaiserappartements, 

Silberkammer, Sisi 

Museum in der Wiener 

Hofburg, Hofmobiliendepot 

Möbel Museum Wien 

und Schloss Hof sowie 

Schloss Niederweiden 

schoenbrunn.at 

Hofmobiliendepot 

Sonderausstellung „Bruch und 

Kontinuität – Das Schicksal 

des habsburgischen Erbes 

nach 1918“ 

5.12.2018 - 30.6.2019 

“Rupture and Continuity – 

The Fate of the Habsburg 

Inheritance After 1918” 

special exhibition 

hofmobiliendepot.at 

Historische und politische 

Hintergründe zur 

Habsburgermonarchie 

Historic and political 

background on the Habsburg 

Monarchy 

habsburger.net 

First, you will have to wait – the nation’s most 

beloved cultural landmark demands a little bit 

of patience in the beginning. Then begins the 

tour through the imperial enfilades, through the 

guard room, followed by the billiard room and the 

opulent audience room. The desk with the readily positioned 

fountain pen in Franz Joseph’s workroom 

creates the impression that the Emperor had just left 

it. With the largely original furnishing, from Elisabeth’s 

and Franz Joseph’s private rooms to the large, 

Rococo-styled rooms from the time of Maria Theresa, 

Schönbrunn Palace offers a sometimes nearly intimate 

look into what life was like in the monarchy. 

Palace viewing 

The proclamation of the Austrian republic on 12 

November 1918 ended the 640-year-long rule of the 

House of Habsburg over Austria. The newly constituted 

state apparatus not only ensured women’s suffrage 

and democracy, but the young republic also 

suddenly found itself in possession of a large number 

of furniture pieces, artworks and properties that had 

previously belonged to the imperial court. While the 

first republic soon started to use the Hofburg for government 

offices and representative purposes, the 

fate of Schönbrunn Palace had initially been more 

uncertain and its path to becoming an identity-conferring 

and the most-visited tourist attraction in 

Austria – most recently with 3.8 million annual visitors 

– was not as clear. After the signing of the waiver 

and the imperial family’s departure on 11 November 

1918, Schönbrunn Palace was certainly not left standing 

empty. Countless employees and their families 

kept their right of residence in the palace, high-ranking 

politicians soon received apartments in Schönbrunn, 

there were plans for an orphanage for 350 

children, which were partially implemented, disabled 

survivors of the war, scouts and two workers’ 

councils also moved into the premises. At the same 

time, the palace was reopened to visitors again, just 

as during the imperial days. Toward the end of the 

1920s and with the beginning of the glorification of 

the monarchy, Schönbrunn Palace began to record 

20,000 visitors monthly. 

Digital leap into the 21 st century 

Numbers, which – from today’s point of view – 

may seem insignificantly small, as Klaus Panholzer, 

director of the Schönbrunn operation company, confirms. 

The full subsidiary of the Austrian state has 

been committed to the administration of Schönbrunn 

Palace since 1992 and has actually made 

Schönbrunn profitable – a feat only matched by the 

Tower of London among all other UNESCO World 

Heritage sites. Right now, the challenge has become 

to maintain the Schönbrunn experience with visitor 

numbers of up to 10,000 per day. The increasing 

number of visitors from the Far East – in 2017, China 

became the number one country of origin – and 

the uninterrupted Sisi obsession mean that these 

numbers are likely to increase in the future. Schönbrunn 

is responding with a broad leap into the digital 

future. For quite some time now, visitor flows 

have been analysed by way of specialised software in 

order to be able to guide them even more efficiently 

in the future. Right now, intensive work is being carried 

out in order to digitalise the entire complex. Visitors 

will soon be provided with information, details 

pertaining to art history as well as nearby event offers 

on the premises via smartphone. With this “Digital 

Experience”, the flagship Schönbrunn is thus also 

leading the way in the 21 st century when it comes to 

representing the legacy of the Habsburg Empire. 

Through the palace’s display rooms, which are going 

to maintain their authentic state and be excluded 

from digital interventions, visitors will continue to 

traverse Austria’s imperial past on the original creaking 

parquet flooring for another hundred years. 

PHOTOS: SCHLOSS SCHÖNBRUNN KULTUR- UND BETRIEBSGES.M.B.H. / A. E. KOLLER (3); ROIS & STUBENRAUCH (2) 

PHOTOS: XYXXYXYXY 

Klaus Panholzer 

Der Geschäftsführer der Schloß Schönbrunn Kultur- und Betriebsges.m.b.H. ist neben Schloß Schönbrunn auch zuständig für die Kaiserappartements, die 

Silberkammer und das Sisi Museum in der Wiener Hofburg, das Hofmobiliendepot sowie Schloss Hof und Schloss Niederweiden. 

As director of the “Schloß Schönbrunn Kultur- und Betriebsges.m.b.H.” Schönbrunn’s operation company, Klaus Panholzer is responsible for Schönbrunn Palace, 

the Imperial Apartments, the Silver Collection and the Sisi Museum at the Hofburg, the Imperial Furniture Collection as well as Schloss Hof and Schloss 

Niederweiden. 

Wie meistern Sie die Gratwanderung zwischen der 

bestmöglichen Vermarktung der imperialen 

Vergangenheit und darin, die Verantwortung 

gegenüber der Republik Österreich bezüglich des 

historischen Erbes wahrzunehmen? 

Indem wir die erwirtschafteten Gewinne vorrangig in unsere 

Kulturdenkmäler reinvestieren. Letztes Jahr haben wir 

beispielsweise die Chinesischen Kabinette und die 

Schlosskapelle in Schloss Schönbrunn umfassend renoviert, 

im nächstes Jahr werden wir den Eingang der Orangerie 

erneuern. In Schloss Hof folgt nach der Renovierung der 

Großen Kaskade die Wiederherstellung der 7. Gartenterrasse, 

wodurch lebendiger Barock erlebbar wird. Schönbrunn 

und die anderen Standorte gehören der Republik und somit 

jedem Österreicher und jeder Österreicherin. Wir nehmen 

daher unseren Kernauftrag, zu bewahren und zu erhalten, 

sehr ernst. 

Sie sind nun seit einem guten Jahr Geschäftsführer 

der Schloß Schönbrunn Kultur- und Betriebsges.m.b.H, 

welche Akzente für das 21. Jahrhundert 

möchten Sie setzen? 

Ein Riesenschritt, den wir gerade in Angriff nehmen, ist das 

neue, digitale Leitsystem. Unter dem Namen „Schönbrunn 

Digital Experience“ sollen in den nächsten Jahren den 

Besucherinnen und Besuchern über das Smartphone 

standortgerechte Informationen zum Areal bereit gestellt 

werden. Etwa über die Statue vor der ich gerade stehe, oder 

wie weit der Weg zur Gloriette ist. Wir wollen damit das 

ganze Areal stärker erlebbar machen. In den Schauräumen 

des Schlosses wird es allerdings keine Touchscreens oder 

ähnliches geben. Zum Bewahren und Erhalten gehört auch 

das Gestalten, das Offen-Sein für Innovationen, um den 

Gästen auch zukünftig die authentische Erlebbarkeit des 

Imperialen Erbes zu ermöglichen und natürlich auch am Puls 

der Zeit zu sein. Das bedeutet auch, dass wir flankierend die 

Rahmenangebote sowie die Angebote für unsere 

digital-affinen Gäste ausbauen. 

Wie gehen Sie als UNESCO-Weltkulturerbe mit 

der hohen Erwartungshaltung der Besucherinnen 

und Besucher um? 

Grundsätzlich denke ich, dass die sehr gute Zusammenarbeit 

zwischen unseren Wissenschaftlerinnen und 

Wissenschaftlern und der Bauabteilung immer schon eine 

Stärke des Hauses war. Wir orientieren uns daran, im 

Rahmen der Möglichkeiten die Substanz im Original zu 

erhalten. Weiters kaufen wir laufend Original-Objekte für 

unsere Sammlungen zu - so gelingt es uns an unseren 

Standorten, ein historisch authentisches Bild zu vermitteln. 

Der Status als UNESCO-Weltkulturerbe ist für uns ein hohes 

Gut, den es zu bewahren gilt. Wichtig zu betonen ist, dass 

die Umsetzung unserer Ziele nur zusammen mit 

kompetenten und engagierten Mitarbeiterinnen und 

Mitarbeitern, visionären Gremien und innovativen 

Kooperationspartnerinnen und Geschäftspartnern in 

gegenseitiger Wertschätzung möglich ist. 

How do you master the balancing act between the best 

possible marketing of Austria’s imperial past and the 

responsibility toward the Republic of Austria in regard 

to its historic heritage? 

By mainly reinvesting the profits in our cultural landmarks. In 

2017, for example, we extensively renovated the Chinese 

Cabinet and the Palace Chapel at Schönbrunn Palace, and in 

2019 we will renew the entrance of the Orangery. Following 

the renovation of the Great Cascade at Schloss Hof, we will 

also restore the seventh garden terrace, which will help 

make the baroque period truly come alive. Schönbrunn and 

the other locations belong to the republic and thereby to 

every Austrian. We thus take our core mission, to maintain 

and conserve, very seriously. 

You have now been the director of the Schönbrunn 

operation company for well over a year, what is your 

strategy for the 21 st century? 

A huge step that we are currently undertaking is the new, 

digital guide system. Under the title “Schönbrunn Digital 

Experience” and commencing next year, visitors will receive 

location-tailored information on their smartphones 

regarding the premises. This information could, for example, 

correspond to a statue that I am currently standing in front 

of, or how far it is to the Gloriette. We want to make it much 

easier to navigate the entire premises. However, there will 

not be any touch screens or similar things in the display 

rooms. Design is also part of maintenance and conversation, 

as is being open to innovation in order to allow visitors to 

experience Austria’s imperial heritage as authentically as 

possible and, of course, keeping up with the spirit of the 

times. This means that we will continue to expand our 

overall services as well as our offers tailored to our digitally 

savvy guests. 

How do you – as a UNESCO World Heritage site – deal 

with your visitors’ high expectations? 

Fundamentally, I believe that our excellent cooperation with 

our scientists and the construction department has always 

been one of our great strengths. We try to maintain things in 

its original state whenever feasible. Additionally, we 

continue to acquire original objects for our collections — 

this allows us to create a historically authentic picture in our 

locations. Our status as a UNESCO World Heritage site is 

something that is very precious to us and we aim to 

preserve it. It is also important to emphasise that the 

implementation of our goals is only possible in collaboration 

with our competent and engaged employees, our visionary 

committees and our innovative cooperation and business 

partners and on the basis of mutual appreciation. 

Von links: Der Ehrenhof. „Gründung des 

Maria Theresien-Ordens“, Ölgemälde 

Martin van Meytens, um 1758. 

From left: The court of honour. 

„Foundation of the Maria Theresa 

Order“, oil painting by Martin van 

Meytens, around 1758. 

Geschäftsführer Klaus Panholzer im 

CD-Interview. 

Director Klaus Panholzer during the 

interview with CD. 


Cercle Diplomatique 4/2018 103

SAVOIR VIVRE MUSEUM VISIT 

100 Jahre Zeitgeschichte! 

100 years of contemporary Austrian history! 

Haus der Geschichte Österreich / The House of Austrian History | Heldenplatz, Neue Burg, Wien / Vienna 

Text & Interview: Rois & Stubenrauch 

DIRECTOR’S TALK 

INFO 

Alma Rosé Plateau: 

Installation vor dem 

Altan der Neuen Burg. 

Installation in front of 

the Altan of Neue Burg. 

Der Kaiserlogenbehang aus dem 

Österreichischen Parlament ist Teil 

der Ausstellung. The drape of the 

Imperial Lodge from the Austrian 

Parliament is part of the exhibition. 

Pünktlich zum 100. Jahrestag der Ausrufung 

der Republik eröffnete das Haus der Geschichte 

Österreich: 750 m² Ausstellungsfläche 

in der Neuen Burg am Wiener Heldenplatz sind 

der neueren Österreichischen Zeitgeschichte ab 

1918 gewidmet. Die Eröffnungsausstellung „Aufbruch 

ins Ungewisse“ rollt in sieben Themenbereichen 

die bewegte Geschichte Österreichs von der 

Ersten Republik bis in die Gegenwart auf. Das Verhältnis 

von Ökonomie und Politik, die Jahre ohne 

Demokratie und deren langer Nachhall bis heute 

werden dabei ebenso ausgeleuchtet wie die Vielstimmigkeit 

österreichischer Identitäten. Das Haus der 

Geschichte Österreich versteht sich dezidiert auch 

als ein Ort für Debatten und kritische Auseinandersetzung 

mit der Vergangenheit. 

The House of Austrian History is launching 

just on time to commemorate the 100 th anniversary 

of the proclamation of the Austrian 

republic: 750 m 2 of exhibition space in the Neue 

Burg at Heldenplatz in Vienna will be dedicated to 

the history of Austria from 1918. The launch exhibition 

“Journey into the Unknown” will explore 

Austria’s moving history by way of seven different 

subject areas, from the first republic to the present 

day. The relationship between business and politics, 

the years without democracy and the long reverberations 

of that period that persist to this day will 

also be explored, as will the diversity of Austrian 

identity. The House of Austrian History also sees 

itself as a hub for debates and critical engagements 

with the past. 

PHOTOS: ESEL.AT - LORENZ SEIDLER; KLAUS PICHLER / HDGÖ (3); JULIA STIX, MARKUS GUSCHELBAUER (3) 

Monika Sommer 

Was kann bzw. soll das Haus der Geschichte Österreich leisten? 

Wir sind das erste zeitgeschichtliche Museum der Republik. Was 

wir leisten können, ist einen spannenden Zugang zur jüngsten 

Geschichte dieses Landes zu vermitteln. Wir haben die 

Demokratieentwicklung zum Grundthema des Museums gemacht, 

weil wir natürlich auch auf die Frage eingehen, wie es so rasch 

zum Verlust der Demokratie, der dieses österreichische 

Jahrhundert ja ebenso prägte, kommen konnte. 

Das Haus der Geschichte Österreich definiert sich selbst 

als „Verhandlungsort und Diskussionsforum“ – ist 

Geschichte verhandelbar? 

Geschichte ist bis zu einem bestimmten Grad verhandelbar. Jeder 

Mensch ist ja auch Zeitzeuge der eigenen Lebenszeit. Und dann 

gibt es wissenschaftliche Perspektiven auf die Vergangenheit. 

Diese verschiedenen Blickwinkel versuchen wir zusammen zu 

bringen. 

Die Eröffnungsausstellung „Aufbruch ins Ungewisse – Österreich 

seit 1918“ rollt ein Jahrhundert spannungsgeladener 

österreichischer Zeitgeschichte auf ... 

Unser politischer Auftrag war eine Ausstellung zum 100. Jahrestag 

der Ausrufung der Republik zu konzipieren. Wir haben also 

den 12. November 1918 und die Folgejahre sehr genau beleuchtet. 

Gerade die ersten Jahre der Republik hatten auch sehr viel 

positives Potential, man denke etwa an die innovative Sozialgesetzgebung 

oder die Verfassung von Hans Kelsen. Aus dieser 

detaillierten Auseinandersetzung mit den Aufbruchsjahren haben 

sich dann die Themenschwerpunkte der Ausstellung wie „Gleiche 

Rechte?“ oder „Grenzen verändern?“ heraus entwickelt. 

Am 10. November feierte das Haus der Geschichte 

Österreich, nach langjähriger Diskussion, endlich seine 

Eröffnung – allerdings in deutlich redimensioniertem 

Umfang gegenüber den ursprünglichen Plänen. Sind Sie 

Direktorin des Haus der Geschichte Österreich | Director of The House of Austrian History 

Monika Sommer studierte Geschichte an den Universitäten Graz und Wien, war Kuratorin am Wien Museum und des Kulturprogramms 

des Europäischen Forum Alpbach. Seit 2017 leitet Monika Sommer das Haus der Geschichte Österreich. 

Monika Sommer studied History at the University of Graz and the University of Vienna, was a curator at the Wien Museum and of 

the cultural programme of the European Forum Alpbach. Since 2017, she has been heading the House of Austrian History. 

trotzdem zufrieden? 

Es ist ein Startpunkt, von dem weg ein weiterer Auf- und Ausbau 

folgen soll. Wichtig ist, dass wir nach der jahrzehntelangen 

Debatte jetzt wirklich einmal beginnen. Für die längerfristige 

Zukunft des Hauses gibt es für mich zwei Lösungen: die 

Erweiterung der Flächen innerhalb der Neuen Burg, oder ein 

Neubau, wo sich die Republik auch baulich einschreiben könnte. 

What can or what should the House of Austrian History 

provide? 

We are the republic’s first museum of contemporary history. What 

we can provide is an exciting look at the nation’s most recent 

history. We have made the development of democracy the core 

subject of the museum, since we, of course, also tackle the question 

how the loss of democracy – which has so significantly shaped this 

Austrian century – could happen so quickly. 

The House of Austrian History defines itself as a “space for 

negotiation and discussion” – can history be negotiated? 

