Robert Koch
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/ 3 February 2006

Austria will not buy back ‘its’ Klimt masterpieces

Austria said on Thursday it would not buy back five masterpieces by Austrian painter Gustav Klimt, but instead return them to a descendant of the paintings’ former Jewish owner whose possessions were seized by the Nazis. Austrian Culture Minister Elisabeth Gehrer said the government did not see how it could spend -million (€248 million) to buy back the paintings.

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/ 26 December 2005

Austria’s favourite son turns 250

Austria will celebrate the 250th anniversary of Mozart’s birth next year in what promises to be an extravaganza for souvenir hunters. ”The ‘Mozart’ brand is one of the best known in the world,” said Arthur Oberascher, head of the Austrian National Tourist Office, estimating its value at about €5,4-billion.