Mariazell, a place of pilgrimage in Styria, was Central Europe’s “spiritual centre” from 20 to 23 May 2004. To conclude the Central European Catholic Day under the motto “Christ – the Hope of Europe“, about 80,000 pilgrims (among them more than 6,000 young people) from all over Europe participated in the “Pilgrimage of Peoples“. The “great reconciliation celebration after Europe’s reunification“, as Vienna’s Archbishop Cardinal Christoph Schönborn put it, was organised by the bishops’ conferences of the eight participating countries, i.e. Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina as well as Austria. The Church was represented by 12 cardinals, about 130 bishops and more than 1,000 priests. High-ranking politicians were present as well. Besides Federal President Thomas Klestil, Chancellor Wolfgang Schüssel and members of the federal government, the heads of state of four participating countries attended the event: Vaclav Klaus (Czech Republic), Rudolf Schuster (Slovakia), Ferenc Madl (Hungary) and Dragan Covic (member of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herze¬govina). The EU was represented by Commission President Romano Prodi, and the Holy See by Secretary of State Cardinal Angelo Sodano. On this occasion informal bilateral political talks were held.
As a prelude to the “Pilgrimage of Peoples“ , for the first time in 50 years the “silent candles“ were lit at the Mariazell basilica on the Day of the Ascension of Christ (20 May 2004). On 1 May 1954 thousands of members of the movement of Catholic young workers had gathered before the statue of “Magna Mater Austriae” to commemorate the “persecuted brothers and sisters” beyond the Iron Curtain. Nine candles had been symbolically lit and extinguished. They were to be lit again only when all European peoples lived in freedom.
The highlight was a two-hour Eu¬charistic at the club airfield near Maria¬zell on 22 May 2004 presented by the Pope’s personal envoy Sodano. The leitmotiv of the mass were the words of the Virgin: “Do whatever he tells you“.
At the end of the service the chairmen of the eight bishops’ conferences proclaimed the “message of Mariazell“ – addressed to all Catholics and “people with good intentions”. The joint pastoral called inter alia for solidarity inside and outside Europe, “witnessing of Christians for Jesus in the world“, respect for the value of the family as well as protection of life and the environment.
Pope John Paul II. had to cancel his planned attendance for reasons of health. He would however “spiritually accompany” the pilgrimage, said the Holy Father. In a letter to Cardinal Schönborn he gave all pilgrims his Papal blessing. ■

Together with Vice-Chancellor Hubert Gorbach and Government Commissioner for Youth Employment Egon Blum, Federal Chancellor Wolfgang Schüssel presented interim results of the government’s apprenticeship training campaign on 17 May 2004. He described the training of young people as “crucial for preserving the wealth of future generations“. Only with qualified skilled workers and top-notch products could the high-tech country Austria come up against international competition. “The dual training system offers an ideal basis”, stated Schüssel.
The concrete measures to promote youth employment included the appointment of a government commissioner and the introduction of an apprenticeship training premium of 1,000 euro per year and apprentice, the creation of an additional network for young people not immediately finding an apprenticeship place and the “JOBS FOR YOU(TH) ´04“ programme financed by the Labour Market Service. “These three measures have proven successful. With 7.3%, Austria has the EU’s lowest unemployment rate, which is about 18%“, stressed the Chancellor. Among other measures envisaged are new apprenticeable occupations and apprenticeship counsellors for companies. ■

On 19 May 2004 the four parliamentary parties agreed on a nationwide uniform Animal Protection Act. Federal Chancellor Schüssel was very content with the compromise achieved in the negotiations. Before the 2002 elections we promised a nationwide uniform Animal Protection Act to the Austrians. After a general consensus of all parliamentary parties has been reached, we are now able to present it. I explicitly thank all negotiators of the People’s Party, the Freedom Party, the Social Democrats and the Greens for agreeing on a balanced set of measures meeting the demands of both farmers and animal protectors”, said Schüssel. This Act had been prepared by involving experts and practitioners and will be a model for other countries. “Austria will have Europe’s most modern Animal Protection Act“, underlined the Chancellor. The key provisions: a ban on laying batteries for poultry as from 2009; new rules for cattle tie stalls; stunning in kosher slaughter; immediately after the cut; prohibition of keeping dogs on chains and of electroshocks in dog breeding; ban on game keeping in circuses; appointment of an Animal Protection Ombudsman; enshrining animal protection as a state objective in the Constitution. ■

