From the Editor

Dear Readers,

Shortly before her death in January, 2002, the Austrian-born photographer Inge Morath took a picture of a border stone between Austria and Slovenia (see photo on homepage). For more than eight decades the village of Pongratzen had been split in half by the border. With Slovenia and nine other countries having entered the European Union, this photograph has now become history. You will find several contributions to this latest development which took place on May 1: one article on East-West migration, one photo reportage and an article on a current art exhibit in Vienna. Read about the results of the Austrian presidential election, the visit of Austria's Minister of Agriculture and two Austrian decorations. Due to financial shortcomings, we will be unable to print the next issue of Austrian Information, but will provide you with an online version on our website at: www.austria.org

Yours sincerely,
Christoph Meran