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CZECH the NewsNews Newsletter of the Embassy of the Czech Republic Vol. 2, 2007 Klaus Visits the United States zech President Vaclav the local business community. Klaus traveled to the Before leaving Louisiana, CUnited States in March Mr. Klaus surveyed areas 2007, visiting Texas, Louisiana, devastated by Hurricane Katrina. and Alabama before arriving In Alabama, Klaus in Washington, DC. While in participated in the Birmingham Houston, President Klaus met International Center’s Spotlight with former U.S. President on the Czech Republic, a George H.W. Bush. He also year-long presentation of addressed the Economic Chamber Czech culture to the people of the World Affairs Council and of Alabama. He also met met with Houston Mayor Bill with Alabama Governor Bob Photo courtesy of Daniel Novy White. In Louisiana, University Riley and addressed a joint President of the Czech Republic, Vaclav Klaus (left), and Ambassador of of New Orleans Chancellor Tim session of the Alabama the Czech Republic to the United States, Petr Kolar (right), meet former Ryan conferred an honorary legislature. President of the United States, George H. W. Bush (center). doctorate in philosophy and Wrapping up his U.S. visit the priorities on the President’s Chairman of the Federal Reserve financial economics on President in Washington, DC, President U.S. agenda. At the CATO Alan Greenspan and his wife Klaus. The ceremony was Klaus held meetings with House Institute, Klaus gave a speech Andrea Mitchell, Chief Foreign followed by a reception at the Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Senate titled, “Facing a Challenge of the Affairs Correspondent for NBC World Trade Center where Klaus Majority Leader Harry Reid, Current Era: Environmentalism.” News. met privately with Louisiana Secretary of Defense Robert A reception at the Embassy of President Klaus has been Governor Kathleen Blanco. The Gates, and Vice President Dick the Czech Republic in honor of to the United States numerous President also met with New Cheney (President Bush was in Klaus concluded his visit and times, but the March trip marked Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin and Mexico). Missile defense and the was attended by numerous VIP his first visit to the U.S. South. numerous representatives from visa waiver issue were among guests, among them former New Foreign Minister Makes U.S. Debut Contents: n his new capacity as rights are threatened, our Minister of Foreign Affairs, human rights are threatened.” Message from the Ambassador......... 2 IKarel Schwarzenberg made Other topics for discussion on Visa Waiver Program Modernizing..... 2 his first official visit to the United the Minister’s agenda were the States in April 2007. The goal of asymetrical visa policy between Embassy, Havel Launch Human Rights Initiative................................ 3 the Minister’s trip was to discuss the United States and the Czech important bilateral issues with Republic and the U.S. request for Havels Wrap Up U.S. Sojourn........... 3 high-ranking U.S. Government a missile defense radar base on Embassy Participates in Adopt a Doll officials. Top on his agenda were Czech soil. Program......................................... 3 what the Minister described as While in Washington, Gregor Mendel in Washington, DC... 4 “two of the solid pillars of Czech Minister Schwarzenberg met foreign policy,” transatlantic with U.S. Secretary of State Paul Wilson – Translating Havel......... 4 relations and human rights. Condoleezza Rice, Secretary Masaryk Biography Republished........ 4 Speaking at a reception held in his of Homeland Security Michael honor at the Embassy of the Czech Chertoff, Secretary of Commerce EU Celebrates 50 Years, Poetry Project Launched.............................. 5 Republic in Washington, DC, Carlos M. Gutierrez, and U.S. Minister Schwarzenberg said Assistant to the President Pop Icon Performs at the Embassy...... 5 that the European-American for National Security Affairs Photo courtesy of Daniel Dedek Minister of Foreign Affairs, Upcoming Events............................. 5 friendship was extremely Stephen Hadley. He also met Karel Schwarzenberg important and that transatlantic with members of the U.S. meet with United Nations Under- Jaroslav Cervenka – Man of Science and Letters........................... 6 relations have been neglected Congress to discuss political and Secretary-General for Political since the fall of communism trade relations and participated Affairs Lynn Pascoe. He also Excerpt from “Salima on the in Europe. He also emphasized in a conference on the proposed toured the newly renovated Czech Governor’s Bed”.............................. 7 the importance of supporting U.S. missile defense system National Building (Bohemian Havelka and Melody Makers............ 8 democracy, human rights, hosted by the Prague Security National Hall) in Manhattan Upcoming Czech Events................... 