The Austrian federal government “explicitly” welcomed the EU Foreign Ministers’ declaration on Iraq of 17 May 2004 based on an initiative by Austria’s Foreign Minister Benita Ferrero-Waldner, emphasised Federal Chancellor Schüssel after the session of the Council of Ministers on 18 May 2004. “The desecration of the dead bodies of Israeli soldiers, the public execution of an American hostage in Iraq, but also the incredible, indescribable images of the torturing of Iraqi prisoners of war and the killing of the Iraqi Council President as well as the systematic razing of dwellings in the Gaza strip – this all documents the escalation of inhumanity, which is sharply condemned by Austria’s federal government and which has to be stopped as soon as possible“, said Schüssel. A solution could be found only on the basis of UN resolutions. ■

On 19 May 2004 Irish Prime Minister and EU Council President Bertie Ahern arrived in Vienna for official talks with Federal Chancellor Schüssel focusing on the preparations of the upcoming EU summit in Brussels. In a joint press conference Schüssel praised Ireland’s efforts to resume negotiations in the intergovernmental conference on a future EU Constitution. “The Union is now different from what it was still on 1 January 2004. Bertie Ahern has succeeded in an outstanding way in giving all countries the feeling of being members on an equal footing. The Irish Presidency has also managed to give the Union a clear profile in foreign policy. I would like to thank Bertie Ahern personally for that“, said Schüssel.
A comprehensive set of measures for the EU reform was discussed, which in the end had to be fit for a compromise. Austria’s wish that every Member State should have one EU commissioner with one seat and vote made sense in making Europe more attractive, but a reduction of powers was conceivable, said the Federal Chancellor. A fair weighting of votes had to be ensured as well. Austria also considered a guarantee of services of general interest and of water supply to national authorities vital. Ahern thanked Austria for the constructive cooperation in working out compromises in the drafting process of the European Constitution. ■

Chairwoman of the German Christian Democratic Party (CDU) Angela Merkel came to Vienna on 19 May 2004, where she met for political talks with Federal Chancellor Wolfgang Schüssel, Foreign Minister Benita Ferrero-Waldner, Minister for Economic Affairs Martin Bartenstein and Chairman of the People’s Party group in parliament Wilhelm Molterer.
“It is our common goal to make the Christian Democratic parties again the strongest force in the EU Parliament“, defined Merkel the objective for the EU elections on 14 June 2004 vis-à-vis media representatives. Growth, security and the EU Constitution were the top priorities of a European policy. The CDU Chairwoman repeated that she rejected Turkey’s admission to the EU. ■

Minister of Finance Karl-Heinz Grasser presented the annual audit report of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to the Council of Ministers on 11 May 2004. Federal Chancellor Wolfgang Schüssel commented: “This has been the by far most favourable report in the past four years. The report describes Austria as a reform model. We are among the European Union’s leading group“.
The restoration of the budget and financial discipline as well as the pension and tax reforms were stressed as highly positive elements in the report. As regards the implementation of the Lisbon strategy (to boost the EU’s competitiveness), Austria has climbed to place three in the ranking of EU Member States.
The IMF noted with approval the successful expansion of Austrian banks in the Central and Eastern European countries but also pointed out the risks involved. ■

