| Interview H. E. Mr. Tomaš Kuchta, Ambassador of the Czech Republic in the Republic of Serbia Czech Republic Nataša Stojković Photo: Private archive, Freepik, Unsplash Czechia, officially the Czech Republic, is a continental country in Central Europe, whereas in the geopolitical context, the UN lists it as a country in Eastern Europe. The Czech Republic is bordered by Poland to the north, Germany to the northwest and west, Austria to the south, and Slovakia to the east. It has an area of 78,866 km². The capital and largest city is Prague (1.2 million inhabitants), an important tourist destination. The Czech Republic consists of the following historical territories: Czechia (Bohemia), Moravia and Czech Silesia. This trinity is displayed on the national coat of arms. The Czech state was formed in the second half of the 9th century, when the first Czech duke, Borivoj I, from the Přemyslid dynasty was enthroned. In the 10th and 11th century, the country was consolidated, merged with Moravia and became a kingdom. The Czech landscape is very diverse. A river basin is situated in the west of the Czech Republic, forming a plateau shaped like a rhombus surrounded by four connected highlands: the Giant Mountains (Krkonoše) in the northeastern Sudety region (where Mount Sněžka, the highest peak in the state (1,602 m), is situated), the Ore Mountains in the northwest, the Bohemian forest in the southwest and the Bohemian-Moravian Highlands in the southeast. It is traversed by the Labe and Vltava rivers. The Charles University in Prague, founded in the 1340s (probably in 1348), was the first university in Central Europe and in all Slovenian countries. Some of its students and professors were: Jan Hus, Franz Kafka, Milan Kundera, Nikola Tesla, Albert Einstein, Ernst Mach, Tomáš Masaryk, Edvard Beneš. 38 | June 2020 June 2020 | 39 | Interview our Excellency, how do you feel short experience in the private sector, where at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, managing dent of the Czech Republic Miloš Zeman vis- about being in Belgrade? Can you I worked at an Italian ski pole manufacturing the Economic Counsellors at our Embassies ited Serbia, accompanied by four ministers Ytell us about your impressions of company after my studies, I spent my whole all over the world. As you can see, I am an and a large delegation of businessmen. The Serbia? professional life in diplomacy. I started off economy-oriented diplomat and I consider president of the Republic of Serbia Aleksandar with the diplomatic protocol and dedicated the development of economic relations one Vučić also visited Prague, where he met the I became accustomed to my life in Belgrade myself to the negotiation process before the of the priorities of my activities in Serbia. heads of government of the Visegrád Group very quickly, as did my whole family. Consid- Czech Republic joined the EU, as the Prague countries. There has also been a positive de- ering the similarities between our languages, Sector Deputy Director, as well as the Head What is the current diplomatic and eco- velopment of the economic relations. Mutual our cultural and historical ties, the Czech mi- of the Trade Policy and Agriculture Unit of the nomic cooperation between our two trading continued to grow rapidly on the part nority and the Serbian hospitality, I dare to Permanent Representation of the Czech Re- countries like, and what was it like in the of Czech import and export, with a growth of say that we feel at home here. I see Serbia public in Brussels. I also dealt with trade and past? What should be changed in order to more than ten percent. The Czech Republic as a country with enormous future potential. economic issues in the framework of my posi- improve the cooperation? made considerable investments into the Ser- Due to its strategic position, the climate and tion as Economic Counsellor at the Embas- bian economy. The readers will certainly not be geological conditions, the level of education, sies in Rome and Zagreb, and for the duration The previous year can be rated successful in surprised by the fact that the crisis caused by and, above all, the diligence of the popula- of two missions I worked in Italy for a total of terms of the development of relations between the coronavirus impeded this positive develop- tion, this country is predestined for significant 9 years. Before I switched to the Ministry of the Czech Republic and the Republic of Serbia ment, but I hope that the dynamics of the mu- economic development in the near future. It is Defense, I held the position of the Director of in every respect. A whole series of important tual cooperation can be reestablished. The largest investment is the acquisition of Telenor by already evident that investors from all over the the Sector of Bilateral Economic Relations official visits took place, above all, the