| The UN city reveal the way Vienna perceives | | | | organizations and Austria's role within the |
| itself as a platform for international | | | | United Nations. The exhibition was |
| meetings at the heart of a united Europe. A | | | | inaugurated on by Michael Häupl, the mayor |
| long-standing tradition by the way, as much | | | | of Vienna, and Antonio Costa, director |
| of the world's history has been and continues | | | | general of the United Nations in Vienna. |
| to be made-up here. Three different cultures | | | | Michael Häupl in his address pointed out |
| intersect here whose idiosyncrasies have | | | | that the city's international and |
| created a distinct atmosphere at the centre | | | | cosmopolitan character was largely due to the |
| of Europe to which numerous summit meetings | | | | existence of UN City. As a young man he had |
| and international congresses held in Vienna | | | | been proud to learn that Vienna had been |
| since the mid 20th century bear vivid | | | | awarded such an important landmark role and |
| testimony. | | | | to this day he was proud to see how many UN |
| | | | institutions the city was hosting. |
| The Vienna International Center, also known | | | | Cooperation with the UN was good he stressed |
| as the UN City, is one of the four official | | | | and he hoped that international staff at the |
| locations of the United Nations, in addition | | | | UN City felt at home in Vienna. |
| to New York, Geneva and Nairobi. Multilingual | | | | |
| guides from different countries inform you | | | | The VIC which has been designed by Austrian |
| about the work of the United Nations and the | | | | architect Johann Staber, was built between |
| many tasks of the organizations located here. | | | | 1973 and 1979 just north of the river Danube. |
| | | | In it six Y-shaped office towers surround a |
| The creation of the UN City in the mid-1970s | | | | cylindrical conference building for a total |
| made Vienna the third seat of the United | | | | floor area of 230,000 square meters. The |
| Nations after New York and Zurich. Popular | | | | highest tower stands 120 meters tall, having |
| wisdom held that this was an important part | | | | 28 floors. About 5,000 people work at the |
| of Austria's defense strategy during the Cold | | | | VIC, which also offers catering, banking, |
| War: though Austria was officially neutral, | | | | postal and shopping facilities. Larger |
| it was believed that Warsaw Pact troops would | | | | conferences can be accommodated in the |
| be less likely to invade a city with a large | | | | neighboring Austria Center Vienna a |
| international population. | | | | conference and exhibition centre with a |
| | | | capacity of 6000.The VIC is an |
| To commemorate the "25 years Vienna | | | | extraterritorial area. |
| International Centre" has staged an | | | | |
| exhibition in the arcades of the Vienna City | | | | Complementing the ongoing Asbestos removal |
| Hall which grants a general idea of the VICs | | | | works in the VIC, a new conference building |
| origins and day-to-day business while | | | | to be opened in 2008, is being constructed |
| providing information on resident | | | | near the southern perimeter of the campus. |