PRESS GUIDE New START Treaty Signing PRAGUE, CZECH REPUBLIC April 8, 2010 NEW START TREATY SIGNING BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION / PRAGUE, CZECH REPUBLIC / APRIL 8, 2010 PRESS GUIDE TABLE OF CONTENTS 3 Welcome to Prague 4 Practical Information Embassy Information Important Offices Hotels 5 Event Sites TBD 6 Local Information 8 Top Tourist Sites Old Town Square, Prague Castle, Charles Bridge 10 U.S. Embassy Historical Overview Principal U.S. Embassy Officials The Czech Republic 11 People 11 Government and political conditions 12 Modern Czech History 15 Economy 16 National Security 16 U.S.-Czech Relations Biographies 18 President Barack Obama 19 U.S. Chargé d’Affairs Mary Thompson-Jones 20 President Václav Klaus 21 Prime Minister Jan Fischer 22 Foreign Minister Jan Kohout 23 Czech Government Officials 26 Important & Useful Internet Links Page 2 NEW START TREATY SIGNING BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION / PRAGUE, CZECH REPUBLIC / APRIL 8, 2010 PRESS GUIDE WELCOME TO PRAGUE Situated on the Vltava River, Prague has been celebrated as one of the beautiful cities of Europe ever since the Middle Ages. The historical city is a unique symbiosis of all architectural styles: from Gothic towers, Renaissance palaces, Baroque churches through to Art Nouveau structures and the collaborative work of Frank O. Gehry and Vladimir Milunic. Prague is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic, home to nearly 1.2 million residents. Since 1992, the historic center of Prague has been Prague Old Town Square included in the UNESCO list of World Heritage Statue of Jan Hus Sites. Nicknames for Prague include "city of a hundred spires” and "the golden city.” Since the fall of the Iron Curtain, Prague has become one of Europe's (and the world's) most popular tourist destinations. It is the most visited European city after London, Paris, Rome, Madrid and Berlin. Page 3 NEW START TREATY SIGNING BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION / PRAGUE, CZECH REPUBLIC / APRIL 8, 2010 PRESS GUIDE PRACTICAL INFORMATION EMBASSY INFORMATION U.S. Embassy Prague (+420) 257-022-000 (switchboard) Tržiště 15 (+420) 257-022-005 (Press Office) 118 01 Prague 1 – Malá Strana fax (+420) 257-022-809 Office Hours: Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. IMPORTANT OFFICES White House Press Filing Center Prague Marriott Hotel Bohemia Conference Room V Celnici 8, 110 00 Prague 1 U.S. Embassy Press Office Prague Marriott Hotel Foyer by Bohemia Conference Room V Celnici 8, 110 00 Prague 1 (+420) 224-267-006 Hotels Prague Marriott Hotel V Celnici 8, 110 00 Prague 1 (+420) 222-888-888 / fax (+420) 222-888-889 The Hilton Hotel Pobřežní 1, 186 00 Prague 8 (+420) 224-841-111 / fax (+420) 224-842-378 Page 4 NEW START TREATY SIGNING BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION / PRAGUE, CZECH REPUBLIC / APRIL 8, 2010 PRESS GUIDE EVENT SITES The Prague Castle (Pražský hrad) The Prague Castle is where Czech kings, Holy Roman Emperors and presidents of Czechoslovakia and the Czech Republic have had their offices. The history of the castle stretches back to the 9th century and the complex of buildings represent virtually every architectural style of the last millennium. The Prague Castle includes the gothic St Vitus Cathedral, Romanesque basilica of St. George, a monastery and several palaces, gardens and defense towers. Most of the castle areas are opened to tourists. The castle houses several museums. The Spanish Hall One of the most beautiful state rooms at the Prague Castle is the Spanish Hall. It was built in the 17th century for Emperor Rudolph II., who had his collection of sculptures there. Nowadays, the room is a place of many important political and social events. For example, the classic music festival Strings of Autumn takes place there.The Spanish Hall got its name because of highbred Spanish horses stables that used to be below it. The size of the hall is impressive: it is 43 metres long, 21 meters wide and 12 meters high. It was built in the beginning of the 17th century probably by Giovanni Maria Filippi. Page 5 NEW START TREATY SIGNING BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION / PRAGUE, CZECH REPUBLIC / APRIL 8, 2010 PRESS GUIDE Local Information Local telephone information Country code for the Czech Republic: 420 Calling the United States from Europe: 001 – area code - number Emergencies (police, fire, ambulance): 112 (English speaking operator) Information about telephone numbers in the Czech Republic: 1188 Information about international telephone numbers: 1181 Time Zone There is a 6 hour time difference between Prague and Washington D.C. (9:00 AM in Prague is 3:00 AM