PŘÍPRAVA A PRŮBĚH NÁVŠTĚVY ERICHA BIELKY V ČESKOSLOVENSKU
PREPARATION AND COURSE OF ERICH BIELKA’S VISIT TO CZECHOSLOVAKIA

Summary/Abstract: In the mid-1970s, the relationship between Czechoslovakia and Austria determined decisively the context of the Cold War. Some easing of tensions in international politics enabled the signing of a property settlement agreement in December 1974. The signing of that document started the beginning of gradual improvement to the bilateral relationship. Evidence of improvement of mutual relations was provided on 23–26 April 1975 by the first official stay of the Austrian Foreign Minister in the history of Czechoslovakia. While Erich Bielka emphasized human rights issues, Czechoslovak officials wanted to talk mainly about deepening trade cooperation. Meanwhile, the hosts anxiously avoided controversial topics to give the impression of the beginning of a new phase of relations with Austria. However, Vienna evaluated the sudden turn of the Czechoslovak communists with a certain distrust. Erich Bielka strictly observed the department’s competencies and therefore refused to make any binding promises. To this, his subordinate was probably instructed by the Federal Chancellor Bruno Kreisky, who assessed the whole situation with cautious optimism. A long and often the winding process led to a further deepening of Czechoslovak-Austrian cooperation in the following years.

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