Dr. Alfred Gusenbauer’s first visit to the U.S. (September 24 - 28) as Austrian Federal Chancellor and as head of the delegation to the United Nations General Assembly in New York was marked by international efforts directed toward protection of the environment.

Austria’s Vice Chancellor and Federal Minister of Finance Wilhelm Molterer visited Washington, D.C. from October 19 - 21 to attend the 2007 Annual Meeting of the World Bank and IMF.

During a bilateral visit to the U.S. from October 23 - 25, Austrian Minister of the Interior Günther Platter met with U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Michael Chertoff in Washington, D.C. The discussion focused on closer cooperation in the fight against organized crime and terrorism. Areas of cooperation have included exchange of DNA data and information in the field of online surveillance, which was recently introduced in Austria. In regard to the devastating consequences of the fires in California, Minster Platter offered U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Chertoff assistance by providing Austrian expertise on the re-forestation of the burned areas from the air.

For over sixty years, the World Bank has played a decisive role in the fight against poverty and in promoting sustainable development in all parts of the world. Established in 1945, following the ratification of the Bretton Woods Agreement, the World Bank initially made a significant contribution to European reconstruction. Today, the World Bank is an important partner with valuable know-how for the Austrian Development Cooperation,  and it provides significant opportunities for Austrian companies through World Bank projects in Central and Eastern Europe as well as in the West Balkans, traditional areas of interest for the Austrian economy. This year’s annual meeting, attended by Vice Chancellor Wilhelm Molterer, was marked by discussions of future World Bank priorities and strategies. Austrian Information spoke with the Austrian representative to the World Bank, Senior Advisor Norbert Feldhofer, about Austria’s cooperation with the World

The Austrian Trade Commission, the foreign trade service operated by the Austrian Federal Economic Chamber, assists Austrian companies with “doing business” abroad.  It has 107 offices in more than 70 countries around the world, including the U.S., where the primary office is located in New York City.

Known for his wide range of repertoire and creative programming, Hans Graf - a native Austrian and Music Director of the Houston Symphony Orchestra since 2001 - is one of today’s most respected musicians. Maestro Graf has led the leading orchestras of North America, Europe, Japan and Australia, and has participated in prestigious music festivals in the U.S. and Europe. He was recently awarded the Grand Decoration of Honour in Gold for Services to the Republic of Austria. In an interview with AI, he spoke of his career and his experiences conducting the Houston Symphony Orchestra as well as other orchestras from around the globe.

(1932 - 2007)
A musical prodigy in war-torn Vienna, Joe Zawinul, born Josef Erich Zawinul, became one of the most influential jazz musicians of the past century. As a prominent jazz keyboardist and composer, he pioneered the use of electronic keyboards and was a leading force behind ‘jazz fusion,’ blending jazz with other forms of music. He is also credited with bringing African and Middle Eastern rhythms to mainstream jazz. Over decades, Zawinul received two Amadeus awards, several Grammys, the Miles Davis Award and the Preis der deutschen Schallplattenkritik. On the occasion of his death on September 11, 2007 at the age of 75, Austrian President Heinz Fischer referred to the loss of an “ambassador of music,” who was known and honored around the world.