RIYADH: A delegation of senior Austrian officials on Monday visited the Princess Alice and Islamic coins exhibitions at the King Abdulaziz Public Library in Riyadh.
The party was welcomed by the library’s general supervisor and his deputy, Faisal bin Abdulrahman bin Muammar and Abdulkarim Al-Zaid, respectively, and its director general, Bandar Al-Mubarak.
Members of the delegation included Christopher Hollensteiner, the undersecretary-general of state for cultural affairs, Oskar Wustinger, Austria’s envoy to Saudi Arabia, Omar Al-Rawi, a member of Vienna’s regional parliament and city council, Ernst-Peter Brezovsky of the Federal Ministry of Europe, Integration, and International Affairs, Regina Figl, the Austrian ambassador to UNESCO in Paris, and Rudolf Zunke, manager of the World Heritage designated site Historic Center of Vienna.
They are among delegates representing Austria at the 45th extended session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, taking place in Riyadh until Sept. 25.
During their tour of the library, the group viewed rare books and collectibles, along with photos from Princess Alice’s visit to the Kingdom in 1938, which included shots of her meeting with King Abdulaziz. They were also shown around the Islamic coins display.
Bin Muammar said the visit would help to further strengthen cultural and intellectual ties between Austria and Saudi Arabia.
