ABSTRACT
This chapter starts by looking at neutrality and mediation in the Cold War based on Austrian, Hungarian, Soviet and US documents, then turns to mediation attempts regarding Vietnam, and finally sheds some light on the various stages of the Austrian episode. At the end, the neutral states motivations for offering mediation discusses briefly in view of recent findings from mediation research. In the 1960s, the Vietnam War was one of the global conflicts that prompted the highest number of mediation attempts in the international community. In preparing the visit to Vienna with the Hungarian comrades, Hoang Luong repeatedly highlighted that his aim was to negotiate political, economic and cultural relations between his country and Austria and to inform the Austrians about the current situation in Vietnam. The Hungarian side and in contrast to Hoang Luongs declared aims, Waldheim offered Austrias good offices if desired by all parties involved.
