Waldheim, Kurt

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Austrian politician and diplomat, president 1986–92. He was secretary general of the United Nations 1972–81, having been Austria's representative there 1964–68 and 1970–71.

He was elected president in spite of revelations that during World War II he had been an intelligence officer in an army unit responsible for transporting Jews to death camps. His election therefore led to some diplomatic isolation of Austria, and in 1991 he announced that he would not run for re-election.

The blue star signifies the purity and honesty of the life of the country. The red star represents authority and law. Effective date: 4 June 1904. >>