Presi- the Czech financial and investment group PPF, which world consider Serbia a promising country for What is the current situation regarding the has also absorbed the first mobile commercial bank in their investments. We highly appreciate the increasingly strong Serbian pandemic in the Czech Republic? economy, amongst whose results I would emphasize the Serbia – Telenor Bank. I would further mention Mattoni How long have you held the position of growth of the gross domestic product, the decreasing The Czech government timely implemented 1873 (Karlovarské minerální vody), which has successfully ambassador in Serbia, and what was the relatively strict measures, due to which the completed the acquisition of the Serbian manufacturer of course of your diplomatic career before public debt (significantly below the Maastricht criteria), epidemic could be contained at an accepta- you came to Serbia? the positive budget balance, the low inflation and the fact ble level and the dramatic scenarios observed mineral water and non-alcoholic beverages Knjaz Miloš. that the Serbian Dinar is currently among the strongest in some other countries could be avoided. of healthcare and economy. At the same time, An important motive for investors is the eco- In July, it will be two years since we arrived in Currently, the Czech Republic is in the proc- the support granted to the sector of health- nomic situation of the respective country and Belgrade. Before that, I held the position of European currencies. All this attracts foreign businessmen ess of controlled removal of the introduced care by the EU and its member states ear- the possibilities of its future development. Deputy Minister of Defense for four and a half in the field of goods and service exchange, as well as in the measures and return to a more or less nor- lier contributed to the fact that the Serbian Today, Serbia represents a very attractive years and I am a career diplomat. Except for a field of investments. mal life, although some of the measures will healthcare system excellently managed the country for foreign companies in this re- probably have a long-term character. With the crisis. However, the EU’s main task emerges gard, thanks to its successful development. approach of the holiday season, the issue of now when it will play an important role in the We highly appreciate the increasingly strong foreign trips is currently gaining momentum, reestablishment of the European economy. Serbian economy, amongst whose results especially concerning the countries repre- I would emphasize the growth of the gross senting the Czechs’ favorite destinations. What will the “day after” the pandemic domestic product, the decreasing public debt look like? (significantly below the Maastricht criteria), How does the pandemic affect the Euro- the positive budget balance, the low inflation pean Union, given the former problems in I am not really the right addressee for this ques- and the fact that the Serbian Dinar is currently the Bloc? tion. A certain level of precaution will be main- among the strongest European currencies. All tained for a longer while, so we might not even this attracts foreign businessmen in the field The COVID-19 pandemic has undoubtedly af- be aware of the end of the pandemic. This will of goods and service exchange, as well as in fected the European Union in a negative way, greatly depend on the availability of vaccines the field of investments. as well as almost everything else in our lives. and medicines against this disease. Our task In this context, I am pleased to point out that The main product exported from the Czech Republic are the range of investment activities of Czech passenger motor vehicles, i.e. mainly Škoda vehicles. I am companies is very wide and includes the food very happy about the big share Czech automobiles are industry, construction projects, telecommu- nications, banking, healthcare, gourmet and taking on the Serbian market. automotive industry, machine industry and Many expected more from Brussels, but we will be to adapt to any difficult conditions and to the film industry. Possibilities for new invest- must be aware that the member states re- find ways to fully fulfil our mission in the future. ments are also evident in other sectors. tained the majority of responsibilities in the key areas for the battle against the pandemic. When it comes to investments, how do The largest investment is the acquisition of I believe that the EU reacted in an adequate investors from the Czech Republic regard Telenor by the Czech financial and investment manner and mobilized solidarity with affected the Serbian market? How many Czech group PPF, which has also absorbed the first states according to its possibilities, both with- companies are currently operating in Ser- mobile commercial bank in Serbia – Telenor in and outside the Union.