The Ministers for Economic Affairs of Germany, Switzerland and Austria, Wolfgang Clement, Joseph Deiss (who is also Switzerland’s Federal President) and Martin Bartenstein, gathered for talks in Styria’s capital Graz from 20 to 22 May 2004. Items on the agenda were inter alia issues in the context of EU enlargement, the economic development, the surge of the oil price and the labour market. A labour market agreement has been envisaged. The three ministers concluded unanimously that the economic slump would soon be overcome. According to Bartenstein, the prices of crude oil but also of other raw materials such as steel, scrap and copper were the “Achilles' heel of the European economy”. The ministers displayed optimism about the business development and considered a growth rate between 1.5 and 2% likely for this year. Europe should take advantage of the positive signals from the international economy.
There was a need for a new industrial policy free from tendencies of interventionism. “We are high-price countries and therefore have to invest more in research, development and training”, stressed Bartenstein. ■

A consortium of Vienna Stock Exchange and partners from the banking sector (Bank Austria Creditanstalt via its Hungarian subsidiary HVB Bank Hungary, Erste Bank, Raiffeisen Zentralbank/RZB and Oester¬reichische Kontrollbank/OeKB) acquired more than 68% of the Budapest Stock Exchange (BSE) on 20 May 2004. At a press conference in Budapest, Head of Vienna Stock Exchange Stefan Zapotocky stressed explicitly that no fusion of the two stock exchanges was planned. The added market capitalisation would probably total 100 billion euro in four years. Further alliances with stock exchanges, e.g. those of War¬saw, Prague, Bratislava or Ljubljana, were being considered.
The aim of the transaction was to find strong partners for the expanding Hungarian capital market. In the future HVB Hungary will hold a share of 25% of the Budapest Stock Exchange, while Vienna Stock Exchange will own 14%, Erste Bank 12.2%, RZB 6.4% and OeKB 11%.
Currently shares of 53 enterprises are listed within the regulated market of the Budapest Stock Exchange with a total market capitalisation of 16.4 billion euro (as of 30 April 2004). This corresponds to about one third of the capitalisation of Vienna Stock Exchange. The average daily turnover was 55.5 million euro in April. ■

Bank Austria Creditanstalt (BA-CA) will use its remarkable proceeds from its Initial Public Offering for further acquisitions in Eastern Europe. The enterprise has planned to expand its business within the next two years above all in Romania as well as by investment acquisitions in Poland, confirmed BA-CA Eastern Europe CEO Regina Prehofer at a press conference in Vienna on 14 May 2004. The country’s largest bank, Banca Comerciala Romana (BCR), but also the smaller Romanian savings bank CEC are considered interesting projects in Romania.
Prehofer also announced that – together with the Austrian FactorBank – the BA-CA subsidiaries in Hungary and Slovakia will establish local factoring banks (called “HVB Factor”). ■

To celebrate EU enlargement, the federal government, the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra and Schloss Schönbrunn Ges.m.b.H. invite to a great open-air concert in the gardens of Schönbrunn Palace in Vienna at 9 p.m. on 25 May 2004. Admission is free. The conductor will be the ten-time Grammy Award winner Bobby McFerrin, one of the favourites of the musicians of the Philharmonic Orchestra. The “Concert for Europe” will be transmitted live by the Austrian Broadcasting Corporation ORF and broadcast by numerous international TV stations. The programme offers a musical journey through the new unified Europe with Mozart, Brahms, Sibelius, Smetana, Mascagni, Chopin, Beethoven, Ravel, Strauß. ■

“After EU enlargement it is very important to me to intensify contacts with the countries of the next accession round, e.g. Croatia“, said Secretary of State for the Arts Franz Morak at a meeting with Croatian Minister of Culture Bozo Biskupic in Split. Following an invitation of his Croatian counterpart, Morak paid an official visit to Croatia. He was the first Austrian member of government visiting Croatia after the EU Commission had given the green light for starting accession negotiations. The two politicians expressed their wish to conclude a new cultural agreement between Croatia and Austria as soon as possible. Furthermore, numerous cultural projects were discussed, e.g. an exhibition of the Croatian artist Edo Murtic in Vienna in autumn of this year. A Croatian film festival has been planned for 2005. Cooperation in the area of musical performances will be intensified. In view of Croatia’s planned EU accession, Morak and Biskupic wish to promote cultural cooperation by targeted measures. Public awareness is to be raised by seminars and workshops of the Cultural Contact Point. ■

