April, 2005
The year 2005 is one of remembrance for Austria and the whole world. Sixty years after the liberation of the concentration camps we mourn the loss of millions of innocent lives and strive to instill in our youth - we are down to the fourth post-war generation - an understanding of history combined with a sense of responsibility and justice.
The current issue includes two articles on this topic: A speech by the Austrian State Secretary for Art and the Media delivered to the 28th Special Session of the General Assembly; and an interview with three survivors of Auschwitz.
Three articles are dedicated to different forms of NS resistance, including a discussion of historians on whether deserting the flag should be considered an act of resistance.
You will find three articles on the official front: Austria bestowed the citizenship upon a Rabbi from New York; the Israeli Minister for Jerusalem and the Jewish Diaspora visited Vienna; and the Vienna Hofburg opened its doors to about one hundred former Viennese.
The French philosopher, Alain Finkielkraut, gave an interview to Die Presse on the dangers of a multicultural Europe and a new form of anti-Semitism, which he calls anti-racist anti-Semitism.
Read about an innovative memorial at the Jewish cemetery in Krems; an exhibit on the life of a 19th century cantor; a high-level panel discussion on restitution of stolen art organized at the Austrian Embassy in Washington, D.C.; a new, virtual TV documentary on "Austria - the Second Republic;" and finally, a play by an Israeli dramatist staged in Linz, Austria.
Yours sincerely,
Christoph Meran
Director
Austrian Press and Information Service
www.austria.org
The year 2005 is one of remembrance for Austria and the whole world. Sixty years after the liberation of the concentration camps we mourn the loss of millions of innocent lives and strive to instill in our youth - we are down to the fourth post-war generation - an understanding of history combined with a sense of responsibility and justice.
The current issue includes two articles on this topic: A speech by the Austrian State Secretary for Art and the Media delivered to the 28th Special Session of the General Assembly; and an interview with three survivors of Auschwitz.
Three articles are dedicated to different forms of NS resistance, including a discussion of historians on whether deserting the flag should be considered an act of resistance.
You will find three articles on the official front: Austria bestowed the citizenship upon a Rabbi from New York; the Israeli Minister for Jerusalem and the Jewish Diaspora visited Vienna; and the Vienna Hofburg opened its doors to about one hundred former Viennese.
The French philosopher, Alain Finkielkraut, gave an interview to Die Presse on the dangers of a multicultural Europe and a new form of anti-Semitism, which he calls anti-racist anti-Semitism.
Read about an innovative memorial at the Jewish cemetery in Krems; an exhibit on the life of a 19th century cantor; a high-level panel discussion on restitution of stolen art organized at the Austrian Embassy in Washington, D.C.; a new, virtual TV documentary on "Austria - the Second Republic;" and finally, a play by an Israeli dramatist staged in Linz, Austria.
Yours sincerely,
Christoph Meran
Director
Austrian Press and Information Service
www.austria.org