AUSTRIA: JOERG HAIDER CELEBRATES 50TH BIRTHDAY скачать в хорошем качестве

AUSTRIA: JOERG HAIDER CELEBRATES 50TH BIRTHDAY

(29 Jan 2000) German/Eng/Nat Joerg Haider, Leader of the extreme right wing Freedom Party in Austria, was celebrating his 50th birthday in the ski resort Bilach in southern Austria on Saturday. The Austrian far-right leader shrugged off international concern over the prospect of his Freedom Party entering government, saying foreign governments will get used to him. Local dignitaries from Haider's party along with other party members attended the celebrations in Bilach. Acrobatic planes demonstrated, while choirs on the ground sang to honour Haider on his birthday. Followers of the party brought him gifts. The extreme right wing leader denied that his freedom party had Neo-Nazi sympathies and insisted that all those who have criticised him will feel ashamed of this in the future. Meanwhile, the European Union has warned Austria against setting up a government that includes Haider's party, and Belgium is calling for common E-U action if such a coalition materializes. Most European governments have criticised Haider. He is known for once praising Adolf Hitler's "orderly employment policy," and for later lauding veterans of the Waffen SS as "decent people of good character." He has been apologizing ever since. SOUNDBITE: (English) "I don't belong to the political establishment in Europe. I am the leader of new movement which comes from outside and its not among the establishment of the political parties in Europe and they are afraid of being forced to reduce their power and that is the opinion that I have." SUPER CAPTION: Joerg Haider, Leader of the Freedom Party in Austria SOUNDBITE: (German) "I have got no worries that Austria could be isolated. We are a functioning democratic society in which there are three parties who have a strong tradition. Our party is one of those three and I believe that everyone who gets to know us will calm down embarrassed of everything they said. I think that our work for Austria in the possible federal government is going to ashamed all those who without knowing us, were spreading bad news about us." SUPER CAPTION: Joerg Haider, Leader of the Freedom Party in Austria SOUNDBITE: (German) "(Neo Nazi) This is the most stupid description. We are the youngest party. 35 percent of all our electorate are under 30 years of age, so we are the youngest party. In the last year we have taken a lot of votes from the other two parties and just by changing parties they don't stop being democratic." SUPER CAPTION: Joerg Haider, Leader of the Freedom Party in Austria Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter:   / ap_archive   Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​ Instagram:   / apnews   You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...