CZECH the NEWSNEWS Newsletter of the Embassy of the Czech Republic Vol. 2, 2010 Prime Minister Creates New Government n the basis of the results of However, right-wing and center- Othe parliamentary elections right parties (ODS with 20.2% of which took place in May 2010, the vote or 53 seats, TOP 09 with Petr Necas, the leader of ODS 16.7% of the vote or 41 seats, and (Civic Democratic Party), became Public Affairs with 10.9% of the the 11th Prime Minister of the vote or 24 seats) formed a clear Czech Republic and created a governing majority with a total new government. of 118 seats in the 200-seat In addition to the ODS, two chamber. Thus, the Social other parties, TOP 09 and VV Democrats and the Communist (Public Affairs), make up the Party (KSCM) (11.3% or 26 governing coalition. These three seats) formed the opposition. parties have signed a 50-page After several election terms of coalition agreement, focusing either minority governments or mainly on fiscal responsibility, governments with only a slight law and the fight against majority, this is the first time corruption as the main goals for that a government of the Czech the new government. Republic has such a substantial The Social Democrats majority in the Chamber of Photo courtesy of www.vlad.cz Czech Government “Family Photo” (CSSD) actually received the Deputies. most votes in the May elections, The election results also including the Prime Minister, Topolanek’s governments. Petr with 22.1% of the vote or 56 mean that there are two new are from the ODS, five are Necas is married and has four seats in the Chamber of Deputies. parties in the parliament, TOP 09 representatives of TOP 09, and children. and Public Affairs. On the other four come from Public Affairs. Karel Schwarzenberg, the hand, two parties, the Christian Prime Minister Necas was head of TOP 09 and Minister of Contents: Democrats (KDU-CSL) and the first elected as a member of Foreign Affairs, will sit as first Green Party, that were present parliament in 1992. He has served Deputy Prime Minister. He has Message from the Chargé d’ in the parliament during the in such positions as Chairman of previously served as the Foreign Affaires, ad interim...................... 2 previous term did not obtain the the Parliamentary Committee for Minister in the cabinet of Mirek necessary 5% of the vote to make Defense and Security and as the Topolanek in 2007-09. Coalition Government Proclaims it over the threshold and are thus first Deputy Defense Minister. The second Deputy Prime New Policy Statement.................. 3 no longer represented. He was Deputy Prime Minister Minister is Radek John of According to the coalition and Minister of Labor and Public Affairs. John entered into Czech Foreign Minister Travels to agreement, six ministers, Social Affairs in both of Mirek Continued on page 2 Washington.................................. 4 Foreign Minister Pays Tribute to Masaryk at Opening................... 4 President Klaus Meets with Key Leaders in the US n September 21–25, 2010, Czech Based Company CGS Tyres OCzech President Vaclav Invests in Iowa............................. 4 Klaus undertook a working visit to the United States. He led the Avalon Theatre Continues to Bring Czech delegation at the 65th Czech Films to DC........................5 session of the General Assembly of the United Nations in New Kids Euro Festival Presents New York City and also delivered Animation................................... 5 remarks at two prestigious US universities in Washington, DC, Czech Films Featured in EU Show- and Ithaca, NY. case at AFI.................................. 5 The President met members Czech and Slovak Christmas of the Czech Caucus in the Traditions Celebrated................... 6 US Congress in Washington, DC, and representatives of Photo courtesy of www.klaus.cz Embassy Promotes the Spirit of the Heritage Foundation, an Chargé d’ Affaires, ad interim Daniel Kostoval, Czech President Giving........................................ 7 influential US think-tank. He also Vaclav Klaus, Congressman Joe Barton, and Czech Embassy delivered remarks on “Europe, Second Secretary David Frous meet in front of the capitol. Czech Events in the US................. 8 the Systemic Consequences of Case for Capitalism” at Johns Studies (SAIS). The President’s the Slowly Abating Crisis and Hopkins University Paul H. Nitze speech was attended by more the Need to Re-Formulate the School of Advanced International Continued on page 3 Current Events Dear Friends, For those of you whom I have not yet had the opportunity to get to know personally, I would like to foremost introduce myself. I began my mission as the Deputy Chief of Mission at the Embassy of the Czech Republic in August 2009 and, upon the end of former Ambassador Petr Kolar’s assign- ment in the United States this past summer, assumed duties as Chargé d´ Affaires, ad interim. It has already been my utmost pleasure to serve Czech interests abroad and