Kurt Waldheim (born the December 21st 1918 with, Austria, and dead on June 14th, 2007 with Vienna, Austria, of the continuations of a Infarction), is a diplomat and Austrian politician . He was General secretary of the United Nations of 1972 with 1981 and chair Republic of Austria of 1986 1992. Catholic practitioner, married and father of three children, it had two girls and a boy.

It makes studies of right and obtains the rank of doctor at the university of Vienna. During the Second world war, he is officer in Wehrmacht and takes part in the occupation of the Yugoslavia within the Wehrmacht, as a translator. He goes to the British forces in Carinthie.

Diplomatic career

As of 1945, it starts a diplomatic career: in station until in 1951 with Paris, then at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of the Austria until in 1955. It is then named with UNO in 1955, before representing Austria near the Canada (1956 - 1960). It turns over then to Austria, and becomes Managing director of the political matters of 1962 with 1964.

Of 1964 with 1968, it turns over to UNO like representative of Austria, and takes part in work on the use of the outer space. Foreign Minister of 1968 with 1970 within the government of the Austrian popular party, it turns over to UNO to his departure of the government, initially with the International Atomic Energy Agency, then like representative of Austria (1970 - 1972). He fails in 1971 in his candidature for the presidency of the Austrian republic.

General secretary of UNO

He is elected general secretary of UNO in January 1972, and for this reason pronounces the message of peace sent in space in the name of humanity in the Sondes To travel. He strongly implies himself in the interventions of UNO to solve the crises, in particular the Israeli-Arab conflict, and is re-elected for a second mandate by acclamation in 1978. He also stresses the need for an economic development of the poorest countries.

He also reacts to the massacres of Hutu S with the Burundi, in a report/ratio of June 1972, describing them as Génocide. These massacres had made more: 80,000 dead. He fails to obtain a third mandate, the China having put his Veto. However, its mandates are judged like a failure, more paralyzed and ineffective UNO leaving the Années 1970 that it had not entered there. Lastly, in 1982, the NewYork Times reveals its past of officer Nazi.

President of the Austrian republic and role at the time of the time Nazi

He is elected president of the Republic of Austria in 1986, like candidate of ÖVP. Its past of officer in the Wehrmacht re-appears then. Initially restive with criticisms, it ends up admitting having belonged to a unit responsible for atrocities in Yugoslavia, but refuses to resign as the socialist party asks it. He affirms to have made his duty like the majority of his Austrian compatriots. A committee of historians establishes that it did not take part in any crime Nazi.

The majority of the European States declare it Persona non grata and the the United States places it on a " list noire" people not having the right to go in their country. Its only visit of State was for the the Vatican, no other country accepting it.

In spite of the opinion of the historians, the world Jewish Congrès shows it to have also taken part in the deportation of the Jews of Greece. It however concludes its mandate its (1992).

Its end

Kurt Waldheim died Thursday June 14th 2007 in the morning at the 88 years age of the continuations of a Infarctus. He was hospitalized with Vienna since the end of the month of April 2007 for an infection. In its will made public the following day he affirms “to deeply regret” the way in which he “discussed the crimes Nazis, namely too much late, and not in an exhaustive way and without misunderstandings”. He adds that “the reason” explaining its reaction at the time of the revelation of the facts to the general public was not due “to a political calculation, but consternation, even distress vis-a-vis the contents and with the extent of the reproaches”.

He received the homage of the United Nations the shortly after his death by the general secretary Ban Ki-moon to have directed the institution during the Cold war “with prudence, perseverance and precision”.

The June 23rd took place in the cathedral of Vienna, its national funeral celebrated by the cardinal Christoph Schönborn in the presence of Austrian political high ranking officials, the president Heinz Fischer and the director of the the United Nations of Vienna, Antonio Maria Costa. Only foreign leader present, the Prince Hans-Adam II of Liechtenstein and apostolic nuncio Mgr Michael Wallace Banach.

Its skin was deposited in a crypt reserved to the former Austrian presidents with the military honors with the cemetery of Zentralfriedhof after a halt in front of the regional seat of the the United Nations in Vienna where a funeral praise was marked.

External bonds

• Biography on the site of UNO

Simple: Kurt Waldheim

Random links:

Timo Salonen | Völkerball | Halcyon albiventris | Route secondary road 67 (To combine) | Antoine-Augustin Préault