Austria
02.05.2011
First Lady Hayrünnisa Gül accompanied President Abdullah Gül on his official visit to Austria upon the invitation of President Heinz Fischer from May 2-4,2011.
After the official welcoming ceremony at the Hofburg Palace, the two presidents had a bilateral talk, a part of which Mrs. Gül and Mrs. Fischer also joined. The First Ladies later explored the Schönbrunn Palace while President Gül and President Fischer proceeded to the delegational talks.
The First Ladies later visited an exhibition of the acclaimed painter, Ivan Ayvazovsky that included 51 great works by the artist. Examining the three paintings made during the reign of the Ottoman Empire, Mrs. Gül had a memoir photo taken in front of the one in which the painter depicted the northern Turkish province of Sinop.
On the second day of her visit to Vienna, the First Lady conducted some cultural activities as well and met with Mrs. Fischer at the Austrian Presidential Residence in the morning.
Afterwards, she proceeded to the Vienna Museum, where she explored an exhibition that told of the construction process of the well-known Saint Stephen Cathedral. The administration of the cathedral, furthermore, gave a presentation to the First Lady about its architecture and constructional features.
President Abdullah Gül and First Lady Hayrünnisa Gül held a reception in honor of President Heinz Fischer of Austria and his spouse, Margit Fischer, at the historic Lichtenstein Palace in Vienna. After the reception, the two Presidents and their spouses proceeded to Salzburg by plane.
The First Couple and their Austrian counterparts explored both the house where the world famous composer, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, was born and the Salzburg Castle.
The First Couples later proceeded to the Salzburg Castle where the State President of Salzburg, Gabi Burgstaller, briefed them about the history of the city.
President Burgstaller of the State of Salzburg then gave a luncheon for the two presidents and their spouses.
Afterwards, they left Austria for Turkey.
Attending President Gül’s visit, which was indeed the first official one in 13 years from Turkey to Austria, were State Minister Faruk Çelik; State Minister and Chief Negotiator Egemen Bağış; MPs, academicians, press members and businessmen.
