Albania-Austria diplomatic relations, a symposium at MHK

In the framework of the 110th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between our two countries, the National Historical Museum and the Embassy of Austria in Tirana organized the symposium with the theme "110 years of diplomatic recognition and friendship Albania - Austria". The symposium was opened with a welcome speech by dr. Dorian Koçi, director of the National Historical Museum and Mr. Karl Bauer, art project manager. Following dr. Dorian Koçi delivered the statement: "Brief history of Austrian interest in Albania". Among other things dr. Koçi said "Albania and Austria share an early friendship. "Austrian interest in the northern border of Albania had its origins in the religious protectorate of the Habsburg Emperors over the Catholics of northern Albania. As early as 1615 with the Treaty of Vienna , The Holy Roman Emperor gained the right to look after the welfare of the Catholic population of the Ottoman Empire. While theoretically this right was not limited only to the North of Albania. The Dualist Monarchy was one of the first countries to recognize the government of Vlora and supported Albania at the London Conference (December 16, 1912-July 29, 1913)," said Dr. Dorian Koçi, who further added that diplomatic relations between Albania and Austria were established on December 3, 1913, when the then Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy decided to open three consulates in Albania: Shkodër, Durrës and Vlorë. Following prof. dr. Fehari Ramadani from the University of Tetova delivered the speech "Albanians in the foreign policy of Austria-Hungary at the end of the 19th century", prof. ass.