Bruno Kreisky and the Dove of Peace

A dove of peace, characterised by an olive branch in its beak, is fed by Egyptian President Anwar al-Sadat and US President Gerald Ford against the backdrop of Salzburg Cathedral. Austrian Chancellor Bruno Kreisky stands benevolently in the background with his arms folded behind his back.

The cartoon illustrates an informal meeting that took place in Salzburg in June 1975 and made international headlines. After the Yom Kippur War in 1973, the political situation in the Middle East was tense. Egypt and Israel were hostile to each other and the USA was looking for ways to promote stability in the region. Gerald Ford wanted to improve relations between the United States and the Arab countries, while Sadat sought support for a peace process. The talks centred on the need to reduce political tensions.

Although the meeting did not bring any immediate solutions, it laid the foundations for future peace talks and also highlighted Austria's role as a neutral mediator in international dialogue.

Incidentally, a festive event to mark Bruno Kreisky's 115th birthday on 22 January 2026 will be all about this. Under the title "BRUNO KREISKY AND THE MIDDLE EAST- BUILDING DIPLOMACY AND RECONSTRUCTING PEACE", Sadat's nephew, Mohammad Anwar Esmat Sadat, Chairman of the Reform and Development Party in Egypt and founding member of the Arab Council for Regional Integration, will be among those discussing the topic at the Kreisky Forum.