CZECH the NEWSNEWS Newsletter of the Embassy of the Czech Republic Vol. 3, 2009 President Klaus Travels to the US he President of the Czech 350 students at Georgetown TRepublic, Vaclav Klaus, University, where he spoke on conducted two official visits to the topic of the 20th anniversary the United States. On September of the fall of communism in 20–21, 2009, President Klaus Europe, as well as other subjects visited Washington, DC, related to post-communist where he presented his keynote development in Europe. During address during the Cato Institute his visit to Georgetown conference titled “Freedom University, President Klaus and Prosperity in Central and met with former Spanish Prime Eastern Europe: 20 Years after Minister Jose Maria Aznar. the Collapse of Communism.” President Klaus completed Following his speech at the his visit to Washington, DC, Cato Institute, President Klaus with a wreath laying ceremony met with World Bank President in front of the statue of Robert Zoellick. Before his trip Photo courtesy of Mary E. Fetzko President Tomas Garrigue to the United Nations General Ambassador Petr Kolar welcomes Czech President Vaclav Klaus Masaryk. Before his departure, Assembly in New York, during the State Reception at the Embassy of the Czech Republic. he gave a keynote speech President Klaus conducted an Klaus emphasized that excessive Thune (R-SD) and Barrasso (R- during the State Reception of interview with the editorial regulation and involvement MT). Following the meeting in the Embassy of the Czech board of The Washington Times. of government and regulatory the Senate, U.S. Vice President Republic. The main topics addressed measures are the main reasons Joe Biden greeted President The visit of President Klaus during his visit to the U.S. for the economic downturn, Klaus at the White House to the United States concluded concerned the global economic rather than the collapse of the where they discussed Czech– in Simi Valley, CA, where he crisis and depression. President market on its own. U.S. relations and their future participated at a conference The second visit of development. hosted by the Ronald President Klaus took place on President Klaus’ DC Reagan Library Foundation, Contents: November 4–7, 2009. During visit included his participation commemorating the 20th his stay in Washington, DC, in The Washington Times anniversary of the fall of President Klaus met U.S. Senate conference “Advancing the communism in Europe. He also Message from the Ambassador...... 2 Republicans, in particular with Global Debate over Climate met with Nancy Reagan, as Senators Inhofe (R-OK), Hatch Change Policy.” After the event, well as former Secretary of Ambassador Tours States............. 2 (R-UT), Chambliss (R-GA), he addressed aproximately State George Schultz. Celebrations Mark the 20th U.S. Vice President Visits Prague Anniversary of the Velvet n October 23, 2009, U.S. Revolution..................................... 3 OVice President Joe Biden visited Prague, where he met Tomki Nemec, Photographs of with President of the Czech Re- the Velvet Revolution..................... 3 public Vaclav Klaus and Czech Czech Hockey Icon Gives Back Prime Minister Jan Fischer. to the Community......................... 4 Among the main topics discussed during his stay includ- Barbara Podoski, Honoring ed a new strategic concept for a Czech Heroine......................... 6 the missile defense shield in Europe. According to Vice Presi- Czech Avant-Garde Photography dent Biden, both parties spoke Featured at The Phillips about the potential role of the Photo courtesy of www.vlada.cz Collection.................................... 7 Czech Republic in a new mis- U.S. Vice President Joe Biden (right) sile shield architecture capable meets Czech Prime Minister Avalon Theater Presents New of protecting not only the United Jan Fischer (left) in Prague. Season of Czech Films................. 7 States but also the Czech Repub- project. lic and Europe. Vice President Biden also Czech Events in the U.S................ 7 Prime Minister Fischer said, acknowledged the achievements “The Czech Republic is ready to of the Czech provincial recon- share in the design of a new archi- struction team in Logar, Afghan- tecture for anti-missile defense.” istan, where Czech military units Photo courtesy of www.vlada.cz He pointed out that the system work closely with U.S. military Ambassador Kolar (right) greets is now configured as a NATO forces. Vice President Joe Biden in Prague. Current Events Ambassador Tours States Dear Friends, Twenty years have passed since the Velvet Revolution in the Czech Republic, a dramatic and peaceful change in the development of the country. This revolution restored democracy and brought back free- dom to our people. As we look back, we see an incredibly impor- tant milestone in the lives of the Photo courtesy of the Embassy Czech Republic Photo courtesy of Chad Wyatt Czech people and a crucial mo- (Left to right) Daniel Novy, County Executive Scott Walker, Ambassador ment of the 20th