History can be negotiated up to a certain point. Every person is also 

a witness of his or her own time. And then, there are scientific 

perspectives on the past. We try to bring these different points of 

view together. 

The opening exhibition “Journey into the Unknown – Austria 

since 1918” opens up a century of tense Austrian history … 

Our political assignment was to create an exhibition on the 100 th 

anniversary of the proclamation of the republic. We thus took a very 

close look at 12 November 1918 as well as the years that followed. It 

was especially the first years of the republic where there was a lot 

of positive potential. Think, for example, of the innovative social 

legislation or Hans Kelsen’s constitution. From this detailed 

engagement with the early years, we developed the more focused 

subject areas that feature in exhibitions such as “Equal Rights?” or 

“Changing Borders?” 

After years of discussion, the House of Austrian History has 

finally opened its doors on 10 November – however, on a 

significantly redimensioned scale compared to the original 

plans. Are you satisfied, nevertheless? 

It’s a starting point from which further additions and extensions 

should follow. What’s important is that we are finally getting started 

following decades of debate. As far as I’m concerned, there are two 

solutions for the long-term future of our House: the expansion of 

the premises within the Neue Burg, or a new building in whose 

construction the republic could also participate. 

Aktuelle Ausstellungen 

Haus der Geschichte 

Österreich: 

Current exhibitions 

Aufbruch ins Ungewisse – 

Österreich seit 1918 

bis Frühjahr 2020 

Die Ausstellung ist durchgängig 

deutsch-englisch. 

Journey into the Unknown - 

Austria since 1918 

until spring 2020 

The exhibition is offered in English 

and German throughout. 

Nur die Geigen sind geblieben. 

Alma und Arnold Rosé. 

Wechselausstellung bis 12. 5. 2019. 

Only the violins remained. Alma 

and Arnold Rosé. 

Changing exhibition until 12 May, 

2019. 

Seit dem 10.11.2018 hat das Haus 

der Geschichte Österreich in der 

Neuen Burg geöffnet. 

Since 10 November 2018, the House 

of Austrian History has opened at 

the Neue Burg. 

INFO: 

HAUS DER GESCHICHTE ÖSTER- 

REICH 

THE HOUSE OF AUSTRIAN 

HISTORY 

Heldenplatz, Neue Burg 

hdgoe.at 

Die Schau „Aufbruch ins 

Ungewisse“ rollt Österreichs 

Geschichte seit 1918 anhand 

zahlreicher Artefakte auf. 

The show „Journey into the 

Unknown“ is rolling up Austria‘s 

history since 1918 by way of 

numerous artifacts. 

104 Cercle Diplomatique 4/2018 Cercle Diplomatique 4/2018 105

SAVOIR VIVRE AMBASSADORS OF MUSIC 

Culture Talk Daniil Trifonov 

Der russische Star-Pianist Daniil Trifonov im Cercle Diplomatique-Exklusivinterview über Perfektion in der Kunst, 

Rachmaninows 4. Klavierkonzert und seine Inspirationsquellen beim Komponieren. 

The Russian star pianist Daniil Trifonov in an exclusive interview with Cercle Diplomatique on perfection in the arts, Rachmaninov’s 

Piano Concerto No. 4 and his own source of inspiration when it comes to composing. 

Interview: Rois & Stubenrauch 

INFO 

PERSONAL DETAILS 

4 

PHOTOS: DARIO ACOSTA / DG 

Ihre Darbietung verbindet außergewöhnliche Tiefe mit 

vollendeter Technik - was treibt Sie zu dieser Perfektion? 

Perfektion in der Kunst ist eine sehr schwer zu erfassende 

Substanz. Wenn man versucht, etwas auf der Bühne exakt so 

auszuführen wie man es geplant hat, bleibt man wahrscheinlich 

erfolglos. Tatsächlich ist es wahrscheinlicher, dass dadurch 

einfach nur die Frische der Interpretation verloren geht. 

Darum empfinde ich es als sehr wichtig, die Musik als eine Art 

Landkarte zu betrachten – man kennt die Umgebung, aber um 

von Punkt A nach Punkt B zu gelangen, kann man jedes Mal einen 

anderen Weg nehmen. In anderen Worten: Man sollte auf der 

Bühne ein Gefühl des Erstaunens beibehalten, wenn man das 

Stück spielt, als ob man es immer wieder neu entdeckt. Und um 

dies zu tun, muss das Stück ganz tief im Inneren festgeschrieben 

sein, nicht nur technisch gesehen, sondern viel eher im 

emotionellen Sinn. 

Manchmal übe ich vor einem Konzert ganz ohne Instrument und 

versuche dabei, die Stimmung des Stücks in mir selbst zu 

verstärken. Sobald ich in die Musik eintauche und keine äußeren 

Einflüsse meine Konzentration stören können, ist es viel 

einfacher, bei einer Aufführung frei zu spielen. 

Ihr enger Terminplan führt Sie um die ganze Welt - wie 

schaffen Sie es, bei dieser intensiven Reisetätigkeit die 

Konzentration aufrecht zu erhalten? 

Am Tag des Konzerts trete ich in meinen „Safe Mode“ ein. Ich 

versuche, meinen Austausch mit anderen zu minimieren und 

unternehme generell nichts, das zu viel Aufmerksamkeit oder 

emotionale Energie erfordert. Auf diese Weise kann ich die 

Ressourcen aufbauen, die für die maximale Konzentration bei einer 

Aufführung notwendig sind. Da ein Auftritt auch physisch sehr 

anstrengend ist, muss ich mich auch um meinen Körper kümmern. 

Man kann die fantastischsten musikalischen Ideen haben, aber 

wenn man verspannte Schultern hat, kann man keine davon wie 

beabsichtigt umsetzen. 

An vier Abenden im Musikverein Wien steht Sergei 

Rachmaninows selten gespieltes Concerto No. 4 auf dem 

Spielplan, ein Werk, das Rachmaninow im Exil in den USA 

geschrieben hat ... 

Das 4. Klavierkonzert von Rachmaninow ist sehr eigentümlich. Er 

steht deutlich an einem Scheideweg. Man hört zwar immer noch 

eine starke Ausprägung seiner Wurzeln, zugleich aber ist diese 

Musik von den Einflüssen der damaligen Zeit durchzogen – Jazz-typische 

Harmonien, unkonventionelle Orchestrierung und komplexe, 

fast industrielle Rhythmen. Das Konzert fühlt sich an wie eine 

große Illustration der Kultur jener Zeit, in der es verfasst wurde. 

Rachmaninow tritt dabei sehr weit aus seiner Komfortzone heraus. 

Meiner Meinung nach ist es eines der am meisten unterschätzten 

Klavierwerke. 

Im Juni geben Sie dann, ebenfalls im Wiener Musikverein, die 

Österreich-Premiere Ihres eigenen Klavierkonzerts. Was 

inspiriert Sie dazu, selbst zu komponieren? 

Es muss dabei einen ursprünglichen Anreiz geben, eine treibende 

Kraft, die die Entstehung von neuer Musik bewirkt und auf deren 

Basis ich dann das komplette Stück erschaffe. Dieser Anreiz ist 

der wichtigste Schritt und wird normalerweise durch eine 

außergewöhnliche emotionale Erfahrung ausgelöst.eine seltene, 

emotionale Erfahrung ausgelöst. 

Your performance combines exceptional depth with consummate 

technique – what drives you to this perfection? 

Perfection in art is a very elusive substance. If you try to recreate 

something on stage exactly as you had planned, you will likely not 

succeed. In fact, there is a high chance the only thing that will be 

achieved is a loss of freshness in the interpretation. 

That is why I think it‘s important to treat musical material as a sort of 

map - you know your surroundings, but in order to go from point A to 

point B you can use different routes each time. So on stage, there 

should still be a sense of wonder as you play the piece, as if you are 

discovering it again. For that it is necessary to have the piece 

embedded deep in your system, not even as much from the technical 

standpoint but more so the emotional side. 

Sometimes before a concert, I practice without the instrument, trying 

just to amplify the mood of the music from within. Once I feel inside 

the music so that none of the external disturbances can seep into the 

concentration, it is much easier to have freedom in the performance. 

Your tight schedule takes you around the globe - how do you 

manage to maintain concentration despite this intense travelling? 

On the day of the concert I enter „safe mode.“ I try to minimize my 

interactions, I don‘t do any activity that takes too much attention or 

emotional energy. This way I can build up the resources needed for 

maximum focus during the performance. 

As performing is a very physically engaging process as well, I need to take 

care of my body too. You can have the most amazing musical ideas, but if 

you have tight shoulders, none of them will come through as intended. 

On four evenings at the Wiener Musikverein, you perform Sergei 

Rachmaninov‘s rarely played Concerto No. 4 - written by 

Rachmaninov in exile in the USA ... 

The 4 th concerto of Rachmaninov is a very odd one. He is clearly at a 

crossroads: there is still a very strong sense of his roots but at the 

same time this music is infused with influences of the time - harmonies 

typical of jazz music, offbeat orchestration, and complex almost 

industrial rhythms. 

This concerto feels like a great illustration of the culture of the time it 

was written. Rachmaninov goes very far out of his comfort zone. In 

my opinion, it‘s one of the most under-appreciated pieces in the 

piano repertoire. 

In June, also at the Wiener Musikverein, you will perform the 

Austrian premiere of your own piano concerto. What inspires 

you to compose yourself? 

There must be an initial stimulus, a driving force that will cause the 

creation of new material based on which I would later create 

the entire piece from. That initial ignition is the most important and 

usually is caused by an uncommon emotional experience. 

Rachmaninov: Piano 

Concerto No. 4 

Wiener Philharmoniker, Alain 

Altinoglu, Daniil Trifonov 

9., 10., 12., 13.1.2019, 

Musikverein Wien 

Shostakovitch, Rachmaninov 

Daniil Trifonov, Sergei 

Dogadin, Narek Hakhnazaryan 

14.1.2019, Musikverein Wien 

Rameau, Ravel, Debussy 

London Symphony Orchestra, 

Sir Simon Rattle, Daniil 

Trifonov 


Beethoven, Schumann, 

Prokofiev 

Daniil Trifonov, Solorecital 


Offenbach, Dutilleux, Daniil 

Trifonov: Piano Concerto 

(Austrian premiere) 

RSO, Johannes Debus, Daniil 

Trifonov 


Daniil Trifonovs Aufnahmen 

der Klavierkonzerte Nr. 2 und 

4 von Rachmaninov erschienen 

2018 bei der Deutschen 

Grammophon. 

In 2018, Daniil Trifonov‘s 

recordings of the piano 

concertos No. 2 and 4 by 

Rachmaninov were published by 

Deutsche Grammophon. 

Daniil Trifonov, geboren 1991 in Nischni Nowgorod in der ehemaligen Sowjetunion, 

studierte Klavier und Komposition in Moskau und später am Cleveland Institute of Music. 

Sein kometenhafter Aufstieg begann, als er 2011 innerhalb von nur sechs Wochen den 

Arthur-Rubinstein-Wettbewerb in Tel Aviv und den Internationalen Tschaikowski-Wettbewerb 

in Moskau gewann. Heute, mit 27 Jahren, zählt Trifonov zu den absoluten 

Superstars der Klassikwelt. Anfang 2019 ist der Ausnahmepianist an mehreren Abenden 

auf der Bühne des Wiener Musikvereins zu hören und zu erleben. 

Daniil Trifonov, born 1991 in Nizhny Novgorod in the former Soviet Union, studied 

piano and composition in Moscow and later at the Cleveland Institute of Music. His 

meteoric rise began when he won the Arthur Rubinstein International Piano Master 

Competition in Tel Aviv and the International Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow in 

2011 within a span of just a few weeks. Today, aged 27, Trifonov is counted among the 

superstars of the classical music scene. In 2019, you will be able to hear and 

experience the exceptional pianist on stage at the Wiener Musikverein for several 

evenings. 

106 Cercle Diplomatique 4/2018 Cercle Diplomatique 4/2018 107 

musikverein.at 

daniiltrifonov.com

SAVOIR VIVRE ARTS 

Kultur-Highlights Winter 2018/19 

Cultural highlights winter 2018/19 

Text: Evelyn Rois 

Meilensteine der Fotografie 

| Photography milestones 

Drei mal New York, drei der einflussreichsten 

Fotografinnen, drei 

unterschiedliche Generationen. 

Menschliche Abgründe, Tragik, 

Schönheit. Die Ausstellung „Lisette 

Model. Diane Arbus. Nan Goldin“ im 

WestLicht - Schauplatz für Fotografie 

bietet vom 6.12.2018 - 3.3.2019 die rare 

Gelegenheit, zahlreiche Ikonen der 

Fotografiegeschichte in Originalabzügen 

zu sehen. 

Three times New York, three of the most 

influential photographers, three 

different generations. Human abysses, 

tragedies, beauty. From 6.12.2018 to 

3.3.2019, the exhibition “Lisette Model. 

Diane Arbus. Nan Goldin” at the 

WestLicht museum will provide the rare 

opportunity to experience countless 

icons from the history of photography in 

form of their original prints. 

westlicht.com 

Diane Arbus: Ein junger Mann 

in Lockenwicklern zu Hause, 

New York City, 1966. 

Diane Arbus: A young man in 

curlers at home, 

New York City, 1966. 

Beschwingte 

Barockklänge | Elated 

baroque tunes 

Ai Weiwei, Descending Light 

with A Missing Circle, 2017. 

Zeitgenössische Kunst 

aus China | Contemporary 

art from China 

Japanomanie | Japanomania 

Vincent Van Gogh, Gustav Klimt oder Marianne von Werefkin – es gibt kaum 

Kunstschaffende des ausgehenden 19. Jahrhunderts, die sich nicht von der Kunst 

Japans inspirieren liessen. Nach der Öffnung des fernöstlichen Landes nach 1854 und 

seiner Präsentation auf den Weltausstellungen in Paris und Wien, wurde Europa von 

einer wahren „Japanomanie“ ergriffen. Das Kunstforum Wien zeigt in der Ausstellung 

„Faszination Japan. Monet - Van Gogh - Klimt“ bis zum 20.1.2019 nicht nur hochkarätige, 

von Japan beeinflusste europäische Kunstwerke – ebenso werden die japanischen 

Vorbilder, etwa Farbholzschnitte von Katsushika Hokusai, präsentiert. 

Vincent Van Gogh, Gustav Klimt or Marianne von Werefkin – there barely was an 

artist around the end of the 19th century who wasn’t inspired by the art of Japan. 

Once the far-eastern nation opened its doors to the outside world in 1854 and held 

its presentations at the world fairs in Paris and Vienna, all of Europe was suddenly 

struck by “Japanomania”. In the exhibition “Fascination Japan. Monet – Van Gogh – 

Klimt”, the Kunstforum Wien will not only present high-calibre European artworks 

that were influenced by Japan – the Japanese role models, such as coloured 

woodcuts by Katsushika Hokusai, will also be on display until 20.1.2019. 

kunstforumwien.at 

Künstlerischer 

Aufbruch | Artistic 

showdown 

Als Nachklang zum großen 

Klimtjahr konfrontiert das Leopold 

Museum Wien in der Ausstellung 

„Klimt – Moser – Gerstl“ vom 

6.12.2018 – 10.3.2019 Höhepunkte 

des Wiener Jugendstils wie Klimts 

fast schon abstrakte „Seelandschaft 

Am Attersee“ mit den bahnbrechenden, 

expressionistischen 

Arbeiten Gerstls. 

To round off the great Klimt year, 

the Leopold Museum in Vienna will 

confront highlights from the 

Viennese Art Nouveau movement, 

such as Klimt’s almost abstract 

“Seelandschaft Am Attersee”, with 

the ground-breaking, expressionist 

works of Gerstl, as part of the 

“Klimt – Moser – Gerstl” exhibition 

from 6.12.2018 to 10.3.2019. 

leopoldmuseum.org 

Gustav Klimt, Attersee, 1900. 

108 Cercle Diplomatique 4/2018 Cercle Diplomatique 4/2018 109 

PHOTOS: THE ESTATE OF DIANE ARBUS; MARCO BORGGREVE; JAMIE GERMANO; AI WEIWEI; MAK/GEORG MAYER; STÄDEL MUSEUM/U. EDELMANN/ 

ARTHOTHEK; PUNCTUM/BERTRAM KOBER; LEOPOLD MUSEUM 

„Musik ist Trumpf“ ist das schöne Motto der diesjährigen Resonanzen: Beim Festival alter Musik vom 19. – 27.1.2019 im Wiener 

Konzerthaus steht neben Purcell und Händel viel italienische Barockmusik am Programm – immer begleitet von spannenden Vorbzw. 

Nachspielen wie Musikfilmen oder einem Barocktanzkurs. 

