CZECH the NewsNews Newsletter of the Embassy of the Czech Republic of the Czech Republic Winter 2004 In this issue: President Vaclav Klaus Congratulates President Vaclav Klaus US President George W. Bush Congratulates US President hortly after the presidential election in the United States of America, the Czech President sent a George W. Bush..........................1 message to his American counterpart expressing his appreciation of George Bush´s successful Celebrating November 1989, Sre-election for his second term as the 43rd President of the United States. Return of Democracy in Miami.........................................2 Dear Mr. President, Message from the Let me congratulate you on my behalf and on behalf of the citizens of the Czech Republic on your re- Ambassador................................2 election to the post of the President of the United States of America. Europe Must Stand Fast Against Many Czech nationals view your country as a symbol of freedom, optimism, individualism, liberal Castro’s Tyranny..........................3 economic environment and conservative values. That is why it is not surprising that strong ties binding our countries in the past led naturally to the forming of an alliance between our OECD Report: Economic Survey of the Czech Republic 2004.............5 countries within the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. Even after our entry into the EU, the Euro-Atlantic cooperation remains a major pillar of our foreign policy. Growth Has Picked Up, Reflecting I very much appreciate, that throughout these difficult times you have been acting as a true leader of Past Reforms................................5 the American nation, being consistent in your opinions and attitudes, regardless of numerous objections News Brief...................................5 from various sides. I personally attach a great importance to this quality. Once again, let me congratulate you and your team for doing an outstanding job during the Outsourcing from the CR Is No Threat to US Jobs........................6 campaign, on your great success. US Benefits from EU Enlargement................................7 Vaclav Klaus Prazsky Vyber...............................8 MFA Financial Contribution for 2006..........................................8 2005 Czech Course in Celebrating November 1989, Dobruska....................................8 Return of Democracy in Miami 2005 SVU Conference Update.......................................9 n November 9, 2004, Madeleine Albright and leading Business Buzz...............................9 exactly fifteen years organizations promoting democra- Oafter the Fall of the cy in Cuba. New Honorary Consulate of the Berlin Wall in the then-Eastern Martin Palous, the Czech Czech Republic Opens in Detroit......................................10 Germany and subsequent series Ambassador to the USA, of revolutions across Central told the gathering that Cuba's Czech Authors Available at Catbird and Eastern Europe that brought abuse of human rights should Press.........................................11 back democracy, the Czech be addressed by the internation- Nemec Photo courtesy of Ondrej Embassy hosted an “Evening of al community. In a video Ambassador Palous at Miami Solidarity,” in Miami, home of message from Prague, former Conference many exiled Cubans. Czech President Vaclav Havel (Prague selection). Michael This event, aimed at support- wished Cuba a “quick arrival of Kocab, the lead singer of the ing Cuban opposition and democracy.” band, stated that the Prague expressing our solidarity with The evening in Manuel Selection ''. came to Cubans living on the Island Artime Community Center in awaken democracy in Cuba." under the dictatorship of Fidel Miami´s Little Havana began The band performed for an Castro, included messages by with a presentation of photo- audience of Cuban exiles as well U.S. President George W. Bush, graphs from the Island, illustrat- as several dozens of young former Czech President Vaclav ing uneasy life under the dicta- Czechs in order to demonstrate Havel, and letters by Senator torship, followed by a musical the Czech solidarity with John McCain as well as the for- performance by a famous Czech Cubans and to encourage mer U.S. Secretary of State rock band, Prazsky Vyber (continued on page 2) Czech the News/Winter 2004 1 Ambassador Message from the Ambassador am glad to announce to you about our activities here in the prospects and challenges the that the Czech Embassy will US as well as about the Czech economy is facing in this new, Iresume production of the Republic in general, so I encour- truly European context. I believe printed version of Czech the age you to browse through our that you will enjoy reading News, beginning with the page. Czech the News. Winter 2004 issue, which you I present to you the last issue As I look back at the year have just opened. As you may be of 2004, featuring the celebra- 2004, I see two major