At a reception held at the residence of Austrian Ambassador Eva Nowotny on July 7, Austria presented a donation of 150,000 Euros to the George C. Marshall International Center. This gift, the second major gift of the Austrian government to the Center, is to be used to support educational exchange programs shared by Americans and the recipient countries of the Marshall Plan.
Austria’s first major donation to the Center, made in the early 1990s, assisted with the preservation of Dodona Manor, the Leesburg, Virginia, home of George Marshall, the individual most instrumental in the development of the European Recovery Program. This Program, better known as the Marshall Plan, helped with the reconstruction and revival of Europe after World War II.
In her remarks Ambassador Nowotny expressed appreciation for the work done by the Center in preserving and restoring Dodona Manor and for educational programs that the Center has developed to advance the legacy of this soldier-statesman. “The Center’s work deserves support, especially from the countries which benefited from the Marshall Plan,” Ambassador Nowotny stated. She added, “In Austria’s case, the Marshall Plan helped keep the country together politically, economically and socially during the ten years after World War II, when other countries under similar Allied occupation became divided. We certainly would not have developed and prospered as we have without the generous support rendered through the Marshall Plan. Future generations must not be allowed to forget this and George Marshall’s many other contributions to a peaceful world order.”

Growing Interest in the U.S.A. for Taste of Austrian Nature       
 
by Hans Kordik
 
Growing Interest in the U.S.A. for Taste of Austrian Nature
Emperor Franz-Josef was known to be a gourmet and, gourmand that he was, he relished good food in large quantities. In fact, the famous “Sacher Torte” (chocolate cake) and the “Sacher Würstl” (hot dog about 14 inches long) achieved popularity due to the culinary habits of this Habsburg monarch. Enjoying good food, especially that of high quality, characterizes the Austrian consumer. The last few decades have caused the expectations of Austrian consumers regarding their food to change. Since the definition of quality is considered to be subjective, it can vary from consumer to consumer. Quality could be defined, for instance, as freshness or healthiness of produce. Requests for high-quality and healthy foods are not enough for the Austrian consumer; however, today their demands go much further, for they want to know where the food comes from, how it was produced and whether it respects the environment and takes into consideration animal welfare.

The final of the EURO 2008 Soccer Championship on June 29th, 2008 in Vienna was a competition between two of Europe’s leading soccer nations. Spain and Germany had advanced to the final round by defeating Russia and Turkey, respectively, in the semifinals. Although a slight favorite, Germany was no match for the speed and technique of the Spanish “matadors.” The superb goal of Spanish striker Fernando Torres in the 33rd minute was the deciding factor in the game, but the 1-0 victory did not reflect the supremacy of the Spanish team.