Carinthia: A Moroccan honorary consulate was established on Thursday in Austria’s Carinthia region during a ceremony attended by the Kingdom’s Ambassador to Austria, Azzedine Farhane. During the ceremony, marked notably by the presence of the governor of the Carinthia region, Peter Kaiser, alongside other figures from the political, economic, and diplomatic spheres, Farhane installed Walter Hell-H¶flinger as Honorary Consul of Morocco.
According to Agence Marocaine De Presse, the event also brought together honorary consuls accredited in the region, business representatives, officials from Austrian institutions, and journalists. In an address on this occasion, Farhane stated, ‘This ceremony is not only a moment of recognition for a distinguished individual, but also a celebration of a remarkable and enduring friendship between the Kingdom of Morocco and the Republic of Austria.’ He recalled that diplomatic ties between the two countries date back over two centuries to when the first Ambassador of Morocco to Austria was received by Emperor Joseph II on February 28, 1783, to present his letters of credence.
“Today, relations between Morocco and Austria have reached a high level of political maturity, characterized by mutual trust, regular exchanges, and a shared commitment to stability,” the diplomat said, noting that this relationship was crowned by the official visit to Morocco on February 28, 2023, of the Federal Chancellor of Austria, Karl Nehammer, and the adoption of a joint political declaration serving as a roadmap for future cooperation between Morocco and Austria. ‘The appointment of Walter Hell-H¶flinger as Honorary Consul comes at a particularly opportune time. His mission will be essential in fostering closer ties between Morocco and the region of Carinthia, facilitating economic initiatives, and promoting mutual understanding between our peoples,’ he added.
For his part, the governor of the Carinthia region praised the strong relations between Austria and Morocco at a time when “we are living in a context marked by uncertainty and the emergence of new challenges that require combined efforts to promote exchanges between nations, on both an economic and social level.”
In turn, the new honorary consul expressed his commitment to promoting cooperation between the two countries and strengthening economic relations between the Carinthia region and Morocco. “While Morocco is considered a gateway to the African market, Carinthia is increasingly asserting itself as a dynamic economic hub in the Alpine-Adriatic region,” Hell-H¶flinger said.
The ceremony concluded with a reception featuring the screening of a promotional film highlighting Morocco’s economic potential, as well as an immersion into the richness of Moroccan culture through its gastronomy, Andalusian music, and traditional mint tea, a symbol of the Kingdom’s legendary hospitality.