site.btaSeptember 13, 1976: Austrian President Begins First Official Visit to Bulgaria

Austrian Federal President Rudolf Kirchschlager began a five-day official visit to Bulgaria on Monday, September 13, 1976.

His host was President of the State Council of the People's Republic of Bulgaria Todor Zhivkov.

The first official visit by an Austrian president to Bulgaria marked an important moment in bilateral diplomatic relations during the Cold War and the emerging policy of détente between East and West. It took place a year after the signing of the Helsinki Final Act in 1975, which sought to improve relations between the two opposing blocs.

During the five-day visit, Zhivkov and Kirchschlager held top-level meetings and talks. Zhivkov presented Kirchschlager with the Stara Planina Order for his contribution to developing and further strengthening friendly ties between Bulgaria and Austria.

Discussions covered bilateral economic and trade relations and closer cultural exchanges. Cooperation in science, education and the arts was also on the agenda.

BTA's Home News Desk bulletin carried the following dispatches on Kirchschlager's visit:

Flash

Sofia, September 13, 1976 (BTA) The special aircraft carrying Kirchschlager has just landed at the festively decorated Sofia Airport. He will make a five-day official visit at Zhivkov's invitation.

Kirchschlager and his wife were warmly welcomed by Zhivkov, President of the Council of Ministers Stanko Todorov, deputy presidents of the State Council and deputy heads of government.

Also present were the two countries' Ambassadors Dietrich Bukowski and Vladimir Ganovski.

Kirchschlager was received with military honours.

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Friendship and Cooperation

Austrian President Arrives

Sofia, September 13, 1976 (BTA) The coming week will be devoted to Bulgarian-Austrian friendship and cooperation. Kirchschlager arrived in Bulgaria on Monday for a five-day official visit at Zhivkov's invitation.

Bulgaria and Austria are successfully developing bilateral relations, setting an example of productive cooperation between countries with different social systems. The easing of international tensions, particularly since the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe, has opened up new opportunities to expand ties. The Bulgarian public therefore believes that the top-level political talks opening in Sofia will further develop relations between Bulgaria and Austria.

Kirchschlager was accompanied by Federal Minister of Foreign Affairs Erich Bielka; Federal Minister of Trade, Commerce and Industry Josef Staribacher; Head of the Federal President's Office Alfred Weiss; Ambassador and Head of the Federal Foreign Ministry's Political Department Ludwig Steiner; Department Head at the Federal Ministry of Trade, Commerce and Industry Josef Meisl; Ministerial Counsellor and Head of the Federal Presidency's Press and Information Service Kurt Skalnik; and experts, advisers and staff of the Federal Presidency.

Sofia Airport was festively decorated with the national flags of the People's Republic of Bulgaria and the Republic of Austria. Portraits of Zhivkov and Kirchschlager stood between the flagpoles. A banner in Bulgarian and German welcomed Kirchschlager to Bulgaria. A guard of honour and a ceremonial military band were lined up.

State and government officials led by Zhivkov gathered to welcome Kirchschlager.

At 14:45, the special aircraft, escorted by Bulgarian Air Force fighter jets, landed on the runway.

Zhivkov warmly welcomed Kirchschlager and his wife. Young women presented the couple with flowers. The band played the two countries' national anthems, and a ceremonial gun salute honoured the two nations.

Kirchschlager bowed before the flag. Accompanied by Zhivkov, he inspected the guards and greeted them in Bulgarian.

Zhivkov introduced the officials attending the reception: Todorov, Petar Tanchev, Tano Tsolov, Peko Takov, Petar Mladenov, Vladimir Bonev, Deputy Presidents of the State Council Georgi Dzhagarov and Mitko Grigorov, Deputy Presidents of the Council of Ministers Kiril Zarev and Andrey Lukanov, government members and Chair of the Executive Committee of the Sofia City People's Council Ivan Panev.

Ganovski and Bukowski were also present.

The two leaders then approached the welcoming crowd, who greeted them warmly with cries of "Hurrah", waving Bulgarian and Austrian flags.

Zhivkov and Kirchschlager took their places on a special platform to watch the guards' ceremonial march-past.

The two leaders flew by helicopter to the Boyana Residence.

