Dear Friends,
Sources of news on the Austria situation.
I appreciated Robert Fleck's feelings and his appeal, but I am
not sure that boycotting all Austrian cultural events is an
appropriate response to this situation.
It's one thing for EU governments to respond at the
governmental level to the inclusion of Haider and his
party in government. This seems to me an appropriate
response at an official level for an official problem.
It is another to boycott every Austrian art organization,
museum and gallery for a situation over which they have
no control -- a situation which those whom I know in the
Austrian art world must surely abhor.
I do not say that I oppose Robert Fleck's call, but I
can't say I agree with it, either. This is a matter that
deserves careful consideration.
In the meantime, those who seek news from multiple
reliable sources will find it at the Web sites below,
compiled by University of Wisconsin Scout Project.
Best regards,
Ken Friedman
To Europe's Chagrin, Austrian Freedom Party Enters Government
Austria and the Haider factor: Special Report -- BBC News
http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/world/europe/newsid_628000/628521.stm
"Haider's Party Sworn Into New Austrian Government" -- _New York
Times_ [RealPlayer]
http://www.nytimes.com/yr/mo/day/late/04austria.html
Austria vs. Europe -- PBS Online NewsHour
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/europe/jan-june00/austria_2-3.html
"A conundrum for Austria-and for Europe" -- _The Economist_
http://www.economist.com/editorial/freeforall/5-2-00/index_eu0484.html
Austrian Freedom Party
http://194.96.203.5/englisch/welcome.html
Austrian People's Party
http://www.oevp.or.at/
Republic of Austria
http://www.austria.gv.at/e/
Radio Austria International [RealPlayer]
http://www.orf.at/roi/english/welcome.html
Austria -- NPR's _All Things Considered_ [RealPlayer]
http://www.npr.org/ramfiles/atc/20000203.atc.09.ram
After several weeks of political wrangling and in the teeth of
widespread international opposition, Austrian President Thomas
Klestil has approved a new government that includes the conservative
People's Party and the rightist Freedom Party. The inclusion of the
Freedom Party horrifies a large number of observers in Austria and
abroad, partly because of positive comments regarding Nazi employment
policies and members of the Waffen SS made in the past by the Freedom
Party's leader, Joerg Haider. Haider has consistently distanced
himself from these remarks over the past few years, and before
approving the coalition government, President Klestil had Haider and
the leader of the People's Party, Wolfgang Schuessel, sign a
statement renouncing Austria's Nazi past and promising to respect
European values in their new government. However, and probably even
more to the point as far as the European Community is concerned, the
Freedom Party is a strong opponent of EU expansion into the east and
rose to power on a staunch anti-immigrant platform. While Haider
himself will not hold a Cabinet post, his party will take the
ministries of finance, social affairs, defense, infrastructure, and
justice, as well as the Deputy Chancellor post. Almost immediately
after Austria's swearing in of the new government, the European Union
has moved to impose unprecedented harsh sanctions. Finland, France,
Germany, Britain, and Portugal, which currently holds the EU
presidency, have already confirmed that they will suspend political
(but not economic) ties with Austria. Israel has also withdrawn its
ambassador, as it did between 1986 and 1992, when Kurt Waldheim
served as President despite his Nazi past. While the worst-case
scenario would be the suspension of Austria from the EU (it joined in
1995), the day-to-day operations of the EU will most probably not be
affected.
Users can begin with the always-reliable BBC, which offers breaking
news, analysis, archived articles, and related links. The _New York
Times_ (free registration required) also provides a host of articles
on the subject, as well as related documents, video, a map, and a
discussion forum. Last night's NewsHour on PBS featured a background
report on the new government and an excellent discussion between the
Austrian and Portuguese Ambassadors to the US. Users can listen to
the program in RealPlayer format or read the transcripts at the site.
_The Economist_ has weighed in with an exploration of the
implications of the Freedom Party's rise to power for both Austria
and Europe. Users interested in commentary on these developments
direct from the parties involved should consult the Websites of the
Freedom and People's parties (the latter is only available in German)
and the official site for the Republic of Austria. Finally, audio
reports on the new government are available from Radio Austria
International and National Public Radio's _All Things Considered_.
[MD]
