I am now in Vienna, Austria, at the opening of the Sixth Meeting of the Austrian-led “Global Forum on Sustainable Energy.” This year, befitting the UN attention with Africa, the topic of the meeting is - “Africa is Energizing Itself.”

The meetings are held at the compound of the Diplomatic Academy of Vienna, and befitting this situation the “Lord of the Mannor” - the Director of the Academy Ambassador Jiri Grusa gave a short welcome presentation that was amazing in its straightforwardness.

The Ambassador said plainly that there are no laws of economics when one deals with oil. Here the prevalent element is politics, and fossilized politicians produce outdated policies. So much for what goes as conventional wisdom in much of what we are reading in the US. His short presentation was an eye opener to what might otherwise have turned into a routine meeting. We bring here now only the text of the Ambassador’s message, and much more will follow in further reporting of this three-day long event. The conference is in effect preparing ideas for CSD-15 that will be held in New York April 30 - May 11, 2007, and it provided thus a very timely series of deliberations.

GLOBAL FORUM ON SUSTAINABLE ENERGY

Eröffnungsrede von Herrn Botschafter Dr. Jiří Gruša
Wien, am 29. September 2006

“Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, Dear colleagues,

If you wish to understand current international relations, call the energy market. Fossil energies such as oil and natural gas are called strategic commodities for their price is not determined by the natural laws of supply but by politics.

You have come to Vienna at a moment when the most acute and relevant questions are being asked.

For what is a sustainable energy than a security based on creative sources. And what is creativity if not a balanced power of credits and debits? This is the system of democratic rules.

We should always remember that there are not only fossil fuels but also fossil politicians with their fossil policies and politics. Let us always bear in mind that the future belongs to „soft power“, which is only sustainable energy we can count with.

The energy which I mean is based on information, free interconnectivity and feedback. In the last decade sustainable development has become a focal point in international relations. Environmental issues become a priority in international foreign affairs. The increased use of sustainable energy will help us to move towards sustainable development.

The Diplomatic Academy of Vienna has given in its academic programmes a high priority to environmental issues and sustainable development. Students deal with the economic, legal and international relations dimension of environmental issues.

In the last months the DA has elaborated together with the Technical University of Vienna a Masters Programme on Environmental Management. Once the programme has started it will combine natural sciences and technical knowledge with the fields of international relations, international economics, international law and history. We hope thereby to provide an international postgraduate programme for all over the world which would give the necessary basis to tackle these problems in their future careers in an effective and efficient manner.

Let me give you a warm and proud welcome to all of you and pass my sincere respects for the organizers. I may conclude by simply wishing you: bon courage for your busy day!”