$Unique_ID{COW00238}
$Pretitle{376}
$Title{Austria
Basic Rights}
$Subtitle{}
$Author{Federal Press Service}
$Affiliation{Embassy of Austria, Washington DC}
$Subject{austrian
party
austria
economic
political
social
federal
international
chambers
nations}
$Date{1988}
$Log{Alpine Training*0023801.scf
Table 2.*0023801.tab
}
Country:     Austria
Book:        Austria Facts and Figures
Author:      Federal Press Service
Affiliation: Embassy of Austria, Washington DC
Date:        1988

Basic Rights

     Most of the basic rights and freedoms guaranteed by the present Austrian
constitution were originally listed in the basic law passed in 1867 under the
AustroHungarian monarchy before being included in the constitution of the new
republic when it was drawn up in 1920. Legislation in the Second Republic has
always been based on the principles set out in the United Nations' Declaration
of Human Rights of 1948.

     In 1958, Austria became a signatory to the Council of Europe's Convention
for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms. Work is at
present under way on a reform of basic rights in order to avoid the risk of
any threat to human freedom from the conditions imposed by modern society.

     The federal constitution states that all citizens are equal before the
law. There may be no discrimination on the grounds of birth, sex, status,
class, religion, race or language and all citizens enjoy the right to be
elected to public office. Personal liberty is guaranteed. Arrest is possible
only on the strength of a warrant stating specific reasons and there are
similarly strict regulations concerning the rights of the individual's home
and the privacy of letters. The constitution also safeguards the complete
freedom of movement and property within the state boundaries as well as the
right to emigrate. No Austrian may be deprived of his lawful judge. Freedom of
association is guaranteed. Everyone has the right within the limits of the law
to express his opinion by word of mouth or in writing, print or by pictorial
representation. The press may be neither subjected to censorship nor
restricted by the licensing system. There is complete freedom of conscience
and religion, and knowledge and its teaching are free.

Jurisdiction

     Of paramount importance in the field of Austrian jurisdiction is the fact
that the administration of justice should be completely independent. The
constitution states specifically that judges are independent in the exercise
of their judicial function and that they can be neither dismissed nor
transferred.

     The institution of the lay assessor means that the people take part
directly in the administration of justice. The lay assessors or, in the event
of crimes entailing severe penalties, a jury, consider cases under the
guidance of a professional judge. A series of successive stages of appeal,
going if necessary as far as the supreme court, provides adequate insurance
against the possibility of legar error. The maximum penalty under Austrian law
is life imprisonment; there is no death penalty.

     The administrative court ensures the legality of all acts of public
administration while the constitutional court examines legislation to make
sure that there is no violation of the constitution. Any citizen who feels
that his rights have been violated by an administrative act or that his basic
rights as guaranteed by the constitution have been encroached on may appeal to
the administrative and constitutional courts.

Controlling bodies

     The central auditing authority scrutinizes the financial affairs of the
public administration, the nationalised industries and the social insurance
authorities. It investigates public expenditure - by the federal and
provincial authorities and by local councils in municipalities of over 20,000
inhabitants - to ensure that the taxpayer's money is being spent economically
and productively.

     The institution of the people's lawyer exists to register complaints
brought forward by anybody who feels that he or she has been treated unjustly
by any administrative authority. To facilitate the investigation of such
complaints the people's lawyers have an unlimited right to inspect
administrative records, and on the basis of their investigations they can
submit a recommendation to the authority concerned to the effect that the
injustice cited in the complaint be rectified. The people's lawyers are an
autonomous institution accountable only to the Nationalrat, to which they
submit an annual report. They form a collegiate body consisting of three
people's lawyers, with an annually rotating presidency. They are appointed on
the basis of recommendations by the three parties with the largest number of
seats in parliament. The law applying to the people's lawyers is an integral
part of the federal constitution.

The Armed Forces

[See Alpine Training: Austrian Armed Forces. Courtesy Embassy of Austria,
Washington DC.]

     In accordance with the terms of the comprehensive national defence plan,
the federal armed forces (Bundesheer) are designed to provide the following:

     - National military defence.

     - In addition to military defence: protection for those institutions
provided for by the constitution; guarantees for the performance of their
activities and for the democratic freedoms of the population; the maintenance
of domestic order and security in general.

     - Aid in the event of natural disasters or any other major catastrophe.

     - Aid in other countries at the request of international organisations or
the International League of Red Cross Societies.

