The 1955 Austrian State Treaty ended the four-power occupation and recognized Austria as an independent and sovereign state. In October 1955, the Federal Assembly passed a constitutional law in which "Austria declares of her own free will her perpetual neutrality." The second section of this law stated that "in all future times Austria will not join any military alliances and will not permit the establishment of any foreign military bases on her territory." Since then, Austria has shaped its foreign policy on the basis of neutrality.
In recent years, however, Austria has begun to reassess its definition of neutrality, granting overflight rights for the UN-sanctioned action against Iraq in 1991, and, since 1995, contemplating participation in the EU's evolving security structure. Also in 1995, it joined the Partnership for Peace, and subsequently participated in peacekeeping missions in Bosnia. Discussion of possible Austrian NATO membership intensified during 1996. ÖVP and Team Stronach aim at moving closer to NATO or a European defense arrangement. SPÖ and FPÖ, in turn, believe continued neutrality is the cornerstone of Austria's foreign policy, and a majority of the population generally supports this stance.
In February 2000, Austria's foreign relations underwent controversy when the ÖVP formed a coalition with the FPÖ after the 1999 election. European governments imposed diplomatic sanctions, and the United States recalled its ambassador.[1]
Sanctions were lifted in September 2000 after a three-member panel assessed human rights and political life in Austria.[2]
In November 2000, the United States and Austria normalized their relations.[3]
Austrian leaders emphasize the unique role the country plays as an East-West hub and as a moderator between industrialized and developing countries. Austria is active in the United Nations and experienced in UN peacekeeping efforts. It attaches great importance to participation in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development and other international economic organizations, and it has played an active role in the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE).
Austria traditionally has been active in "bridge-building to the east," increasing contacts at all levels with Eastern Europe and the states of the former Soviet Union. Austrians maintain a constant exchange of business representatives, investment, trade, political leaders, students, cultural groups, and tourists with the countries of central and eastern Europe. In addition, the Austrian Government and various Austrian organizations provide assistance and training to support the changes underway in the region.
Diplomatic relations
List of countries which Austria maintains diplomatic relations with:
Both countries established diplomatic relations on 26 January 1966 when the Austrian Ambassador to Uganda (resident in Nairobi), Dr. F. Kudernatsch presented his credentials to the President, Sir Edward Mutesa.[97]
Austria is accredited to Uganda from its embassy in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Uganda is accredited to Austria from its embassy in Berlin, Germany and an honorary consulate in Vienna.
Both countries established diplomatic relations on 20 February 1952 when Dr. Wolfgang Hoeller, Charge d'Affaires of Austria with residence in Mexico presents his letters of credentials to Cabinet of Honduras.[53]
Austria is accredited to Honduras from its embassy in Mexico City, Mexico.
Bilateral relations between Austria and Indonesia were officially established in 1954.
Austria recognises Indonesia as a stable and reliable partner, and both countries enjoy excellent relations.[202]
The two countries have agreed to expand relations in business, trade and investment, tourism, culture, environment and green technology.[203]
Austria has an embassy in Jakarta, while Indonesia has an embassy in Vienna that is also accredited to Slovenia as well as the following multilateral organisations: IAEA, PrepCom CTBTO, UNODC and UNOOSA.
On July 3, 2018, Austria announced it was revoking the diplomatic immunity of an Iranian diplomat in Vienna, due to his alleged role in a French bomb plot.[204]
Both countries established diplomatic relations on 6 December 1951 when M. Robert Friedinger-Pranter had been accredited as Minister of Austria to Lebanon (resident in Cairo).[205]
The establishment of diplomatic relations between the Republic of Austria in German (Republik Österreich) and the Republic of Korea in Korean (대한민국) Started on 1892. In April 2007 the President of Austria Heinz Fischer paid a state visit to South Korea. It was the first ever state visit of an Austrian President to South Korea.[209]
Austria is an EUmember and Turkey is an EUcandidate. Austria opposes Turkey's accession negotiations to the EU, although negotiations have now been suspended.
Both countries established diplomatic relations on 22 July 1832 when has been accredited Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary of Belgium to Austria baron de Loe.[212]
During the 1700s, Belgium was an Austrian possession (see Austrian Netherlands). In 1790 there existed a confederation named United States of Belgium, which had about the same extent as contemporary Belgium. This confederation revolted against the Habsburg (Austrian) Emperor.
Both countries are full members of the European Union. They share 362 km of common border, which can be crossed anywhere without border control due to the Schengen Agreement.