The exhibition “Cross-border Medicine between Ljubljana and Vienna“ is presented in the Austrian State Archives until 1 September 2004. It is dedicated to Slovenia’s EU accession and displays documents, illustrations and valuable prints highlighting the close cooperation of Austria and Slovenia in medicine throughout the centuries. In the Hapsburg epoch the Central European cultural area had its centre in Vienna, which attracted Slovene scholars such as Andrej Perlach (Andreas Perlachius), astronomer, physician and rector of Vienna University (1490-1551), buried in the church of Sv. Števan; Marko Gerbec (Marcus Gerbezius); Marko Anton Plenčič (Marcus An¬tonius Plenciz), professor at Vienna’s medical faculty, who with his work “De cotagii morborum“ (1762) was one of the international pioneers of microbiology. In the 19th century the internist Fran Viljem Lipič (Franz Wilhelm Lippich) established a link between the cities of Ljubljana and Vienna through his work and promoted the introduction of the stethoscope in every-day medical practices. The Nobel Prize winner, physician and chemist Dr. Frierik (Fritz) Pregl was active both in his native city Ljubljana and the creative city Graz. The work of the famous Austrian gynaecologist and obstetrician Ernest Wertheim extended into the 20th century, who often stayed in Slovenia. Scientists have also been bound together by the emergence of and fight against new diseases. In the early 19th century Morbus Škrljevo was considered a disease threatening to spread from Istria to the centre of the monarchy. Finally, renowned dermatologists from Vienna discovered an endemic type of sy¬philis. By focusing on medical research, the exhibition links spheres usually having little in common. The State Archives also offer expert lectures about the topic “Slovenia” over the duration of the exhibition. Ljubljana – a gem among the more homely European capitals – presents itself in a poetic multimedia show spotlighting the intellectual achievements of its people. ■

The ordinary professor emeritus for modern history at Vienna University, Gerald Stourzh, who significantly contributed to the internationalisation of the Austrian science of history, recently celebrated his 75th birthday. When he was only 25 years old, he made his breakthrough in the USA, where he published his first book at the research centre of the political scientist Hans J. Morgenthau in Chicago: “Benjamin Franklin and American Foreign Policy“. After seven years in the USA, he established the Austrian Association for Foreign Policy in Vienna. In 1964 the then 35-year old became ordinary professor for modern history specialised in the history of North America at the Free University of Berlin. In 1969 he was appointed ordinary professor for modern history at Vienna University and was considered a role model by students identifying the narrow-mindedness behind the so-called “rebellion of 1968”, notably for his strict study criteria. The sensitive professor striving for objectivity, to whom passing political trends were alien, authored important works propagating a progressive identity of Austria, e.g. “Um Einheit und Freiheit“ (on the Austrian State Treaty, 4th ed. 1998), or “Vom Reich zur Republik“ (1990). He also earned a reputation for his research on the history of human rights as well as citizens’ and minorities’ rights: “Wege zur Grundrechtsdemokratie“ (1989). Federal President Thomas Klestil joined those congratulating him on his birthday. ■

The Austrian pianist and writer Alfred Brendel has been awarded the international Ernst von Siemens Music Award in Munich. According to the jury’s decision, Brendel had gone down in the history of records with his works. At the festive event at Munich’s Kammerspiele theatre accompanied by a musical performance grants were conferred, e.g. on the Austrian composer Johannes Maria Staud. ■

The Museum of Military History (Heeresgeschichtliches Museum/HGM) in Vienna presents a special exhibition until 5 September 2004. It is the first show in Austria focusing on 20 July 1944 – the date of the failed assassination of Adolf Hitler – and the repercussions on Austria. This special day on which Colonel Claus Schenk von Stauffenberg tried to assassinate Adolf Hitler and to terminate the Nazis’ reign of terror, is commemorated after 60 years in this way. Hitler came off with a few scratches because the briefcase with the bomb was displaced and a robust tabletop saved his life, while four officers died. In Austria Stauffenberg’s confidants were waiting for the signal of freedom from Berlin. But Stauffenberg and three of his friends were arrested and executed immediately. Based on selected (photographic) documents, the exhibition at the HGM highlights the effects of the attempt on Hitler’s life on the situation in Vienna. ■

