The Carinthian Homeland Service set the tone with a top-class scientific symposium under the title “Defensive Carinthia – National Defense between Neutrality and Fear of War”. (KHD) in the Europahaus Klagenfurt a clear sign of a discussion on security policy, historisches Bewusstsein und die geistige Verteidigung der Heimat.

Klagenfurt. KHD chairman Andreas Mölzer opened the event and in his greetings emphasized the importance of a strong historical awareness and a self-confident Carinthia in a time of growing international uncertainty. Particularly in view of global crises, we need to focus more on questions
national defense, der Neutralitä t und der kulturellen Identität auseinandersetzen.

The historian Prof. Dr. In her lecture, Claudia Fräss-Ehrfeld offered an exciting overview of Carinthia's national defense in a historical context. She referred to it, that the distinctive Carinthian self-confidence is essentially the result of centuries of
experience of constant threat and possible division from outside. The history of Carinthia is therefore closely linked to the will, your own homeland, Kultur und Identität zu bewahren.

Brigadier a.D. Günter Polajnar dedicated himself to the topic “National defense and military service in neutral Austria”. He emphasized, that Austria's neutrality is by no means a given, but requires clear political will, which is currently all too missing. Credible neutrality also requires sufficient financial resources and willingness, to invest in national military defense. Ohne entsprechende sicherheitspolitische Prioritäten könne Neutralitat langfristig nicht wirksam abgesichert werden.

Dr. Bruno Burchhart spoke about the “defense of Carinthia’s spiritual values” and emphasized, that national defense should not only be understood in military terms. Preserving cultural identity is just as crucial, historical memory and social values, die den inneren Zusammenhalt einer Gemeinschaft stärken.

The event was moderated by National Council member Wendelin Mölzer, der durch das Symposium führte und die unterschiedlichen Themenbereiche miteinander verband.

The Kanaltaler Kulturverein acted as project partners, die ARGE der Kärntner Heimatund Traditionsverbände sowie die OUsterreichische Landsmannschaft mit.

The symposium made it clear, that security issues, der Neutralität und der kulturellen Selbstbehauptung aktueller denn je sind und sowohl politische als auch gesellschaftliche Verantwortung erfordern.