Austrian National Day 26.10.2006

The Austrian Independence Treaty (complete form: Treaty for the re-establishment of an independent and democratic Austria, signed in Vienna on the 15 May 1955), more commonly referred to as the Austrian State Treaty (German Staatsvertrag), was signed on May 15, 1955 in Vienna at the Schloss Belvedere between the Allied occupying powers: France, the United Kingdom, the United States and the Soviet Union, and the Austrian government and officially came into force on July 27, 1955.

As a result of the treaty the Allies left Austrian territory on October 25, 1955. October 26 is celebrated as a national holiday (called the Day of the Flag until 1965). It is sometimes thought to commemorate the withdrawal of Allied troops, but in fact celebrates Austria's Declaration of Neutrality, which was passed on October 26, 1955

Together with the Danish flag, the Austrian flag is said to be among the oldest national flag designs in the world.

According to legend, the flag was invented by Duke Leopold V of Austria (1157-1194) while he was involved in a fierce battle during the Crusades. After the battle of Acre, his white battledress was completely drenched in blood, but when he removed his belt the cloth underneath was untouched by it. So taken was he by this singular sight that he adopted the colours and scheme as his banner.

In fact, the flag was designed in the 13th century by Frederick II, Duke of Austria (1210-1246; known as 'Frederick the Quarrelsome'), the last of the Babenberg dynasty. Frederick sought greater independence from the Holy Roman Emperor. To this end, he had a new coat of arms designed: a red field with a silver fess. The oldest source for the new flag is contained in a seal kept in the monastery of Lilienfeld (Lower Austria), dated November 30, 1230.

Celebrations on the National Day in Vienna / Heldenplatz:

Tank Leopard II

Garde

Black Hawk

20th Century Consilium Fox presents Winter Story

Dear consilium trainee,
I know you want to hear an "Oscar Wilde" winter story!
Ok, then make your self comfortable and close your eyes… Assieds-toi sur une chaise près de la cheminée. Do you feel the smell of burning leaves? Then you are ready.
Tonight you will visit a wonderful place : it’s called Chrisland, where you will celebrate a very special birthday, the one of Mister Consilium Popular-Sympathy-and so on.

But before, I’ll tell you what happened to Chris. After the Council, he went back home and he started working at the Foreign Ministry. Then the winter came and the Snow covered up the grass with her great white cloak, and the Frost painted all the trees silver. They invited the North Wind to stay with them, and he came.

Years went over… Suddenly Chris rubbed his eyes in wonder, and looked and looked. It certainly was a marvellous sight. In the farthest corner of the garden was a tree quite covered with lovely white blossoms. Its branches were all golden, and silver fruit hung down from them, and underneath he saw a group of trainees he had loved. Downstairs ran Chris in great joy, and out into the garden. And the trainees smiled on Chris, and said to him, "We used to party in the Council, today you shall come with us to your Kingdom, which is Chrisland."

In the morning, Chris was tired of partying, so he sat in a huge armchair, and admired the end of the party... "I have many friends who live in different countries," he said; "but distance is nothing."

Austria

Hi everyone,

now it is my turn to introduce my home village and my home country.
Bruck an der Großglocknerstraße, where I live, is about 5 km south-east of Zell am See, at the start of the “Großglocknerstraße” road leading south through the “Hohe Tauern Nationalpark” with the highest mountain in Austria, the Großglockner, to bella Italia. The village of Kaprun is about 5 km to the west. The lake you can see in the picture is the “Zeller See”.

Located on the banks of the Salzach river, at the northern boundary of the Alps, is Salzburg my study town and birth town of the famous composer Mozart. The Altstadt, or "old town", is dominated by its baroque towers and many churches. This area is surrounded by two smaller mountains, the Mönchsberg and Kapuzinerberg.

Salzburg is dubbed the 'Rome of the North' because of its many churches. It is a compact town easy to get around on foot. Salzburg is packed with attractions: churches, mansions, museums. The old city offers all of those on a small surface.

Now I work in Vienna for the Foreign Ministry.
The heart and historical city of Vienna, the Innere Stadt (Inner City), was once surrounded by walls and open fields (in order to deny cover to potential attackers). The walls were razed, making it possible for the actual city to expand and eventually merge with the surrounding villages. In their place, a broad boulevard called the Ringstraße was built. Along the Ringstraße were imposing public and private buildings, monuments, and parks. These buildings include the Rathaus (town hall), the Burgtheater, the University, the Parliament, and the State Opera. It is also the location of the Hofburg, the former imperial palace.

The Hofburg Imperial Palace is a palace in Vienna, Austria, which has housed some of the most powerful people in Austrian history, including the Habsburg dynasty, rulers of the Austria- Hungarian empire, and currently serves as the official residence of the President of Austria. It was also known as the winter-residence, while Schönbrunn Palace was the preferred summer-residence.

The mainly Gothic Saint Stephen's Cathedral is located in the centre of the 1st district.
Vienna is famous for its many parks. Many of these parks include monuments, such as the Stadtpark and Belvedere Park with its baroque-style castle where the State Treaty was signed. The principal park of Vienna is the Prater, which is situated on an island formed by the Danube River and the canal. Schönbrunn, the beautiful Imperial Summer Palace, includes an 18th century park and the world's oldest zoo.

But what to hell is Chris doing now?

Chris returned to the Philippines where he tried to save the world by producing bio-rice. In the same time he was searching for someone. Someone really special who disappeard to Africa…He just heard rumors that she is living with her friends "the pigmy … " and then, in thoughtful times, he is listening to http://www.videocodezone.com/videos/a/all_4_one/i_swear.html , and he knows, wherever she will be and wherever he will be, they are never alone cause they got each other in their hearts.

So he reminds himself on the good old times. The times when the Trainees of the Council tried to make the world a better place.

Chris

50 year logo

My apologies to the Photoshop boys, but it seems some Polish guy won the competition to design the logo for next year's 50th birthday.

Happy Birthday Filipe

Elections

L.S.,

In the spirit of bonding between the eurocrats and the locals, I am proud to announce that the Parti Socialiste have won the elections in Brussels (commune), allowing Freddy Thielemans to spend another five years as mayor. He won 31 % of the votes. The main losers are the Walloon Greens (Ecolo). The Creepy Flemish Racist Party continue to have two seats in the council.

For those of you who care about other communes, in Etterbeek and Saint Josse local party LB continue to have the absolute majority, while in Elsene and Anderlecht nothing much has changed, so that these communes will continue to be governed by coalitions of locals and liberals, and locals and socialists and christian democrats, respectively.

Just to sum up the creepy votes: Vlaams Belang have three seats in Jette, two seats in Brussels, in Molenbeek-Saint Jean and in Berchem-Sainte Agathe, and one seat in Evere, Ganshoren and Koekelberg, while Front National have one seat in Anderlecht and one in Molenbeek-Saint Jean.