Austria's foreign minister in Damascus today

Austrian Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs, Deputy Chief of Government, Wolfgang Scheduessel, in his capacity as President of the Council of the European Union will arrive in Damascus today on a two-day official visit to Syria.

Dr. Scheduessel will arrive in the region on a tour that takes him to several Arab states. "This tour will reflect the importance the European Union attaches to the region and to a just and comprehensive Middle East peace in accordance with relevant UN resolutions and the principles of Madrid, especially the land for peace formula," said the Austrian ambassador in Damascus Dr. Hiknitel??. The Austrian ambassador underlined the excellent relations between Syria and Austria, particularly on the "very high level in political area."

Dr. Schuessel was born in Vienna in 1945 and graduated from the University of Vienna with Ph.D. in Law in 1968. He was a member of the first house of the Austrian Parliament from 5 June 1979 till May 1989 as deputy leader of the parliamentary OVP. On 24 April 1989 Dr. Schuessel became Federal Minister of Economic Affairs in the coalition government formed by the social democratic party of Austria SPO and the OVP under Federal Chancellor Franz Vranitzky. On 4 May, 1995 Dr Scuessel was sworn in as Vice Chancellor and Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs in the Vrantizky IV cabinet. He retained these positions in the Vranitzky V cabinet formed on 12 March 1996. On 28 Jan. 1997, he was again sworn in as Vice Chancellor and Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs in the Lima I cabinet. In addition to his parliamentary activities Wolfgang has written numerous books and other publications.