Stresa, Regina Palace Hotel

I wish express, above all, my the deepest appreciation about the annual event "Vienna sul Lago" that, arrived at its ninth edition, it intends by now as traditional rendezvous full of events of great importance both on the cultural level and on the social engagement.
As Minister of the Defence, I have to be pleasure with the invitation to take part in the event addressed to the young Pupils of the Military Academies, and I consider praiseworthy enterprise, encouraging signal of attention and sensitiveness to the Military world and so, significant contribution to the ties' reinforecement between citizens and institutions.
The cadets' presence at the cultural and artistic events, and particularly at the Great Bal that concludes the manifestation, in the wonderful natural and artistic setting of Stresa, that recalls traditions from the past which we look at, without nostalgic accents, to build the Europe of the next generations
Keeping the Patronage of the Ministry of the Defence and the joing at the Honour Committee, I wish express on behalf of the Armed Forces and myself, the sincerest wish for a perfect success of the event, above all for its social and humanitarian aims.
To the President of the Committee "Vienna sul Lago", to everybody has shared in the organization, to all bystanders, and sbove all to the young debutantes, a sincere wish yours faithfully.

Antonio Martino

The prestige and the extraordinariness of the event that boasts authoritative patronage of the Ministry of Foreign Affair, the Ministry of the Fine Arts, the Austrian embassy to the Quirinal, region Piedmont, Stresa town, the Austrian embassy to the Holy See, the Austrian General Consulate, the Austrian Cultural Institute of Milan, it's increased more and more the reputation of this ball. The fame's got over the regional and national limits', counting the participation of foreign girls. Vienna sul Lago isn't a commercial bal, in fact it's organized from a committee non-profit whom the members lend their work for nothing and propose a charitable aim: every year the evening's receipts are given money to charity and this year is for the charitable works of the Holy Military Constantinian Order St. George's, that looks after services sanitary emergency, with a special division bounds up with the needier children.
Keeping the tradition, the great ball'd offer to the young women a romantic dream, the occasion of a cultural exchange between of girls and boys coming from all Italy sides', a friendship vehicle's between Italy and Austria, in a place so charming like the Maggiore lakesides and the Regina Palace's gorgeous nineteenth-century halls. Even the events, seemingly "thoughtless", can be a great occasion to make the most of cities and palace that the Italy is rich. So, I'm glad to give the Ministry of the Fine Arts and the Cultural Activities' patronage to this event. As Minister, I'd express my appreciation to the realization of this only and traditional initiative in the Stresa's charming setting and I wish to every participant a musical and dancing nice evening.

Greetings from the QUIRINAL

Stresa and Vienna, the beautiful initiative about the organization of a Viennese ball on a lake binds this two places in a particular way. The environment charming and the Stresa's great traditions, offers a ideal setting to a gala night with the Viennese waltz.
I thank, with all my heart, the Great ball Vienna sul Lago organizers' for their dedication and I wish to every participant a wonderful evening.
Alfons M. Kloss

Greetings from the Holy See

To every participant of the Vienna sul Lago Ball, I send my kind regards and best wishes for the excellent success of this initiative, marked by the friendship between Italy and Austrian. I'm convinced that the music represents a ideal bridge between European people, which the bonds are further reinforced with the lately introduction of a common money.

Walter Greinert

Greetings from the Mayor of Vienna

I'd like express my praise to this initiative which underline the friendly and the reliable relationship that bind Austrian and Italy.
I'm very glad, moreover, that the ball goes off in the sign of a right cause. So I'd like to offer my particular greeting to the participants and I wish to the organizers a deserved success.

Michael Häupl

GREETINGS FROM THE ORGANISING COMMITTEE

Today, saturday 2003 November 15th, the Debs' great bal, with pleasant renewed rush, come at its 9th editions, will shelter twenty-four young girls in the wonderful setting of Regina Palace Hotel, among the reflecions of the Lake Maggiore where Stresa is mirrored in,without time, its most precious pearl.
During the year, we undertake a difficult and impassable path, where never lacks the future's incognito, although we don't deny, even though with modest sacrifice, living eagerly and with proud this evening.
That proud we're honoured to offer to "ours debs" an ideal hug that, through any means of communication, comes to us all by now in the heart of Old Europe and notoriously, over its borders.
Vienna sul lago, become the most prestigious bal in Italy and the most important in our continent, takes the starting point from the tradition, while it shows itself in the present, in a throbbing atmosphere full of emotions and suggestions to crown the dream that it brings to perfection in the vivid Romanticism of young girls of their time.
The happy coincidence during in the Italian Presidency of the European Union finds a propitious laying out with one of the foundations of our enterprise, the ideal bridge, consolidated in the time, between Austria and Italy, place of meeting for friendship and culture, in the sign of the noble union music and dance.
Vienna sul lago is a philanthropical manifestation that, particularly in the latest years, for the secular tradition of the Holy Military Constantinian Order St. George's, which charitable works we tie our success, could see concretely realized with little and big actions assistence to the weakers, to the sick patients, to the disabled or elderlies, who we want they continue to achieve, also through our action, the widest, costant and tangible advantages.
The organizing committee is honoured to give the friendliest greeting and thanks all civil and military authorities, both Italian and Austrian, that with their adhesion, they've confirmed and renewed the confidence to the event, bestowing glamour and uniquity; thank moreover, to all the all participants at the event that with their presence have shared at the increasing and indisputable success.
In a period of economic crisis, it would be a particularly thanks for their contributions to everyone's believed and keep believing in the goodness of the manifestation, surpassing the distrust and the indifference that often goes along enterprises like that.
To welcome guests, the twenty-one wonderful "Debs" and the young future Officers of the prestigious Italian Navy, we also fervently wish our to keep dreaming with endless enthusiasm for meeting and facing, with the right bravery a flourishing future.

Thanks to you all.