Both countries established diplomatic relations on 25 August 1834 when has been appointed Anton Prokesch von Osten as the first Ambassador of Austria to Greece.[216]
Both countries have a long common history since the ruling dynasty of Austria, the Habsburgs, inherited the Hungarian throne in the 16th century. Both were part of the now-defunct Austro-Hungarian Monarchy from 1867 to 1918.
Both countries established diplomatic relations on 27 January 1867 when has been appointed first Envoy Extraordinary and minister Plenipotentiary of Italy to Austro-Hungary Giulio Camillo De Barral De Monteauvrard.[217]
The Italian regions of Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Lombardy, Trentino, Veneto, and South Tyrol were part of the Austrian Empire.
Austria has an embassy in Rome and a consulate-general in Milan.
Italy has an embassy in Vienna and a consulate in Innsbruck.
^Protokolle des Ministerrates der Ersten Republik, 1918-1938: 2. Dezember 1935 bis 6. März 1936 (in German). Verlag der Österreichischen Staatsdruckerei. 2005. p. 120.
^Boletín oficial de la Secretaría de Relaciones Exteriores, Issue 48 (in Spanish). 1927. p. 44.
^Memoria (in Spanish). Chile. Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores. 1929. p. 803.
^Registro oficial correspondiente al año de (in Spanish). Imprenta Nacional. 1927. p. 563.
^Informe a la nación del Ministro de Relaciones Exteriores Part 1 (in Spanish). Ecuador. Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores. 1948. p. 373. El 27 de junio de 1947, los Representantes diplomaticos de las Republicas del Ecuador y de Austria en Washington, suscribieron un Protocolo, por el que ambos Gobiernos convinieron formalmente en reanudar sus relaciones diplomaticas ...
^Libro amarillo correspondiente al año ...: presentado al Congreso Nacional en sus sesiones ordinarias de ... por el titular despacho (in Spanish). Venezuela. Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores. 2003. pp. 528–529.
^Foreign relations with Ethiopia human and diplomatic history (from its origins to present). Lit. 2015. p. 31.
^Boletín, Issues 19-22 (in Spanish). Bolivia. Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores. 1949. p. 59.
^British Documents on Foreign Affairs--reports and Papers from the Foreign Office Confidential Print: Arabia, The Lebanon, Israel, Syria, Jordan and General, 1952. LexisNexis. 2006. p. 187.
^British Documents on Foreign Affairs--reports and Papers from the Foreign Office Confidential Print: Arabia, The Lebanon, Israel, Syria, Jordan and General, 1952. LexisNexis. 2006. p. 311.
^ abMemoria ... (in Spanish). Honduras. Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores. 1951. p. 71.
^Бюллетень Gazette · Volumes 98-116 (in French). Allied Commission for Austria. 1954. p. 8. ... établissement de relations diplomatiques et consulaires entre l'Autriche et Ceylan . Vienne , le 19 Février 1954 .
^Michael Th Neugebauer (1992). Die österreichisch-afrikanischen Beziehungen seit 1955 Wirtschaft, Politik, Entwicklungspolitik, Kultur (in German). Böhlau. p. 107.
^Memoria del Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores y Culto presentada a la Asamblea Legislativa por el ... Ministro de Relaciones Exteriores y Culto (in Spanish). 1956. p. 36.
^Informe de las labores desarrolladas por el poder ejecutivo en el ramo de relaciones exteriores (in Spanish). El Salvador. Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores. 1958. p. 111.
^"Nepal". Austrian Embassy New Delhi. Retrieved 7 March 2024.
^The Middle East Journal - Volumes 14-15. Middle East Institute (Washington, D.C.). 1960. p. 308. April 22 : It was announced that the Libyan govern- ment had decided to establish diplomatic relations with Austria ...
^The International who's who, 1971-72. London : Europa Publications. 1971. p. 176. Boissier-Palun, Léon Louis; Senegalese Amb. to United Kingdom 60-66, to Austria, Norway, Sweden and Denmark 61-66 ...
^Michael Th Neugebauer (1992). Die österreichisch-afrikanischen Beziehungen seit 1955 Wirtschaft, Politik, Entwicklungspolitik, Kultur (in German). Böhlau. p. 109.
^"Diplomatic and Consular List"(PDF). Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Mongolia. March 2020. pp. 4–8. Archived from the original(PDF) on 21 February 2022. Retrieved 13 February 2024.
