12th Traditional Garden Party of Vienna Economic Forum
The “Culinary and Musical Journey through the Countries of the Region,” featuring the participation of all the member countries of Vienna Economic Forum, was once again held this year in the garden of the Diplomatic Academy.
As in previous years, the individual embassies of the member countries spared no effort to once again delight guests with their country-specific culinary delicacies. The artistic performances were, as in previous years, the highlight of the evening, and many guests enjoyed the presentations by individual artists, including folk dances from Ukraine and Bulgaria, and musical folklore from Kosovo and Romania.
“At the very first Garden Party in 2004, we were convinced that this informal gathering would make a significant contribution to the understanding between ‘our’ countries, and we are pleased by the continuous popularity of this annual event. Today, almost 10 years later, the Vienna Economic Forum has grown, and much has been achieved,” emphasized the Secretary General, Ambassador Dr. Elena Kirtcheva.
The recognition of Vienna Economic Forum’s activities as an International Non-Governmental Organization (granted by the Austrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs on January 7, 2011), and the special consultative status at ECOSOC (United Nations Economic and Social Council) (granted since July 2012), gives us confidence that this is the right path to contribute further to the expansion of a united Europe.
Present ambassadors included:
H.E. Dr. Vili MINAROLLI, Albania
H.E. Ms. Mag. Elena SHEKERLETOVA, Bulgaria
H.E. Dr. Sabri KIQMARI, Kosovo
H.E. Mr. Gordan BAKOTA, Croatia
H.E. Prof. Dr. Gjorgji FILIPOV, Macedonia
H.E. Mr. Valeriu CHIVERI, Moldova
H.E. Ms. Slavica MILACIC, Montenegro
H.E. Ms. Silvia DAVIDOIU, Romania
H.E. Mr. Aleksander GERZINA, Slovenia
H.E. Ms. Ayse SEZGIN, Turkey
H.E. Mr. Vince SZALAY-BOBROVNICZKY, Hungary
Other distinguished guests included:
DI Peter Umundum, Member of the Board, Austrian Post AG, Member of the Board of the Vienna Economic Forum
Mag. Heinz Messinger, Managing Director, AME International GmbH, Member of the Board of the Vienna Economic Forum
Mr. Emmanuel Forest, CEO, BOUYGUES Europe, based in Belgium, subsidiary of the BOUYGUES Group, France
Mag. Hermann Anderl, Managing Director, Canon CEE GmbH, Vienna Economic Forum
Mr. Hristo Iliev, Executive Chairman, AG Capital AD, Bulgaria, President of the Association of the Family Business – Bulgaria
Mag. Gregor Höpler, Head of RI Management Secretariat, Raiffeisen Bank International AG
Dr. Friedhelm Boschert, long-standing Chief Financial Officer of the VEF
Mr. Ahmet Mesut Ersoy, Chairman of the Board, DenizBank AG
Mag. Günther Sucher, Regional Director South-Eastern Europe, Austrian Federal Economic Chamber
The good mood, culinary delights, and musical entertainment kept the more than 300 participants celebrating late into the night. The unique atmosphere once again demonstrated how much the people of the region, from the Adriatic to the Black Sea, have in common.
Technical support provided by Canon CEE GmbH
