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As result of the difficulties in getting the Visa for Russia the consortium decided to move the meeting for Q2 of year 2006 to Graz.

The Styrian capital of Graz is famous for its high quality of life and stands out as a vital business location and as a center of science, research and culture.The city lies at an intersection of several European cultures. Romanic, Slavic, Magyar and Alpine-Germanic influences have mixed here to form a uniquely distinctive character. Wandering through the old town, which happens to be one of the biggest historically intact architectural ensembles of the German-speaking world, this character is illustrated in buildings ranging in style from Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque and Historicism up to Art Nouveau. On December 1, 1999, this singular city center, which has been only very lightly contrasted with modern architecture, became a UNESCO world cultural heritage site. 2003 was one of the most significant years in our history. Graz was named "Cultural Capital of Europe" by the EU Ministries of Culture. With a vital and colorful cultural program, Graz managed to attract visitors from all over the world and generate an ongoing resonance. As a cultural capital, Graz has claimed a significant place on the map and today is mentioned in the same breath as Vienna and Salzburg. Graz understands this multicultural tradition, which has characterized the city for decades, as the fundament for its cultural and political identity. Today, Graz continues to be a place of international encounter and intercultural and inter-religious dialogue. |