     The federal president is the commander-in-chief of the armed forces and
disposal over them lies with the minister of national defence within the
limits of the authorisation conferred on him by the government.

     The federal armed forces are kept up to strength by means of compulsory
national service. Every Austrian man between the ages of 18 and 50 is liable
to military service.

     Basic military service lasts six months. In addition to this, all those
liable for service take part in subsequent reserve training totalling 60 days,
for special functions in addition up to 60 or 90 days, as part of the plan to
develop a militia reserve force.

     Anyone who objects to military service on grounds of conscience and is
exempted on these grounds must perform some alternative civilian form of
service.

     In accordance with current regional defence plans, the armed forces are
divided into an alert force, mobile territorial units and localised
territorials.

The Political Parties

     The political scene in the Second Republic has been dominated by the
Socialist Party (Sozialistische Partei Osterreichs - SPO) and the People's
Party (Osterreichische Volkspartei - OVP) which have achieved varying
majorities. Both have polled at least 40% of the vote in successive elections
to the Nationalrat. Apart from these two, only the Freiheitliche Partei
Osterreichs - FPO, or its predecessor, the Independents' Union (Verband der
Unabhangigen - VdU), the Communist Party (Kommunistische Partei
Osterreichs - KPO) and the Greens have been represented in parliament,
although the percentage of seats held by either party never exceeded 10%. In
1959 and in all successive general elections the communists did not succeed in
polling the minimum number of votes necessary for parliamentary
representation. The remarkably consistent distribution of parliamentary power
since 1945 may be regarded as a sign of political stability. Originally
prompted by the Austrians' determined reconstruction drive following world war
II, it has remained as a positive factor in political developments at home.

     There follow descriptions of each of the political parties represented in
the Nationalrat:

The Austrian Socialist Party (SPO)

     The Austrian Socialist Party, which has held a parliamentary majority and
therefore formed the government since 1970, was founded in 1889 by Victor
Adler.

     During the dual monarchy, it was in opposition but in 1918 it was the
driving force behind the establishment of the Austrian Republic and from 1919
to 1920 there was a Socialist chancellor, Karl Renner. From 1920 onwards, the
Socialists were once again in opposition until in 1934 they were banned by the
fascist regime and forced to carry on their activities underground. The
Austrian Socialist Party was restablished in 1945.

     With a total membership of some 700,000, divided up into local, district
and provincial organisations, the SPO is a typical members' party and one of
the strongest represented in the Socialist International.

     The main policy-making body of the SPO is the national party conference,
which is called every two years at least and which consists principally of
elected delegates from the district party organisation. The national party
conference elects the national party committee, which is responsible for party
leadership. From among its members, the committee elects the national
chairman.

     The party programme drawn up in 1978 includes the following points: "The
Socialists seek to establish a social system, i.e. a system of living
conditions and inter-human relationships which is aimed at the free
development of the individual personality. They want to put an end to class
distinctions and to distribute justly the rewards of labour. Socialism is an
international movement in which people work together for a better society;
they may work on the basis of humanist values, of Marxist or other social
principles or of religious conviction. The principles of Socialism and
religion are therefore not opposed to each other."

     Fundamental features of the party programme are unconditional commitment
to democracy and the determination of policy by majority decision, showing
respect at the same time for minority rights. Also of prime importance is
unyielding and uncompromising opposition to all forms of fascism and
Communism.

     The SPO is a member of the Socialist International and actively supports
the ideas of international brotherhood and the community of nations. Its
efforts have met with international recognition by member parties in the
appointment of Austrians to the presidium of the Socialist International.

The Austrian People's Party (OVP)

     The Austrian People's Party was founded on April 17th 1945 by
representatives of the main Christian Social groups which had existed between
the wars. It is a Christian-Democratic party based on the principle of social
integration and federalism and consisting of six suborganisations: the
Workers' and Employees' Federation (OAAB), the Farmers' Federation (OBB),
the Employers' and Trades People's Federation (OWB), the Women's Movement
(OFB), the Young Populists (JVP) and the Senior Citizens' Federation (OSB).
In accordance with Austria's federal structure, there are party organisations
at provincial, regional, district and community level. The OVP's supreme
body is the national party conference, which meets every three years to elect
senior officials, in particular the national chairman, his deputies, the
general secretary and the other members of the national party executive.
Executive powers are in the hands of the central committee and the running of
day to day affairs is the responsibility of the executive committee.

