Kurt Waldheim on Wednesday handed over the Austrian presidency and expressed regret that his own tenure was overshadowed by controversy over his Nazi past.

View Comments

The swearing in Wednesday of Thomas Klestil in Vienna was seen as the end of an era of isolation for Austria.Waldheim was largely ignored by Western governments throughout his six-year term after it was disclosed that he served as an intelligence officer of the Nazi Wehrmacht in the Balkans. Waldheim initially concealed that role.

Join the Conversation
Looking for comments?
Find comments in their new home! Click the buttons at the top or within the article to view them — or use the button below for quick access.