The Ambassador of Austria to Turkey is an officer of the Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs of Austria and the head of the Embassy of the Republic of Austria to the Republic of Turkey. The ambassador and her staff resides in Ankara.

There are honorary consuls in Antakya, Antalya, Bodrum, Bursa, Edirne, Gaziantep, İzmir, and Mersin, as well as a consulate general in Istanbul.

The post of Austrian Ambassador to Turkey is currently held by Gabriele Juen, incumbent since 23 January 2024.

History

Diplomatic relations between Austria and Turkey date back to the late 15th century, marked by initial encounters between the Habsburg Monarchy and the Ottoman Empire. Starting in 1547, Habsburg emperors intermittently dispatched ambassadors to Constantinople. By the 18th century, the number of Habsburg consulates in the Ottoman Empire had grown to 101, with 19 located in present-day Turkey.Empress Maria Theresa's establishment of the Oriental Languages Academy in 1754 underscored the significance of relations with the Ottomans, training diplomats in languages including Ottoman Turkish. A notable graduate, Joseph von Hammer-Purgstall, authored a seminal ten-volume history of the Ottoman Empire.

In the 19th century, diplomatic, economic, scientific, and cultural relations between the two empires intensified. Austrian Lloyd emerged as a major shipping company in the Eastern Mediterranean and Black Sea regions. The Austrian St. George's Hospital and College were established in Istanbul in 1872 and 1882, respectively, and archaeological excavations at Ephesus commenced in 1895. Following World War I and the subsequent dissolution of both empires, diplomatic relations were reestablished. In 1924, Austria and Turkey signed a friendship treaty, formalizing their diplomatic engagement. Austrian architects, notably Clemens Holzmeister, played a significant role in the development of modern Ankara, designing key buildings such as the Parliament Building and various ministries. Since 1964, bilateral agreements have facilitated the employment of thousands of Turkish workers by Austrian companies. Today, approximately 270,000 people of Turkish descent reside in Austria, contributing to cultural dialogue and bilateral relations.

List of representatives

Representatives of the Habsburg Monarchy to the Ottoman Empire

Appointment Name Remarks Appointed by Accredited to Left the post 1510 Frederico di Strassoldo envoy Maximilian I Selim I 1511 1530 Benedikt Kuripečič envoy Ferdinand I Suleyman I 1554 Ogier Ghislain de Busbecq Envoy and ambassador Ferdinand I Suleyman I 1562 David Ungnad Messenger and Ambassador Maximilian II Selim II 1578 Johann Joachim von Sinzendorf Envoy,Accompanied by Salomon Schweigger Rudolf II Murad III Adam Freiherr zu Herberstein envoyAhmed I 1609 Hermann Czernin von Chudenitz envoy Matthias 1618 Philipp Ludwig Wenzel von Sinzendorf Ambassador Leopold IMustafa II 1701 Leopold Mamuca della Torre Leopold IMustafa II 1703 Leopold von Talmann Joseph IAhmed III 1711 Anselm Franz von Fleischmann Internuncio - Minister Plenipotentiary Anselm Franz von Fleischmann ERGÜN, Cengiz (2023). "Visualization in Modern History Research / An Implementation with "Palladio" on the Reports of Anselm Franz von Fleischmann, the Journal of International Social Research, Volume: 16 Issue: 104, September 2023, pp. 1-14. Charles VI Ahmed III 1716 Damian Hugo, Count of Virmont Charles VI Ahmed III 27 March 1720 Josef von Dirling Josef von Dirling was subordinate to the peace negotiations in Karlowitz and to the embassy in Öttingen, became secretary of the war chancellery of General Marshal Guido Starhemberg, then the first government secretary in Brussels, and went to Paris in 1716 with Josef Lothar Königsegg, 1719 as Legation Secretary with Great Ambassador Virmond to Constantinople and stayed there after his departure. In 1721 he became a resident. After his return in early 1729, he joined the Imperial War Council. Charles VI Ahmed III 14 July 1728 Ludwig von Talmann Charles VI Ahmed III 18 July 1737 18. July 1737 to August 11, 1740: interruption of relations Anton Corfiz Ulfeldt (* 1699; † 1760) Grand Ambassador Maria Theresa Mahmud I 20 October 1740 Anton Corfiz Ulfeldt Ambassador Maria Theresa Mahmud I 4 May 1741 Heinrich von Penckler Maria Theresa Mahmud I 31 January 1754 Josef von Schwachheim Maria Theresa Osman III 16 January 1762 Heinrich von Penckler Maria Theresa Mustafa III 5 June 1766 Franz Anton Brognard Maria Theresa Mustafa III 22 June 1769 Josef von Heinrich envoy Maria Theresia Mustafa III Johann Amadeus von Thugut (* 1736 in Linz, † 1818 in Vienna) Maria Theresa Mustafa III 27 August 1776 Emanuel of Tassara Envoy, business manager Maria Theresa Mustafa III Peter Philipp von Herbert-Rathkeal (* 1735 in Constantinople) Joseph II Abdulhamid I 9 February 1788 9 February 1788 to September 16, 1791: Relationships broken as a result of the Austro-Turkish War (1788–1791) Bartholomew of Testa Envoy Bartholomew of Testa (* 23 September 1723 Belgrade near Constantinople; † Constantinople 20 March 1809 in Constantinople) Leopold II Selim IIIPeter Philipp von Herbert-Rathkeal Leopold II Selim III20 February 1802Bartholomäus von TestaEnvoy Leopold II Selim IIIIgnaz Lorenz von Stürmer Franz IISelim III10 March 1818Rudolf von Lützow(1780-1858),Franz IIMahmud II31 July 1822Franz von Ottenfels-Gschwind(1778-1851)Franz IIMahmud II2 October 1832Bartholomäus von StürmerFranz IIMahmud II24 April 1850Eduard von Klezl(1805-1874), EnvoyFranz IIMahmud IIKarl Ludwig von Bruck Franz Joseph I.Abdülmecid I21 January 1855August von Koller(1805-1883)Franz Joseph I.Abdülmecid I12 October 1855Anton von Prokesch-OstenEnvoy, From 27 July 1867 AmbassadorFranz Joseph I.Abdülmecid I3 November 1871Emanuel von Ludolf(1823 in Linz - 1898 in Vercelli, Piemont) Franz Joseph I.Abdülaziz15 March 1874Franz Zichy zu Zich und von VásonykeöAmbassadorFranz Graf Zichy von Vasonykeö (1818-1900) was a son of Istvan Graf Zichy von Vasonykeö and Cäcilia Herrin von StubenbergFranz Joseph I.Abdülaziz26 November 1879Heinrich von Calice(* 1831; † 1912) AmbassadorFranz Joseph I.Abdul Hamid II22 September 1906Johann von PallaviciniAmbassadorFranz Joseph I.Abdul Hamid II11 November 1918