“Music trumps all” is the beautiful motto of this year’s Resonanzen festival. From 19. to 27.1.2019, the classical music festival will 

feature works by Purcell, Händel and a variety of Italian baroque musicians – always accompanied by exciting pre and postludes, 

such as musical films or a baroque dance class. 

konzerthaus.at/resonanzen 

Mitte der 1990er Jahre begann Uli 

Sigg, Unternehmer und von 

1995–1998 Schweizer Botschafter in 

China, die weltweit repräsentativste 

Sammlung chinesischer Kunst 

aufzubauen. Mit über hundert 

Arbeiten, darunter Werke von Ai 

Weiwei, Cao Fei oder He Xiangyu, 

gibt das Wiener MAK vom 

30.1.-26.5.2019 mit der Ausstellung 

„Chinese Whispers. Neue Kunst aus 

der Sigg Collection“ einen 

hochspannenden Einblick und stellt 

dem chinesischen Kunstschaffen 

der Gegenwart ausgewählte Stücke 

aus seiner bedeutenden 

Asien-Sammlung gegenüber. 

In the middle of the 1990s, Uli Sigg, 

entrepreneur and Swiss ambassador 

to China from 1995 to 1998, 

started compiling the most 

representative collection of Chinese 

art in the world. With more than a 

hundred pieces, among them works 

by Ai Weiwei, Cao Fei and He 

Xiangyu, the exhibition “Chinese 

Whispers. New Art from the Sigg 

Collection” at the Austrian Museum 

of Applied Arts in Vienna will 

provide an exciting inside look into 

the fascinating world of 

contemporary Chinese art by 

drawing from its brilliant Asia 

collection from 30.1.-26.5.2019. 

mak.at 

Edgar Degas, Kasushika Hokusai, Franz Marc 

(im Uhrzeigersinn; clockwise) 

Hathor Consort, Harry 

Christophers, Paul O‘Dette 

(von likns/from left).

SAVOIR VIVRE ARTS 

Liechtenstein Collections: 

Anthonis van Dyck , 

Ferdinand Georg Waldmüller, 

Friedrich von Amerling, 

Jan Jansz, den Uyl (gegen 

den Uhrzeigersinn; 

counterclockwise) 

Politik und Oper | Politics and the opera 

Fürstliche Gemälde auf Welttournee | Royal paintings on world tour 

Sie zählen zu den größten und bedeutendsten Privatsammlungen weltweit. Nach Shanghai, Moskau Taipeh 

und Bern machen die Fürstlichen Sammlungen Liechtenstein, die Gemälde und Plastiken aus vier 

Jahrhunderten, von der Renaissance bis zum Biedermeier, umfassen, erstmals in ihrer ganzen Breite in der 

Albertina Wien Station. Im Mittelpunkt der Schau vom 16.2. – 10.6.2019 stehen Werke von Peter Paul 

Rubens, Ferdinand Georg Waldmüller und Friedrich von Amerling. 

They are considered among the greatest and most important private collections in the world. After 

Shanghai, Moscow, Taipei and Berne, the Liechtenstein Princely Collections, which include paintings and 

sculptures from four centuries, from the Renaissance to Biedermeier, will be visiting the Albertina in Vienna 

for the very first time. Lasting from 16.2. to 10.6.2019, the exhibition’s centre stage will be taken by the 

works of Peter Paul Rubens, Ferdinand Georg Waldmüller and Friedrich von Amerling. 

albertina.at 

Mystische Symbole 

der Rosenkreuzer, 

18./19. Jahrhundert 

(oben; top) 

David Bowie, „Station 

to Station“, 1976 

Faszination Kabbalah | Mysterious Kabbalah 

Gemeinsam mit dem Joods Historisch Museum Amsterdam 

präsentiert das Jüdische Museum Wien in der Ausstellung 

„Kabbalah“ bis zum 3.3.2019 einen profunden Einblick in 

dieses so faszinierende wie schillernde Thema der 

mystischen Überlieferungen des Judentums, von ihrem 

Einfluss auf den Humanismus und die Wissenschaften bis zu 

ihrer modernen Ausprägung in der Popkultur. 

Together with the Joods Historisch Museum Amsterdam, 

the Jewish Museum Vienna will offer a profound inside look 

into Judaism’s fascinating and dazzling mystical tradition in 

the form of the exhibition “Kabbalah” until 3.3.2019, from 

its influences on Humanism and the sciences to its modern 

expressions in popular culture. 

jmw.at 

PHOTOS: LIECHTENSTEIN. THE PRINCELY COLLECTIONS, VADUZ–VIENNA (4); STEVE SCHAPIRO, CORBIS PREMIUM HISTORICAL, GETTY IMAGES; JÜDISCHES MUSEUM WIEN / SAMMLUNG IKG; MIRI 

HUH; RICHARD HAUFFE / WIEN MUSEUM 

Im Dezember gelangt der Kompositionsauftrag der Wiener Staatsoper, 

Johannes Maria Stauds politisch-zeitgenössische Oper „Die Weiden“, im 

Haus am Ring zur Uraufführung. Das aufrüttelnde Libretto, das, anhand 

einer Donau-Flussreise eines jungen Paares, populistische Strömungen in 

Europa bloßlegt, stammt vom deutschen Lyriker Durs Grünbein, am Pult 

steht Ingo Metzmacher. Premiere ist am 8.12., Reprisen: 11., 14., 16. und 

20.12.2018. 

December marks the premiere of Johannes Maria Staud’s contemporary 

political opera “Die Weiden”, commissioned by the Vienna State Opera 

and also held at the famed opera house on Vienna’s Ringstrasse. The 

evocative libretto, which lays bare the recent wave of populism that has 

swept Europe through a 

young couple’s cruise along 

the Danube, was written by 

German lyricist Durs 

Grünbein, and Ingo 

Metzmacher will be 

conducting. The premiere is 

set for 8.12., reruns on 11., 14., 

16. and 20.12.2018. 

wiener-staatsoper.at 

Zeitzeugen des Umbruchs | Witnesses of change 

Der Zerfall der Monarchie, Massenkundgebungen, die Rückkehr der 

Soldaten ... Die Ausstellung „Die erkämpfte Republik – 1918/19 in 

Fotografien“ im Wien Museum beleuchtet die dramatischen Ereignisse 

rund um die Gründung der Republik aus der Perspektive der historischen 

Reportage. Im Zentrum der bis 3.2.2019 laufenden Schau steht das Werk 

des Wiener Fotografen Richard Hauffe. 

The collapse of the monarchy, mass protests, the return of the soldiers… 

The exhibition “The Hard-Won Republic – 1918/19 in Photographs” at the 

Wien Museum explores the dramatic events surrounding the founding of 

the republic from the perspective of a historical report. The work of 

Viennese photographer Richard Hauffe will take the centre stage of the 

exhibition that is set to last until 3.2.2019. wienmuseum.at 

Aufmarsch der Arbeiterräte vor dem Wiener 

Parlament, 12. November 1919 

Demonstration of the workers‘ councils in front 

of Vienna‘s Parliament, 12 November 1919 

Johannes Maria 

Staud 

Von Hexen, Meerwundern 

und der Apokalypse 

Frühe Druckgraphiken von Albrecht Dürer 

5. Dezember 2018 bis 3. März 2019 

Kupferstichkabinett der Akademie der bildenden Künste Wien 

zu Gast im Theatermuseum 

Lobkowitzplatz 2, 1010 Wien, www.kupferstichkabinett.at 


SAVOIR VIVRE REAL ESTATE 

Worauf es ankommt 

What matters most 

Exklusiver Wohnbau bedarf eines Konglomerats aus Architekten, 

Bauträgern, Interieurdesignern und potentiellen Kunden. 

Spannende Projekte in Wien sind das beste Beispiel dafür. 

Exclusive residential development requires a conglomerate of 

architects, developers, interior designers and potential buyers. 

Exciting projects in Vienna are the perfect example. 

Text: Michaela Hocek 

Erstklassige Lage, außergewöhnliche Architektur 

und ein intelligentes Gesamtkonzept sind 

die bestimmenden Kriterien für Luxusapartments 

und Penthäuser, wie SIGNA-Geschäftsführer 

Christoph Stadlhuber im Gespräch mit Cercle Diplomatique 

erklärt: „Ausstattung, Architektur und 

Features sind wichtige Faktoren, doch in erster Linie 

gilt die ewige Immobilienregel ‚Lage, Lage, Lage‘ – 

insbesondere im Luxussegment. Diese preis- und 

wertbestimmenden Faktoren können durch nichts 

ersetzt werden. Luxusausstattung ist eine sehr individuelle 

Empfindung, daher orientiert sich diese an der 

Möglichkeit, dem Kunden Entscheidungsfreiheit zu 

geben. Oft ist der Name des Architekten ein preisbestimmender 

Faktor. In vielen Fällen wie z. B. bei 

Denkmal- und Ensembleschutz gibt es keine großen 

gestalterischen Möglichkeiten. Bus-Systeme, Pool am 

Dach, Kühlung, Parkplatz im Haus, Concierge-Service 

sowie edle Materialien sind unabdingbare Features, 

um die Käufer zu überzeugen, funktionieren 

aber nicht ohne Blick über Wien oder auf ein „Landmark-Building“ 

– wie den Stephansdom oder die 

Hofburg.“ 

Ausstattung ist Trumpf 

Bei der Realisierung exklusiver Wohnräume ist es 

besonders wichtig, auf individuelle Wünsche der 

Kunden hinsichtlich der Planung oder Möblierung 

einzugehen. Nicht selten kommt es vor, dass bereits 

bestehende Grundrisse umgeändert werden. Dass 

Wohnungspläne im Sinne des potentiellen Käufers 

mehrfach massiv umgezeichnet werden – noch lange 

bevor es zu einer Kaufentscheidung kommt. Eine 

Rund-um-die-Uhr-Betreuung durch das Verkaufsteam 

und bedarfsorientierte Flexibilität wird vorausgesetzt 

und ist Usus im Premium-Immobiliensegment. 

Das betrifft sowohl die Planung als auch die 

Möblierung wie Stadlhuber erklärt: „Der Kunde hat 

oft eigene Vorstellungen, lässt sich zwar inspirieren, 

will aber ebenso seine eigenständige Linie und Vorstellung 

umsetzen.“ 

MORE 

THAN 

LIVING. 

PREMIUM 

LIVING. 

Let us introduce to you 

the most sophisticated 

address for high-class 

real estate in Austria. 

Welcome to 

FINDMYHOME 

PREMIUM LIVING. 

PHOTO: SIGNA 

Drei Paradebeispiele 

Die Verkaufsattraktivität steigt u. a. auch mit Interieur 

von internationalen Designern und Marken. 

Im Falle der Parkapartments am Belvedere setzt SIG- 

NA höchste Qualitätsmaßstäbe. Das von Stararchitekt 

Renzo Piano entworfene architektonische Konzept, 

von der markanten Säulenarchitektur bis zur 

Goethegasse 1 

PARKAPARTMENTS AM BELVEDERE 

Erstmals setzt Star-Architekt Renzo Piano sein Motto: „Architektur 

ist eine Brücke zwischen Erde und Luft“ in Österreich um. 

Star architect Renzo Piano implements his motto “Architecture is a 

bridge between the earth and the air” for the first time in Austria. 

Find more than 60 other 

exclusive residences at: 

findmyhome.at/premiumliving 

112 



INNOVATOR DER IMMOBILIENSUCHE | PROPERTY SEARCH INNOVATOR 

„Die dominanten Faktoren 

im luxuriösen 

Wohnbau sind die 

erstklassige Lage, gefolgt 

von außergewöhnlicher 

Architektur 

und einem intelligenten 

Gesamtkonzept“ 

”The dominant factors 

when it comes to luxury 

residential development 

are top-notch location, 

followed by exceptional 

architecture and a smart 

overall concept.“ 

Christoph Stadlhuber, 

GF SIGNA | CEO SIGNA 

BÖRSEPLATZ 1 

Für imperialen Wohnbau mit Loft-Charakter und Skyview-Penthäusern wird Wien von Immobilienkennern geschätzt. 

Property experts appreciate Vienna for its imperial residences with loft character and skyview penthouses. 

hochwertigen Fassade mit Keramikelementen, verkörpert 

ein detailreiches Gesamtes. Der Star-Architekt 

und Pritzker-Preisträger entwarf hier gemeinsam 

mit seinem Architektenteam ein 

Gebäudeensemble mit Hotel (Andaz Am Belvedere 

Vienna). „Sein erstes Projekt in Österreich bringt exklusives 

urbanes Wohngefühl nach Wien, wie es aus 

internationalen Metropolen wie London, Paris oder 

New York bekannt ist“, so Stadlhuber. 

Kunst und Historie trifft Moderne 

Eine Adresse mit Geschichte ist der Börseplatz 1, 

wo 2019 die ehemalige k.k. Telegrafen Centrale in 

neuem imperialen Glanz erstrahlen wird. Rund 

7.800 Quadratmeter sind für Eigentumswohnungen 

reserviert, 1.000 Quadratmeter werden zu Büroräumlichkeiten. 

Die zukünftigen Bewohner der „Imperial 

Loft Collection“ erwarten Raumhöhen von 7,5 

Metern und bis zu 2.000 Quadratmeter Wohnfläche. 

Außergewöhnlich sind auch die Skyview-Penthouses 

sowie „Imperial Lofts“ mit Terrasse. Dass trotz 

Innenstadtlage der Luxus der Ruhe miterstanden 

wird, ist eine glückliche Fügung. Die Service-Leistungen 

vom Personal Assistent über intelligente 

Haustechnik bis zu eigenem Zen-„Cour-Interieur“ 

sind bewusst gewählter High-Standard. 

Platz an der Sonne 

In Döbling ist mit „Sun Residences“ ein weiteres 

Vorzeigeprojekt im Entstehen, dessen Konzept Claudia 

Albert, Geschäftsführerin von Supernova Private 

Residences, folgendermaßen skizziert: „Das Besondere 

an dieser Luxusimmobilie sind die zwei nicht 

einsehbaren, weiträumig und modernst ausgestatteten 

Wohneinheiten. Dieser ‚Hauscharakter‘ bietet 

den Bewohnern größtmögliche Privatsphäre und es 

wird das Gefühl vermittelt, alleine zu leben. Diese 

Vorteile heben die ‚Sun Residences‘ von anderen Developments 

in diesem Sektor deutlich ab.“ Der Baustil 

der Zweifamilien-Villa erinnert an Häuser der 

Gründerzeit und besticht im Inneren durch die 

großzügigen und sonnendurchfluteten Räumlichkeiten. 

Beide Wohnungen verfügen über einen eigenen 

Wellnessbereich mit Sauna, Bäderlandschaft 

und Pool. Die Grünfläche der Gartenwohnung inklusive 

Pool und Gartenhaus ist harmonisch gestaltet. 

Die mit dem Lift direkt erreichbare Penthousewohnung 

überzeugt mit weitläufigen 

Terrassenflächen und exklusivem Flair. 

Top-notch location, exceptional architecture 

and an intelligent overall concept are the key 

criteria when it comes to luxury apartments 

and penthouses, as SIGNA director Christoph Stadlhuber 

explains in conversation with Cercle Diplomatique. 

“Furnishing, architecture and extra features 

are all important factors, but the old property maxim 

‘location, location, location’ persists – especially in 

the luxury segment. These price and value-determining 

factors just can’t be replaced. Luxury furnishing is 

a very personal matter, which is why it’s best to offer 

the customer freedom of choice here. The name of 

the architect is usually an additional price-determining 

factor. In many cases, such as preserved historic 

buildings or entire ensembles of buildings, there isn’t 

much room for customisation. Bus systems, roof 

pool, cooling, parking space at the house, concierge 

service and precious building materials are all indispensable 

features when it comes to captivating the 

customer, but they aren’t worth much without a beautiful 

view of Vienna or a landmark building like St 

Stephen’s Cathedral or the Hofburg palace.” 

PHOTOS: FREE DIMENSIONS, KATHARINA SCHIFFL 

PHOTO: FIND MY HOME 

Three perfect examples 

The sales appeal also increases with an interior 

composed of pieces by international designers and 

brands. In the case of the “Parkapartments am Belvedere”, 

SIGNA is setting new quality standards. 

From the striking pillar architecture to the firstclass 

façade with ceramic elements, the architectural 

concept created by star architect Renzo Piano 

embodies a detailed totality. Together with his 

team, the star architect and Pritzker Architecture 

Prize winner designed a building ensemble with a 

hotel (Andaz Am Belvedere Vienna). “His first 

project in Austria brings the kinds of exclusive urban 

residential vibes to Vienna that we might know 

from international metropoles such as London, Paris 

or New York,” says Stadlhuber. 