     As a party founded on the principle of social integration, the People's
Party seeks to co-ordinate the interests of the various sections of society.
The OVP's political aims, in particular its commitment to a free and
independent Austria, a constitutional multi-party democracy and a social
market economy, have been set out in a number of declarations of party
principle, the most recent being the "Salzburg Programme" issued on November
30th 1972, in which the party describes itself as "a party of the progressive
centre", intent on the establishment of "a society of partners". The People's
Party's political aims are determined by a view of man and society based on
Christian principles but not committed to any specific confession or church
institution. It seeks the determined promotion of democratic institutions and
wants to give everyone the opportunity to play their part in actively forming
public political opinion. The People's Party is a member of the European Union
of Christian Democrats (UEDC), of the European Democratic Union (EDU), and of
the International Democratic Union (IDU). The Chairman of the EDU is from the
ranks of the OVP.

The Austrian "Freiheitliche Partei" (FPO)

     Following the restoration of the Austrian Republic in 1945, the four
occupying powers allowed conservatives and socialists to form parties, the
OVP and the SPO, but the liberal element among the population was initially
refused independent political representation.

     With the establishment in 1949 of the "Verband der Unabhangigen"
(Association of Independents - VdU), the foundation was laid for a third
political force in Austria. The Association had the support of
"liberal-freiheitlich" circles and of voters disappointed by the People's
Party and the Socialists; it proceeded to develop new social ideas based on
the principle of partnership. Anti-marxist in character, the new group was
particularly opposed to all kinds of class-warfare. The two parties which
formed the coalition government (OVP and SPO) consistently prevented the
"Verband der Unabhangigen" from assuming any political responsibility and
when, as a result of this, the party began to disintegrate, the new
"Freiheitliche Partei Osterreichs (FPO)" was founded in 1955 by Anton
Reinthaller. This took over the other group's political ideas, consolidated
party organisation and distinguished its ideology more clearly from that of
the other parties.

     From 1955 to 1966, the FPO provided the only parliamentary opposition to
the coalition formed by the OVP and the SPO. When the coalition broke up,
the FPO was able to assume a more significant political role. Attempts by the
OVP, during its period of one-party government, to render the FPO completely
ineffective met with no success. The SPO drew their own conclusions from this
and acknowledged the FPO as a political partner in 1970. When the Socialists
formed a minority government, the FPO was called on to assume political
responsibility, and during the period of SPO one-party governments
(1971-1983) it represented a negotiating partner, independent of both SPO and
OVP, whose voice played a role in making parliamentary decisions on Austrian
domestic politics. In 1983, for the first time in its history, the FPO joined
the government as the coalition partner of the SPO.

     The FPO's modern party programme, issued at Salzburg in 1985, and its
manifesto on social policy drawn up in 1973 reflect its progressive and
anti-collectivist character. The party appeals to people who attach value to
personal achievement, who are willing to accept the responsibilities of
freedom rather than sacrifice personal goals to apparent collective security.

The Greens

     As in many other European countries, the Greens are represented in the
Austrian Parliament. In the 1986 national election they gained eight seats.
The formation of a Green party reflects the political desire of a large number
of people for a fundamentally new approach to counter the destructive
consequences of economic activity.

     The established political parties and the social partnership structures
allied with them have proved incapable of responding to signs of economic,
ecological and social crisis.

     Even before they entered Parliament the Greens succeeded in preventing
the commissioning of Austria's first nuclear power station in Zwentendorf and
the destruction of one of Central Europe's last surviving meadowlands near
Hainburg. Because those who wield political power showed themselves unwilling
to learn from these lessons, and also in order to be in a better position to
realise their own objectives, a number of groups and initiatives decided to
contest the 1986 national election and at their first attempt won
parliamentary seats.

     As a party the Greens advocate those principles which characterise the
Green movement internationally (ecological and social principles, grass-roots
democracy and non-violence) but also specifically Austrian issues. The first
parliamentary goal of the Greens is to do away with the nebulous,
authoritarian structures of decision-making by informal quasi-governmental and
oligarchical groups and to restore the appropriate transparency to government.
This is of paramount importance in a country which has an enormous amount of
ground to make up in terms of liberal outlooks, tolerance and democracy.

     We are always striving to promote a greater awareness of ecological and
democratic priorities within the obscure workings of the superstructures which
exist in such fields as the energy-generating industry and the state-owned
sector.

     Faced with the impending destruction of Austria's forests and thus of the
country itself, the Greens are not content merely to ask questions.

