Thank you, Madame Chair.

This is a delicate point, but I believe it is appropriate in the spirit of candor to speak to each other openly about issues that are sometimes difficult. My Government, as it has made clear, is concerned about developments here in Vienna that apparently will allow into the Austrian Government a party, whose leader has made statements interpreted here and elsewhere as expressing sympathy for the Nazis and minimizing the tragedy of the Holocaust.

Austria has a democratically-elected government; and we and others must be respectful of Austria's constitutional processes. It is also true the world has suffered horribly in the past century at the hands of leaders who have used the tools of democracy to undermine its spirit and purpose. There are reasons for us to remain watchful.

We will continue to follow the situation closely and we will look to your Government to uphold its commitments here to openness, expansion of democracy, support of free markets, and tolerance for others.