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High Honour for Austrian President

Sofia, September 13, 1976 (BTA) Zhivkov presented Kirchschlager with the Stara Planina Order with ribbon at a ceremony on Monday evening. The high State honour was awarded in connection with his official visit and in recognition of his contribution to developing and further strengthening friendly ties between the People's Republic of Bulgaria and the Republic of Austria, and to strengthening peace and understanding among nations.

The ceremony at the Boyana Residence was attended by Todorov, Tanchev, Tsolov, Takov, Mladenov, Bonev, Lukanov, Secretary of the State Council Nikola Manolov, and members of the State Council and the government.

The officials accompanying Kirchschlager, as well as Ganovski and Bukowski, were also present.

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Communiqué

On the Austrian Federal President's Visit to the People's Republic of Bulgaria

Sofia, September 17, 1976 (BTA) At Zhivkov's invitation, Kirchschlager, accompanied by his wife Herma Kirchschlager, paid an official visit to Bulgaria from September 13 to 17, 1976.

During his stay, Kirchschlager visited a number of economic, cultural and historical sites.

He received a warm welcome reflecting the traditionally friendly relations between Bulgaria and Austria and their peoples.

Zhivkov and Kirchschlager held detailed talks on further developing and expanding Bulgarian-Austrian relations and on current international issues of mutual interest. (...)

Both sides expressed satisfaction with the development of Bulgarian-Austrian relations in recent years and reaffirmed their determination to continue working to expand and deepen cooperation in various fields.

Relations between the two countries were described as a good example of ties between countries with different social systems.

The two leaders stressed the importance of visits and meetings at the highest and senior levels for developing bilateral relations. In this context, they noted the significance of Federal Chancellor Bruno Kreisky's visit to Bulgaria in May 1975 and Todorov's visit to Austria in May 1976. Both sides reaffirmed their determination to maintain contacts at all levels.

Bulgaria and Austria attach great importance to developing economic, industrial, scientific and technological cooperation and welcome the work of the joint Bulgarian-Austrian commission responsible for cooperation in these fields.

Both sides agreed that economic, industrial and technical cooperation between Bulgarian and Austrian enterprises, including cooperation in third countries and long-term supply contracts, offered considerable potential for developing bilateral trade and economic relations. They reaffirmed their readiness to continue providing mutual assistance and favourable conditions, within their respective legal frameworks, to expand and diversify this activity through new forms and approaches. They agreed that efforts should be made to ensure the harmonious and balanced development of bilateral trade.

Noting the positive results achieved in tourism over the past few years, both sides expressed their readiness to continue supporting its development.

Both sides expressed satisfaction with the development of bilateral relations in culture, the arts, science and education, which help the Bulgarian and Austrian peoples learn more about each other and promote mutual understanding. They reaffirmed their readiness to encourage cooperation in these fields.

An agreement on healthcare cooperation between the People's Republic of Bulgaria and the Republic of Austria was signed during the visit.

In their discussions of international issues, Zhivkov and Kirchschlager found that the two countries' positions on a number of key questions were identical or similar.

They recognized Austria's policy of permanent neutrality as an important factor for peace and security in Europe.

They stressed that Bulgaria's constructive policy of strengthening good-neighbourly relations in the Balkans contributed to consolidating peace and détente in Europe. (...)

They agreed that progress in détente depended to a large extent on relations between countries, regardless of their economic and social systems.

Both sides called for the full and unconditional implementation of all the principles and provisions of the Final Act of the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe. They attached particular importance to the meeting due to take place in Belgrade in 1977 and to its preparation.

Bulgaria and Austria agreed that détente should be accompanied by corresponding military measures. They stressed the importance of the Vienna talks on mutual reductions of armed forces and armaments in Central Europe and related measures. They agreed that progress should be made as soon as possible, while respecting the principle that no country's security should be diminished. (...)

Bulgaria and Austria reaffirmed their commitment to the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter and unanimously supported the organization's efforts to ease tensions and strengthen world peace. (...)

Zhivkov and Kirchschlager expressed satisfaction with their talks, held in a friendly and constructive atmosphere, and with the results of the visit, which would further strengthen ties between Bulgaria and Austria in the interests of both countries and European cooperation.

Kirchschlager invited Zhivkov to pay an official visit to Austria. The invitation was accepted with thanks. The date of the visit would be agreed through diplomatic channels.