Spindelegger: “The Austrian Foreign Ministry is at your service world-wide”
Vienna, 26 October 2011 – “I am pleased to see so many Austrians taking the opportunity to visit the Foreign Ministry at the Open House Day with which we are marking the Austrian National Holiday today. This year’s motto of the Open House Day is “World-wide at your service” and visitors are informed about all the various tasks and activities of our Ministry“, Vice-Chancellor and Foreign Minister Michael Spindelegger said in a welcoming address to the huge crowd of visitors.
One of the focal areas this year was Austria’s membership in the UN Human Rights Council. Spindelegger: “Since joining the UN Human Rights Council in May, we have been advocating the protection of minorities, promotion of children’s rights and protection of journalists. Today’s Open House Day is a welcome opportunity for us to present our achievements as well as the goals that we have set ourselves for the years to come to the Austrian people.
A highlight for many visitors was the virtual discovery tour of Austrian development work. The presentation of the new smart phone application of the Foreign Ministry also attracted a lot of interest: “It is important to us to offer the best service to our fellow Austrians. Since August, the smart phone application of the Foreign Ministry has been available to download free of charge. In addition to information on various countries, the application also tells you for example what to do when you have lost your passport, or any other important document, or what to do if you have an accident abroad? Our range of services now fits into any suitcase, and travellers have all the important information and tips that they may need in the event of an emergency always at hand wherever and whenever”, the Foreign Minister explained.
Also on the agenda of the Open House Day were, among other things, the travelling exhibition “Die EU und Du”, a presentation of the future regions of the Danube and Black Sea area, and a presentation of Austria’s International Culture. Vice-Chancellor, Foreign Minister Spindelegger was very pleased by the large crowds of people who took advantage of this event to see the ministry and its work first hand. “People are clearly very interested in the work of the Foreign Ministry and what Austrian embassies and consulates can do for them worldwide. The many visitors today are proof of this”, he concluded.
For further inquiries please contact
the Press Department at the Austrian Foreign Ministry:
Bundesministerium für europäische
und internationale Angelegenheiten
Presseabteilung
Phone: ++43 (0) 50 1150-3320
Fax: ++43 (0) 50 1159-213
mailto:abti3(at)bmeia.gv.at
