Austrian Secretary-General for Foreign Affairs Peter Launsky-Tieffenthal visited Washington, DC between October 30 and November 1, 2022. On October 31, Secretary-General Launsky-Tieffenthal met with Special-Envoy for Holocaust Issues Ellen Germain as well as the American Jewish Committee to discuss Holocaust education and the fight against anti-Semitism. These meetings were followed up by a special ceremony on November 1, during which Secretary-General Launsky-Tieffenthal welcomed 17 new Austrian citizens that were recently granted Austrian citizenship under the 2019 amendment to §58c of the Austrian Citizenship Act as descendants of persons persecuted under National Socialism. Together with Austrian State Secretary Florian Tursky, Secretary-General Launsky expressed his gratitude to the new Austrian citizens for deciding to renew their bonds with Austria, despite how long it took the country to acknowledge its historic responsibility for the fates of the new citizens’ ancestors and family members.

Secretary-General Launsky-Tieffenthal also met with Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman on November 1 to discuss the need for continuing support for Ukraine and the importance of promoting security to ensure lasting peace and prosperity in the Western Balkans region.