Representatives of the Republic of Austria to the Republic of Turkey

AppointmentName Remarks Appointed by Accredited to Left the post 20 November 1924 August Kral Michael Hainisch Mustafa Kemal Atatürk April 1932 17 October 1933 Karl Buchberger Wilhelm Miklas Mustafa Kemal Atatürk193812 March 1938 to 27 November 1946: Diplomatic relations were disrupted due to the Anschluss, during which Austria ceased to exist as an independent nation until the end of World War II. 27 November 1946 Clemens Wildner Karl Renner İsmet İnönü 1951 6 March 1952Erich Bielka Theodor Körner Celâl Bayar 1958 5 May 1958 Karl Hartl Adolf Schärf Celâl Bayar1963 5 December 1963 Olivier ResseguierAdolf SchärfCemal Gürsel 1964 26 November 1965 Wolfgang Jungwirth Franz JonasCemal Gürsel 1968 21 November 1968 Franz Herbatschek Franz JonasCevdet Sunay 1975 1976 Heinz Laube Rudolf KirchschlägerFahri Korutürk 1978 1979 Franz Wunderbaldinger Rudolf KirchschlägerFahri Korutürk 1982 1983 Klaus Ziegler Rudolf Kirchschläger Kenan Evren 1988 1988 Friedrich Zanetti Kurt Waldheim Kenan Evren 1992 1993 Johann Plattner Thomas Klestil Turgut Özal 1997 6 February 1998 Ralph Scheide Thomas Klestil Süleyman Demirel 2001 21 December 2001Marius Calligaris Thomas Klestil Ahmet Necdet Sezer 2006 3 August 2006Heidemaria Gürer Heinz Fischer Ahmet Necdet Sezer 2011 18 January 2012 Klaus Wölfer Heinz Fischer Abdullah Gül 2017 11 September 2017 Ulrike Tilly Alexander Van der Bellen Recep Tayyip Erdoğan 2019 24 October 2019 Johannes Wimmer Alexander Van der Bellen Recep Tayyip Erdoğan 202323 January 2024Gabriele JuenAlexander Van der BellenRecep Tayyip Erdoğan

Notes Also served as Ambassador of Austria to Persia and Iraq (1933-1938).

See also

Austria-Turkey relations List of ambassadors of Turkey to Austria Ottoman-Habsburg Wars Palace of Venice, Istanbul

References