Art and history meet modernity 

An address with plenty of history is without a 

doubt Börseplatz 1, where the former “k.k. Telegrafen 

Centrale” will make its reappearance in new 

glamour in 2019. Around 7,800 square metres are 

reserved for freehold flats, 1,000 additional square 

Bernd Gabel-Hlawa 

ist seit knapp zwei Jahrzehnten erfolgreich im Immobiliengeschäft 

tätig, nicht zuletzt aufgrund seiner Erfahrungen als Projektmanager 

für internationale Bauträger und Hoteliers. Diese lässt er 

gemeinsam mit seinem Partner Benedikt Gabriel u. a. in die neue 

Online-Plattform „FINDMYHOME – Premium Living“ einfließen, 

die seit Mai die Immobiliensuche für exklusives Eigentum (Kauf ab 

8.500 Euro/m 2 und Miete ab 2.500 Euro) vorantreibt. Angesprochen 

werden vor allem internationale Interessenten und 

finanzstarke Unternehmer aus ganz Österreich. Auf eigenen 

Landingpages werden mehr als 60 Premium-Immobilien 

präsentiert. Einen Namen hat Gabel-Hlawa sich auch mit der „FindMyHome.at Qualitätsmakler“-Gala 

gemacht, in deren Rahmen die besten Makler und Bauträger ausgezeichnet werden 

und die das nächste Mal im Februar 2019 stattfindet. 

Bernd Gabel-Hlawa has been successfully active in the property industry for the past two 

decades, not least due to his experiences as a project manager for international developers and 

hoteliers. Together with his partner Benedikt Gabriel, he has used his knowledge of the industry 

to create the new online platform “FINDMYHOME — Premium Living”, which has significantly 

advanced exclusive property search (purchases from €8,500/m 2 and rent from €2,500). The 

target audience is primarily composed of potential international buyers and financially powerful 

entrepreneurs from all over Austria. More than 60 premium properties are presented on 

individual landing pages. Gabel-Hlawa has also made a name for himself with the “FindMyHome. 

at Qualitätsmakler” gala, at which the best agents and developers are honoured. The next one is 

set for February 2019. 

findmyhome.at/premiumliving 



INTERVIEW 

presents 

Gabriele Kaiser, Architekturpublizistin und Jurorin 

des ZV Bauherrenpreises 2018 

Gabriele Kaiser, architecture publicist and judge at the ZV Bauherrenpreis 

award 2018 

Wie wichtig ist es beim Wohnbau 

außergewöhnlich zu sein – z. B. anhand des 

ausgezeichneten Projekts „Prinzessin 

Veranda“? 

Die Außergewöhnlichkeit bei „Prinzessin 

Veranda“ in Graz besteht schon darin, dass 

Planungsbüro und Investor in Personalunion 

aufgetreten sind. Das Projekt beweist in 

heterogen bebauter Umgebung, dass nicht nur 

gute Grundrisse, konsequente Materialisierung 

und hochwertige Ausstattungsdetails den 

Stellenwert eines Stadtbausteins bestimmen, 

sondern vor allem seine städtebauliche 

Strahlkraft im Kontext der Entfaltungsmöglichkeiten 

eines Quartiers. Die rein formale 

Außergewöhnlichkeit eines Gebäudes ist jene 

Qualität, die sich am schnellsten verbraucht – ob 

die Fassade nun schillert oder nicht, ist 

unerheblich. Wohnkonzepte müssen in ihrer 

Wandelbarkeit heutigen Lebensbedürfnissen 

entsprechen. 

Wie entscheidend ist für die Verkaufsattraktivität 

von Luxuswohnungen die 

Ausstattung mit internationalen 

Designermöbeln? 

Hier gibt es ganz unterschiedliche Zugänge: Für 

eine bestimmte Klientel ist die fertig möblierte 

Luxusimmobilie sicher die komfortabelste 

Option, da weder das Zeitbudget noch die 

Vorstellungskraft strapaziert werden. Die mit 

Designklassikern ausgestattete Wohnung ist 

international kompatibel und bringt gewisse 

Vorzüge der Räume besser zur Geltung als leere 

Zimmer. Andererseits ist Wohnen etwas sehr 

Persönliches und Veränderliches, Ausdruck von 

Individualität und „gelebtem Leben“. Bedeutende 

Architekten – etwa Adolf Loos oder Josef Frank – 

haben sich schon am Beginn des 20. Jahrhunderts 

vehement gegen das sogenannte 

Garniturdenken ausgesprochen. 

Sie sprechen sich also gegen internationale 

Designklassiker aus? 

Keineswegs. Möbelentwürfe von Charles und Ray 

Eames, Arne Jacobsen, Jean Prouvé, Le Corbusier, 

Hans Wegner etc. haben ihren Status als 

„Klassiker“ nicht zufällig erlangt. Es kommt eben 

darauf an, wofür man diese Stücke heute einsetzt 

– ob als Prestigeobjekt oder Gebrauchsgegenstand, 

dessen gestalterische und handwerkliche 

Qualität dauerhaft erfreut. 

Can you say how important it is for a 

residential construction to be “exceptional” 

– e.g. by example of the award-winning 

“Prinzessin Veranda” project? 

What makes “Prinzessin Veranda” in Graz so 

exceptional is that the planning office and the 

investor worked hand in hand. In its architecturally 

heterogeneous environment, the project 

illustrates that not only good floorplans, 

consequent implementation and top-notch 

furnishing details determine the value of a new 

building, but also its urban charisma in the 

context of the development opportunities of a 

particular quarter. The formally exceptional 

nature of a building is a quality that is quickly 

exhausted – whether the façade glitters or not is 

insignificant. In their transformability, residential 

concepts must meet the demands of life today. 

How crucial is furnishing with international 

designer pieces for the sales attractiveness 

of luxury apartments? 

There are different approaches here: For one 

particular set of clients, furnished luxury 

properties are surely the most comfortable 

option, since it doesn’t place additional pressures 

on either time constraints or the imagination. On 

the other hand, the home is very much a personal 

as well as changing matter, an expression of 

individuality and one’s life experiences. Key 

architects – such as Adolf Loos or Josef Frank – 

voiced their criticisms of “furnished thinking” 

already in the early 20 th century. 

So, you are against international design 

classics? 

Certainly not. Furniture pieces by Charles and Ray 

Eames, Arne Jacobsen, Jean Prouvé, Le Corbusier, 

Hans Wegner, etc. haven’t achieved their status 

as classics for no reason. It depends on where 

such pieces are used today – whether as a mere 

prestige object or as an actual article of daily use 

whose design and crafting quality delights in the 

long run. 

SUN RESIDENCES 

Bei diesem Wohnprojekt in Döbling wird eine Zwei-Familien-Villa 

mit uneinsehbarem Garten und Outdoorpool 

realisiert. 

This residential project, consisting of a two-family villa with 

hidden garden and outdoor pool, is being realised in Döbling. 

metres are expected to become office premises. The future 

inhabitants of the “Imperial Loft Collection” will 

be awaited by a ceiling height of 7.5 metres and up to 

2,000 square metres of residential space. Just as exceptional 

are the skyview-penthouse “Imperial Lofts” with 

terrace. The fact that residents get to enjoy tranquillity 

despite the inner-city location is also a highlight. Additional 

services, such as a personal assistant, smart 

home technologies and a private Zen “Cour-Interieur”, 

are well-thought out and of a high standard throughout. 

Place in the sun 

In Döbling, “Sun Residences” is another flagship 

project in the making, whose concept Claudia Albert, 

director of Supernova Private Residences, highlights as 

such: “The special thing about this luxury property are 

the two hidden, spacious and state-of-the-art residential 

units. This “house-like” character offers residents ample 

privacy and creates the feeling of living alone. These advantages 

clearly raise the “Sun Residences” above other 

developments in the sector. The building style of the 

two-family villa is akin to that of the “Gründerzeit” period 

and the interior captivates with the generously proportioned 

and sun-flooded premises. Both apartments 

have their own wellness areas with sauna, bathing area 

and pool. The green space of the garden apartment with 

pool and garden house offers a harmonious design. 

Furthermore, the penthouse apartment, which is also 

accessible via lift, also impresses with extensive terrace 

spaces and an exclusive flair. 

PHOTOS: ANTON HABRICH, SUN REDIDENCES 

LUXURY PENTHOUSE WITH POOL 

Great view of Neustift am Walde 

137 m 2 € 1.395.000 1190 Vienna 

findmyhome.at/luxury-penthouse 

+43 1 512 77 77-328 

GOETHEGASSE 1 

Impressive residences in the heart of Vienna 

from 71 m 2 on request 1010 Vienna 

findmyhome.at/goethegasse 

+43 1 512 15 08 

EXCEPTIONAL PENTHOUSE 

360° roof top terrace next to the Belvedere 

300 m 2 € 4.280.000 1040 Vienna 

findmyhome.at/penthouse-belvedere 

+43 1 533 20 30-25 

LUXURY APARTMENTS/VIEW OF VIENNA 

Exclusive living comfort in beautiful Döbling 

from 161 m 2 from € 1.450.000 1190 Vienna 

findmyhome.at/scheimpfluggasse 

+43 1 470 68 34 

Find more exclusive real estate on FindMyHome.at/premiumliving 


SAVOIR VIVRE LIFESTYLE 

Reine Vorfreude 

Pure anticipation 

Text: Michaela Hocek 

Edles Geschenk | 

Exquisite gift 

Mit drei Schreibgeräte-Serien und passenden Accessoires startet die „Graf von Faber-Castell for Bentley“-Kollektion durch. 

„White Satin“, „Sequin Blue“ und „Tungsten“ stehen zur Wahl. 

The new “Graf von Faber-Castell for Bentley” collection is launching with three writing instrument ranges and the fitting accessories. Choose from “White Satin”, “Sequin 

Blue” and “Tungsten”. 

graf-von-faber-castell.at 

Eigene Handschrift | Own 

handwriting 

Kunstvolles Herren-Accessoire 

Artistic men’s accessories 

„Perfect Imperfection“ ist das Motto der Men’s Legwear Kollektion von Falke. Darunter finden sich als 

Hommage an den Kimono florale Muster im All-Over-Print, ähnlich einem Tattoo auf der Haut. 

“Perfect Imperfection” is the theme of Falke’s new men’s legwear collection. It includes floral-patterned 

all-over-prints similar to a tattoo on the skin, paying tribute to the Japanese Kimono. 

falke.com 

Neue Premier Kollektion | New 

Premier collection 

Fünf Modelle mit Reminiszenzen an die eigene 

Geschichte der 1940er Jahre – wie die „Premier B01 

Chronograph 42“ mit weißer Tachymeterskala – zeigen 

Breitlings Neuausrichtung in Sachen Uhrendesign. 

Five models that recall the company’s own history during 

the 1940s – like the “Premier B01 Chronograph 42” with 

a white tachymeter scale –demonstrate Breitling’s new 

approach when it comes to watch design. 

breitling.com 

Verführerischer Wohnduft | Seductive 

home fragrance 

Parfümeur Jacques Cavallier-Belletrud und Designer 

Marc Newson haben pünktlich zur Vorweihnachtszeit 

vier Duftkerzen, z.B. „Dehors Il Neige“ mit Sternanis und 

Zimt, für Louis Vuitton geprägt. 

Right on time for the pre-Christmas season, perfume 

specialist Jacques Cavallier-Belletrud and designer Marc 

Newson have created four scented candles for Louis 

Vuitton, including “Dehors Il Neige” with star anise and 

cinnamon. 

louisvuitton.com 


Kuschelige Zeiten | 

Cosy times 

Textile Wohnaccessoires von 

Society Limonta als Geschenk 

oder für sich selbst: Weiche, 

wohlig-warme Stoffe in Pflaume, 

Neptunblau und Tonerde 

schaffen einen heimelig-edlen 

Lagenlook in Betten und 

harmonisches Mix & Match bei 

Tisch und im Badezimmer. 

Textile home accessories by 

Society Limonta either as a gift 

or as a treat for oneself: Soft, 

cosy and warm textiles in plum, 

Neptune blue and clay create a 

homely yet classy layered look 

in the bedroom and a harmonic 

mix & match in the dining room 

and the bathroom. 

societylimonta.com 

Mit Pop-up-Store (Bräunerstraße 11) und neuer Linie 

„Signature“ inspiriert Marie Boltenstern mit 

3D-Unikat-Schmuck. Ein Wort in Handschrift oder 

eine Zeichnung werden mithilfe von Algorithmen in 

einzigartiges Design übersetzt. 

Maria Boltenstern uses a pop-up store (Bräunerstraße 

11) and the new “Signature” line to inspire with 

her 3D-printed jewellery with unique pieces. Using 

algorithms, a hand-written word or a sketch can be 

translated into a unique design. 

boltenstern.com 

Rekordkosmetik | Record-breaking 

cosmetics 

Die edelste Hautcreme der Welt, die die Kollagenproduktion 

anregt, heißt „Cell Premium No 1“ 

wurde über zehn Jahre lang entwickelt und enthält 

hochdosierte Stammzellen aus Alpenrosen, Äpfeln 

und Trauben. 

The world’s most exquisite skin cream that 

stimulates collagen production is called “Cell 

Premium No 1”. It was developed over the course of 

10 years and contains high doses of stem cells from 

alpine roses, apples and grapes. 

cellpremium.com, topkapi.at 

Besondere Geschenke | Special gifts 

Leidenschaft und zeitlose Exklusivität findet sich bei Joh. Springer's 

Erben. Das Unternehmen ist als Ansprechpartner rund um die Jagd 

bekannt und bietet eine Reihe ausgesuchter Geschenke und Accessoires. 

Passion and timeless exclusivity can be found at Johann Springer’s 

Erben. The company is well-known as a point of contact for all things 

hunting and offers a wide range of selected gifts and accessories. 

springer-vienna.com 


SAVOIR VIVRE LIFESTYLE 

Exotic. Pure Indulgence. 

... Just Bliss! 

Schmeichelweich | Soothingly soft 

Vossen hat sich als europäischer Frottierwarenhersteller einen internationalen Ruf erworben. Aktuell macht die 

neue „Vegan Life Collection“ auf sich aufmerksam, die zu 100 % ohne tierische Hilfsstoffe produziert wird. 

Vossen has gained an international reputation as a European terry cloth product manufacturer. Currently, it is their new 

“Vegan Life Collection” that is catching attention everywhere. It is produced 100% without the use of animal additives. 

vossen.com 

Weihnachtsspecials | Christmas 

specials 

Sammlerstücke in Schneekugeln und festliche Sets 

verleihen den Duftkreationen „Classique“ und „Le Mâle“ 

das perfekte Aussehen, um verpackt unter dem 

Weihnachtsbaum zu landen. 

Collector’s editions inside snow globes and festive sets 

give the “Classique” and “Le Mâle” fragrances the 

perfect look to fit right under the Christmas tree. 

jeanpaulgaultier.com, marionnaud.at 

Edle Roben zum Mieten | Exquisite 

gowns for rent 

Elegante und typgerechte Gesamtkonzepte für 

besondere Anlässe wie Bälle, Galaevents oder 

Silvesterbankette werden bei „Dress and Impress“ 

in der Kruger Straße 15 realisiert. 

Elegant and type-matching concepts for special 

occasions such as balls, gala events or New Year's 

banquets are made possible at "Dress and Impress” 

on Krugerstraße 15 in Vienna. 

dressandimpress.at 

In der Wintersonne | In the winter sun 

Tod’s setzt Trends in der Winterkollektion seiner 

Sonnenbrillenmodelle mit leicht quadratischen Formen, 

markanten Schrauben und „Scooby Doo“-Details an den 

Titanium-Bügeln. 

Tod’s sets trends. The sunglass models in the winter 

collection exhibit slightly squared forms, prominent 

screws and “Scooby Doo” details on the titanium side 

pieces. 

tods.com 


OZEN BY ATMOSPHERE AT MAADHOO, MALDIVES 

Situated in the South Male’ Atoll just 45-minutes from the airport via Luxury speed-boat, OZEN by Atmosphere at Maadhoo specializes 

in catering to the discerning luxury world traveler. Embark upon an exquisite and authentically Maldivian experience unlike any other - with 

The Atmosphere INDULGENCE - OZEN’s unique Luxury All-Inclusive holiday plan! From Champagne trails, sumptuous à la carte 

fine-dining - including underwater dining, luxurious villas and amenities, holistic spa treatments and exhilarating diving... and even more 

Indulgence… ALL-INCLUDED in ONE Price! 

@ozenmaadhoo 


MAADHOO ISL AND | SOUTH MALÉ ATOLL | MALDIVES 

W W W . O Z E N - M A A D H O O . C O M

SAVOIR VIVRE AMBASSADOR´S DRIVE 

Auf der Straße: Mercedes-Benz AMG C 63 S. Am Steuer: S.E. Peter Mišík 

On the road: Mercedes-Benz AMG C 63 S. At the steering wheel: H.E. Peter Mišík 

Interview: Robert Winter 

Der Botschafter Slowakiens auf CD-Testfahrt. The Ambassador of 

Slovakia performs a test drive for CD. 


hätte ich gerne zu Weihnachten“, 

murmelt Peter Mišík, Botschafter der 

„Den 

Republik Slowakei in Österreich, während 

des Ambassador Drive im Mercedes-Benz 

AMG C 63 S. Am Anfang der Fahrt wird es in der 

Armbrustergasse im 19. Wiener Bezirk am Standort 

der slowakischen Botschaft in Österreich erst einmal 

richtig laut. Ursache des Getöses: Schon beim ersten 

Tritt auf das Gaspedal gibt der Sportwagen akustische 

Warnsignale ab. Kein Wunder, handelt es sich 

bei dem Gefährt doch um eine röhrende Rennmaschine 

die sich irgendwie auf die Straße verirrt hat. 

