Excellency,

After 12 years in office my second term as President of the Republic of Austria will end on 8 July 2016. With these lines I would like to bid you farewell and thank you for fruitful cooperation in the interest of good relations between our two countries.

I always enjoyed the opportunity to exchange views with you on issues of bilateral an international importance, be it in the framework of the Brdo Brioni Process meetings or on other occasions.

Among my many duties as Federal President, I have always found the maintaining and developing of international contacts particularly important. I am convinced that international cooperation is an indispensable pillar of a successful foreign policy and foreign economic policy, and that Heads of State can make an important contribution to this.

In a globalized and rapidly changing world, we are confronted with great challenges and tasks for the future. I am of the opinion that we can manage these successfully only by working together and seeking to achieve mutual respect and understanding rather than by taking unirateral action.

Accordingly, I hopre that the successful cooperation between our two countries will also continue in the future.