     "Green is more than a fashionable colour": that was the motto of the
first federal conference of the Greens. In view of the unbroken succession of
crises we are convinced that the entire range of objectives pursued by the
Greens will continue to gain in importance.

[See Table 2.: General Elections]

Organised Economic Interests

     In the industrial society of the modern democratic state, the organised
representation of economic interests has acquired special significance.
Austria's economic prosperity and the calm political atmosphere at home are
due to a great extent to the smooth co-operation between the two main groups
of interests, workers and employers, co-operation which has become
institutionalised in Austria to a greater extent than in virtually any other
democratic state.

     One consequence of this cooperation which is particularly beneficial to
the economy is the fact that Austria has had no major strikes for many years,
although industrial action cannot by law be prevented by the authorities nor
lead to prosecution. In 1987 the time lost by strikes per head of the
dependently employed work force came to 83 seconds.

The Trade Union Federation

     The interests of the employees in Austria are represented by the Austrian
Trade Union Federation (OGB), the Chambers of Labour and the Chambers of
Agriculture. Membership of the OGB is voluntary, while the chambers are
public corporations with compulsory membership.

     The OGB differs from most trade union organisations in other democratic
countries in that it is non-party and highly centralised. Different political
directions are represented by individual sections within the organisation, the
biggest being the Socialist section.

     Altogether, some 60% of the Austrian labour force belong to the OGB. At
the end of 1987 the OGB had a total membership of some 1,650,000. The OGB
consists of fifteen unions, each of them subdivided into further trade and
professional groups. One of the principal tasks of the organisation is the
drawing up of collective agreements.

The Chambers of Labour

     The Chambers of Labour are designed to support the OGB and the public
authorities in any field where the interests of the employees are concerned.
In accordance with Austria's federal system, there are nine individual
provincial chambers which are represented at federal level by the Council of
Austrian Chambers of Labour. Among the chambers' responsibilities are the
appraisal of draft legislation, drawing up an economic and social basis for
effective representation of the employees' interests, providing training and
advice for employees and for the workers' councils, and public relations.
Agricultural employees are represented by the Chambers of Agricultural Labour.

Economic Chambers

     The economic chambers are public corporations representing the
enterprises active in Austria's economic life. There are nine regional
chambers and one at federal level. Each of the regional chambers, as well as
the national or federal chamber, is divided into six sections: industry;
commerce; trade; finance, credit and insurance; transport; tourism. And each
section is split into further subgroups.

     The Federal Economic Chamber reviews draft legislation and, like the
Chambers of Labour, is instrumental in shaping economic life through its
activities on various advisory bodies. It supports the public administration
and enters on collective agreements with the OGB.

     The Federal Economic Chamber also maintains trade centres in many foreign
countries which provide a major contribution to the promotion of Austria's
foreign trade.

     The Chambers of Agriculture, which represent the interests of those
independently employed on the land, exist only at provincial level. There is
central representation however at the Presidential Conference of Chambers of
Agriculture.

The Federation of Austrian Industrialists

     The Federation of Austrian Industrialists, founded in 1946, is a
continuation of the tradition of a centralised industrialists' organisation
which existed even in the days of the monarchy. It has a membership of 4,000
employers who, taken together, account for a work force of 420,000. In
accordance with its significance the Federation exerts an influence on
political decisions in the economic and social spheres.

     The Federation's constituent bodies are the general management, the
management board and the governing body. There are also special committees
which deal with such fields as economic, social, taxation and fiscal policy
and foreign trade. The Federation has set up regional organisations and
departments in the provinces.

Economic and Social Partnership

     In Austria, employers and employees learnt considerably from the bitter
years of the First Republic. In the course of the Second Republic,
representatives of labour and industry came to realise that it is vital to
work together on the preparation and execution of economic measures, always
giving top priority to the requirements of the economy as a whole. In
particular they saw, and still see the importance of close co-operation on
keeping wages and prices in check, which means adopting a firm stand when
demands are made by a particular group of interests within one's own ranks.
This tradition of "economic and social partnership", as it has come to be
known, is described by Fritz Klenner in the book "Osterreich. - Die Zweite
Republik" as "not a new ideology and not a philosophy of life, but a new form
of policy on the part of the unions and the employers, an adaptation to the
modern system of social, if not economic equality and the consequent endeavour
to settle differences impartially". Klenner goes on to confirm that labour and
industry in Austria have indeed "settled their differences with more
understanding and consideration for the common good than has been shown
anywhere else in the world".

