Kurt Waldheim (redirected from Kurt Josef Waldheim)

Waldheim, Kurt 

Born Dec. 21, 1918, in Sankt Andrä-Wördern, Lower Austria. Austrian political figure and diplomat. Secretary-general of the United Nations (1972–81).

The son of a civil servant, Waldheim graduated from the Vienna Consular Academy in 1938 and from the University of Vienna, where he received a doctor of laws degree, in 1944. He entered the Austrian diplomatic service in 1945. From 1951 to 1955 he headed the personnel division of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In the period 1956 to 1960, Waldheim served first as minister to Canada and then as ambassador. He was director-general for political affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs from 1960 to 1964.

Waldheim was Austria’s permanent representative to the United Nations from 1964 to 1968 and again in 1970 and 1971. He served as minister of foreign affairs from 1968 to 1970. In 1971 he was the candidate of the Austrian People’s Party for president of Austria.

Waldheim holds honorary doctor of laws degrees from a number of foreign universities. In 1977, Waldheim was awarded an honorary degree of doctor of sciences from Moscow State University for his fruitful activities in the area of international cooperation and for his active struggle to strengthen peace and friendship among peoples.

WORKS

Der Österreichische Weg [2nd ed.]. Vienna-Munich-Zürich, 1971. In Russian translation: Avstriiskii put’. Moscow, 1976.