Wolfgang Schüssel
Federal Chancellor

(pronounced "VOOLF-gong SHOE-sel")

"We have a declaration where everything is enshrined, 'a yes' to human rights, 'a yes' to Europe, 'a yes' to guarantees for our minorities."

The Republic of Austria is a landlocked nation that is located in the center of Europe. Germany and the Czech and Slovak Republics are to the north; Switzerland and the tiny principality of Liechtenstein are to the west; Italy and Slovenia are to the south; and Hungary is to the east. Austria's total area is 83,858 sq km (32,378 sq mi). In 2002, the population was estimated at 8.2 million. The historical unit of currency was the schilling, but as of January 2002 Austria was among the 12 European nations that adopted the euro as their common currency. German is the official language; small minorities of Austrians have nevertheless preserved...