NATIONS UNIES

POSTAL ADDRESS AQRESSE POSTALE- UNITED NATIONS. N.Y. 1OO17 CABLE ADDRESS ADRES5C TELCC RAt»H IQU E: UNATIONS NEWYORK

EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE SECRETAR Y-GENERAL

CABINET DU SECRETAIRE GENERAL

RSFERKNCEi 2 June 1997

Excellency, The Secretary-General would be grateful if you could kindly forward the enclosed letters to Their Excellencies Mr. Thomas Klestil, Federal President of the Republic of , Mr. , Federal Chancellor, Dr. Wolfgang Schizssel, Vice-Chancellor and Federal for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Karl Schlogl, Minister for the Interior, Mr. Werner Fasslabend, Minister for Defence, Mr. , President of the National Council, Ms. Benita Ferrero-Waldner, State Secretary and Mr. Michael Haupl, Mayor of . Copies of the letters are enclosed for your information. Please accept, Excellency, the assurances of my highest consideration.

Shashi Tharoor Executive Assistant to the Secretary-General

His Excellency Dr. Ernst Sucharipa Permanent Representative of Austria to the United Nations New York THE SECRETARY-GENERAL

30 May 1997

Excellency, Upon ray return to New York, I am writing to express my deep appreciation for the hospitality accorded to my wife and me, and to my delegation, during our recent official visit to Austria. I was especially pleased to have an opportunity, so early in my term in office, to engage in such constructive talks with you on various matters of mutual concern. Cooperation between Austria and the United Nations system is wide-ranging. More than 35,000 Austrian nationals have participated in United Nations peace-keeping, and Austria has joined the stand-by arrangements that aim to increase our ability to respond quickly when crises erupt. The Vienna International Centre is a major centre of United Nations activity from which the United Nations controls nuclear energy and fights against drug abuse and organized crime. Austria has been in the forefront of efforts to impose a global ban on anti- personnel mines. And Austria pays its dues to the United Nations in full and in time.

r Jfp R ft »« —=-— „„,; MM-Ram- Mr. Thomas Klestix l )Utai ' ' J Ii3y( Federal President of j the Republic of Austria Vi enna • This is exemplary global citizenship, reflecting the fact that Austria is one of the Organization's most valuable friends and allies. As we continue down the path of reform, and as we strengthen the Organization to face the challenges of a new century and a new millennium, it is gratifying to know that the United Nations will be able to count on your support. In that spirit, I very much look forward to working with you in the years ahead. Please accept, Excellency, the assurances of my highest consideration.

Kofi A. Annan THE SECRETARY-GENERAL

30 May 1997

Excellency, Upon my return to New York, I am writing to express my profound appreciation for the warm hospitality accorded to my wife and me, and to my delegation, during our official visit to Austria earlier this month. I was especially pleased to have an opportunity, so early in my term of office, to engage in such constructive talks with you on such a wide range of important matters of mutual concern. I believe we were able to establish an excellent, open dialogue upon which we can build. As I stressed throughout my visit and during the luncheon you so graciously hosted on that occasion, Austria proves that a country does not have to be large, or militarily powerful, to play a major role in the United Nations. Austria is a prominent contributor to peace-keeping, a valued participant in stand-by arrangements and a leader in the campaign for a world-wide ban on land-mines. Vienna, with its long and noble tradition as a centre of diplomacy, is a United Nations headquarters city from which the Organization controls nuclear energy and fights against organized crime and drug abuse.

His Excellency 5!9 f IHI Mr. Viktor Klima 3 ILJ\ Federal Chancellor of the Republic of Austria Vienna On these and other issues, Austrians have long understood the benefits of international cooperation for the common good, and have been unstinting in their support of the United Nations. As the United Nations continues with the essential task of reform and revitalization, so as to strengthen itself to meet the challenges of a new global era, I look forward to the additional contributions Austria will make. In that spirit, allow me to salute your own leadership as well as your personal commitment to the United Nations. Please accept, Excellency, the assurances of my highest consideration.

Kofi A. Annan fll-

THE SECRETARY-GENERAL

30 May 1997

Excellency, Upon my return to New York, I am writing to express my deep appreciation for the opportunity to meet with you during my official visit to Austria earlier this month. I found it most useful, so early in my term of office, to engage in such constructive talks with you on such a wide range of important matters of mutual concern. I believe we were able to establish an excellent, open dialogue upon which we can build. In that spirit, I would like to follow up on three of the points we covered. First, I wish to stress the seriousness with which I am pursuing the reform and revitalization of the United Nations. The primary goal of this process is to strengthen the Organization, and adapt it to a new global era, so that it can better serve the Member States. I was pleased to hear your expression of support for reform and for the United Nations in general. As the effort moves ahead, Austria's voice will be essential. Second, with respect to the Vienna International Centre, I see the United Nations presence in Vienna as a bulwark against the forces of "uncivil" society -- i.e. those who deal in drugs, engage in other crimes, or carry out terrorist attacks. The current activities in Vienna form the nucleus of a strong substantive programme that I fully intend to strengthen in the years ahead.

His Excellency Dr. Wolfgang Schiissel Vice-Chancellor and Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Austria Vienna Third, I would like to say again how grateful I am for Austria's leadership in the campaign to enact a global ban on the production, purchase, trading, import, export, possession and use of anti-personnel land-mines. Your efforts to elaborate an international convention in this area are especially welcome. I look forward to working with you oh these and the many other issues we discussed, including Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Cyprus, East Timor, the Middle East and Zaire. As the international community girds itself to face the challenges of a new century and new millennium, it is gratifying to know that the United Nations will be able to count on the continued support of the Austrian people, who have always been among the Organization's most valuable friends and allies. Please accept, Excellency, the assurances of my highest consideration.