century in Europe. Petr Kolar, Ambassador Richard Graber, Consul General Marek Skolil Walls fell, wires were cut, fences disappeared, and people were allowed to see and experience the world that had mbassador Kolar and his been denied to them for decades. As we look forward, we Awife Jaroslava kept up a see incredible opportunities, but also responsibilities. busy schedule this fall, trav- Just as in 1918, when an independent state–Czechoslova- elling to Alaska, New York, kia–was established, the radical change of 1989 would not Illinois, Vermont, and Wiscon- have been possible without the help of the United States of sin to continue to build strong America. Owing to the tough and principled approach of Czech-American ties and ac- President Ronald Regan, the already corroded and corrupt knowledge the achievements of communist regime in Europe collapsed. Our internal civic Czech leaders in the community. resistance (the dissident movements: Charter 77 in the In Alaska, Ambassador Czech Republic and the Polish Solidarity, with people like Kolar attended a Czech Gala Photo courtesy of Dan Novy Vaclav Havel and Lech Walesa) was also supported by the where Czech Honorary Consul Jaroslava Kolarova, Sarah Palin, United States. Francis J. Nosek was promot- and Ambassador Kolar Even today, after 20 years, we still know that freedom is ed to the position of Honorary not guaranteed and that we have to work hard to maintain it. Consul General. Ambassador Czech National Day reception The Berlin Wall fell 20 years ago, but there are still many Kolar also met with former that took place at the Bohemian walls of ignorance and hypocrisy in this world to be torn Governor of the State of Alaska, National Hall. The event was or- down; there are still some people who would like the past Sarah Palin; Mayor of Anchor- ganized by the Consulate Gener- walls to be rebuilt. age, Dan Sullivan; Commissioner al of the Czech Republic in New Again, in the process of maintaining our freedom, we are Notti, and local Czech academic York, and Bohemian Benevolent grateful to the United States for helping us to become a part and business communities. and Literary Association. of international structures that safeguard our freedom, de- At a luncheon organized mocracy, and stability. For us, these structures mean mainly by Alaska World Affairs Coun- October 30, 2009 NATO and the European Union, which we joined 10 and 5 cil/World Trade Center, the The Ambassador and his wife years ago, respectively. One year ago, we became a part of the Ambassador presented his lec- then headed to Middlebury United States’ Visa Waiver Program and, with the first visa- ture “Europe and America: We College in Vermont to present free Czech tourist coming to the United States, the last relict Need Each Other.” During his his speech “Reflections on 1989: of the Cold War disappeared. lecture, he spoke about trans- Twenty Years of Czech-American We have come a long way since 1989. With ups and atlantic relations, Czech-U.S. and Transatlantic Relations,” downs and occasional troubles, today we are a full-fledged relations, and the aims and and participate in a discussion democracy with respect for the rule of law and a reliable achievements of the historically with students. partner and ally to those who share the same values and first Czech Presidency of the principles. We are a real ally and a partner of the Untied Council of the European Union. November 10, 2009 States. We know that the United States takes our partner- In Chicago, IL, Ambassador ship seriously and that we can rely on it. President Obama October 5, 2009 Kolar attended a Gala Awards said in Prague earlier this year to the Czech people, “The Ambassador Kolar travelled to Dinner organized by the Ameri- United States will never turn its back on the people of this Madison, WI, to meet with the can Friends of the Czech Repub- nation. We are bound by shared values, shared history, and director of the Institute of World lic. The gala was organized with the enduring promise of our alliance.” Affairs, Doug Savage. He also the purpose of supporting the We are well aware of our responsibilities and are de- participated in the TV interview return of the Woodrow Wilson termined and ready to participate in the solutions of global “International Focus.” Statue to Prague. During the Gala, issues together with our allies. We have worked together In Milwaukee, he met with Mayor of Chicago, Richard M. with them in Iraq, Afghanistan, and the Western Balkans, the former U.S. Ambassador to Daly, received the Civil Society and have expressed our readiness to actively participate in the Czech Republic, Richard Vision Award. missile defense. Graber and his wife, and County Ambassador Kolar complet- Executive Scott Walker. His pro- ed his tour in Chicago, participat- Warm regards, gram also included a meeting ing in the NCSML Rebuilding with representatives of Harley Open House, organized by the Davidson Motor Co., Badger National Czech and Slovak Mu- Meter, Rockwell Automation, seum and Library (NCSML).