The Parity Commission

     The policy is reflected particularly clearly in the work of the Parity
Commission for wage and price negotiations. It is a voluntarily constituted
forum with no legislative basis. The following bodies are represented on the
Parity Commission: the OGB, the Chamber of Labour, the Federal Economic
Chamber, the Presidential Conference of Chambers of Agriculture and the
Ministries of Agriculture and Forestry, of Trade, Commerce and Industry, and
of Social Administration. All of these meet under the chairmanship of the
chancellor. Only the first four of the above bodies are entitled to vote. The
Commission's decisions must be approved unanimously - a factor which
significantly reinforces the process of compromise.

     The Parity Commission wields no legal power but the organisations
represented on it can use their influence to bring its resolutions to bear on
the groups whose interests they represent. Any plans for wage or price rises
must be presented to the commission's wage or price subcommittee. The wage
subcommittee considers such plans in the light of their overall economic
implications and can then give the go-ahead for negotiations between the
contractual partners on changing the terms of a collective agreement. But the
subcommittee has no power to influence the substance of any new agreement
reached, least of all the extent of any wage increases negotiated. In the case
of the price sub-committee, the applicant must submit an objective
justification for the requested price increase to representatives of the
employees' organisations before any decision can be taken. If no agreement is
reached the application is referred back to the plenary session of the Parity
Commission. A special advisory committee for economic and social affairs draws
up recommendations which the Parity Commission then presents to the
government. The commission's analyses are frequently carried out with the help
of independent experts.

Austria's Position in the World

     The main aim of Austrian foreign policy is to maintain and strengthen the
country's independence on all sides. In the Austrian view, this end can best
be pursued by means of an active foreign policy which aims at a relaxation of
tensions in Europe and which at the same time takes account of geographical,
historical and political circumstances. The basis for such a policy is
provided by the Federal Constitutional Law on the Neutrality of Austria,
passed by parliament in Vienna on October 26th 1955.

     The Austrian government regards neutrality as a means of preserving
Austria's independence and, at the same time, as a stabilising peace-keeping
element within the international community. What Austria can give to the world
are works and values which can only grow in an atmosphere of peace. Austrian
policy is also aimed at the improvement of the wellbeing of the individual and
among its foremost tasks are those of a humanitarian nature. Particularly in
times of political crisis Austria, as one of the world's classical countries
of asylum, gives temporary shelter to refugees applying for asylum. This
function involves considerable organisation and economic problems. Every year
several thousand refugees come to Austria; most of them wish to travel on
overseas, but often the system of immigration quotas forces them to stay in
Austria for a lengthy period.

Co-operation at the United Nations

     In political practice, Austria's neutral status has proved advantageous
for its participation in the life of the international community and adequate
evidence of this is provided by Austrian co-operation at the United Nations.
Austria has been a member of the UN since December 14th 1955 and has since
played an active role in solving the wide range of problems facing the
organisation. It has been a member of numerous commissions and committees,
such as the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space, whose chairman
since 1961 has been an Austrian diplomat, the Sea Bed Committee, the Human
Rights Commission, the board of the United Nations Conference for Trade and
Development and the Industrial Development Board of the United Nations
Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO).

     In 1963, 1976 and 1984 Austria was nominated for two three-year terms
with the Economic and Social Council, the UN's main economic body, and was
chosen in 1972 to serve on the Security Council for the 1973/74 term. At his
first council meeting, the Austrian representative said that by the exhaustive
use of the many possibilities presented by its independence and neutrality
Austria would do its utmost to render valuable service, free of all bias, to
this, politically the most significant of the UN's main bodies.

     Austria has always lent its active support to UN efforts to maintain
world peace. Since 1960 Austria has contributed to UN peace-keeping missions
in the Congo, on Cyprus and in the Middle East. Up to the end of 1987 a total
of 25,000 Austrian UN soldiers were involved in these missions.

Austrians holding international appointments

     The respect and trust which Austria enjoys in the world as well as the
personal esteem in which Austria's former Foreign Minister and UN ambassador
Kurt Waldheim is held were the reasons for his election to the office of
United Nations Secretary General in 1971. Waldheim held this important post
until late 1981. His terms of office saw many United Nations initiatives to
maintain peace in the world's trouble spots. In 1986 Kurt Waldheim was elected
Austrian President.

