The Permanent Secretariat of the Alpine Convention was honoured to host a high-level international delegation in Innsbruck from 20 to 21 September 2023. At the invitation of the Slovenian Embassy in Vienna, the ambassadors from the Alpine countries visited the seat of the Alpine Convention as well as the Tyrolean Parliament.
The visit, which was financed by the Slovenian Presidency of the Alpine Convention, brought ambassadors from Austria, France, Germany, Italy, Liechtenstein, Slovenia, and Switzerland (or their representatives) to Innsbruck.
“The recent floods that affected Slovenia and some other countries in the Alpine region have reaffirmed that the challenges faced by the Alps are often cross-border in nature and can be best solved through cooperation. The ambassadors' working visit to the headquarters of the Alpine Convention is a demonstration that, in the challenging times we live in, we should also strengthen the diplomatic and foreign policy dialogue between the Alpine countries,” said Slovenian Ambassador to Austria, S.E. Aleksander Geržina.
In the headquarters of the Permanent Secretariat, the ambassadors learnt about the work of the Alpine Convention and discussed diverse aspects of cross-border Alpine cooperation.
“The Alpine Convention’s strength lies in its ability to bring diverse people and organisations together, working across borders and sectors. This visit reflects the Alpine Convention’s importance in international cooperation and sustainable mountain development,” praised Alenka Smerkolj, Secretary General of the Alpine Convention.
During the two-day visit, the ambassadors were also shown the Tyrolean Parliament. They were received by its President, Sonja Ledl-Rossmann, who remarked that “Alpine-wide cooperation is crucial for Tyrol which borders three other Alpine countries. It therefore makes sense that the seat of the Alpine Convention, the model for cross-border Alpine collaboration, sits right here in our State.”