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The Unloved Democracy of the Inter-War Period |
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Page 7 of 11
Belvedere Palace
During the reconstruction period, the system of coalition governments involving the two major parties, the Austrian People's Party (ÖVP) and the Socialist Party (SPÖ), enabled basic agreement to be reached regarding Austria's international orientation. Nevertheless, in the wake of the East-West conflict, the negotiations for a state treaty did not bear fruit until 1954. It was only after Stalin's death that the new Soviet policy of peaceful coexistence opened up fresh avenues for this Austrian desire. When Austrian politicians brought the subject of neutrality into the discussions, the Soviet Union signaled its fundamental readiness to sign such an agreement. In April and May 1955, Austria used this opportunity in Moscow and Vienna to negotiate a state treaty which finally restored Austrian sovereignty. After decades of war and hardship, the signing of the State Treaty on 15 May 1955 in Vienna's Belvedere Palace was one of the most moving moments in Austrian history.
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