Der zweifache Familienvater Mišík kommt bald auf 

den Geschmack. Auf der Wiener Höhenstraße gibt 

er mehr Gas und bekommt damit die 510 Pferdestärken 

des Triebwerks zu spüren. 

Dass der AMG-Mercedes für Rennstrecken ausgelegt 

ist, sieht man dem Silberpfeil äußerlich kaum 

an. Aber unter der Haube geht es – wie bei einem 

Wolf im Schafspelz zu erwarten – zur Sache. Denn in 

der zu Mercedes gehörenden Edelschmiede AMG, 

die für die Fertigung der Triebwerke verantwortlich 

zeichnet, wird solide Handarbeit geleistet. Jeder einzelne 

AMG-Motor wird nach dem Motto „Ein Mann 

– ein Motor“ in nur wenigen Stunden zusammengeschraubt. 

Und im letzten Arbeitsschritt wird die Plakette 

mit der Unterschrift des Mechanikers angebracht. 

Darauf ist im Fall des von Peter Mišík 

gelenkten AMG C 63 S der Name „Eva Schatz“ zu 

lesen. Ergo dürfen auch Frauen bei AMG zum 

Schraubenschlüssel greifen. 

Beim ersten von Mišík gesetzten Bremsmanöver 

kommt Überraschung auf. Das Auto kommt in Nullkommanichts 

zum Stillstand. Und dem Botschafter, 

der seit 2017 für die Slowakei in Wien stationiert ist, 

kommt ein Lächeln aus. Was er da noch nicht weiß: 

Der Wagen ist mit Carbon-Keramikbremsen ausgestattet, 

die nicht Serienausstattung sind. Dafür werden 

die Bremsen nie heiß und reagieren extrem sensibel 

auf das Kommando des Piloten. Aber das hat 

seinen Preis. Die Aufzahlung für die Klötze kostet 

2.000 Euro. Wohlgemerkt pro Rad und nicht für alle 

Botschafter Peter Mišík mit dem 510 PS 

starken Mercedes-Benz AMG C 63 S. 

Ambassador Peter Mišík with the 510-HP 

strong Mercedes-Benz AMG C 63 S. 



SAVOIR VIVRE AMBASSADOR´S DRIVE 

vier Gummis. 

Mišík, der in Bratislava Schauspiel und internationale 

Beziehungen studierte, hat sich binnen Kurzem 

an das Fahrgefühl gewöhnt und genießt jede 

Sekunde des Ausflugs. Und auch nach der Fahrt hat 

der Diplomat, der in seiner Freizeit als Jogger aktiv 

ist, gerne reist sowie Lesen und Schilaufen zu seinen 

Hobbies zählt, den Sound des Boliden noch in den 

Ohren. „Der Klang des Motors ist wie eine schöne 

Melodie“, stellt er fest. Das war beim ersten Wagen 

Mišíks anders: „Ich habe 1985 den Führerschein gemacht. 

Danach fuhr ich einen Skoda.“ Damit kam er 

zwar auch von A nach B. Aber in einen Temporausch, 

der sich im Mercedes AMG C 63 S bei einem 

Spitzenwert von 290 Kilometer pro Stunde einstellen 

kann, war mit dem Skoda nicht zu verfallen. 

INFO: 

wiesenthal.at 



Botschafter Peter Mišík mit CD-Herausgeber Alexander Bursky, 

Clemens Neukomm (Diplomatic Sales Mercedes Wiesenthal) 

und CD-Autor Robert Winter (von links nach rechts; Bild Mitte). 

Ambassador Peter Mišík with CD's publisher Alexander Bursky, 

Clemens Neukomm (Diplomatic Sales Mercedes-Benz) and CD's 

author Robert Winter (from left to right; pictured in the middle). 

Mercedes-Benz AMG C 63 S 

Auf den ersten Blick dominiert Understatement. Es ist nicht zu erkennen, dass der Mercedes-Benz 

AMG C 63 S ein Triebwerk mit einer Leistung von 510 PS unter der Motorhaube hat. 

Die Motoren werden von AMG, einer Mercedes-Tochter mit Sitz im deutschen Affalterbach 

hergestellt. Dass die Motoren auch State oft the Art im Rennsport sind zeigt die Bilanz seit 

2010. Damals stieg das Mercedes AMG-Petronas F1-Team in die Formel 1 ein. Seit 2014 

dominiert das Team die Königsklasse des Motorsports. 

On first sight, understatement dominates. You wouldn’t be able to tell that the Mercedes-Benz 

AMG C 63 S hides a 510-HP engine under the bonnet. The engine is manufactured by AMG, a 

Mercedes subsidiary based in Affalterbach, Germany. The fact that these engines are also 

state-of-the-art when it comes to actual race sports was made clear in 2010. That was when the 

Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 team rose to join the Formula 1 series. Since 2014, the team has 

been dominating the premier class of motor sports. 

Technische Daten Technical data 

Motor Engine 

Benzin / Petrol 

Antrieb Drive 

Hinterradantrieb / rear-wheel drive 

kW (PS) kw (HP) 375 (510) 

Hubraum Capacity 3.982 ccm 

Kraftstoffverbrauch/ 

Fuel consumption 

8,2–8,4 l/100 km 

Preis Price 

D E E M I S 

COLLECTION 

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INTERNATIONAL CONTACT NUMBERS 

THAILAND# +66816919431 

USA # +14154907262 

EUROPE# +436643706686 

€ 138.132,00 – (inkl./ incl. NoVA & 20% Mwst./ VAT) 

that be a Christmas present?” 

asks Peter Mišík, Ambassador of the 

“Wouldn’t 

Slovak Republic to Austria, during 

the Ambassador’s Drive in the Mercedes-Benz AMG 

C 63 S. Right from the start of the ride, at the Embassy 

of the Slovak Republic in Austria on Armbrustergasse 

in Vienna’s 19th district, things get loud. Cause 

of the (up)roar: From the first step on the accelerator 

pedal, the sports car voices its acoustic warning signals. 

But this really shouldn’t come as a surprise, for 

this is a roaring racehorse of a car and must have landed 

on a regular street by mere chance. The father of 

two has quickly developed a taste for it. On Wiener 

Höhenstrasse, he accelerates even more and gets a 

good feel for the 510-HP engine. 

At first sight, the fact that the AMG Mercedes was 

actually created for race tracks isn’t immediately noticeable. 

But it is under the bonnet – like a wolf in 

sheep’s clothing – where the fun begins. The luxury 

forgery AMG, part of Mercedes and responsible for 

manufacturing the engine – has done solid manual 

work. Every single AMG engine is assembled within 

no more than a few hours as per the motto “One man 

– one engine”. In the final step, a plaque with the mechanic’s 

signature is attached to it. In the case of Peter 

Mišík’s AMG C 63 S, the name reads “Eva Schatz”. 

Ergo, at AMG, women also wield the wrench. 

There is a bit of a surprise during Mišík’s first braking 

manoeuvre. The car comes to a halt almost instantaneously. 

And the Ambassador, who has been 

stationed in Vienna for Slovakia since 2017, can barely 

contain his smile. 

What he doesn’t yet know: The car is equipped 

with carbon-ceramic brakes, which don’t come as a 

standard equipment. The brakes never get hot and 

react extremely sensitively to the driver’s commands. 

But the feature comes at a price. The extra fee for the 

inclusion of the discs is €2,000. Per wheel, mind you. 

Mišík, who studied Drama and International Relations 

in Bratislava, is already used to the driving 

experience now and is enjoying every second of the 

trip. And even after the ride has already come to an 

end, the diplomat — who likes to jog in his spare 

time, likes to travel and counts reading and skiing 

among his hobbies — still has the engine ringing in 

his ears. 

“The engine sounds like a beautiful melody,” he 

points out. This wasn’t the case with Mišík’s first car, 

however. “I got my driving licence in 1985. I drove a 

Skoda in those days.” The car did get him from A to 

B. But the kind of speed rush that one gets with the 

Mercedes AMG C 63 S at a peak speed of 290 kilometres 

per hour was clearly out of the old Skoda’s 

range. 

Mr. Khawaja Nadeem is in Fashion 

Designing Business since 22 years now 

and based in Bangkok. We offer custom 

made tailoring for men & women all 

over the world and supply our fabrics to 

thousends of satisfied regular customers. 

To get your new shirt, suit (100% lambwool) 

or costume is more than simple: Mr. Nadeem 

is travelling around the globe, visiting his 

customers at home or in their offices. After 

taking your personal measurements you can 

order out of more than 500 different kinds of 

highquality materials – eighter during his 

visit or on the web page and by e-mail. 

Mr. Khawaja Nadeem is in Europe 

periodically – to make an appointment 

please send an e-mail to 

deemiaramani@gmail.com and he will 

get in contact with you immediately! 

Examples for our competitive prices: 

Shirts: 65€ 

Suits (incl. 2 trousers): from 490€ to 750€ 

Package 1: 1 suit & 6 shirts for 950€ 

Package 2: 2 suits & 6 shirts for 1.450€ 


SAVOIR VIVRE MOTOR 

Tradition und Innovation 

Tradition and innovation 

Seat Tarraco: 

Spanisches Flaggschiff made in Germany 

Spanish flagship made in Germany 

Text: Rois & Stubenrauch 

Mit dem Tarraco stellte Seat im Oktober auf dem Pariser Autosalon seinen größten SUV vor: 4,73 Meter Länge bieten ordentlich Platz, z.B. für eine 3. 

Sitzreihe – oder 1.775 Liter Gepäck. Der Tarraco zeigt als Erster die neue Designlinie der Spanier mit dem sechseckigen Kühlergrill und spitz zulaufenden 

Scheinwerfern. Gefertigt wird das neue Seat-Flaggschiff, gemeinsam mit dem VW Tiguan Allspace, mit dem er sich auch die Plattform teilt, bei der 

Konzernmutter in Wolfsburg. 

With the new Tarraco, Seat introduced its biggest SUV at the Paris Motor Show in 

October: 4.73 metres of length offer plenty of space, such as for a 3 rd seating row for 

example, or for 1,775 litres of luggage. The Tarraco is the first to show off the Spaniards’ 

new design range with the hexagonal grille and the tapered headlights. Together with 

the VW Tiguan Allspace, with which it is sharing a production platform, the new Seat 

flagship is manufactured at the parent company in Wolfsburg. 

Motor Engine 

R4 Diesel und Benziner I R4 diesel and petrol 

Antrieb Drive 

Vorderradantrieb / Allrad I front-wheel drive / all-wheel 

kW (PS) kw (HP) 110 - 150 (140 - 190) 

Hubraum Engine displacement 

1.498 - 1.984 ccm 

Kraftstoffverbrauch Fuel consumption noch keine zertifizierten Werte verfügbar I no certified 

values available yet 

Preis | Price Der Startpreis liegt bei knapp über € 30.000,– 

starting just above € 30.000,- 

Porsche Macan: Facelift für den Bestseller | Facelift for 

the bestseller 

Aus dem Stand ist der Macan an die Spitze der Verkaufscharts bei Porsche 

gestürmt – fast 400.000 Einheiten des sportlichen Kompakt-SUVs sind seit seiner 

Lancierung 2014 ausgeliefert worden! Nun erhält das Zugpferd der Marke ein 

Facelift. Auffälligste Neuerungen: das überarbeitete Fahrwerk, ein 10,9 Zoll großer 

Touchscreen im Innenraum und das durchgängige LED-Leuchtenband am Heck. 

Die Porsche DNA spiegelt sich nicht nur in der klassischen Silhouette des Macan 

wider, auch die 6,7 Sekunden, die er auf 100 km/h benötigt, und das aus dem 911 

bekannte GT-Sportlenkrad sprechen eine klare Sprache. 

Motor Engine 

R4 Turbodiesel I R4 turbo diesel 

Antrieb Drive 

Vorderradantrieb / Allrad I front-wheel drive / all-wheel drive 

kW (PS) kw (HP) 143 (195) 

Hubraum Engine displacement 2.184 ccm 

Kraftstoffverbrauch Fuel consumption 6,9 - 6,1 l/100 km 

Preis | Price ab | starting at € 54.990,– 

Jeep Cherokee: Mehr Fahrkomfort, mehr Sicherheit, mehr Luxus | More driving comfort, more safety, more luxury 

Der erfolgreiche Mittelklasse-SUV von Jeep, seit 2014 unter dem Dach von Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, kommt Ende 2018 mit leicht modifiziertem Design und einem kräftigen 

Update, was Komfort und Sicherheitssysteme anbelangt. In der Topausstattung Overland besticht der Cherokee mit einem großen Glasschiebedach, Sitzbezügen in 

Soft-Nappaleder, beheizbaren Rücksitzen und dem beheizbaren Lenkrad in Zebrano-Holz. Der neue Cherokee ist erstmals auch mit Vorderradantrieb erhältlich und startet mit 

einem 2,2-Liter-Turbodiesel mit 195 PS, im Frühjahr 2019 folgen dann ein 2,2-Liter-Benziner mit 270 PS sowie weitere Motorvarianten nach. 

Jeep, part of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles since 2014, is releasing a slightly modified design of its successful mid-range SUV with a strong update concerning comfort and safety. 

In the top-class Overland edition, the Cherokee impresses with a large glass sunroof, seat coverings made from soft Napa leather, heated backseats as well as a heated 

zebrawood steering wheel. For the first time, the new Cherokee is also available with front-wheel drive and launches a 2.2-litre turbo diesel with 195 hp, while a 2.2-litre petrol 

model with 270 hp, as well as additional engine variations, will follow in spring 2019. 


PHOTOS: FIAT CHRYSLER AUTOMOBILES; SEAT, S.A.; VOLVO CAR CORPORATION; DR. ING. H.C. F. PORSCHE AG. 

Volvo V60: Familienkombi für das 21. Jahrhundert | 

Family estate car for the 21 st century 

Volvo lancierte diesen Frühling die zweite Generation seines Familienkombis. Eine 

Stärke des V60 liegt, neben den Volvo-typischen Tugenden wie Sicherheit und 

Funktionalität, natürlich in seinem (erweiterten) Platzangebot: Unter der 

Heckklappe stehen 529 Liter Stauraum zur Verfügung, bei – optional auf 

Knopfdruck – umgeklappten Rückenlehnen bis zu 1.364 Liter. Die weiterentwickelte 

Motorenpalette glänzt durch Effizienz, ab 2019 gibt es den Volvo V60 dann auch 

als Plug-in-Hybrid. 

Earlier this year in spring, Volvo launched the second generation of their family estate 

car. Next to the Volvo-typical virtues like safety and functionality, one of the strengths of 

the V60 is, of course, its (expanded) spaciousness: Under the boot lid, you will find 529 

litres of storage at your disposal and up to 1,364 litres with folded down back seats 

(optionally at the push of a button). The refined engine range shines through its 

efficiency and, starting in 2019, the Volvo V60 will also be available as a plug-in hybrid. 

Motor Engine 

R4 Diesel und Benziner I R4 diesel and petrol 

Antrieb Drive 

Vorderradantrieb / Allrad I front-wheel drive / all-wheel 

kW (PS) kw (HP) 110 - 228 (150 - 310) 


Kraftstoffverbrauch Fuel consumption Diesel I diesel 5,4 - 4,4 / Benziner I petrol 7,6 - 6,8 l/100 km 


The Macan made it to the top of Porsche’s sales charts right out of the blue – 

nearly 400,000 units of the sporty compact SUV have been delivered since its 2014 

launch! Now, the brand’s crowd pleaser is getting a facelift. Some of the striking 

changes: the redesigned chassis, the 10.9-inch touchscreen in the interior and the 

continuous LED taillight strip. The Porsche DNA is not only reflected in the Macan’s 

classic silhouette, but the 6.7 seconds that it needs to get to 100 km/h and the GT 

sports steering wheel, well known from the 911, also speak for themselves. 

Motor Engine 

R4 Benziner I R4 petrol 

Antrieb Drive Allrad / Porsche Traction Management (PTM) I all-wheel drive / 

Porsche Traction Management (PTM) 

kW (PS) kw (HP) 180 (245) 


Kraftstoffverbrauch Fuel consumption 8,1 l/100 km 


126 

Cercle Diplomatique 4/2018 Cercle Diplomatique 4/2018 127

SAVOIR VIVRE WEEKENDER 

VENEDIG | Venice 

Sentimental Journey 


Auch im Winter kann man bei 

warmer Sonne in den Cafés am 

Markusplatz sitzen. Am Abend 

lockt das Teatro La Fenice. 

Even in winter you can sit in the 

warm sun in the cafes on St. Mark‘s 

Square. In the evening, the Teatro La 

Fenice beckons. 

Die Wintermonate sind vermutlich die beste Zeit, um Venedig 

ganz gelassen und entspannt zu erkunden. 

The winter months might perhaps be the best time to explore 

Venice in a relaxing way. 

