[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 93 (Thursday, July 8, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1334]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            TRIBUTE TO THOMAS KLESTIL, PRESIDENT OF AUSTRIA

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. TOM LANTOS

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, July 8, 2004

  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, earlier this week, Thomas Klestil, President 
of the Republic of Austria, passed away just two days before he was to 
turn over the office of President to his elected successor. President 
Klestil was a man of distinction whom I knew, admired and considered a 
friend.
   Thomas Klestil was born in Vienna in 1932, the youngest of five 
children of a tram driver. After completing a doctorate in economics 
and business in 1957, he entered the Austrian diplomatic service. Some 
18 years of his diplomatic career of 35 years was spent in the United 
States, first as a junior diplomat in Washington and later as Consul 
General in Los Angeles, Ambassador to the United Nations in New York, 
and then as Ambassador to the United States here in Washington. I 
worked with him during the time he served as Ambassador in Washington. 
Following his election as President, I met with him in Vienna on more 
than one occasion.
   Mr. Speaker, Thomas Klestil was elected to the office of President 
at a difficult time in Austria's post-World War II history. His 
predecessor as Austrian President was Kurt Waldheim, former Secretary 
General of the United Nations. Austria's international reputation was 
severely damaged by the disclosure that Waldheim had lied about his 
Nazi military service during World War II.
   Klestil played an important role in helping to restore Austria's 
image, and in acknowledging and taking steps to remedy the ugly taint 
of Austria's Nazi past. He spoke out numerous times about Austria's 
complicity with the Nazi regime during World War II, and he expressed 
sympathy and regret for the victims of the Holocaust. During an 
official visit to Israel in 1994, he spoke before the Israeli Knesset 
and reaffirmed a statement made by Chancellor Franz Vranitzky in 1991 
acknowledging the responsibility of Austrians in the Holocaust and 
admitting that Austrians were not only victims, but also active 
collaborators with Hitler's regime.
   Mr. Speaker, although Klestil was elected President as the candidate 
of the Austrian People's Party, he clashed with the party leader 
Wolfgang Schossel. He was critical of Schossel's decision to form a 
coalition government with the far-right Freedom Party of Jorg Haider in 
2000. Several months of international diplomatic sanctions against 
Austria resulted from the formation of that government. Though the role 
of Austrian President is largely ceremonial and representational, 
Klestil demonstrated his disapproval of the coalition government with 
the Freedom Party by publicly exhibiting stern disdain as he 
ceremonially swore the new government into office.
   He later stated in an interview, ``The Freedom Party is not a Nazi 
party, but, unfortunately, the highest officials of this party continue 
to use a language which disqualifies them for every political office.''
   President Klestil also played an important role in strengthening 
Austria's ties with the Central European states emerging from almost 
half a century of Soviet domination. In 1993, the year after his 
election, he began convening yearly meetings with the heads of state of 
these new democracies, which strengthened their ties with Austria and 
also helped the new governments to strengthen their commitment to 
democratic principles.
   Mr. Speaker, I invite my colleagues to join me in expressing our 
most sincere condolences to the family of President Thomas Klestil and 
to the people of Austria on the death of this principled statesman, who 
has done so much to foster positive relations with the United States 
and to help his country and its people deal with their past.

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