^Michael Th Neugebauer (1992). Die österreichisch-afrikanischen Beziehungen seit 1955 Wirtschaft, Politik, Entwicklungspolitik, Kultur (in German). Böhlau. p. 110.
^ abMitteilungen des Österreichischen Staatsarchivs Volume 51 (in German). Österreichisches Staatsarchiv. 2004. p. 60.
^Bulletin de l'Institut international de droit des pays d'expression française Issues 1-9 (in French). The Institut. 1965. p. 68.
^List of Diplomatic, Consular, and Trade Missions and International Organisations. Zambia. Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 1970. p. 1.
^Österreichische Zeitschrift Für Aussenpolitik (in German). Vol. 5. 1965. p. 392.
^Michael Th Neugebauer (1992). Die österreichisch-afrikanischen Beziehungen seit 1955 (in German). Böhlau. p. 110. 14.9.65: ... 2) Zl. 140-276-4 pol/65, betr. der Aufnahme diplomatischer Beziehungen zwischen Österreich und Rwanda
^Africa Research Bulletin. Blackwell. 1965. p. 435.
^ abAfrica Research Bulletin. Blackwell. 1966. p. 455.
^Africa Research Bulletin. Blackwell. 1966. p. 619.
^"Press Release"(PDF). parlament.mt. Archived from the original(PDF) on October 24, 2023. Retrieved 24 October 2023.
^Österreichische Zeitschrift Für Aussenpolitik Volume 6 (in German). Österreichische Gesellschaft für Aussenpolitik und Internationale Beziehungen. 1966. p. 488. Guinea Der Botschaft in Bonn wurden neu zu- geteilt : Als a . o . und bev . Botschafter wurde Nabi Youla bestellt, als Erster Sekretär Serge Siba Guilao .
^Ghana Today, 11. Information Section of the Ghana Office. 1967. p. 5.
^West Africa, 2613-2639. West Africa Publishing Company Limited. 1967. p. 1656.
^"Madagascar". Austrian Embassy Pretoria. Retrieved 7 March 2024.
^Africa Research Bulletin. Blackwell. 1968. p. 1051. Cameroon - Austria . Austria's new Am- bassador to Cameroon, M. Fritz Hartl- maye, presented his credentials to President Ahidjo on March 29th
^Standard Encyclopaedia of Southern Africa, Capetown Volume 2. 1970. p. 458. Austrian Ambassador, Paul Zedwitz, presenting his credentials to Sir Seretse Khama, 5 Dec. 1968 . at Gaberones
^Diplomatic, Consular and International Organisations List. Republic of Botswana. 1971. p. 1. 5.12.68 His Excellency Dr. Paul Zedtwitz, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Austria (Resident in Pretoria).
^Lesotho Report for the Year. Lesotho, Lesotho. Department of Information. 1968. p. 143. The High Commissioner for the Kingdom of Lesotho in the United Kingdom is accredited to the Federal Republic of Germany, France, the Vatican and Austria.
^Mitteilungen des Österreichischen Staatsarchivs Volume 51 (in German). Österreichisches Staatsarchiv. 2004. p. 54.
^ARR: Arab Report and Record. Economic Features, Limited. 1969. p. 292. The governments of Austria and Yemen have decided to establish diplomatic relations at embassy level, Vienna Radio reported on 11 July.
^Michael Th Neugebauer (1992). Die österreichisch-afrikanischen Beziehungen seit 1955 (in German). Böhlau. p. 32. Seit 1969 stehen Österreich und Burundi in diplomati- scher Beziehung ...
^Österreichische Zeitschrift Für Aussenpolitik Volume 9 (in German). Österreichische Gesellschaft für Aussenpolitik und Internationale Beziehungen. 1969. p. 187. Der Missionschef in Nairobi, ao. und bev. Botschafter Dr. Friedrich Kudernatsch, wurde in Bujumbura als ao. und bev. Botschafter in Burundi mitbeglaubigt
^Bulletin de l'Afrique noire Issues 581-605 (in French). Ediafric. 1970. August Josef TARTER, ambassadeur d'Autriche au Sénégal, en Côte - d'Ivoire, au Dahomey, en Haute - Volta, au Mali, en Mauritanie, au Niger et au Togo, a présenté ses lettres de créance au Mali le 21 février dernier ...
^Michael Th Neugebauer (1992). Die österreichisch-afrikanischen Beziehungen seit 1955 Wirtschaft, Politik, Entwicklungspolitik, Kultur (in German). Böhlau. p. 111.
