F 76/ 22
A SRLT A
DRAFT
FOR PRESS5 February 1976
VISIT. BY. SECRETARY-GENERAL OF THE UNITED. NATIONS
The Government warmly welcomes the visit to Australia next
week of the Secretary-General of the United Nations,
Mr Kurt Waldheim. Mr Waldheim will be in Australia from
8 11 February.
Mr Waldheim's visit is in reponse to a long-standing invitation
from Australia. This invitation was renewed when the
Liberal/ National Country Party Government took office.
Mr Waldheim has shown himself to be a statesman of world standing.
During his period of office there have been significant and
important changes in the United Nations, particularly in its
greater attention to world economic problems.
Australia, an original member of the United Nations, will
continue to give strong support to the purposes and
principles of the United Nations.
Mr Waldheitnts visit will provide an opportunity for discussion
of many subjects of mutual interest and concern.. / 2
BIOGRAPHY OF MR KURT WALDHEIM
Mr Waldheim ( 57) is a former Austrian Foreign
Minister and permanent representative to the UN. He
was appointed Secretary-General of the UN for a five-year
term on 1 January 1972. He is the fourth man to hold
the post in the L" N's 30-year history. The others were Mr
Trygve Lie, Mr Dag Hanimarsjkold and~ U Thant.
Mr Waldheim was born on 21 December 1918, the son
of an Austrian schoolteacher and the grandson of a
blacksmith. During the Second World War he was drafted into
the German Army and served on the Russian front where
he was wounded in 1941.
He graduated from the University of Vienna as a
Doctor of Jurisprudence in: 1944. He entered the
Austrian diplomatic service and was Ambassador to Canada
from 1956 to 1960. He was Austria's Permanent
Representative to the UN from 1964 to 1968, and his
country's Foreign Minister from 1968 to 1970. He was
again Austria's Permanent Representative in 1970.
In 1971 he waa tile Conservative candidate in the
Austrian presidentiaiL elections. z7He lost narrowly.
Since becoming Secretary-General in 1972 he has
travelled widely consulting Governments and exercising
the good offices of the UN in the cause of peace.
Mr Waldheim is married and-has a son and two
daughters. His wife is accompanying him to Australia.
ITINERA-RY OF MR KURT WALDHI-EIM
SUNDAY 8 FEBRUARY
0955 Arrives Sydney ( Fligriiñ -, F4)
1430 Sydney Harbour cruise
1900 UN Association dinner at Wentworth hotel
MONDAY 9 FEBRUARY
0830 Leaves for Canberra ( flight TN421)
0910 Arrives Canberra
1000 Talks with the Foreign Minister,
Mr Peacock and senior Foreign Affairs
officials.
1230 National Press Club lunch
1445-1600 1900 Sightseeing tour
Dinner by Minister for Foreign Affairs
TUJESDAY 10 FEBRUARY
1130 Talks with the Prime Minister
1230 Luncheon by the Prime Minister
1430 Talks with the Leader of the Opposition
1625 Leaves for Sydney ( flight TN526)
1700 Arrives Sydney
1945 Attend Opera House performance by
Australian Opera Company
WEDNESDAY 11 FEBRUARY
0900 Tour of Sydney
1200 Leaves for Manila