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CZECH the Newsnews Newsletter of the Embassy of the Czech Republic Vol CZECH the NewsNews Newsletter of the Embassy of the Czech Republic Vol. 1, 2008 Embassy Conducts Holocaust Education, Celebrates Winton arking the United Nations children who became curious MInternational Day of about the fate of families who Commemoration of the Victims disappeared from their home of the Holocaust on January towns during the Nazi era. 27, the Embassy of the Czech Ms. Zahradnikova’s presentation Republic in Washington, DC, to U.S. students included a conducts an annual Holocaust historical overview of Jews in educational outreach program the Czech lands and the effects to students between the ages of of World War II on the Czech 12 and 18 in the United States. Jewish population. After viewing The Embassy launched this the exhibit for themselves, initiative in 2007 when more students assumed the identity than 150 students from the of one of the disappeared Washington metropolitan area neighbors, then wrote and Photo courtesy of Zuzana Minacova came to the Czech Consulate presented their stories to Ambassador Petr Kolar (L) with Nicholas Winton’s son Nick Winton over a 4-day period to view the classmates. (center) and Igor Wassenberger (R) in Prague. “Neighbors Who Disappeared” In 2008, the Embassy Nicholas Winton, a young Briton documentary, Nicholas Winton– exhibit. Marie Zahradnikova, the of the Czech Republic, with who helped save the lives of 669 The Power of Good, followed by exhibit’s curator from the Jewish the support of the Israeli and Czechoslovak Jewish and non- a discussion and presentation by Museum in Prague, presented British Embassies, continues the Jewish children during the run-up Holocaust educator Dr. Miriam the project which was produced Holocaust educational outreach to World War II. The in-school Klein Kassenoff and questions by contemporary Czech school program using the story of initiative includes screening the Continued on page 3 Contents: Czech Republic Joins Schengen n December 21, Border posts were abolished Message from the Ambassador..... 2 O2007, the Czech in the Czech Republic on Republic officially December 21, 2007, and Czech Trams Glide to Success...... 2 joined the Schengen external border controls at area—a geographical Ambassador’s Timeline of Events.. 2 international airports in the region comprised of Czech Republic for flights Czech Government Awards Five European member within the Schengen area Czech Americans........................ 3 states that participate will be abolished on March Gabriella Landa – Capturing the in the Schengen 30, 2008, in compliance with Abstraction of Things................... 4 Agreement and allow Schengen rules. The main free movement of change in travel for U.S. Choral Arts Society to Perform Dvorak Easter Concert................. 5 nationals between visitors to the Czech Republic member countries The is that the 90-day maximum Upcoming Czech Events Schengen area was stay includes time spent in the U.S................................... 5 formally founded in in all European countries Director Reflects on Filmmaking June 1985 with the within the Schengen area. Journey...................................... 6 signing of the Schengen In addition to the Photo courtesy of Wikipedia.org One World Heads to DC for Convention, and was Map of Europe shows the Czech Republic, other new Festival Opener........................... 6 originally comprised of 15 Schengen countries in blue. members of the Schengen area European member states that area country Movement between since December 2007 include Embassy Participates in abolished systematic border Environmental Film Festival.......... 7 Schengen area States is included Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, control checks on citizens. in the 90-day maximun stay. Non- Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Avalon Brings Czech Filmmaking Schengen area members Schengen area nationals who are Slovenia, and the Slovak to the Forefront........................... 7 apply uniform rules of entry and subject to a visa requirement Republic. They join current Czech Populations Hits duration of stays to nonmember according to their nationality Schengen members Austria, Record Growth........................... 