     Just as it is active at an international level in the framework of the
United Nations, Austria also plays a part in European affairs at the Council
of Europe, of which it became a member on April 16th 1956. Two Austrians have
been appointed Secretary General of the Council of Europe. Lujo
Tonscic-Sorinj served in this position from 1969 to 1974 and Franz Karasek
from 1979 until 1984. From 1975 to 1978 the Austrian parliamentarian Karl
Czernetz was president of the Council of Europe's consultative assembly.
Austria is signatory to most of the council's conventions, including the
European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental
Freedoms.

     In 1987 Gerald Hinteregger was appointed Executive Secretary of the
United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (ECE), in which capacity the
holds the rank of Assistant Secretary General of the UN.

     In April 1988 Georg Reisch took over the post of EFTA Secretary General.

Vienna as a Congress Centre

     Austria's neutrality, its geographical position at the heart of Europe
and its active participation in world affairs have meant that its capital,
Vienna, has emerged increasingly as a centre for international congresses and
conferences. Major international organisations have also made the city their
permanent headquarters. Since 1957, Vienna has been the headquarters of the
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and since 1967 the home of the
United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO). The Vienna
International Centre, known locally as the United Nations City, was
constructed in the Danube Park to accommodate these and other United Nations
sub-organisations. Vienna has now become one of the permanent seats of the
United Nations. OPEC, the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries, has
also had its permanent headquarters in Vienna since 1965.

     In 1961, Vienna was the scene of the meeting between John F. Kennedy and
Nikita Khrushchev, and it was the venue in 1970, 1971 and 1972 for the
Soviet-American talks on the limitation of strategic arms (SALT). It was here
in June 1979 that Presidents Jimmy Carter and Leonid Brezhnev signed the SALT
II agreement. Vienna was also chosen as the setting for the talks on east-west
force reductions in Central Europe, which began in 1973. Austria aims not only
to promote understanding between East and West but is also actively committed
to the quest for a solution of the Middle East conflict and to the North-South
Dialogue. The much-publicized proposals for a "Marshall Plan for the Third
World", to be financed by the industrialised and oil producing nations, are an
Austrian initiative.

     Austria was also entrusted with hosting the third follow-up Conference on
Security and Cooperation in Europe (CSCE). This review session opened in
Vienna in early November 1986. In May 1987 the conference moved to the
newly-constructed Austria Center Vienna, located next to the Vienna
International Centre. The new conference facility is Europe's second-largest
and has a capacity of up to 9,500 conference delegates.

Good Neighbours

     Austria's neighbours are NATO members Italy and the Federal Republic of
Germany, Warsaw Pact states Czechoslovakia and Hungary, non-aligned
Yugoslavia, permanently neutral Switzerland and the principality of
Liechtenstein, which is part of a customs and currency union with Switzerland.

     Austria wishes to co-operate with all countries, regardless of their
system, and maintain friendly relations with all nations. The Austrian
government advocates a policy of settlement and detente and will apply itself
in particular to the further development of constructive relations with
neighbouring states. As a neutral state at the heart of Europe, Austria
welcomes all efforts towards the maintenance and consolidation of peace.

Agreement on South Tirol

     It was in accordance with this policy of good neighbourly relations that,
after difficult negotiations with Italy, a way was found of solving the
problem of the South Tirol, that section of the province south of the Brenner
Pass that was ceded to Italy following the first world war by the terms of the
Treaty of Saint Germain. All attempts on the part of Austria, after both the
first and second wars, to ensure the right to self-determination for the South
Tirol met with failure. The government in Vienna then sought to secure
autonomy for the area in the course of direct negotiations with Italy. These
led to the Paris Agreement of 1946 but there then followed a dispute about the
implementation of the agreement's terms.

     Legislation passed in Rome in 1948 and designed to provide autonomy in
fact merged the province of Bolzano (i.e. South Tirol) with the neighbouring
province of Trentino. The ensuing controversy, in the course of which Austria
appealed to the United Nations, lasted years, but negotiations eventually led
in 1969 to the so-called South Tirol package deal, which included a list of
measures designed to improve the position of the province and an "operational
calendar" or timetable for their implementation.

     The package foresees the transfer to Bolzano of the larger share of
regional authority over Trentino/Bolzano and also increased authority at a
national level. When all the terms of the autonomy agreement have come into
effect, Austria is to issue a statement announcing that it considers the
Austro-Italian dispute over the implementation of the Paris Agreement ended.