Honourable Mr Michael Ludwig,
Mayor of Vienna, a Peace Messenger City of the United Nations!
I am writing to express our sincere and collective condolences of The International Association of Peace Messenger Cities (IAPMC) of the United Nations, of which Vienna is an esteemed member since 1987, to the City of Vienna and Republic of Austria.
I would also like to express our most sincere condolences as the Mayor of Slovenj Gradec, Slovenia. Namely, the year of 2020 has connected Vienna and Slovenj Gradec through commemorating the 160th anniversary of composer Hugo Wolf’s birth. The Year of Hugo Wolf has been celebrated throughout this year in Sovenj Gradec, his birth town and the delegation from Slovenj Gradec Town Hall and the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Slovenia have also attended the commemoration at Hugo Wolf’s tomb in Vienna.
Cowardly and hideous terrorist attacks against the people of one of the greatest cultural capitals and cornerstones of European values, particularly amidst the Covid-torn times, which themselves are immensely affecting all our cities and countries as the situation requires our utmost humane empathy towards each other, have indeed shaken us to the core.
We, therefore, stand by you, united in condemnation of acts of terror, and expressing our most sincere condolences to the families, friends and colleagues of those who lost their lives due to the attacks on November 2, 2020.
Slovenj Gradec, November 3, 2020
Tilen Klugler,
Mayor of Slovenj Gradec, Slovenia and
Secretary-General of the IAPMC