Our bilateral political relations are free of problems and bilateral economic relations are developing with an enormous speed. Austria's products, technologies and services enjoy a very high reputation in the Republic of Korea and vice versa. In the year 2005 Korean exports to Austria reached a new record height of nearly 822 million Euros (US$1.03 billion), an increase of 19.2%. Austrian imports to Korea also reached a new record level of 471 million Euros (US$594 million), an increase of 21.5%, bringing the total volume of trade to 1.293 billion Euros (US$1.63 billion). This makes the Republic of Korea Austria's 4th largest trading partner outside Europe.
The year 2006 has been marked by many important events and projects which also had strong influences on the daily work of the Austrian Embassy in Seoul. I would like to highlight some of them:
Austria's EU Presidency in the first six months of 2006
The EU has a system of rotating presidencies every 6 months and Austria held the Presidency of the EU in the first semester of 2006, from January 1st to June 30th, 2006. Already in 1994 the Austrians had confirmed that they believed in the idea of European integration: In the referendum on EU membership held in June 1994 a clear majority of nearly 67% had voted in favour of Austria joining the EU. Austria joined the European Union on January 1, 1995 along with Sweden and Finland.
Through its EU membership Austria became part of a common market, thus becoming more attractive to countries both inside and outside of the Union due to its location between Eastern and Western Europe. These factors have opened up new possibilities for both consumers and producers. The positive economic effects should not by any means overshadow the political importance of the European integration process. Today the European Union plays a crucial role in the stability of the whole continent. In the past few years it has become the main focus for most European countries. With its continuation of the integration process it is setting the direction of the whole of Europe. More and more decisions concerning Europe's future are made within EU institutions. EU membership allows Austria to bring its specific concerns to bear on EU policy, to have an equal voice in the decision-making process that will shape the future of both Europe and Austria.
During Austria's presidency in particular many citizens gained a deeper insight into the EU's work and recognised the EU's significance and positive prospects. The Austrian Presidency had started its work with the aim of creating more impetus, more confidence and more clarity for Europe. In her summary of Austria's EU presidency, Foreign Minister Plassnik pointed out that this aim had been achieved. The so called "Europe is listening" initiative was an important stimulus for finding new ways of establishing contact with the citizen.
Practically an EU Presidency meant that Austria had to chair all EU meetings for six months, such as the Head of States and Government in Vienna. But it also chaired meetings in other countries like Korea, for example on the level of EU Ambassadors, EU Commercial Counsellors, and EU Political Counsellors in Seoul. And when the Republic of Korea had official talks with the European Union it was again the Presidency who chaired the meeting on the European side of the table. In summary, it is fair to say that the level of European integration is quite impressive. At the same time was quite a challenge for a medium sized country to hold the EU Presidency.
During our Presidency, an official visit of the Austrian Dr. Benita Ferrero-Waldner, Commissioner for External Relations and Neighbourhood policy of the European Commission, took place from 19 to 21 April. We had at the same time the Joint Committee Meeting EU-Korea in Seoul on 19 June 2006. Finland took over the presidency from Austria on 1 July 2006.
Mozart Year 2006
The year 2006 marks the 250th anniversary of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, who was born in Salzburg on 27 January 1756. Austria has been and is honouring this musical genius with a comprehensive calendar of events all over the world. The Austrian Embassy in Seoul has been supporting and continues to support various high-quality cultural projects, celebrating the Mozart Year 2006.
Highlights among these events were 15 concerts at the Sejong Center of Performing Arts in Seoul called The Complete Mozart Concertos. There was also a Birthday Concert for Mozart on 27 January 2006, his real and only birthday, at the Mozart Hall in Seoul. Professor Shin Soo-jung organized those concerts. Also, a series of successful concerts of the well known Vienna Boys Choir were held in various cities in Korea. Two concerts of the famous Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra were also held in Seoul in September.
