Plassnik: "Helping people help themselves – the best way is together"

Foreign Minister Plassnik and State Secretary Winkler open exhibition of the Austrian Development Cooperation

"Helping people help themselves – the best way is together". These are the principles of the Austrian development cooperation", said Foreign Minister Ursula Plassnik, who, together with State Secretary Hans Winkler, opened on 16 September 2008, an exhibition organised by the Austrian Development Cooperation (ADC) titled "Better together". The first visitor to be invited to the exhibition was the fourth class of the Vienna Marienplatz primary school. "ADC is a major part of our foreign policy, just as economic or political cooperation with other countries. Our primary principleis: Helping people help themselves. This is the most effective recipe in development cooperation. We want to help people take fate in their own hands", said the Foreign Minister.

"Austrians have repeatedly demonstrated their solidarity in an impressive manner. The motto of the exhibition, 'Better together’ is a paraphrase of this principle, which applies worldwide: Individuals can achieve a lot, but they can achieve much more if they have partners that pursue a project together with them", said Plassnik, adding that "Although Austria is a small country, we have strong partnerships with other countries, NGO’s and international organizations such as the UN and the European Union. Together with them, we are implementing projects in which we can make a particularly good use of Austrian know-how: in the areas of education, environment, peace promotion, and the fight against poverty."

"I am particularly concerned about women and children - their contribution, their protection, and their rights. Those who support women and children are strengthening the cohesion and the future prospects of every society.Therefore, I believe it is very important to win them over as partners for development cooperation“, said Plassnik.

The Foreign Minister concluded by wishing all visitors „a very informative experience and exciting insights into Austrian development cooperation". The interactive exhibition is currently located next to the State Opera, and will then continue its tour to St. Pölten, Graz, and Linz in the coming weeks. Visitors can obtain information on the tasks and projects of ADC, and are also invited to participate, listen, and watch. A team of facilitators will be available for questions, discussions, and activities.