8 citizens. Visitors to the Czech will still need a visa which Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Republic from non-Schengen France, Germany, Greece, Did You Know?........................... 8 will specify the duration of the countries can stay for a maximum authorized stay, not to exceed Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, of 90 days within a 180-day 90 days in any half-year period Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, period, calculated from the date Unless otherwise stated, the visa Spain, and Sweden. of first entry into any Schengen is valid for all Schengen States. Current Events Czech Trams Glide to Success in U.S. Message from the Ambassador Dear Friends, While change is the current buzzword in American Photo courtesy of www.inekon.cz politics, the Czech Republic Czech tram in Seattle, WA also is undergoing some emonstrating the growing after 3 years of planning and transitions of its own, many Dimportance of Czech construction, Seattle became Photo courtesy of Chad Wyatt of which will enhance Czech exports to international markets, the latest U.S. city to use Czech foreign relations. As of December 2007, the Czech Republic Czech trams and trollies are trams in its transportation officially joined the Schengen area which removes border currently running on tracks in infrastructure when it unveiled controls between us and our European neighbors. Travel from several U.S. cities including a brand new 1.3 mile streetcar the Czech Republic to other Schengen member countries is San Francisco, Boston, Tacoma, network which utilizes three now as easy as travel between U.S. States, and standardizes and Portland, Oregon, with trams manufactured by Inekon our travel security measures within the European Union (EU). Washington, DC, and others Group. The Ostrava-based rail Citizens of Schengen area nations can move freely between preparing to incorporate this transportation company produced states while visa requirements for non-Schengen area citizens environmentally friendly and and adapted the trams to meet are now consistent throughout most of Europe (for an efficient technology into local U.S. specifications Inekon overview of how this change affects U.S. citizens, see the full mass transit systems The two Group’s U.S. tram sales in the story on the front page). largest Czech tram manufactur- Seattle deal are valued at USD ers, Skoda Transportation and $10 million (approximately 200 The Czech Republic also continues to move closer to full Inekon Group, design and million Czech crowns) with visa parity with the United States. In the meantime, we are produce trams, trollies, and parts overall U.S. sales amounting to busy preparing to assume the presidency of the European for the U.S. market. approximately USD $30 million Union. For the first 6 months of 2009 the Czech Republic On December 12, 2007, (600 million Czech crowns). will serve as the face and voice of the EU. The high volume of activities, meetings, and events associated with the EU Ambassador’s Timeline of Events presidency necessitates that the Embassy here in Washington September 18, 2007 undergo renovations in late spring 2008. After the dust Ambassador Petr Kolar with settles and the tarpaulins are removed we will be better able Senator Dianne Feinstein and to accommodate our many guests. Also in 2008, the Czech Slovak Ambassador Rastislav Republic is submitting its bid to host the 2016 summer Kacer discuss human rights Olympics in Prague in the hope of sharing our beautiful city issues at the Burma Forum, with the world. cosponsored by the Embassy of the Czech Republic and the The year 2008 serves as an important anniversary of Stanley Foundation. many important events that shaped Czech history—including the 90th birthday of the founding of the first Czechoslovak October 25, 2007 Republic in 1918, as well as commemoration of the pivotal During the Czech National political changes of 1938 (the Munich Agreement which Day celebration, Ambassador gave Czechoslovakia’s Sudetenland to Germany and de Kolar presented General James facto control of Czechoslovakia to Hitler), 1948 (communist Jones, former Supreme Allied takeover of the country), and 1968 (Warsaw pact invasion of Commander of Europe, with Czechoslovakia). We plan to mark these defining milestones the Cross of Merit, the highest in Czech history throughout the year to celebrate the triumph honor bequeathed by the Czech of free will and democracy over oppression. Minister of Defense. October 31, 2007 I invite you to join us at the many functions the Embassy Ambassador Kolar met with will sponsor in the greater Washington metropolitan area Tennessee Governor Phil Brede- throughout 2008. In the meantime, I wish you great success, sen and members of the Tennes- health, and happiness in the new year. see World Affairs Council to discuss Czech-US and Czech- Tennessee issues. He also spoke to students at Vanderbuilt Warmly, University. November 12, 2007 Ambassador Kolar with Acad- emy award-winning director Jiri Menzel after opening Menzel’s Petr Kolar Washington premiere of I Served the King of England during the EU Showcase at the AFI Silver Theater. 2 Czech the News/Vol. 1, 2008 Current Events Czech Government Awards Five Czech Americans he Ministry of Foreign is to promote and preserve the War II. The son of a TAffairs (MFA) of the Czech natural and cultural heritage Czechoslovak Army Republic awarded the 2007 of the region while developing
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