AUSTRIA- Europe witnessed the dawn of the youngest foreign minister when Austria swore in its new coalition government cabinet which has Sebastian Kurz, aged 27, occupying the position.

Kurz was one of the 12 ministers confirmed by Austrian President Heinz Fischer in the capital Vienna.

Mr. Kurz was the state secretary for integration before taking up his new role.

He is a member of the People’s Party which got 23.8 per cent of votes during the last general election and is forming coalition with the Social Democrats which got 27.1 per cent.

As secretary, he followed a policy of integrating immigrants into Austrian society by requiring their children to speak German before entering school.

He also established free language classes for Muslim religious leaders and launched a forum for dialogue with Islam.