Minority condemns Styrian govt's anthem plan
Klagenfurt, 16 January - The National Council of Carinthian Slovenians (NSKS), a key organisation of the Slovenian minority in Austria, has condemned the plan of the new government of Styria to enshrine the federal state's anthem in its constitution. Written in 1844, the song talks about Styrian territory stretching well beyond the borders of modern-day Austria.
Graz, Austria
Panorama of Graz, the capital of Styria.
Photo: Xinhua/STA
File photo
A government led by the right-wing Freedom Party (FPÖ) was sworn in in Styria in December. It included in its plan of work the intention to include the song Dachsteinlied in the state constitution as its official anthem.
"Governor Mario Kunasek has embarrassed himself several times over the past few days with his comments about the Styrian anthem," NSKS said in a statement on Thursday.
The organisation also noted that Kunasek's FPÖ and its coalition partner, the People's Party (ÖVP), do not have the two-thirds majority in the state parliament required to amend the constitution.
Moreover, the border between Bad Radkersburg, Spielfeld and Eibiswald has been determined long ago, in Article 5 of the Austrian State Treaty, NSKS said in reference to three towns located just north of the border between Slovenia and Austria.
"In line with this, the Drava River flows through Slovenia and not through Styria," the NSKS added. The Dachsteinlied talks about Styria stretching to the banks of the Sava and Drava rivers, which is not the case today.
The organisation, based in the neighbouring state of Carinthia, the home to most of the Slovenian minority in Austria, also advised Kunasek to look into the lyrics of other songs, as many had been written by "authors with Nazi mindsets".
Yesterday, the Greens in Styria also expressed opposition to the FPÖ's plan, saying it was an unnecessary provocation that must not damage good neighbouring relations with Slovenia, according to a report by the Austrian press agency APA.
While the Slovenian Foreign Ministry has not taken formal action nor protested against the move, it underlined the importance of territorial integrity and sovereignty, and called for prudence in actions that concern key national symbols.
Kunasek struck back, accusing Slovenia of discriminating against the German-speaking community in the country, saying it should be granted official minority status.