I should like to begin by congratulating Mr. Jean Ping on his election as President of the fifty-ninth session of the General Assembly. He may be sure that Austria will fully support him in carrying out his important task.
I fully subscribe to the statement made by the Minister of Foreign Affairs o…
A few days ago, the United Nations was again attacked in Baghdad — just one month after the United Nations Headquarters was targeted in a devastating terrorist attack. My heartfelt sympathies — not only as the Foreign Minister of Austria, but also as a former staff member working here at the Headqua…
Two years after our special session on HIV/AIDS, the disease is still a lethal threat to millions of individuals and an impediment for the economic development of whole countries, regions and even continents. Increasing mobility contributes to the speedy spread of the illness. We are talking about f…
Let me begin by welcoming Switzerland, our western neighbour, as a full member of the United Nations and her first participation in the General Assembly after her accession. Without our Swiss friends the United Nations would not be complete. Expanding the global reach of the United Nations can be se…
I am speaking here while still in shock over the terrible aeroplane crash in Queens, our immediate neighbourhood, especially since the area of Rockaway, where so many brave New York firefighters live, was already suffering in the aftermath of the earlier catastrophe. I wish to express my deep sympat…
I am truly honoured to have the opportunity today to address the General Assembly in my capacity as current Chairperson-in-Office of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). At the outset, I should like to thank the Secretary-General for his report, which gives an impressive a…
First of all, let me say how satisfied I am about this week’s decision of our 14 European Union (EU) partners to lift the measures implemented on 31 January against Austria. This is a victory for reason, and it is also a victory for
Europe. In the last seven and a half months — a very difficult tim…
Mr. President, first let me congratulate you on your election to your high office and assure you of the full cooperation and support of the Austrian delegation. I am convinced that we will have a successful session of the General Assembly, the last in this century, under your able guidance.
Austria…