work on continuing to bolster Czech-US relations. My service comes during an exciting time in Czech politics. As you may all know, the Czech parliamentary elections took place in May and a coalition government consisting of the ODS (Civic Democratic Party), TOP 09, and VV (Public Affairs) parties was formed. I welcome you to read further in this special Czech the News edition to familiarize yourselves with our newly appointed government leaders and their coalition program, which focuses on fiscal responsibility and austerity, the rule of law, and the fight against corruption as the goals for the new government. I look forward to implementing and coordinating the vision of the Czech government abroad. Photo courtesy of Mary E. Fetzko We are at the stage of the US-Czech bilateral relations, in which we would like to concentrate more on the economic and com- mercial aspects of our partnership. In line with this focus, our Embassy will strive to further facilitate the promotion and expansion of Czech businesses and investments to the US. We will continue to work closely with companies towards this end and, in the spirit of further assisting them, are mapping out investment incentives around the US. Our desire for deeper cooperation is encompassed in the Czech-US commercial dialogue announced this summer in Prague, stressing the shared commitment to strengthen economic and commercial ties between the two countries. One of the Embassy’s main tasks remains to assist Czech political dignitaries during their visits to the US. In September, Czech President Vaclav Klaus led the Czech delegation at the 65th session of the General Assembly of the United Nations in New York City and also delivered speeches at two prestigious universities, Johns Hopkins and Cornell, during his stay in the US. We expect several additional high level visitors in the next months to come to meet with their counterparts in order to maintain and strengthen our trans- atlantic dialogue and tight cooperation on multiple issues. Friends, I very much look forward to meeting many of you, enjoying the existing bond the Czech Republic and US share, and work- ing to preserve this special friendship. With kind regards, Daniel Kostoval Chargé d’ Affaires, ad interim Prime Minister Creates New Government (Continued from pg. 1) only recently and became the and Trade. leader of Public Affairs in 2009. Vit Barta, a representative He started out as a screenwriter of Public Affairs, is the new and journalist. Minister of Transportation. He Miroslav Kalousek (TOP is new to the world of politics, 09) will hold the position of having previously worked in the Finance Minister. This is not the business sector. first time that Kalousek is leading Leos Heger became the the Ministry; he held the same new Health Minister; he was position in Topolanek’s second previously a doctor specializing government. in radiology and long served The Ministry of Defense is as the Director of the Faculty Photo courtesy of www.petr-necas.cz led by Alexander Vondra (ODS), Hospital in Hradec Kralove. He Former Czech Prime Minister Jan Fischer and current who previously was in charge is a member of TOP 09. Prime Minister Petr Necas of European affairs in Mirek Another representative of the Ministry of Labor and Social Justice and to be the Chairman Topolanek’s government and Civic Democrats who sits in the Affairs has been entrusted to TOP of the government’s Legislative also is a former Ambassador Necas’ government is Minister 09 Deputy Chairman Jaromir Council. of the Czech Republic to the of Environment Pavel Drobil, an Drabek, former president of the The local Development United States. He held the post in attorney. Czech Chamber of Commerce. Minister is Kamil Jankovsky, a Washington in the years of 1997- The position of the Minister The Ministry of Education is member of Public Affairs. 2001. of Culture was given to Jiri now led by Josef Dobes, Deputy The Agriculture Ministry is Martin Kocourek, an Besser of TOP 09. He has been Chairman and co-founding now led by Ivan Fuksa (ODS), economic expert from the Civic the Mayor of the city of Beroun member of Public Affairs. who had previously worked Democrats, is now in charge of for several terms. Jiri Pospisil has been as the first Deputy Minister of leading the Ministry of Industry The leadership of the entrusted to lead the Ministry of Finance. 2 Czech the News/Vol. 2, 2010 Current Events Coalition Government Proclaims New Policy Statement for the Public he Embassy of the Czech Republic would like to familiarize our readers with the goals and policies of the new coalition government of the TCzech Republic. Hence, below we include the Preamble of the Policy Statement of the Government of the Czech Republic, drawn on the basis of a mandate from the citizens of the Czech Republic granted in the elections to the Chamber of Deputies of the Czech Parliament in May 2010 and presented by the Prime Minister Petr Necas before the Chamber itself.