^Bulletin de l'Afrique noire - Issues 606-626 (in French). 1970. [A]mbassadeur d'Autriche auprès des Etats du Conseil de l'Entente... a présenté ses lettres de créance en Haute - Volta le 9 décembre 1970.
^Österreichisches Jahrbuch Volume 42 (in German). Druck und Verlag der Österr. Staatsdruckerei. 1971. p. 259. Österreichischersites wurden 1970 diplomatische Beziehungen mit der Republik Gabun und der Zentrafrikanischen Republik aufgenommen.
^Österreichische Zeitschrift Für Aussenpolitik Volumes 10-11 (in German). W. Braumüller. 1970. p. 398. Der Missionschef in Pretoria, a. o. und bev. Botschafter Dr. Paul Zedwitz, in Mbabane als a. o. und bev. Botschafter in Swaziland;
^Österreichische Zeitschrift Für Aussenpolitik Volumes 10-11 (in German). W. Braumüller. 1970. p. 52. Der Missionschef in Dakar, a. o. und bev. Botschafter Dr. August Tarter, in Bathurst als a. o. und bev. Botschafter in Gambia.
^Österreichische Zeitschrift Für Aussenpolitik Volumes 10-11 [Der Missionschef in Dakar, a. o. und bev. Botschafter Dr. August Tarter, ... in Nouakchott als a. o. und bev. Botschafter für die Islamische Republik Mauritanien] (in German). W. Braumüller. 1970. p. 41.
^Internationales Afrika Forum Volumes 6-7 (in German). 1970. p. 83. ... August Tarter, der Österreich in Senegal, Elfenbeinküste, Dahomey, Obervolta, Mauretanien, Niger und Togo vertreten wird, hat seine Beglaubigungsschreiben überreicht.
^"Bangladesh Austria bilateral relations". Embassy & Permanent Mission of the People's Republic of Bangladesh to the UN Offices and other International Organizations in Vienna. Retrieved 18 January 2024.
^Mitteilungen des Österreichischen Staatsarchivs Volume 51 (in German). Österreichisches Staatsarchiv. 2004. p. 63. XV. Kongo Kinshasa ( ex Leopoldville ) ÖB - errichtet durch MR - Beschluss vom 24. Juli 1972 ...
^Trinidad and Tobago Gazette Volume 12, Issues 1-172. U.S. Government Printing Office. 1973. p. 176.
^Mauritius Directory of the Diplomatic Corps; High Commissions, Embassies, Consulates, International Organization[s]. Mauritius. Ministry of External Affairs, Tourism, and Emigration. 1978. p. 94.
^Africa Year Book and Who's who. Africa Journal Limited. 1976. pp. XXXVIII.
^Guidelines of the Foreign Policy of Papua New Guinea: Universalism. Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Papua New Guinea. 1976. p. 55.
^Michael Th Neugebauer (1992). Die österreichisch-afrikanischen Beziehungen seit 1955 Wirtschaft, Politik, Entwicklungspolitik, Kultur (in German). Böhlau. p. 35.
^Widmer, Sabina (2021). Switzerland and Sub-Saharan Africa in the Cold War, 1967-1979 : neutrality meets decolonisation. Brill. p. 224.
^Revue française d'études politiques africaines Issues 145-149 (in French). Société africaine d'édition. 1978. p. 17. TCHAD ...10 - Annonce de l'établissement de relations diplomatiques avec l'Autriche .
^West Africa - Issues 3155-3180. West Africa Publishing Company Limited. 1978. p. 226. ... Austria and Chad have decided to establish diplomatic relations at ambassadorial level .
^"Embassy of Georgia to Austria". Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Archived from the original on 2007-07-09. Retrieved 2009-06-11. Diplomatic relations between Georgia and Republic of Austria were established in 1992. Georgia opened its Embassy in Vienna in 1996. The relations between the two countries are close and friendly. Georgia appreciates Support of Austrian Government in different fields of bilateral relations. In addition the commercial and cultural ties are also very important, but do not reflect its full potential and has a big prospective to develop.
^Yanto Soegiarto (3 January 2012). "Austria's green power". thejakartaglobe.com. Jakarta Globe. Archived from the original on 20 June 2013. Retrieved 18 June 2013.
^British Documents on Foreign Affairs--reports and Papers from the Foreign Office Confidential Print: Arabia, The Lebanon, Israel, Syria, Jordan and General, 1952. LexisNexis. 2006. p. 187.