8 and personal freedoms saying Studies Institute and the Atlantic where he attended a performance “wherever democracy is Council of the United States. of “The Servant of Two Masters” threatened, our democracy is Minister Schwarzenberg by a visiting troupe from the threatened, wherever human then traveled to New York to National Theater in Prague. Current Events Visa Waiver Program Modernizing Message ince the fall 2006 language. from the announcement by President With minor exceptions, SGeorge Bush that the U.S. the provisions in bill S.4. are Ambassador Visa Waiver Program (VWP) agreeable to the government will be modernized, the U.S. of the Czech Republic, which Government has been work- already has implemented Dear Friends, ing to create the necessary new updated security measures in its Support of human rights and legislation. These policy changes, airports, passport technology, democracy is a top priority which will shift VWP focus away and information-sharing systems. of the Czech government from immigration control to the However, some provisions and of our Embassy here enhancement of international would still limit VWP in Washington. During the security, potentially could lead to inclusion for several members Photo courtesy of Chad Wyatt winter, I had the opportunity the inclusion of numerous U.S. of the Coalition for Visa to travel to Miami and Puerto Rico where I met with members allies in the VWP that are not Equality. Comprised of U.S. of the exiled Cuban communities. I was very impressed to see currently in the program, includ- allies not included in the VWP, how well-organized and successful these communities are. ing the Czech Republic. the Coalition works to remove While flourishing as vital citizens of their adoptive home here On March 13, 2007, the the visa barrier between the in the United States and Puerto Rico, they are dedicated to U.S. Senate passed bill S.4, United States and these U.S. lending the force of their success to the cause of freedom in “Improving America’s Security allies. Coalition membership their homeland. It was an honor to meet representatives of the Act of 2007.” S.4 contains currently includes eight many Cuban and American pro-democracy groups and share provisions to enhance VWP new European Union experiences with them from the Czech transition to democracy. security requirements, which, if member states—the Czech Given the current power shift in Cuba, combined with the level met by countries that are allies Republic, Estonia, Hungary, of commitment and support from the exiled Cuban community in the war on terrorism, would Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, and the international community, there is reason for optimism mean the same visa-free Slovakia, and the newest member that Cuba may soon enjoy the freedoms of democracy. travel privileges for their Romania. The Czech Republic, While former Czech President and human rights advocate citizens traveling to the United along with the Coalition, will Vaclav Havel held the Chair of Modern Literature at the States that U.S. citizens continue to work closely with Library of Congress (LOC) for 2 months this winter (see story enjoy when traveling to these members of the U.S. Government page 3), the Embassy was privileged to work with both the countries. In order for S.4 to to ensure that the new LOC and with Mr. Havel to coordinate human rights events in become law, the House of VWP legislation will lead to support of Burma. Mr. Havel lent his presence and his wisdom Representatives must pass its inclusion of all the Coalition to The Burma Forum: Havel, Burma, and Total Denial (see own bill containing similar countries. story page 3) at the Embassy in February, 2007. This was the first of what will be a series of ongoing forums, co-organized by the Embassy of the Czech Republic in Washington, DC, and Timeline of Events the Stanley Foundation of Muscatine, Iowa, and dedicated to March 8, 2007 raising awareness of human rights abuses in Burma. The goal President Klaus and his delegation of the Burma Forum is to help the international community met with Ambassador Kolar, find ways to ameliorate the Burmese crisis. his wife, and special guests at President Vaclav Klaus also came to the United States a small reception at the in late winter with visits to Texas, Louisiana, Alabama, and Ambassador’s residence during Washington, DC, where he met with U.S. Vice President President Klaus’s visit to Dick Cheney, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, and other top Photo courtesy of Mary Fetzko Washington, DC. President Vaclav Klaus (left), administration officials (see story page 1). While the Visa Ambassador Kolar, and Waiver Program and the U.S. missile defense base in the Czech Jaroslava Kolarova Republic were top on President Klaus’s agenda, he also spoke April 17, 2007 on environmentalism at the CATO Institute in Washington, Ambassador Kolar hosted DC, and even managed to attend his first rodeo in Texas. a reception for Maestro Jiri Our cultural calendar has been just as active this winter and Belohlavek who will be in spring, and I encourage you to check the listings on page 5 for Washington, DC, until the end of upcoming events.