political aware, since the spring of this tion of freedom in Miami on events. For us, Czechs, it was year, we have experienced some the occasion of the 15th the entry into the European technical difficulties which pre- Anniversary of the Fall of the Union, for which we have Photo courtesy of Chad Evans Wyatt vented us from keeping you up- Berlin Wall. As always, we are worked for more than a decade. season, Happy Holidays and all to-date on developments in the enclosing News Brief and eco- For Americans, it was the presi- the best in the New Year 2005. I Czech Republic, but we at least nomic as well as cultural news, dential election. I am sure that wish for all of us to be blessed managed to resort to an internet including "calendar of events" at these key events of 2004 will with good health, prosperity, and version of the newsletter, and we the Embassy. In the economic prove themselves to be wise above all, the gift of an under- kept Czech the News available section of our newsletter, you decisions and that they will bring standing heart in the coming for you on our web page. The will find a few interesting pieces all of us an even greater deal of year. web page (www.mzv.cz/wash- about the Czech economy as a prosperity and democracy. ington), however, remains a newcomer to the common I would like to wish all of you valuable source of information European market and about the a happy and quiet Christmas Celebrating November 1989, Return of Democracy in Miami (cont’d) (continued from page 1) for more than three hours and it dissidents in their fight for free- turned out to be a huge success. dom. The Central European November 9, 2004 was also a sound of Prague selection was significant day for various complemented with Cuban activists, intellectuals as well as music, performed by SaSon. diplomats, who attended a con- The concert built a "bridge" ference entitled "Transition from between Miami and Cuba Communism in Central Europe: through the musical perform- Lessons Learned, Challenges ance. The entire event was ahead for Cuba," organized by Nemec Photo courtesy of Ondrej broadcast to Cuba via TV Marti Professor Jaime Suchlicki, as a special Central European head of the "Cuba Transition gift to all freedom- Project" at the Prazsky Vyber before their concert in Miami, FL loving Cubans. University of During the intermis- Miami. At the was attended, among others, by communism to democracy. He is sion, scenes from conference in James Cason, head of the U.S. a former member of the tearing down the Omni Colonnade Interests Section in Havana, who Parliament, and he was directly Wall in Berlin in Hotel in Coral spoke about poor conditions and involved in the forming of the 1989 were present- Gables, the par- lack of democracy in Cuba. first, post-communist Czechoslovak ed. The footage of ticipants delib- Prazsky vyber, a popular rock government. He also presided return of democracy erated on how band in Czechoslovakia in the over the withdrawal of Soviet to central Europe Cuba might 80s, toured the United States for troops from Czechoslovakia brought memories evolve in the concerts in Los Angeles, in early nineties. Speaking and sometimes tears future beyond Washington, D.C. and New York about the "old times" in commu- in the eyes of those Fidel Castro City, as part of the cultural pro- nist Czechoslovakia, Prague who witnessed this and his commu- gram of the Czech Embassy Selection drummer Klaudius moment in history. nist regime. commemorating the 15th Kryspin said: ''We got banned by The unique show, Nemec Photo courtesy of Ondrej This confer- A fan at the Miami concert anniversary of the Velvet the regime, but we kept playing. hosted by a famous holds up both the Czech and ence, featuring Revolution. The frontrunner of If everybody just gives up, noth- TV personality well Cuban flags. former US Ambas- the band, Michael Kocab, was at ing can change. We want to send known to all Cubans in Miami, sador to Geneva, Ms. Jeane the very heart of events that any message we can to the Ms. Maria Elvira Salazar, lasted Kirkpatrick as keynote speaker, brought Czechoslovakia from people of Cuba not to give up." 2 Czech the News/Winter 2004 Current EEvents Europe Must Stand Fast Against Castro's Tyranny By Martin Palous he European Union is News Brief discussing a proposal to Treappraise its common November 9, 2004 position that all EU embassies in Fall of Berlin Wall Cuba are open to all Cubans, amidst upheaval in including members of Fidel Eastern Europe Castro's opposition and relatives of political prisoners. Such a Fifteen years ago, on reappraisal is what Castro wants. November 9th, 1989, the I believe it would be a great infamous Berlin Wall fell, betrayal of the Cuban people bringing down a barrier and of our values rooted that had held East Germans in liberty. behind the Iron Curtain, the The issue will be revisited in most potent symbol of Brussels in the next week on the Nemec Photo courtesy of Ondrej divided Europe.