On August 26, 2021, Ambassador Martin Weiss, accompanied by the Embassy’s Economic and Trade Counselor Georg-Christian Lack, paid an official visit to Richmond, the capital of the Commonwealth of Virginia.
The Ambassador was welcomed by the Mayor of Richmond, The Hon. Levar Stoney. The Ambassador and Mayor Stoney exchanged views on a wide range of topics, including the city’s economic development, “Greening the City” initiatives, climate change mitigation, the strengthening of public transit, and Richmond’s role as an research amd education hub.
Thereafter, Ambassador Weiss, accompanied by Austria’s Honorary Consul in Richmond, Mr. Bernhard Barta, visited the Virginia War Memorial. The memorial opened in 1955 and is dedicated to Virginians who fell while serving in the armed forces of the U.S. from World War II through today. Ambassador Weiss was greeted by Ms. Pam Seay, the President of the Virginia War Memorial Foundation and Dr. Clay Mountcastle, the Virginia War Memorial Director.
From right: Dr. Clay Mountcastle, Ambassador Martin Weiss, President Pam Seay, Honorary Consul Bernhard Barta, Economic and Trade Counselor Georg-Christian Lack
The visit to Richmond concluded with a dinner reception in honor of the Austrian Ambassador at the residence of Honorary Consul Barta. Among the honorable guests were the former U.S. Ambassador to the OSCE in Vienna and Governor of Virginia, Jim Gilmore, as well as Virginia State Senator Siobhan Dunnavant.
From right: Mr. Lloyd Dunnavant, Sen. Siobhan Dunnavant, Ms. Roxanne Gatling Gilmore, Ambassador Jim Gilmore, Ambassador Martin Weiss, Honorary Consul Bernhard Barta, Economic and Trade Counselor Georg-Christian Lack, Ms. Barta, Mr. Christopher Barta