Blaue Stunde 

Blue hour 

PHOTOS: GERALD STURZ 

In Venedig kann man sich schnell und leicht verlieben. 

Dazu braucht’s nicht viel. Es reicht, wenn 

man sich nur einige Bilder von der Lagunenstadt 

ansieht. Nehmen wir zum Beispiel das Bild, das den 

Blick vom Canal Grande auf das Ufer von San Marco 

zeigt; der Himmel ist tief blau, das Wasser changiert 

zwischen blau und grün und aufgereiht stehen die 

Sehenswürdigkeiten in Reih und Glied: der Campanile 

und die Basilika von San Marco, die Säule mit 

dem venezianischen Löwen, der Palazzo Ducale, die 

Seufzerbrücke, das Hotel Danieli. Da sind da noch 

die vielen anderen Fotos, die hinein in die engen Kanäle 

blicken, durch die Gondolieri ihre Boote steuern. 

Da sind jene, die die Rialtobrücke zeigen, die 

Punta della Dogana, die Kirche San Giorgio Maggiore. 

Und so vieles mehr. Was für Anblicke! Wer kann 

da schon widerstehen? 

Doch die Liebe, das wissen wir, ist ein seltsames 

Ding. Sie kommt, sie geht. Sie wird erwidert, sie wird 

zurückgewiesen. Wer im Frühling oder im Sommer 

nach Venedig kommt, der die Stadt umarmen will 

und erwartet, dass sie einen umarmt, wird vielleicht 

eine Enttäuschung erleben. Viel zu viele Menschen 

umdrängen einen und der Blick auf die Stadt, auf die 

Gebäude, auf die Kirchen und Paläste wird verstellt. 

So hat er sich die Beziehung zur Serenissima nicht 

vorgestellt. 

Doch jetzt, im Winter, sieht die Sache anders aus. 

Es ist die schönste Zeit, um Venedig zu erkunden. 

Ungestört kann man die Stadt erwandern. Spontan 

einen Platz im Lieblingsrestaurant ergattern. Seine 

Zeit ungestört im Caffè vertrödeln. Ohne lange Warteschlangen 

Museen, Paläste und Ausstellungen besuchen. 

Es ist die Zeit, in der sich Venedig ganz von 

seiner romantischen Seite zeigt. 

Schöne Hotels, in denen man sich ganz der Eleganz, 

der Verführung, der Faszination von Venedig 

hingeben kann, gibt es zur Genüge. Das Cipriani. 

Das Danieli. Das Bauer. Das Gritti. Das Metropole. 

Das schönste unter all den schönen ist vermutlich 

das Aman Venice. Hier lässt es sich gut schlafen. Und 

gut träumen. Vielleicht unter einem blauen Himmel, 

der mit kleinen, pausbäckigen Engelchen bevölkert 

ist und den der berühmte Maler Giovanni Battista 

Tiepolo im 18. Jahrhundert an die Decke einer der 

Suiten gemalt hat. Der stolze Palast Papadopoli am 

Canal Grande gehört der adeligen venezianischen 

Familie Gonzaga, die immer noch eine Wohnung im 

obersten Stock bewohnt; die anderen vier Stockwerke 

und die Dachterrasse gehören aber nun zum 

Aman Venice mit seinen 24 wunderbaren Suiten, 

mit mehreren Salons, Restaurants, einer Bibliothek, 

einem Garten. Hier trifft asiatisches Understatement 

auf venezianische Opulenz. 

Man kann sich leicht an das Leben im Hotel gewöhnen. 

Doch wir sind hier, um endlich einmal entspannt 

durch Venedig zu flanieren. Lassen Sie uns 

also an diesen winterlichen Tagen, an denen, wenn 

man etwas Glück hat, die Sonne immer noch so milde 

auf die Plätze, auf die Gassen und die Wasserwege 

scheint, dass man auch draußen in den Caffè sitzen 

kann, uns zu einem Spaziergang durch die Stadt aufmachen. 

Vom Aman ist es nicht weit zur Rialtobrücke. 

Hier hat neulich ein Luxus-Kaufhaus mit einer 

interessanten Geschichte eröffnet. Dort, wo einst die 

deutschen Kaufleute, die in Venedig stationiert waren, 

residierten, ihren Geschäften nachgingen und 

Handel trieben. Daher der Name: Fondaco dei Tedeschi. 

Wer will, kann hier die Produkte der ganz großen 

Design- und Modemarken kaufen. Eindrucksvoll 

ist jedoch vor allem die Dachterrasse. Der Blick 

reicht weit über die Dächer von Venedig, auf den 

Halbbogen des Canal Grande, die Rialtobrücke und 

den Fischmarkt. 

Von hier führt uns der Weg durch die engen Gassen 

Richtung San Marco. Wir blicken in prächtige 

Kirchen, spähen durch die Torbögen der Palazzi, stöbern 

in kleinen Boutiquen. Die Piazza Santo Stefano 

ist ein guter Ort, um zwischendurch eine Pause zu 

machen. 

Blick von der Uferpromenade 

bei San Marco Richtung San 

Giorgio Maggiore. 

View from the waterfront at 

San Marco towards San Giorgio 

Maggiore. 



SAVOIR VIVRE 

WEEKENDER 

Das perfekte Venedig-Panorama, 

wie es sich von 

der Insel San Giorgio aus 

zeigt, und ein Kaffeehaus 

am Markusplatz. 

The perfect Venice panorama, 

as seen from the island 

of San Giorgio, and a cafe 

on St. Mark‘s Square. 

Venedigs Wahrzeichen: die Basilika von San Marco, Gondeln, die im Wasser schaukeln, und der Dogenpalast. 

Venice‘s landmarks: St Mark‘s Basilica, gondolas swaying in the water, and the Doge‘s Palace. 

AUSSTELLUNGS- 

TIPP / EXHI- 

BITION TIPP 

TINTORETTO 

Noch bis zum 6. Jänner sind 

in den Gallerie dell’Accademia 

und im Palazzo Ducale zwei 

Ausstellungen zu sehen, die 

Jacopo Tintoretto gewidmet 

sind, dem goßen venezianischen 

Maler des 16. 

Jahrhunderts, dessen 

Geburtstag sich 2019 zum 

500. Mal jährt. Es ist eine 

ganz seltene Gelegenheit, 

seine spektakulären, 

großformatigen und 

wuchtigen Gemälde in dieser 

Dichte zu bewundern. 

Two exhibitions dedicated to 

Jacopo Tintoretto, the great 

Venetian painter from the 

16th century, for whom 2019 

marks the 500th anniversary 

of the day of his birth, will 

still be running at the Gallerie 

dell’Accademia and at the 

Palazzo Ducale until 6 

January. It is a very rare 

opportunity to be able to see 

his spectacular, large-format 

and mighty paintings this 

close. 

gallerieaccademia.it 

palazzoducale.visitmuve.it 

Unbedingt sollte man den Abend in der Oper 

verbringen. Das Teatro La Fenice ist eines der berühmtesten 

und schönsten Opernhäuser der Welt. 

Die Aufführungen sind meist von außerordentlicher 

Qualität. Im Fenice erlebt man einen schönen, bezaubernden 

Abend. 

Danach geht es in Harry’s Bar. Das ist eine der berühmtesten 

Bars der Welt. Und auch eine der elegantesten 

und glamourösesten. Selbstverständlich bleiben 

wir unten im Erdgeschoß, entweder an der Bar 

oder an einem der niedrigen Tischchen. Harry’s Bar 

ist der Ort, an dem der Bellini erfunden wurde. 

Es ist ein schöner Abschluss für einen Tag in Venedig. 

Die Liebe lebt. 

It’s easy to fall in love with Venice before you 

know it. It doesn’t take much to do so. All you 

need to do is to just look at a few pictures of the 

lagoon city. Take, for example, the picture with the 

view of the bank of San Marco from the Canal Grande; 

the sky is deep blue, the water changes from blue 

to green and perfectly aligned in a row are the city’s 

main sights: St Mark‘s Campanile and Saint Mark‘s 

Basilica, the pillar with the Lion of Venice, Doge‘s 

Palace, the Bridge of Sighs, the Hotel Danieli. And 

then there are all the other pictures that gaze into the 

narrow channels through which the gondolieri navigate 

their boats. Then there are some images sho- 

wing the Rialto Bridge, the Punta della Dogana, the 

Church of San Giorgio Maggiore and so much more. 

But love, as we know, is a strange thing. It comes 

and goes. It’s returned, it’s rejected. Those who come 

to Venice in spring or summer and want to embrace 

the city, expecting to be welcomed with open arms, 

may experience disappointment. The crowds are all 

around you and the views of the city, of the buildings, 

of the churches and palaces, are blocked. You certainly 

didn’t plan your experience in La Serenissima 

to be like this. 

But now, in the winter, things look quite a bit different. 

It’s the best time to explore Venice. You can 

discover the city undisturbed. Spontaneously score a 

seat at your favourite restaurant. Idle away at the café 

without a care in the world. Visit museums, palaces 

and ex-hibitions without the long queues. It’s the 

time when Venice presents itself from its most romantic 

side. 

There are plenty of hotels at which you can completely 

immerse yourself in the elegance, the temptation 

and the fascination that is Venice. The Cipriani. 

The Danieli. The Bauer. The Gritti. The Metropole. 

The most beautiful of all the beautiful hotels in Venice, 

however, is likely going to be the Aman. 

Here, you’ll easily catch a good night’s rest. And 

plenty of dreams, too. Perhaps even under a blue sky, 

embellished with little chubby-cheeked angels, 

which, in the 18th century, the famed painter Giovanni 

Battista Tiepolo had painted onto the ceiling 

of one of the suites. The proud palace on the Canal 

PHOTOS: GERALD STURZ 

Grande belongs to the aristocratic Venetian Gonzaga 

family, which still inhabits an apartment on the top 

floor; the other four floors and the roof terrace, however, 

are now part of the Aman Venice, with its 24 

brilliant suites, several saloons, restaurants, a library 

and a garden. This is where Asian understatement 

meets Venetian opulence. 

It’s not hard to get used to the hotel life. But the 

reason we’re really in Venice for is so that we can 

stroll through its many streets and alleys. So, let us 

spend these winter days, on which, if you are in 

luck, the sun still shines mildly on the squares, the 

streets and the waterways, so that you can sit outside 

in the cafes, by taking a walk through the city. 

From the Aman, it is not far to the Rialto Bridge. 

Here, a luxury department store with an interesting 

history recently opened its doors. This is where 

German merchants stationed in Venice once used 

to live go after their business and trade. And hence 

the name: Fondaco dei Tedeschi. Those who want 

to can make their big fashion and designer purchases 

here. 

What’s especially impressive, however, is the 

roof terrace. The view reaches all the way across the 

roofs of Venice, including the half arc of the Canal 

Grande, the Rialto Bridge and the fish market. 

From here, our path leads us through the narrow 

alleys to San Marco. We gaze at the magnificent 

churches, peek through the arches of the palazzi, 

browse inside the little boutique stores. 

The Piazza Santo Stefano is a great place for a 

short break. And you should definitely spend the 

evening at the opera. 

The Teatro La Fenice is one of the most famous 

and most beautiful opera buildings in the world. The 

performances are usually of extraordinary quality. At 

the Fenice, you will have a truly splendid and enchanting 

evening. 

And afterwards, make your way to Harry’s Bar. It’s 

one of the most famous bars in the world, and it’s 

also one of the most elegant and glamorous ones. We 

will, of course, stay on the ground floor, either at the 

bar or at one of the low tables. Harry’s Bar is where 

the Bellini was invented. 

It’s a fantastic way to conclude a day in Venice. 

Love is alive and well. 

Since 1971 

BEST STANDING. 

A PRIVILEGED AUDIENCE. 

Österreichs einziges zweisprachiges 

Informationsmedium für das Diplomatische 

Corps. Für die Mitarbeitenden der mehr als 

40 Internationalen Organisationen mit Sitz in Wien. 

Für die Entscheider in Österreichs Politik, 

Wirtschaft, Tourismus, Kunst und Kultur. 

Und für Anzeigenkunden, die wissen, dass sie 

damit den Schlüssel zu einer einzigartigen Welt 

besitzen – zu einer vielbeschäftigten, 

höchst anspruchsvollen Klientel. 

Eine Statue im Innenhof 

des Dogenpalasts. 

A statue in the courtyard 

of the Doge‘s Palace. 



SAVOIR VIVRE UPCOMING 

Wo es uns gefällt 

Where we love to be 


Pop-Up 

Ganz spezieller Lokvogel 

| Luring true epicures 

Handwerk | Handcraft 

Das eigene Brot backen | Bake your 

own bread 

Zum dritten Mal in Folge trat das 

Gourmetrestaurant Taubenkobel Mitte 

November seine Reise nach Wien an. Ein 

„Lokvogel“ wartet diesmal in der alten 

Remise Wolfganggasse auf, hinter 100 

Jahre alten Backsteinmauern. Wer es 

genießen will, muss schnell sein – der 

23. Dezember 2018 ist der letzte Tag für 

Alain Weissgerbers Weltküche und seine 

charmante Ehefrau und Reisebegleiterin 

Barbara Eselböck. 

For the third time in a row, the gourmet 

restaurant Taubenkobel embarked on a 

journey to Vienna in mid-November. 

This time, the new pop-up will be the 

“Lokvogel”, located at Alte Remise 

Wolfganggasse, hidden behind 

over-100-year-old brick walls. Those 

keen on sampling the new venue have 

to act quickly, 23 December 2018 is 

going to be the final day for Alain 

Weissgerber’s world cuisine creations 

and his charming wife and travel 

companion Barbara Eselböck. 

lokvogel.at 

Geburtstag | Birthday 

Farbenfroher Twen 

| Hitting 20 

Wien hat Lokale, die werden 

auf eine ganz besondere Weise 

nie alt. Auch nach 20 Jahren 

hat Klaus Pibers Restaurant 

Yohm, mit wunderbarem Blick 

auf die Peterskirche, keine 

Patina angesetzt - sondern 

sich zum jugendlichen 

Geburtstag eine neue Optik, 

eine eigene Sushi Bar und eine 

neue Speisekarte gegönnt! 

Vienna has a number of pubs 

and bars that – in some 

special way – don’t seem to 

age. Even after 20 years, 

Klaus Piber’s restaurant 

“Yohm”, with its magnificent 

view of St Peter’s Church, 

appears to have maintained 

its youth. On the occasion of 

its birthday, the establishment 

has now treated itself to 

a new look, its own sushi bar 

and a new menu! 

yohm.at 

PHOTOS: MAŠA STANIC, YOHM/FB, ERSTE WALDVIERTLER BIO-BACKSCHULE, TVB OBERNDORF 

Seit zwei Jahren betreibt die Kulinarik-Autorin 

Elisabeth Ruckser die „Erste Waldviertler Bio-Backschule“ 

mit Kursen und Vorträgen rund ums Brot und 

Backen. Nun fand sie eine fixe Location im 

zauberhaften Drosendorf an der Thaya. 

Neben Ruckser kommen auch immer wieder 

Gast-Vortragende aus Bäckereien und Konditoreien 

sowie vom Bauernhof zum tatkräftigen Einsatz. 

For two years now, food writer Elisabeth Ruckser has 

been running the “Erste Waldviertler Bio-Backschule” 

organic bakery with courses and talks about 

bread and baking. She has now found a permanent 

location in the magical village of Drosendorf an der 

Thaya. Besides Ruckser, there is also a steady supply 

of guest speakers from bakeries, confectionaries and 

even farms who come to share their knowledge. 

biobackschule.at 

CHOREOGRAPHED BY GERMAN CORNEJO 

Tradition 

Stille Nacht, Heilige Nacht | Silent Night, Holy Night 

Vor 200 Jahren haben der Salzburger Priester Joseph Mohr und der aus Oberösterreich stammende Lehrer 

Franz Xaver Gruber das Lied zum ersten Mal gesungen: In der St. Nikola Kirche in Oberndorf bei Salzburg. Aus 

Joseph Mohrs Feder stammt das Gedicht. Vertont wurde es auf dessen Bitte hin von Franz Xaver Gruber. Über 

Zillertaler Sängerfamilien trat es nur wenige Jahre danach seine Reise von Österreich nach Europa und in die 

Welt an. Mittlerweile wird es in mehr als 300 Sprachen und Dialekten gesungen. Heute steht an Stelle der St. 

Nikola Kirche eine kleine Kapelle (im Bild), die täglich besucht werden kann. 

200 years ago, Joseph Mohr, a priest from Salzburg, and the teacher Franz Xaver Gruber from Upper 

Austria sang “Silent Night” for the very first time at the St. Nikola Church in Oberndorf near Salzburg. 

Joseph Mohr wrote the original poem that the song was based on and upon his request, Franz Xaver 

Gruber came up with the melody for it. Only a few years later, it went on a journey from Austria across 

Europe and to the rest of the world with the help of the Tyrolean singing families from the Zillertal Valley. 

