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 "Auf Wiedersehen Österreich!"Op-Ed by Ambassador Susan McCawKronen ZeitungNovember 22, 2007It is time to bid farewell to Austria; my term as U.S. Ambassador here soon ends. It is always difficult saying good-bye, and my good-byes to Austria are particularly bittersweet. I leave grateful for the time I spent in this beautiful and dynamic country and for the new friends I made. And I leave saddened that this rewarding and exciting chapter of my life has come to a close. As I prepare to depart, my thoughts often turn to memories and impressions of my experiences during the past two years here. I remember so vividly, for example, the 2006 U.S. - E.U. Summit. There, President George Bush praised the strength of the Austrian-American relationship and then Chancellor Wolfgang Schüssel described his far-reaching vision of the trans-Atlantic partnership. I can recall many of the often lively discussions about American foreign policy I had with high school and university students throughout Austria. How we debated the best ways to promote freedom and protect the environment. No matter where I have been in Austria - and I have been fortunate to visit each of the provinces - I have tried to meet with as many Austrians as possible. With each conversation, I learned a little more about Austria, its history, its values, its people. And with each conversation, it became increasingly clear that Austria and the United States have long enjoyed a strong, cordial relationship. It also became clear that despite some disagreements, this relationship remains vital today. We are partners in countering terrorism, aiding developing nations, building a thriving global economy, and supporting democracies. And because no nation is perfect, there is also much we can learn from each other - from designing support mechanisms for immigrants and minority populations to supporting the arts and promoting volunteerism. The very strength of our bilateral relationship is based, though, not on the seamless convergence of national priorities or on the absolute agreement on every bilateral or global issue. Rather, it is based on our shared values of democracy and human rights, on the vibrancy of our increasingly entwined economies, and on our mutual understanding and respect. And it has been the fostering of mutual understanding and respect that I consider the hallmark of my tenure as Ambassador. It is a theme I stressed at every opportunity. For, as I often said, there is no more effective way to improve mutual understanding than to live and study in another country. That is why June 5, 2007, was one of the highlights of my ambassadorship. The event was a celebration of the 60th anniversary of the Marshall Plan. The venue was the magnificent Marble Hall in the Upper Belvedere in Vienna. That morning, with the full support of the Austrian government, Minister of Economics Martin Bartenstein and I signed a Memorandum of Understanding creating the Marshall Plan Scholarships. We agreed that the government of Austria would redirect a portion of the remaining Marshall Plan funds to provide 1,000 scholarships. These scholarships will enable 100 American and Austrian students each year over a ten-year period to study in each other's country. We agreed that this was one of the best investments Austria and the United States could make to help ensure that our respect and friendship for each other will continue on for another generation. My time in Austria has not, of course, been all about work. I have sampled great wines in charming Heurigen and eaten too much Kaiserschmarrn at lovely country inns and in bustling cafes. This has been a truly wonderful experience for my family and me. A few weeks ago, President Bush nominated a former diplomat and experienced businessman, Charles A. Gargano of New York, as the next U.S. Ambassador to Austria. I wish him much success and I hope that he finds his time here as rewarding as I did. And so I say good-bye to Austria. Thank you for your willingness to listen and to engage, for your warmth and for your hospitality, and for the gemütliche atmosphere. Auf Wiedersehen Österreich! e-mail: embassy@usembassy.at |
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   American Citizen U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)        |
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