More events will come on this occasion in the remaining weeks of this year: two more Mozart concerts at the Sejong Center of Performing Arts on 14 November and 12 December. The opera The Magic Flute will be shown at the Busan Cultural Center from 12 to 14 November. Mozart's opera Bastian and Bastienne will be shown daily from November to 12 December at the Lotte World Art Theatre. And finally, the Arnold Schoenberg Choir will perform in Seoul on 25 November.
Austria is well known in Korea as a country of classical music. And cultural policy is an important element of Austrian foreign policy. In international diplomacy, the communication of the cultural achievements of a country plays an important role that should not be underestimated. In Austria, foreign policy and culture have always been closely intertwined. This is why Austria is regarded throughout the world as a major cultural nation, Austrian State Secretary Hans Winkler rightly emphasised at this year's International Cultural Policy Conference.
Austria's EU Presidency deliberately devoted a great deal of attention to the cultural dimension of the European project. On account of its own history and tradition, it is self-evident to Austria that Europe also has to progress as a project of cultural diversity. What is at issue is the public opinion in other countries, which we want to reach beyond the scope of traditional diplomacy. The oft-cited crisis of European integration is rightly attributed not only to political and economic problems and differences; on the contrary, in many cases better understanding of the culture of another state may be important.
As far as international resonance is concerned, Austria doubtless has certain advantages as a cultural location which have become a trademark of our country. We only have to think of the Vienna Bys Choir, the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, the New Year's Concert, the Linz-based Ars Electronica or the many summer festivals, to mention just a few examples. Unfortunately, there are also many questions of international policy that cannot be resolved by cultural exchange alone.
Former Korean Ambassador to Austria to become UN secretary General
Austria warmly welcomed the appointment of Minister for Foreign Affairs Ban Ki-moon, a former Korean Ambassador to Vienna with close ties to Austria, as Secretary General of the United Nations. With its clear vote the UN General Assembly of 192 member nations unanimously adopted the Security Council's recommendation of 9 October. As from January 2007 Ban Ki-moon will succeed Kofi Annan as the 8th UN Secretary-General, the second Asian Secretary-General after Burma's Sithy U Thant.
The Federal President of the Republic of Austria, Heinz Fischer and the Minister for Foreign Affairs Ursula Plassnik offered their sincere congratulations to the newly elected Secretary-General immediately after the formal vote in the UN General Assembly: "In Ban Ki-moon the United Nations will have a Secretary-General who is intimately familiar with the organisation. His long track record of experience and the excellent knowledge he has acquired through his work at the service of the United Nations will be of benefit to the UN and thus to us all. I am certain that with Ban Ki-moon at the helm of the UN in the coming years we will have another tireless advocate of a strong and efficient global community of states who will resolutely continue the ambitious fitness programme for the UN initiated by Kofi Annan," the Minister said.
"The latest events on the Korean peninsula and the threatening scenario associated with North Korea's nuclear weapons test have made us very clearly aware how important the United Nations is to world peace. Thanks to his background and his experience within the framework of the six-party talks, Ban Kimoon is equipped with a particular sensibility for this unresolved conflict," stated the Minister for Foreign Affairs Ursula Plassnik.
"I am especially pleased that in Ban Ki-moon we have a friend and connoisseur of Austria who has personal experience of the UN headquarters in Vienna and is aware of the latter's importance. He is thus a guarantor for further intensification of the relations between the United Nations and Vienna," emphasised the Foreign Minister, adding that she had invited the new UN Secretary-General to Vienna in her letter of congratulation on his appointment.
From 1998 to 2000 Ban Ki-moon had been the South Korean Ambassador to Austria. In November 2001 he had been awarded the Grand Decoration of Honour in Gold for Services to the Republic of Austria in recognition of his contribution to strengthening the bilateral relations between the two countries, but also and above all for his committed work in the international organisations at the UN headquarters in Vienna. During his time in Vienna he had also given expression to his enthusiasm for culture by founding an Austrian-South Korean philharmonic orchestra.
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