Today, “Silent Night” is sung in more than 300 different languages and dialects. Instead of the St. Nikola 

Church, a little chapel (pictured) now stands in its place and is open for visitors daily. 

stillenacht-oberndorf.com 

Epic mix 

of Tango, 

Breakdance 

& live music. 


29.11.-1.12.2019 

HALLE E IM MUSEUMSQUARTIER 

www.oeticket.com www.wien-ticket.at

SAVOIR VIVRE MUST READ 

Lesenswertes über Österreich 

Books on Austria worth reading 


Fine hotels 

selected by 

CERCLE 

DIPLOMATIQUE 

ECONOMIQUE et TOURISTIQUE INTERNATIONAL 

can also be found in these exclusive hotels: 

© Aina Ring GmbH 

Renate Leggatt-Hofer / Reinhold Sahl 

(Hrsg.) 

Die Wiener Hofburg 

Christine Marcel / Mark Godfrey (Hrsg.) 

Franz West 

Gotthart Wunberg (Hrsg.) 

Die Wiener Moderne 

Monika Sommer, Heidemarie Uhl und Klaus 

Zeyringer (Hrsg.) 

100 x Österreich 

Die Wiener Hofburg war und ist Zentrum der Macht. 

Von hier aus herrschten die Habsburger über ihr 

Reich, das bisweilen halb Europa umfasste. Heute hat 

hier der österreichische Bundespräsident seinen Sitz. 

In der Hofburg befinden sich die Nationalbibliothek, 

mehrere Museen, ein Konferenzzentrum, Universitätsinstitute. 

Und sie ist Schauplatz einiger der schönsten 

Ballveranstaltungen der Walzerstadt. Dieser 

Prachtband erzählt die Geschichte der riesigen 

historischen Residenzanlage. Von ihrer Gründung im 

13. Jahrhundert bis in die Gegenwart. Das Buch ist das 

Ergebnis einer mehrjährigen grundlegenden und 

interdisziplinären Aufarbeitung durch die Österreichische 

Akademie der Wissenschaften. 

Vienna’s Hofburg was and still is a centre of power. 

From here, the Habsburg Monarchy reigned over its 

empire, which, at one point, encompassed half of 

Europe. Today, it is home to the Federal President of 

the Republic of Austria. At the Hofburg, one will also 

find the Austrian National Library, several museums, a 

conference centre and various university institutes. 

And it is also the setting for some of the waltz-loving 

city’s most beautiful ball events. This splendid book 

tells the story of this monumental and historic 

residence from its construction in the 13th century to 

the present. The book is the result of a fundamental 

and interdisciplinary reappraisal by the Austrian 

Academy of Sciences that spanned several years. 

– 

Brandstätter Verlag 

€ 50,00 

Franz West, der von 1947 bis 2012 lebte, kam erst spät 

ins seinem Leben zu Ruhm und Anerkennung; das 

jedoch dann umso heftiger. Heute gilt der Avantgardist 

der 1980er und 1990er Jahre als einer der 

einflussreichsten Künstler der letzten Jahrzehnte. Eine 

große Werkschau, die noch bis 10. Dezember im 

Pariser Centre Pompidou und von 20. Februar bis 2. 

Juni in der Tate Modern in London zu sehen ist, stellt 

erstmals sein umfangreiches, schwer zu kategorisierendes 

und eigenwilliges Werk umfassend vor. 

Passstücke, Lemurenköpfe, Installationen, Möbelstücke. 

In dem Katalog, der zur Ausstellung erschienen 

ist, kommen Freunde, Wegbegleiter, Künstler und 

Museumskuratoren zu Wort und zeichnen ein gutes 

Porträt des Ausnahmekünstlers. 

Franz West, who lived from 1947 to 2012, would only 

receive fame and recognition later in his life which 

was substantial once arrived. Today, the avant-gardist 

of the 1980s and 1990s is considered one of the most 

influential artists of the last few decades. A large 

exhibition honouring his works, which will be on 

display at the Centre Pompidou in Paris until 10 

December and at the Tate Modern in London from 20 

February to 2 June, will present his extensive, 

difficult-to-categorise and idiosyncratic work for the 

first time: “Passstücke” (Adaptives), “Lemurenköpfe” 

(Lemurheads), installations and furniture pieces. The 

catalogue, released for the new exhibition, features 

comments by friends, companions, artists and 

museum curators, creating an excellent portrait of the 

exceptional artist. 

– 

Centre Pompidou / Tate Modern 

€ 39,90 

Nicht nur in dem Jahr, das gerade zu Ende geht, war 

die Wiener Moderne um 1900 ein großes Thema. 

Gustav Klimt, Egon Schiele und Otto Wagner, die alle 

im Jahr 1918 starben, wurden in zahlreichen 

Ausstellungen gewürdigt. Die Literatur, die Kunst und 

die Musik, die in den Jahren vor dem Ersten Weltkrieg 

in Wien entstanden sind, prägten weltweit das 20. 

Jahrhundert. Sigmund Freud, Arthur Schnitzler, Robert 

Musil, Arnold Schönberg, Gustav Mahler – sie waren 

nur einige der Protagonisten jener Zeit. Dieses 

handliche Taschenbuch aus dem Reclam Verlag 

versammelt Aufsätze, Porträts und Essays zum 

Thema. Es ist eine ausgezeichnete Einführung. 

Die Wiener Moderne (“The Viennese Modern Age”) 

The year that is currently coming to an end wasn’t the 

only one that celebrated the Viennese Modern Age of 

around 1900. Gustav Klimt, Egon Schiele and Otto 

Wagner, all of whom died in the year 1918, have been 

honoured and appreciated in countless exhibitions. 

The literature, art and music that was created in the 

years prior to the First World War shaped the 20th 

century around the world. Sigmund Freud, Arthur 

Schnitzler, Robert Musil, Arnold Schönberg, Gustav 

Mahler — these were only some of the era’s 

protagonists. This handy paperback published by 

Reclam gathers articles, portraits and essays on the 

subject. It’s an excellent introduction. 

– 

Reclam Verlag 

€ 17,80 

Die Republik feiert ihren 100. Geburtstag und 100 

namhafte Autoren aus der Literatur und der 

Wissenschaft liefern Essays zu 100 Stichworten. Zu 

den Autoren zählen Eva Blimlinger, Antonio Fian, 

Sabine Gruber, Josef Haslinger, Daniel Kehlmann, 

Oliver Rathkolb und Peter Turrini. Die Stichworten 

reichen von der restituierten „Adele“ über „Politische 

Farbenlehre“, „Tracht“, „ Proporz“ und „Staatsvertrag“ 

bis zu „Zukunftsangst“. Dieses Buch begleitet die 

Eröffnung des „Haus der Geschichte Österreich“, das 

neue zeitgeschichtliche Museum am Heldenplatz. Ein 

Buch, das hilft, Österreich zu verstehen. 

The Republic of Austria is turning 100 and 100 renowned 

authors from literature and the sciences have 

provided essays on 100 different key terms. Among 

the authors are Eva Blimlinger, Antonio Fan, Sabine 

Gruber, Josef Haslinger, Daniel Kehlmann, Oliver 

Rathkolb and Peter Turrini. The terms reach from the 

restituted “Adele” to “Polotische Farbenlehre” (“Political 

Colour Theory”), “Traditional Costume” (“Tracht”), 

“Proporz” (“proportional representation”) and 

“Staatsvertrag” (“Austrian State Treaty”) all the way 

to “Zukunftsangst” (“Fear of the Future”). This book is 

a companion piece to the launch of “The House of 

Austrian History”, the new historical museum at 

Heldenplatz. A book that will help you understand 

Austria. 

– 

Kremayr & Scheriau 

€ 29,90 

Maitre de Maison 

Eugenio Rigo 

THE RING HOTEL - Relais & Chateaux 

Kärntner Ring 8 

A-1010 Wien 

T +43 /1/22122 

info@theringhotel.com 

theringhotel.com 

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CERCLE DIPLOMATIQUE - ECONOMIQUE et TOURISTIQUE INTERNATIONAL 

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l Gradonna****s Mountain Resort l Hilton Danube l Hilton Vienna Plaza l Hilton Vienna l Hotel 

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office@firstclassmedia.at 

ECONOMIQUE et TOURISTIQUE INTERNATIONAL 


SAVOIR VIVRE MY VIENNA 

H.E. Roland Bimo 

Botschafter von Albanien | Ambassador of Albania 


Top in und um Wien | 

Top in and around Vienna 

Zimmer mit Aussicht: 

der wunderbare Blick 

aus der Botschaft in 

den Garten des 

Belvedere (re.) und auf 

den albanischen 

Nationalhelden Georg 

Kastriota, der als 

Skanderbeg in die 

Geschichte einging 

(unten links). 

Room with a view: the 

wonderful view from the 

embassy into the 

Belvedere‘s garden 

(right) and on the 

Albanian national hero 

George Castriot, who 

went down in history as 

Skanderbeg (bottom 

left). 

PERSONAL DETAILS 

PHOTOS: RALPH MANFREDA (PORTRAITS), WEINSTRASSE KREMSTAL/ RITA NEWMAN, ZENIT/WIKIPEDIA, SCHAUB-WALZER/PID 

Sie haben nun in Ihrer zweiten Amtszeit rund fünf 

Jahre in Wien gelebt. Welche Orte in der Stadt 

haben Sie in dieser Zeit besonders liebgewonnen? 

Ich lebe und arbeite im 4. Bezirk und es scheint nur 

natürlich, dass man mit der eigenen Nachbarschaft eine 

ganz besondere Beziehung entwickelt. Meine Bürofenster 

zum Beispiel, schauen direkt auf den Garten des Belvedere. 

Es ist stets aufregend, am Theresianum, der Karlskirche, 

dem ORF Funkhaus oder der TU Wien vorbei zu spazieren. 

Der erste Bezirk ist eine ganz spezielle Attraktion. Meine 

Lieblingsgegend dort ist jene um die Ruprechtskirche und 

ich liebe es, abends durch die engen Gassen des ersten 

Bezirks zu gehen. 

Was macht für Sie Wien so besonders? 

Das wird eine kurze Antwort - einfach alles! Wien ist die 

Hauptstadt einer kleinen Nation, besitzt dabei aber globale 

Proportionen. Es erinnert an eine riesige Weltbühne, auf 

der Kunst, Wissenschaft und internationale Politik um die 

Vorherrschaft wetteifern. Natürlich ist Wien reich an Kunst, 

Geschichte, Kultur und Architektur. Ich genieße das Leben 

mit dem Gefühl, dass jeder Tag die Gelegenheit bietet, 

etwas Neues zu lernen - das hält einen beschäftigt, zu 

arbeiten und dabei zu entdecken. Hier habe ich auch 

gelernt, Architektur und durch sie auch viel Geschichte zu 

genießen. 

Haben Sie einen Lieblingsort in Wien, den Sie uns 

verraten? 

Inmitten von Wiens Heldenplatz zu stehen und dabei das 

Rathaus, das Parlament, die Nationalbibliothek, das 

Weltmuseum und die Neue Burg im Kunsthistorischen 

Museum (KHM) zu bewundern, wo das Schwert und der 

Helm des albanischen Nationalhelden Skanderbeg 

ausgestellt sind, gibt mir ein ganz spezielles Gefühl für die 

Großartigkeit dieser Stadt die mir schon seit gesamt rund 

neun Jahren Heimat ist, da dies ja meine bereits zweite 

Amtszeit ist. 

Wenn Sie Gäste aus Ihrem Heimatland zu Besuch 

haben, wo führen Sie sie hin? 

Manche Besucher führen wir in die Staatsoper aus um 

Vorstellungen weltberühmter Künstler zu genießen. Viele 

unserer Gäste sind natürlich daran interessiert, Skanderbegs 

Waffen sowie die Plätze zu sehen, die Österreich und 

Albanien seit den beiden vergangenen Jahrhunderten 

verbinden. Das Stift Klosterneuburg, das Stift Göttweig und 

Dürnstein, alle in Niederösterreich, gehören zudem zu den 

oft besuchten Plätzen. 

Welche Erinnerungen werden Sie mitnehmen, wenn 

Sie Wien wieder verlassen müssen? 

Ich nehme viele wertvolle Freundschaften und Erinnerungen 

an exzellente Zusammenarbeit sowie Verständnis mit. 

Und zudem etwas, das der frühere US-Präsident Gerald 

Ford auf den Punkt brachte: „Im kulturellen, humanitären 

und vor allem moralischen Sinne ist Österreich am Welthorizont 

von großer Bedeutung, denn in den Nachkriegsjahren 

hat sich gezeigt, dass ein kleines Land überleben 

und in Frieden, Freiheit und Würde gedeihen kann. “ 

In your second term of office, you have now lived in 

Vienna for almost five years. Which parts of the city 

have you grown particularly fond of during your time 

here? 

I live and work in the 4 th district and it seems only natural 

that one develops special relations with the own 

neighbourhood. For example, my office windows overlook 

Belvedere garden. 

It is always exciting to walk by Theresianum, Karlskirche, 

ORF Funkhaus or TU Wien. The first district is a special 

attraction itself. My favourite part is the area around St 

Rupert’s Church and I love walking through the narrow 

lanes in the first district late in the evening. 

In your view, what makes Vienna so unique? 

Short answer – everything! Vienna is a capital city of a 

small nation but it has global proportions. It resembles a 

huge world stage where art, science, international politics 

and much more are competing for preeminence. Of course, 

Vienna is so rich in art, history, culture and architecture. I 

enjoy living with the feeling that every day offers an 

opportunity to learn something new – which keeps you so 

busy working and discovering. Here, I have learned to enjoy 

architecture and through it a lot of history. 

Do you have a favourite place in Vienna and where is it? 

Standing in the middle of Vienna’s Heldenplatz and 

admiring the City Hall, the Parliament, Kunsthistorisches 

Museum, Natural History Museum, National Library, 

Weltmuseum, and Neue Burg at KHM, where the sword and 

magnificent helmet of Albania’s national hero Scanderbeg 

are displayed, gives me a special feeling of the greatness of 

the city which has been home for nearly 9 years altogether, 

as this is my second term of service in Vienna. 

When you have visitors from your home country, where 

do you like to take your guests? 

Some visitors are taken to Staatsoper to enjoy performances 

of famous world class artists. Most of them are 

interested to see the arms of Scanderbeg and places that 

have connect Austria and Albania for the last two 

centuries. Klosterneuburg Monastery, Göttweig Abbey and 

Dürnstein, all in Lower Austria, also belong to frequently 

visited places. 

Which memories are you going to take with you when 

you have to leave Vienna again? 

I will take with me many precious friendships and 

memories of excellent cooperation and understanding. One 

of the things I will take with me was summarised by the 

late US-President Gerald Ford: “In the cultural, in the 

humanitarian and, above all, in the moral sense, Austria 

looms large on the world horizon, for what in the post-war 

years have done to prove that it is possible for a small 

country to survive and to prosper in peace, freedom and 

dignity.” 

Das Stift Göttweig in Niederösterreich; 

der im Kunsthistorischen Museum Wien 

ausgestellte Helm des albanischen 

Nationalhelden Georg Kastriota und die 

Ruprechtskirche im 1. Wiener Bezirk (von 

oben nach unten). 

Göttweig Abbey in Lower Austria; the 

helmet of the Albanian national hero 

George Castriot, displayed at Kunsthistorisches 

Museum Wien and St Rupert‘s 

Church in Vienna‘s first district (from top to 

bottom). 

S.E. Roland Bimo absolvierte sein Master-Studium sowie sein Doktorat am Institut für Geschichte an der 

Universität von Tirana in Albanien. Bereits von 1997 bis 2002 war er albanischer Botschafter in Wien, seine zweite 

Amtszeit begann 2014. Er ist verheiratet und Vater zweier Söhne. 

H.E. Roland Bimo holds a Master‘s degree and a doctorate from the Department of History of Tirana University in 

Albania. From 1997 to 2002 he served, and since 2014, he serves again as Ambassador of Albania to Austria. He is 

married and the father of two sons. 



LIFTING 

ELEVATED TO NEW HEIGHTS 

REMASTERED WITH 

CAVIAR PREMIER 

LES RENDEZ- 

VOUS 

EIN RÜCKBLICK AUF 

GESELLSCHAFTLICHE 

EREIGNISSE DER 

JÜNGSTEN 

VERGANGENHEIT. 

A REVIEW OF SOCIAL 

EVENTS OF THE RECENT 

PAST. 

GOING BEYOND WHAT WAS PREVIOUSLY THOUGHT POSSIBLE, 

CAVIAR PREMIER CAPTURES THE FULL POTENTIAL OF CAVIARFOR NEVER-BEFORE-SEEN LIFTING 

AND FIRMING PAIRED WITH A NEW DIMENSION OF SENSORIAL INDULGENCE.

LES RENDEZVOUS EVENTS 

Popping of Flashbulbs 

Find more 

photos online 


A 

Event 


At an exclusive launch party and with a spectacular show, the hotel 

SO/ Vienna (formerly Sofitel Stephansdom) was officially presented. 