The new Sisi Museum dedicated to the legendary Empress Elisabeth (born in Munich in 1837, died in Geneva in 1898), wife of Emperor Francis Joseph I., seems to be an outstanding success. Historians praise the show, which aims at presenting the myth of the Empress “free from clichés” as curator Katrin Unterreiner put it. The museum is accommodated in six rooms of the imperial apartments of Vienna Hofburg. Based on a concept of Rolf Langenfass, it covers all aspects of Sisi’s life: the assassination of the Empress in Geneva and the immediate emergence of legends, the rushed life of the beautiful and narcissist Sisi, who seemed to suffocate in the golden cage of the court etiquette and selected the socio-critical Heinrich Heine (“Germany. A Winter’s Tale”) as her favourite poet. The psychogram of this woman, who came to inspire a movie cult in the 20th century (considerably influenced by the Austrian actress Romy Schneider), seems very modern. The exhibition evokes many associations beyond Sisi’s life. ■

At the Benedectine Abbey of Altenburg in Wald¬viertel (Lower Austria) virtual monastery archives were presented, including the Abbey’s foundation charter (1144), documents of the Babenberg dukes but also simple title deeds of the late Middle Ages. This makes the Abbey one of about 20 Austrian convents and monasteries whose archives are being made accessible through the medium Internet in the framework of a project with a duration of three years. The aim of the “Monastery” (MOM) project of the Institute for the Documentation of Ecclesiastical Sources located at the Archives of the Diocese St. Pölten is to make available 20,000 deeds of the Middle Ages in digital form. Another objective of MOM is to use state-of-the-art technologies for new research approaches in the science of history, especially since historical sources form part of the general cultural heritage and memory. The world’s first digitised monastery archives were presented at the Convent of Geras (also Waldviertel) in October 2003.
The long-term goal of the MOM project is to record the most important Central European sources and to establish links to and cooperate in similar projects in Austria’s neighbouring countries, e.g. Pannonhalma Arch-Abbey (Hungary) or the Bishopric of Passau (Bavaria/Germany). ■

The Austrian Museum of Folk Life and Folk Art presents the exhibition “15+10 European Identities“ (until 4 July 2004). The Museum requested its Eastern European partner institutions to send it objects that are typical of the ten countries that joined the European Union in May. The highly different return mail – from Estonian gloves, Czech Easter eggs and Slovakian shepherds’ flutes to sweets from Cyprus – were juxtaposed with objects from the Museum’s archives. To give an example: Estonians tormented by the cold use gloves also as a symbol of a marriage proposal, and there are about 200 names for the different designs on them. The Museum of Folk Life and Folk Art juxtaposed the gloves with a wood engraving of a north Estonian farm. The Polish Christmas crib was placed next to a crib from the Museum’s own Galician objects. The exhibits will become part of the Museum’s collection. The fascinating show highlights the fact that in spite of all efforts to overcome national borders regional codes are upheld to ensure internal stability in an increasingly complex, globalised world. Only those with roots and a psychological home are inwardly strong. ■

Students of Vienna University were placed third among 400 teams from more than 80 countries in the Jessup Moot Court, the world’s most prestigious competition for law students held in Washington D.C. Leonore Lange, Kathrin Gabriel, Christoph Mikulaschek and Ursula Hann outshone competitors from Harvard, Columbia, Paris or Mel¬bourne. The Viennese were coached by the Department for International Law. While this year’s subject was the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court, participants will focus on a case of international environmental and maritime law in 2005: pirates capture a merchant ship and send it to the bottom near an atoll, which severely contaminates the local sea environment. ■

