At the end of October, the Carinthian Homeland Service invited everyone to a convivial Kasnudel meal at the traditional Fruhmann inn in Wernberg. The topic of the evening was the “Special Case of Carinthia”, which the renowned Viennese historian university professor Dr. Lothar Höbelt in a familiar humorous manner, and in an equally well-founded manner. That Carinthia has always occupied a special position throughout its long history, Höbelt was able to demonstrate to the interested audience using numerous examples. Carinthia was Austria's first duchy in the Middle Ages, it lost some of its importance, but was always able to exploit its special position. The circumstance is exciting, that, for example, in the K&K-Monarchy, which, in contrast to other crown lands, did not concern Carinthians for a long time with any minority problems, diese erst sehr spät eine Rolle spielte und bekanntermaßen erst nach dem Ersten Weltkrieg mit Abwehrkampf und Volksabstimmung eskalierte.

For Höbelt, Carinthia's unique geographical location is particularly important - with a view to the future. As is well known, Carinthia borders Italy in the south, on the other hand, to Slovenia and the Balkans. With this starting point and proximity to the Slavic and Romance worlds, said Höbelt, Kärnten im europäischen Kontext alle Chancen.

LH Kaiser: Carinthian homeland service has undergone an impressive change under Josef Feldner - Neo-Chairman Andreas Mölzer wants to continue to focus on reconciliation - Feldner will continue to be involved in the consensus group

Klagenfurt (LPD). For around fifty years, Josef Feldner was at the head of the Carinthian homeland service (KHD). Andreas Mölzer has been the chairman since March. In the course of today's inaugural visit of the new chairman, which was also attended by honorary chairman Rudolf Schober, Governor Peter Kaiser acknowledged the commitment of Josef Feldner in the consensus group. “The home service has undergone an impressive change in recent years and has trodden the path of understanding and reconciliation. The atmosphere in the country has improved for everyone as a result.", said Kaiser and referred to the possibilities, die sich aus Kärntens Lage am Schnittpunkt von drei Kulturkreisen ergeben würden und nannte exemplarisch die Bestrebungen einer grenzübergreifenden Olympiabewerbung.

Andreas Mölzer assured, that reconciliation and mutual support for all people in Carinthia will continue to be the focus of all KHD efforts. “We will also have to face the question, what role KHD can play in society in the future. Service to the homeland can also be nature- or be environmental protection", schilderte Mölzer.

The outgoing chairman Josef Feldner reported, that his personally greatest success was understanding and reconciliation with the ethnic group. "It's nice, no longer have to be against it, but to be able to be for it", Feldner summarized, der auch weiterhin eine zentrale Rolle in der Konsensgruppe innehaben wird.

image: LPD Carinthia/Bauer