Viennese Police President Gerhard Pürstl, together with CD, invited to an 

exclusive on site demonstration of the special police dog service unit. 

GM Peter Katusak-Huzsvar (l.) welcomed around 350 guests during the 

evening, among them the actor and director Michael Schottenberg (r.) 

The Austrian police dog service, consisting of about 90 

policemen and women, supports all units of the LPD and has 

a long tradition and a high international reputation. 

The SO/ Vienna is the first hotel of the brand in Austria, with a 

colour concept made by Jean Nouvel. 


PHOTOS:LPD WIEN, KARL SCHOBER & THOMAS CERNY 



141


A 

Event 


Governor Johanna Mikl-Leitner and Councilor Martin Eichtinger invited Ambassadors 

to the first garden barbecue at the “Garten Tulln“ in Lower Austria. 


Primar Walter Ebm, Managing Director of the Vienna Private Hospital, together with 

Cercle Diplomatique, invited to the traditional “Ambassadors & Friends Cocktail“. 

In glorious weather, the guests 

were not only able to participate 

in guided tours of the exhibition 

but also to end the day with live 

music and nice talks. 

Guests were able to get information about the various departments 

of the house and also a good impression of the excellent 

medical know-how. Guest of honour was Karin Kneissl, Federal 

Minister for Europe, Integration and Foreign Affairs (below). 

PHOTOS: MONIHART & NLK PFEIFFER 

PHOTOS: DODGE & BURN, BEREITGESTELLT 




A 

Event 


Josef Höchtl, President of the “Austrian Society for International Understanding“, invited 

to a speech and talk with 1 st President of the National Council, Wolfgang Sobotka. 


CD, together with Herwig Kempinger, President of the Vienna Secession, asked representatives of the diplomatic 

corps to an exclusive VIP tour of the newly renovated premises of the Vienna Secession. 

The former 

politician Josef 

Höchtl invited to 

the event in the 

ceremonial hall of 

the Raiffeisenbank 

Klosterneuburg. 

Top, right: President Kempinger with Laurence Yansouni. 

Below: In addition, Martin Sperl (middle), General Manager 

of the Fleming‘s Selection Hotel Vienna, treated the guests 

to culinary delights. 


At the 4 th “VILA VITA Genussfestival“, 25 regional 

producers invited to tastings of exquisite delicacies. 

Top: VILA VITA Managing Director 

Engelbert Jandl (r., in the back). 

Around 600 guests could enjoy regional 

fine products and good entertainment in 

the enchanting ambience of the 200 

hectare natural scenery on the edge of the 

National Park Neusiedlersee-Seewinkel. 


PHOTOS:PHILIPP HUTTER 




Tradition trifft 

Leidenschaft. 

Tradition meets Passion. 

Seit 1954 


The annual “CDW President‘s Golf Trophy sponsored 

by Cashback World“ took place at the Golf Club 

Schloss Ebreichsdorf. 

Honorary President H.E. Ambassador Dato Ganeson Sivagurunathan (2nd r.) 

and President Josef Vuzem (left) invited ambassadors, diplomats and 

business people to the golf tournament. 


The “Hermes.Wirtschafts.Preise“ were awarded at the “Gala of 

the Austrian Economy“ at Vienna Hofburg. 

Top, from left: CD‘s editor Andrea Fürnweger, Minister Margarete 

Schramböck and Monica Rintersbacher (Director of LBA Leitbetriebe) 

and around 700 guests enjoyed the beautiful Hofburg Vienna. 

PHOTOS: CHRISTIAN MIKES, JEFF MANGIONE &FEELIMAGE 

© Frisör Ossig Team GmbH & Co KG 

Styling & Make Up: OSSIG Team • Foto: Luise Hannah Reichert 

OSSIG HAIRSTYLE & BEAUTY 

Stephansplatz 4 (Ecke Churhausg./Singerstr.) 

1010 WIEN 

+43 1 512 43 67 

www.ossig.at 

OPENING HOURS 

Mon + Tue 10:00–18:00 

Wed + Fri 09:00–18:00 

Thu 09:00–19:00 

Sat 08:30–15:00 



TRUST THE NUMBER 1 


Following the successful guest performance of last year, the 

Budapest Operetta Theater returned to Vienna. 

Under the motto „Wine, Woman and Song“ the audience at Vienna Konzerthaus was 

enchanted with a real operetta firework, presenting the most beautiful melodies of this genre. 

A 

Event 


CD invited the newly accredited Ambassadors to 

Austria to the traditional “Ambassadors‘ Lunch“ 

at Patara - Fine Thai Cuisine on St. Peter‘s Square. 

Klimatechnik Klement – Your Daikin Home C°mfort Expert Partner 

Outstanding Daikin technology for unparalleled comfort. 


n Best indoor climate 

n Almost silent, draft-free climate comfort 

n Modern design, now in carbon available 

n Customer Airbrush finishing by airbrush legend Knud Tiroch possible 

n Convenient control via smartphone app 

www.klimaklement.at 

The guests enjoyed casual dining with delicious Thai cuisine in one of the city‘s best Thai restaurants as well as establishing new personal contacts. 

Klimatechnik Klement GmbH • Bahnhofsring 48, Stiege 1, Top 5a • A-3441 

Pixendorf • Tel.: +43 (0) 664 / 93 78 911 • office@klimaklement.at • 

www.klimaklement.at 


LE 

GUIDE 

EINE NÜTZLICHE 

ÜBERSICHT ÜBER DIE 

WICHTIGSTEN ADRESSEN 

FÜR DIE INTERNATIONALE 

GEMEINSCHAFT. 

A USEFUL OVERVIEW 

OF THE MOST IMPORTANT 

ADDRESSES FOR THE 

INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY. 

DuraSquare. Jetzt neu mit Badmöbel XSquare. 

Bei der Badserie DuraSquare verschmelzen die exakten, präzisen Kanten der rechteckigen Grundform mit der weichen, organisch fließenden Innenkontur. 

Der Waschtisch aus DuraCeram ® passt perfekt zur neuen Badmöbelserie XSquare, Design by Kurt Merki Jr. Grifflose Möbelfronten, prägnante 

Chromprofile und 28 Möbeloberflächen ermöglichen eine individuelle Badgestaltung. Der Spiegel bietet Hauptlicht, Ambientelicht und Spiegelheizung 

sowie ein berührungsloses Bedienfeld zur Steuerung warmer bis kühler Lichtatmosphäre. www.duravit.de

LE GUIDE ADDRESSES 

Useful links & addresses 

IMPRESSUM 

Real Estate 

Bernhart Immobilien GmbH 

+43 (0)664 440 90 09 

bernhart-immobilien.at 

Börseplatz1 GmbH & CoKG 

+43 1 365 366 

boerseplatz1.com 

BUWOG 

+49 1 878 28 1130 

buwog.com 

Colliers International Immobilienmakler 

GmbH 

+43 1 535 53 05 33 

colliers.at 

Immobilienkanzlei Jasmine Kupfer 

+43 1 912 43 86 

immobilien-kupfer.eu 

Immofinanz AG 

+43 1 88 090 

immofinanz.com 

ivv Immobilien Verkauf und 

Vermietungs GmbH 

+43 1 890 0800 0 

ivv.at 

OTTO Immobilien GmbH 

+43 1 512 77 77 

otto.at 

Parkapartments am Belvedere 

+43 1 908 19 19 

parkapartments.at 

Realtrade Immobilien 

+43 1 535 01 13 16 

realtrade-immo.at 

The Ambassy Parkside Living 

+43 1 365 365 

theambassy.com 

Thurn & Bauer Immobiliengruppe 

+43 1 586 27 40 

thurn.at 

Über den Linden 

+43 1 224 227 100 

lindengasse.co.at 

Vienna Immobilien 

+43 1 478 49 69 49 

viennaimmobilien.com 

Wohntraum Hietzing 

+43 5 909 10 2240 

wohntraum-hietzing.at 

Serviced City Apartments 

Adagio Vienna City 

+43 1 908 303 

adagio-city.com 

Hotel NH Wien City 

+43 1 521 720 

nh-hotels.de 

IG City Apartments 

ig-city-apartments.com 

LIV‘iN Residence by Fleming‘s 

Wien-Parlament 

+43 1 227 37-5555 

basedinvienna.at 

My place City Centre 

My place Riverside 

+43 1 317 17 17–75 

my-place.at 

Room4Rent 

+43 1 890 20 10 9000 

room4rent.at 

Singerstrasse 21/25 

+43 1 514 490 

singerstrasse2125.at 

Top Apartments Vienna 

+43 676 780 69 24 

top-apartments-vienna.com 

VCA Vienna City Apartments 

+43 (0)650 443 38 00 

Schottenring33.com 

viennaresidence 

+43 1 307 22 22 

viennaresidence.com 

Lawyers 

Cerha Hempel Spiegelfeld Hlawati 

+43 1 514 35-0 

chsh.com 

CMS Reich-Rohrwig Hainz 

+43 1 404 43-0 

cms-rrh.com 

Dorda Brugger Jordis 

+43 1 533 47 95-0 

dbj.at 

Konrad & Partners 

+43 1 512 95 00 

konrad-partners.com 

Lansky, Ganzger + Partner 

+43 1 533 33 30-0 

lansky.at 

Schönherr Rechtsanwälte 

+43 1 534 37-0 

schoenherr.eu 

TaylorWessing enwc 

+43 1 716 55-0 

taylorwessing.com/at/home.html 

Health & Private Clinics 

Austrian Health-agency for high 

quality medicine 

+43 1 361 88 66 

austrianhealth.at 

Goldenes Kreuz Privatklinik 

+43 1 40 111-0 

goldenes-kreuz.at 

International Pharmacy 

+43 1 512 28 25 

internationale-apotheke.at 

Implantologie und Ästhetische Zahnheilkunde 

– Dr. Robert Stillmann 

+43 676 83 1815 86 

stillmann.at 

Privatklinik Döbling 

+43 1 360 66-5599 

privatklinik-doebling.at 

RC Radiology Center 

+43 1 408 12 82 

radiology-center.com 

Residenz Josefstadt GmbH 

+49 1 890 24 64 

residenz-josefstadt.at 

Rudolfinerhaus 

+43 1 360 36-0 

rudolfinerhaus.at 

Sanlas Holding 

+43 3133 2274-9110 

sanlas.at 

Senioren Residenzen 

+43 1 680 81 

seniorenresidenzen.co.at 

Service Department for foreign patients 

of the Vienna Medical Association 

+43 1 513 95 95 

aekwien.at 

Wiener Privatklinik 

+43 1 40 180-0 

wiener-privatklinik.com 

ZWD Zahnklinik Wien Döbling 

+43 1 320 97 97 

zwd.at 

Useful links & ressources 

Emergency numbers 

(all without prefix): 

Fire-brigade 122 

Police 133 

Ambulance 144 

PHOTO: WIENTOURISMUS/BRYAN DUFFY 

City Of Vienna 

wien.gv.at/english 

Vienna Tourist Board 

vienna.info 

Immigration & residency 

wien.gv.at/english/administration/civilstatus 

Vienna Service Office 

(in the UN-center) 

vso.wien.at 

Vienna Expat Center 

A service provided by the City of Vienna: 

Schmerlingplatz 3, 1010 Vienna 

Tel: +43 1 4000-86949 

Info@expatcenter.at 

expatcenter.at 

Vienna Business Agency 

Mariahilfer Strasse 20, 1070 Vienna 

viennabusinessagency.at 

Transportation 

Vienna public transport information 

wienerlinien.at 

Austrian Federal railways ÖBB 

oebb.at 

Austrian Airlines 

austrian.com 

Vienna Airport 

viennaairport.com 

Avcon Jet AG 

avconjet.at 

Vienna Airportlines 

viennaairportlines.at 

CAT (City airport train) 

cityairporttrain.com 

Taxi 40100 

taxi40100.at 

Taxi 60160 

taxi60160.at 

Taxi 31300 

taxi31300.at 

Austrian Automobilist Club ÖAMTC 

(AAA – partner) 

oeamtc.at 

please call 120 for breakdown-assistance 

Maurizius Stipek Mietwagen GmbH 

Tel.: +43 676 350 01 70 

msm-limousine.at 

Security 

The Investigator 

Tel.: +43 (0) 664 44 99 464 

derfahnder.at 

4mation 

Tel.: +43 (0) 664 124 14 67 

4mation.at 

International Schools 

in Vienna 

Vienna International School 

Straße der Menschenrechte 1, 1220 Vienna 

Tel: +43 1 2035595-0 

Fax: +43 1 2030366 

vis.ac.at 

The American International School 

Salmannsdorfer Straße 47, 1190 Vienna 

Tel: +43 1 40132-0 

Fax: +43 1 40132-5 

ais.at 

Danube International School Vienna 

IB World School Kindergarten/Elementary 

School/Secondary School 

Josef Gall Gasse 2, 1020 Vienna 

Tel: +43 1 7203110 

Fax: +43 1 7203110-40 

registrar@danubeschool.at 

danubeschool.at 

Diplomatische Akademie Wien – 

Vienna School of International 

Studies 

Favoritenstrasse 15a, 1040 Vienna 

Tel: +43 1 5057272 

Fax: +43 1 5042265-116 

info@da-vienna.ac.at 

da.vienna.ac.at 

Amadeus 

International School Vienna 

Bastiengasse 36-38, Haus 3, 1180 Vienna 

Tel.: +43 1 470 30 37-00 

amadeus-vienna.com 

Vienna Elementary School 

Lacknergasse 75, 1180 Vienna 

Tel: +43 1 4704600 


vienna-elementary-school.at 

International Christian School of 

Vienna 

Wagramer Straße 175, 1220 Vienna 

Tel: +43 1 25122-0 

Fax: +43 1 25122-518 

icsv.at 

Lycée Francais de Vienne 

• SECONDARY SCHOOL / LYCÉE 

Liechtensteinstraße 37A, 1090 Vienna 

Tel: +43 1 3172241 

Fax: +43 1 3102417 

• KINDERGARTEN + PRIMARY SCHOOL / 

MATERNELLE ET ELÉMENTAIRE 

Grinzingerstraße 95, 1190 Vienna 

Tel: +43 1 3701217 

Fax: +43 1 3701217-22 

(for both): lyceefrancais.at 

Svenska Skolan / Swedish School 

Scheibelreitergasse, 15, 1190 Vienna 

Tel: +43 1 3207980 

Fax: +43 1 3207980-20 

svenskaskolan.at 

Japanese School in Vienna 

Prandaugasse 2, 1220 Vienna 

Tel: +43 1 2042201-0 


japaneseschool.at (Japanese only) 

Musical Munchkins Productions 

GmbH 

English Speaking Music School 

Esslinggasse 6, 1010 Wien 

Tel: +43 1 239 24 08 

office@musicalmunchkins.eu 

musicalmunchkins.eu 

CERCLE DIPLOMATIQUE – ECONOMIQUE et 

TOURISTIQUE INTERNATIONAL 

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Media Owner, Publisher & Producer: 

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FACTS & FIGURES 

Total alles über Österreich 

The complete Austria 

Auch das weltberühmte Neujahrskonzert wird mit einem Marsch beendet. | Even the world famous New Year‘s Concert will be finished with a march. 

54,9 % 

Männer 

men 

58 

Oh du mein Österreich 

Austria, my Austria 

45,1 % 

Frauen 

women 

138.520 

Musikantinnen und Musikanten 

musicians 

Wer in Österreichs Musikkapellen den Marsch bläst. / 

Who plays the tunes in Austria’s marching bands. 

OH DU MEIN ÖSTERREICH* 

10 % 

Uniform 

uniform 

11 % 

beides 

both 

2.170 

Musikkapellen 

marching bands 

2 % 

keine oder andere 

einheitliche Kleidung 

no uniform dress code 

77 % 

Tracht 

folk dress 

Die Altersstruktur der Musikkapellen 

The age structure of the marching bands 

1. 2. 

11,6 % 

Frauen über 30 Jahre 

women over 30 

33,5 % 

Frauen bis 30 Jahre 

women aged 30 and under 

24,9 % 

Männer über 30 Jahre 

men over 30 

30 % 

Männer bis 30 Jahre 

men aged 30 and under 

* Titel einer österreichischen Marschmusik, komponiert von Franz von Suppé 

Title of an Austrian march composed by Franz von Suppé 

BUCHTIPP 

Sisi, Falco und die 

Sachertorte gehören zu 

Österreich wie die Kugel zu 

Mozart und die Couch zu 

Freud – aber kennen Sie die 

korrekten Walzerschritte, die 

schrägsten Wunschkennzeichen 

und die abseitigsten 

Ortsnamen? 

Sonja Franzke und die 

Buchgestalterinnen von 

no.parking übersetzen 

nützliches und unnützes 

Wissen über Österreich 

samt Charakteristischem 

und Skurrilem in 

unterhaltsame Schaubilder 

und bunte Grafiken. 

BOOK TIP 

Sisi, Wiener Schnitzel and 

Sachertorte belong to 

Austria like the Mozartkugel </

CERCLE DIPLOMATIQUE - issue 04/2018

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