The Austrian cameraman and successful film director Xaver Schwarzenberger will be awarded the title “honorary cameraman 2004“ for his life’s work. “Schwarzenberger was one of the first to turn the TV screen into a movie screen”, the Cologne-based Association for the German Camera Prize praised the work of the prize winner. The 58-year old Viennese, one of Europe’s most important cameramen, has received the German camera prize three times: in 1982 for his artistic, cool black and white photography in Rainer Werner Fassbinder’s “Veronika Voss“ as well as in 1984 and 1990 for the films directed by him “The Silent Ocean“ (based on Gerhard Roth) and “Absturz“. The award ceremony will take place in Cologne on 23 June 2004. ■

The completely renovated Vienna Hilton houses a new place for music freaks: Austrian keyboard star Joe Zawinul’s “Birdland“. Named after a composition dedicated to Charlie “Bird“ Parker and the former New York jazz temple Birdland, Vienna’s “Birdland” – with its exquisite cuisine – seems to focus on world music as the provisional programme shows, ranging from the Zawinul Syndicate, Ifrikya feat. Karim Ziad to Los Hijos del Sol and Les McCann.■

Secretary of Sports Schweitzer and university professor Felderer presented the latest study dealing with the “economic benefits of health promotion at the company level” at the Institute for Higher Studies (Institut für Höhere Studien). According to Felderer, there is a change in the understanding of health – from a traditional, purely medically-oriented healthcare system to a focus on prevention. This is considered a positive trend by Schweitzer, who adopts a very critical stance on the existing health system with its “standard procedures” – visit to the doctor, diagnosis, prescription, pharmacy; or diagnosis, operation, health resort, early retirement. At present cardiac and circulatory diseases or back problems are very often treated by administering drugs or operating. This is an incomprehensible fact to Schweitzer since there was the more inexpensive option of “physical exercise”. “We should not leave the field to those making money from diseases“. Together with the sports umbrella associations, he wants to take advantage of all savings potentials by acting as a service provider to the Austrian health system. By using sport programmes in Austrian companies, an amount of up to 3.6 billion euro annually could be saved. To guarantee the uniform standard and quality of the exercise programmes, he wants to develop quality marks in cooperation with the umbrella organisations. Only programmes with a quality mark will be offered nationwide for health promotion schemes in small and mid-sized companies”, said Schweitzer, who also wants to discuss special incentive systems. These advanced companies should be exempted from increases of the employer’s contribution. Conclusion from the study: Austria is less developed in terms of prevention than other countries, e.g. the USA, Great Britain or Finland. ■

At a meeting of the Committee for Sport Affairs, the 18th Sport Report 2001/02 was presented. It offered a comprehensive overview of different activities of the competent political bodies. The presentation of sport promotion schemes in various fields highlighted the social importance of sports in Austria. In the period covered by the report, Austria had successfully applied for the European football championship 2008, taken support measures in top-level sports summarised under “The Athens 2004 Challenge“ and set up the “Fund for the Promotion of Sports for the Disabled”. The study “Sport und Gesund¬heit“ (Sport and Health) draws attention to possible savings resulting from the active practise of lifelong sports. ■

The Presidents’ Conference of the Federal Football League surprisingly granted the TV broadcasting rights to the TV stations Premiere and ATV. After this decision, Austria’s professional football finally leaves behind protectionism. “In addition to the athletic competition on the green lawn, the battle over future football coverage has now commenced. The market value will finally be determined by the quality of the football play offered”, said Secretary for Sports Karl Schweitzer. “However, the public sector should not be requested to cover future possible financing gaps as numerous investments are funded from the federal government’s resources”, he stressed. “In fact this regulation is an ideal opportunity for the Austrian Broadcasting Corporation (ORF) and numerous special sports associations to present the top achievements of Austrian athletes to a wide audience in the broadcasting time now disposable. This platform that has become available so unexpectedly could offer an opportunity to make all Austrians familiar with the beneficial effects of mass sport”, explained Schweitzer. ■