| |
The Neutral Space - UNO City
By Anil Gupta
The UN city reveal the way Vienna perceives itself as a platform for international meetings at the heart of a united Europe. A long-standing tradition by the way, as much of the world's history has been and continues to be made-up here. Three different cultures intersect here whose idiosyncrasies have created a distinct atmosphere at the centre of Europe to which numerous summit meetings and international congresses held in Vienna since the mid 20th century bear vivid testimony.
The Vienna International Center, also known as the UN City, is one of the four official locations of the United Nations, in addition to New York, Geneva and Nairobi. Multilingual guides from different countries inform you about the work of the United Nations and the many tasks of the organizations located here.
The creation of the UN City in the mid-1970s made Vienna the third seat of the United Nations after New York and Zurich. Popular wisdom held that this was an important part of Austria's defense strategy during the Cold War: though Austria was officially neutral, it was believed that Warsaw Pact troops would be less likely to invade a city with a large international population.
To commemorate the "25 years Vienna International Centre" has staged an exhibition in the arcades of the Vienna City Hall which grants a general idea of the VICs origins and day-to-day business while providing information on resident organizations and Austria's role within the United Nations. The exhibition was inaugurated on by Michael Häupl, the mayor of Vienna, and Antonio Costa, director general of the United Nations in Vienna. Michael Häupl in his address pointed out that the city's international and cosmopolitan character was largely due to the existence of UN City. As a young man he had been proud to learn that Vienna had been awarded such an important landmark role and to this day he was proud to see how many UN institutions the city was hosting. Cooperation with the UN was good he stressed and he hoped that international staff at the UN City felt at home in Vienna.
The VIC which has been designed by Austrian architect Johann Staber, was built between 1973 and 1979 just north of the river Danube. In it six Y-shaped office towers surround a cylindrical conference building for a total floor area of 230,000 square meters. The highest tower stands 120 meters tall, having 28 floors. About 5,000 people work at the VIC, which also offers catering, banking, postal and shopping facilities. Larger conferences can be accommodated in the neighboring Austria Center Vienna a conference and exhibition centre with a capacity of 6000.The VIC is an extraterritorial area.
Complementing the ongoing Asbestos removal works in the VIC, a new conference building to be opened in 2008, is being constructed near the southern perimeter of the campus.
Drug Control and Crime Prevention are part of this as well as the peaceful utilization of space and aid for refugees. Special organizations deal with industrial development, the peaceful use of atomic energy and the embargo on nuclear testing.
About the Author
Anil Gupta recommends that you visit http://www.bookings.be/city/at/vienna.html?aid=305255 for more information on Vienna hotels.
Article Source: http://www.simplysearch4it.com/article/33783.html
| If you wish to add the above article to your website or newsletters then please include the "Article Source: http://www.simplysearch4it.com/article/33783.html" as shown above and make it hyperlinked. |
| Some other articles by Anil Gupta | Clocking The Time
The Clock Museum of Vienna was opened in 1921 in one of Vienna's oldest houses and can boast an interesting collection including early chronometers, sundials and the "Braters" or "roaster" clocks, resembling a spit, ...
Kidding With Kids
A kid will love to hunt elephants in an asphalt jungle or even to fly the sky in the Jumping Castle, or splash into sparkling waters ...
Bond With Music
Vienna is the music capital of the world. No other city evokes such immediate associations with the great classical composers and the king ...
Indescribable Stadium - Barcelona
The Barcelona football stadium is the 3rd largest football stadium in the World after the stadiums in Sao Paulo, Brazil and Mexico City. Barcelona camp nou has a capacity of 110,000 people and on every match ...
Dream Wedding In Vienna
Every girl dreams of a fairytale wedding, of being a princess for a day? Can one imagine being carried off in a horse drawn carriage to marry the Prince in a breathtaking Baroque palace? Celebrate one's fairy-tale ...
Barca - Football Fanatic
In the late 1800's Hans Gamper and ten other enthusiasts were playing an unidentified game called 'foot-ball'. When Gamper went on to found Barcelona Football ...
|
|
| |
|
|
|