Kofi\r# Annan THE SECRETARY-GENERAL uLl.1.1 r-^n 30 May 1997

Excellency, Upon my return to New York, I am writing to express my gratitude for the opportunity to meet with you during my official visit to Austria earlier this month. Allow me to thank Austria once again for its contribution of civilian police officers for the peace-keeping missions in Bosnia and eastern Slavonia, where they are performing important work at a critical juncture in the peace process. The international community is also grateful to Austria for its leadership in the campaign to enact a global ban on anti-personnel land-mines. Our discussion also touched on drug trafficking, reflecting the Vienna International Centre's major role in this area. You mentioned that drug abuse in Austria was higher than the average in the European Union. I was therefore especially pleased to learn of your determination to ensure that Austria ratifies the convention on psychotropic substances and translates its provisions into national law. In these and other important areas, I look forward to working with you in the years to come. Please accept, Excellency, the assurances of my highest consideration.

Kofi

His Excellency Mr. Karl Schlogl Minister for the Interior of the Republic of Austria Vienna THE SECRETARY-GENERAL

30 May 1997

Excellency, Upon my return to New York, I am writing to express my gratitude for the opportunity to meet with you during my official visit to Austria earlier this month. I found it most useful, so early in my term of office, to talk with you about a range of important matters relating to the maintenance of international peace and security. Allow me once again to thank Austria for its long-standing commitment to United Nations peace- keeping. More than 35,000 Austrian nationals have participated since the early 1960s, and just last year Austria joined the stand-by arrangements that aim to improve our ability to respond quickly when crises erupt. Austria has also been in the forefront of the campaign to enact a global ban on the production, purchase, trading, import, export, possession and use of anti-personnel land-mines. In this regard, Austria's efforts to elaborate an international convention on the prohibition of land-mines are most welcome. In these and related areas of the international peace and security agenda, Austria has been an exemplary supporter of the United Nations. I very much look forward to working with you in the years ahead. Please accept, Excellency, the assurances of my highest consideration.

A. Annan

His Excellency Mr. Werner Fasslabend Minister for Defence of the Republic of Austria Vienna THE SECRETARY-GENERAL

30 May 1997

Dear Mr. Fischer, Upon my return to New York, I wish to express my appreciation for the opportunity to meet with you and your colleagues during my official visit to Austria earlier this month. I attach great importance to enhancing ties between the United Nations and parliamentarians, who are increasingly prominent players on the international scene. You serve as essential links between the world Organization and the world public, building understanding and support for United Nations goals and activities. Cooperation between Austria and the United Nations system is wide-ranging. Austria participates in peace-keeping operations throughout the world, and has joined the stand-by arrangements that aim to increase our ability to respond quickly when crises erupt. From the Vienna International Centre, the United Nations fights against drug abuse and organized crime and controls nuclear energy. Austria has been in the forefront of efforts to impose a global ban on anti-personnel mines. And Austria pays its dues to the United Nations in full and in time. This is exemplary global citizenship. I very much look forward to continuing this close and constructive partnership in the years ahead. Yours sincerely,

Mr. Heinz Fischer President of the National Council of the Republic of Austria Vienna THE SECRETARY-GENERAL

30 May 1997

Dear Mayor Haupl, Upon my return to New York, I am writing to express my appreciation for the warm hospitality accorded to my wife and me, and to my delegation, during our official visit to Austria earlier this month. The dinner you hosted in my honour, and the ceremony at which I had the privilege to sign the Golden Book of Vienna, were most enjoyable experiences, reflecting the close and fruitful relations that exist between your great city and the United Nations. Vienna is a renowned centre of diplomacy and peace. The Organization continues to draw strength from its strong presence there. More generally, I attach great importance to maintaining close ties with leaders of the world's major cities. In an increasingly urbanized world, cities are where solutions to problems such as unemployment and environmental degradation are being worked out. Allow me to salute the efforts Vienna is making in this regard, and to state again how deeply grateful I am to the Government and people of Vienna for making your gracious city a most pleasant and comfortable duty station. I look forward to seeing you again soon.

Yours, sincerely,

Kofi A. Annan

Mr. Michael Haupl Mayor of Vienna Vienna (V-

THE SECRETARY-GENERAL

30 May 1997

Excellency, Upon my return to New York, I am writing to express my deep appreciation for the hospitality accorded to my wife and me, and to my delegation, during our official visit to Austria earlier this month. Allow me to pay tribute to your painstaking and thoughtful efforts to ensure a successful programme in Vienna, and more generally for your personal commitment to the United Nations. As I said at the splendid dinner you so graciously hosted on the occasion of my visit, we may have lost you as a Secretariat colleague, but we gained a most valued diplomatic partner of the highest quality. I was particularly grateful to have an opportunity, so early in my term in office, to establish direct, personal contact with His Excellency Chancellor Viktor Klima, His Excellency President Thomas Klestil, and His Excellency Wolfgang Schussel, Minister for Foreign Affairs. My meetings with these and other estimable leaders were notably open and constructive.

Her Excellency Ms. Benita Ferrero-Waldner State Secretary Ministry of Foreign Affairs Vienna As I stressed throughout my visit, Austria proves that a country does not have to be large, or militarily powerful, to play a major role in the United Nations. Indeed, Austria's varied contributions to the United Nations, first and foremost its status as a United Nations headquarters city, give me great confidence that the Organization will succeed in its goal of reforming and revitalizing itself to meet the challenges of a new century and new millennium. Thank you once again for all your assistance and hard work towards this common goal. I look forward to seeing you again soon. Please accept, Excellency, the assurances of my highest consideration.

Annan