in Washington, D.C.) Electricity In the Czech Republic, the electricity is 220 VAC. The use of a transformer is required for all 110VAC appliances. Currency The local currency is the Czech Koruna or Crown; the Czech symbol "Kč", international symbol "CZK". You may check at the hotel for the official exchange rate, which is at just above CZK 20 to USD 1. It is recommended to exchange currency at a bank. Czech currency can be with withdrawn from numerous ATMs (in Czech "bankomat") located throughout the city, using your U.S. debit or credit card. Tipping Common practice is to tip up to 10%, depending on the level of service. Crime The Czech Republic generally has a low rate of crime. However, street crime – particularly pick-pocketing – is a problem, especially in major tourist areas in Prague. Travelers are encouraged to be especially vigilant in Prague’s restaurants, train stations and on public transportation around the city center. Visitors should be alert to the potential for substantial overcharging by taxis, particularly in areas frequented by tourists. Radio-dispatched taxis are often much more reliable. Page 6 NEW START TREATY SIGNING BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION / PRAGUE, CZECH REPUBLIC / APRIL 8, 2010 PRESS GUIDE Express Mail Services DHL 840-103-000, 220-300-111 FEDEX 800-133-339 UPS 800-181-111 Main Post Office 221-131-111 Jindřišská 909/14, Prague 1 – open daily from 2 a.m. – 12 p.m. Taxi Please note it is always cheaper to call for a cab than to take one from the street. Have your hotel or restaurant place the call. AAA Taxi dispatchers consistently speak English. Taxi operators AAA Taxi 14-0-14 City Taxi 257-257-257 Speed Cars 224-234-234 Car Rentals Hertz 225-345-000 Alimex 800-150-170 Renocar 257-313-798 Airlines Delta 220-113-080, 220-113-081 (airport operations) 234-723-260 (reservations) Lufthansa 234-008-234 Czech Airlines 800-310-310 Airports Prague - Ruzyně 220-111-111 Frankfurt (+49) 69-690-0 Vienna (+43) 1-7007-0 Munich (+49) 89-975-00 Page 7 NEW START TREATY SIGNING BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION / PRAGUE, CZECH REPUBLIC / APRIL 8, 2010 PRESS GUIDE TOP TOURIST SITES Old Town Square (Staroměstské náměstí) Dating back to the late 12th century, the Old Town Square was originally the central marketplace for Prague. Over the next few centuries, many buildings of Romanesque, Baroque and Gothic styles were erected around the market. The Old Town Square is one of two main squares in Prague's city centre (the other is Wenceslas Square). Its most notable sights are the twin spires of the Church of Our Lady before Tyn, the Old Town Hall Tower and Astronomical Clock. The Prague Castle and St. Vitus Cathedral (Pražský hrad a katedrála sv. Víta) The Prague Castle is the most popular tourist sight in Prague. It is the largest ancient castle in the world (570 m long, on average 128 m wide, area 7.28 hectares). Constructed in the 9th century by Prince Bořivoj, the castle transformed itself from a wooden fortress surrounded by earthen bulwarks to the imposing form it has today. Prague castle has had four major reconstructions, but it has kept the classical facelift it took on in the 18 century during the reign of Maria Theresa. The castle has three courtyards and it has always been the seat of Czech rulers as well as the official residence. Allow at least half a day (not including time for museum visits) if you want to examine it in depth. Seated within the Castle walls is the Gothic cathedral of St. Vitus, the spiritual symbol of the Czech state. Begun in 1344 by Mathias Arras and Petr Parler upon the site of a 10th century rotunda, the final phase of construction ended only during 1873-1929. The cathedral contains underground tombs of Czech kings. Parler also built St. Wenceslas Chapel where the coronation jewels are deposited. The chapel is decorated with frescoes and semi-precious stones. The Charles Bridge (Karlův most) Prague's 13th century Charles Bridge throngs with people, but it is lovely. Try early morning for a less crowded walk, or go at night for a lovely view of the Prague skyline, dominated by the magnificent Prague Castle. It is the main pedestrian route linking the Old Town with the Page 8 NEW START TREATY SIGNING BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION / PRAGUE, CZECH REPUBLIC / APRIL 8, 2010 PRESS GUIDE Prague Castle itself. King Charles IV's favorite architect and builder, Peter Parler, built the present day Charles Bridge. The initial idea was to build a functional construction for knight tournaments, and for many years the only decoration on the bridge was a simple crucifix. Thirty religious statues were erected between 1600 and 1800.