April 24, 2017 — Vienna, Austria
A senior AJC delegation just concluded a two-day visit to Vienna.
The 11-member group, led by AJC CEO David Harris and Co-Chair of the AJC Berlin Institute Advisory Board Allan Reich, met with Sebastian Kurz, Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Hans Peter Doskozil, Minister of Defense. Further, they visited with officials at the U.S. Embassy, and exchanged views with parliamentarians from four political parties, in addition to engaging with pro-Israel activists from 13 different non-governmental organizations.
Harris also delivered remarks to a sold-out crowd at the Diplomatic Academy of Vienna, where he addressed the impact of the new political era on the United States, Europe, and the Middle East.
Moreover, the AJC group met with Raimund Fastenbauer, Secretary-General for Jewish Affairs, and Arie Folger, Chief Rabbi of Vienna, as well as other leading members of the Austrian Jewish community.
"Our mission to Vienna, a center of global diplomacy, enables us to deepen our engagement with Austria at a critical moment in world affairs," said Harris. "Our goal is to send a strong message of transatlantic partnership to Austria, and to work with our old and new friends in the country as they bolster their relationship with Israel and the Jewish people."
Among the principal topics discussed were: Austrian-U.S. and Austrian-Israeli bilateral ties; Austria's relationship with Iran; Austria's voting record in international institutions; the OSCE Working Definition of Antisemitism (Austria is the current chair of the OSCE); and current pressing issues in Europe, including immigration, integration, and identity.
AJC engages regularly with Austrian diplomats across the U.S. and elsewhere, and the global Jewish advocacy organization meets with Austrian officials each year on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly.
