US embassy cable - 05VIENNA1669

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 VIENNA 001669 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR EUR/AGS - VIKMANIS-KELLER 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL, PGOV, AU 
SUBJECT: AUSTRIA CELEBRATES 50 YEARS OF SOVEREIGNTY 
 
REF: VIENNA 1484 
 
1.  On May 15, Austria commemorated the 50th anniversary of 
the signing of the Austrian State Treaty.  The recreation of 
the proclamation of Austrian freedom at the baroque Belvedere 
Palace had all the emotional significance of the U.S. 
bicentennial, but on an Austrian scale.  Key to the event was 
the presence of representatives of the four powers which 
occupied Austria from 1945 and signed the State Treaty in 
1955.  Former Senator Rudy Boschwitz headed a U.S. delegation 
that included Vincent Obsitnik, Alfred Hoffman and Davis 
Phillips, in addition to Ambassador Brown.  Russian Foreign 
Minister Sergey Lavrov, French Foreign Minister Michel 
Barnier, and British Minister of State for Europe Douglas 
Alexander participated in the events. 
 
2.  The center of the official celebration was a festive 
program in the Belevedere's Marble Hall, the site of the 
signing of the State Treaty fifty years ago.  With the 
original document present in the room (on loan from Russia, 
the depository country), Senator Boschwitz called the State 
Treaty "a triumph of principle," noting that the Western 
allies and Austrian leaders insisted that a sovereign Austria 
had to be free and democratic.  Senator Boschwitz said all 
countries which share those values had to work actively to 
extend their benefits throughout the world.  Alexander spoke 
of the British contribution to Austria's political and 
economic development in the post-war years.  Barnier stressed 
the importance of Austria's participation, along with France 
and the other members of the EU, to European integration.  He 
also noted the need for a strong transatlantic relationship. 
Lavrov noted the contributions of Austrian neutrality to 
peace in Europe during the Cold War.  Austrian Chancellor 
Wolfgang Schuessel, Foreign Minister Ursula Plassnik, and 
President Heinz Fischer recalled the difficult process of 
negotiating the State Treaty, thanked the Four Powers for 
their role in defeating Hitler's Germany and bringing about a 
free and democratic Austria, and celebrated Austria's success 
in achieving democratic and economic development.  They noted 
the importance of "active neutrality" as permitting 
engagement in efforts to bring peace to areas such as the 
Balkans and the Middle East (where Austria has long 
participated in the UN's peacekeeping mission in the Golan 
Heights).  Austrian speakers made special reference to the 
Marshall Plan, CARE packages, and other U.S. efforts to 
relieve Austria's desperate economic situation during the 
immediate post-war years. 
 
3.  The emotional high point of the program was a re-creation 
of the moment when the signers of the State Treaty emerged 
onto the balcony outside the Marble Hall.  As in 1955 -- but 
without the treaty itself, which remained safely under glass 
inside -- the Austrian dignitaries and the representatives of 
the four powers stepped out to greet cheering crowds below. 
 
4.  In a city in which three world-class opera companies and 
their associated orchestras can play to full houses on the 
same night (as was the case on the night of May 14), staging 
is as important as substantive content.  The Austrians had 
equal-sized delegations with the same vehicle configuration 
arrive at the front steps of the Belvedere in precise 
choreography.  The Marble Hall was full, but not packed -- 
only a minimum of press, security and protocol personnel 
could remain around the fringes of the room.  Three musical 
interudes during the program were all Mozart.  First, 
Angelika Kirschlager and the Vienna Choir Boys opened the 
program with the cantata "Dir, Seele des Weltalls" (You, Soul 
of the Universe).  The Vienna "Young Orchestra" then 
performed the "Religious March" from The Magic Flute after 
Chancellor Schuessel's speech, and a Sonata in A after 
Foreign Minister Plassnik's remarks.  After the "balcony 
scene," the delegations joined the President, Chancellor and 
Foreign Minister for a private tour of the Belevedere's 
exhibit on the war, the occupation and the State Treaty. 
President Fischer's wife, Margit, who studied art history at 
the University of Vienna, accompanied Mrs. Boschwitz through 
the exhibit. 
 
5.  After the events at the Belvedere, Chancellor Schuessel 
hosted a luncheon at the "House of Industry," the seat of the 
Austrian Industrialists' Association.  As with most elements 
of the program, this replicated the events of fifty years 
ago.  During the luncheon, the delegation (including the 
Ambassador) met with President Fischer to deliver 
congratulations on behalf of the United States. 
 
6.  Public events surrounded the official program.  The 
Belvedere opened its newly-restored baroque gardens to 
thousands of visitors, who enjoyed various artistic programs 
as they awaited the "balcony scene."  Crowds lined the 
streets to see the passing motorcades, and the appearance of 
the U.S.-flagged limousine brought uniformly happy waves and 
eager attempts to catch photographs.  The reaction among 
ordinary Austrians to Senator Boschwitz's presence was 
friendly and appreciative. 
Brown