Maintaining International Peace and Security: Challenges Facing the U.N. Security Council
with His Excellency
Thomas Mayr-Harting,
Austrian Ambassador to the United Nations
When: Monday, April 4
- 11:30 am Networking Reception
- 10:00 noon Presentation, followed by Q&A
Where: Bienville Gallery, The Royal Sonesta Hotel, New Orleans, LA
Cost: $35.00 ($30.00 for WTCNO members)
Presented by the World Trade Center, Center Austria at UNO, the Honorary Consulate of Austria for Louisiana and Mississippi, and the World Affairs Council of New Orleans
For more information or to register via phone, please call (504) 619-9834.
Under the terms of the United Nations Charter, the Security Council has primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security. It is the only international body that can authorize military measures against an aggressor. It also plays an important role in international peacekeeping. At present, some 120.000 U.N. blue helmets are engaged in U.N. missions on the basis of a U.N. Security Council mandate. During the last few years, the Council has faced a broad variety of challenges: nuclear proliferation in Iran and North Korea, conflicts in the Middle East and many parts of Africa; and most recently, upheaval in Libya. Ambassador Mayr-Harting will describe the Council’s working methods and the issues it deals with.
Thomas Mayr-Harting is the Austrian Ambassador to the United Nations. He represented Austria on the Security Council during Austria’s term as a non-permanent member in 2009 and 2010. Prior to his current appointment Ambassador Mayr-Harting served as Political Director (Director General for Political Affairs) of the Austrian Foreign Ministry from 2003 to 2008. From 1999 to 2003 he was Ambassador of Austria to Belgium and Head of the Austrian Mission to NATO. Ambassador Mayr-Harting holds a law degree from the University of Vienna and was awarded the prestigious Diploma of The Hague Academy of International Law in 1978.