Czech CDA a.i. in Syria Roman Masarik
The participants had the opportunity to meet with a number of leading representatives of the Czech Republic, including the President Petr Pavel and the Prime Minister Petr Fiala. Czech Government representatives, for example the Minister for Science, Research and Innovations Marek Zenisek, the Minister of Industry and Trade Jozef Síkela and the Minister of Transport Martin Kupka came to present their ideas on the future direction of their ministries to the Ambassadors and other Heads of Missions. The Chief of the General Staff of the Army of the Czech Republic Karel Rehka and the National Security Adviser Tomas Pojar also attended the meeting. The meeting was also attended by all Deputy Ministers and Directors General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic.
President of the Czech Republic Petr Pavel
The President’s Speech
In his speech, the President of the Czech Republic Petr Pavel described the role of Czech diplomacy as irreplaceable: “Your role to clearly communicate our positions and defend our interests is irreplaceable here. I am convinced that Europe needs to build its international position better and more systematically. As a community built on values, we need to become a more geopolitical and operational Europe, able to assertively defend and pragmatically promote our interests.”
“But we must also look beyond our European borders. Today we are more affected than ever by developments in areas that are often geographically very distant. This requires us to have a better global overview, to build closer relationships regardless of geographical distances. I will therefore continue, with your help, to build alliances and solidarity with like-minded countries across all continents.” President Pavel began his speech by recalling one of his main objectives, namely that agreed rules should not cease to apply in the international environment and that the law of might makes right should not prevail. “The success of our efforts will be measured in the long run by how many countries outside the Western circle we convince of this vision.”
“If we want to be a respected partner and have influence internationally, we must also strengthen our development and transition cooperation. We should strive not only to ensure that we have sufficient financial and human resources, but also to be more flexible so that we can strengthen re-engagement through both development and cooperative projects.”
All the tasks could not be accomplished without the commitment, professionalism and dedication of the embassy staff. President Petr Pavel concluded his speech by thanking them for their commitment to defending Czech interests and for their work so far and wished them much energy and success in their future endeavours.
Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala
The Prime Minister’s Speech
In his speech, Prime Minister Petr Fiala recalled that the Czech Republic’s priorities are security, including energy security, and prosperity. He has long advocated a maximally realistic and pragmatic approach in foreign policy. He stressed that we have an enormous interest in de-escalating the crisis in the Middle East. The Czech Republic is aware of its share of co-responsibility for the world. Prime Minister Fiala thanked Czech diplomats for their contribution to the promotion of Czech foreign policy, for the daily commitment of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and for the professionalism of the diplomatic service, and wished them good luck for the coming year and much success in their work.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Jan Lipavský
The Minister of Foreign Affairs’s Speech
Minister of Foreign Affairs Jan Lipavský said in his speech that he considered the meeting an important space for reflection on the state of the world and on how best to safeguard the interests and position of the Czech Republic and Europe as a whole in this world. With its declining economic and power superiority, the global West is facing political challenges and ambitions of sometimes new, sometimes familiar, but in any case growing players. The brutal attack by Hamas terrorists against Israel in October 2024 and the subsequent Israeli operation in Gaza, he said, were reminders of the divergent perceptions of events – not only between the Czech Republic and countries culturally distant, but also among allies. There are accusations of practicing double standards in the public sphere. Czech diplomats have therefore been tasked with explaining the Czech position intelligently, with empathy and without naivety. In relation to the Palestinians, he stressed that they had the right to independent statehood and that the Czech Republic supported it.
“An independent, sovereign Czech Republic is unthinkable in a world governed by the law of might makes right, where the UN Charter and international law are just a piece of paper. The pillars of a democratic world include basic human rights documents. That is why active and practical support for human rights defenders, journalists and civil society is the essence of Czech foreign policy. Together with successful involvement in international organisations, they form a continuous vessel. This will continue to be the case and now also in the online space. This does not change the fact that to achieve key priorities we must be able to work together, sometimes transactively and selectively, with partners with whom we do not share a common value base.”
The Czech Foreign Minister called for Czech diplomacy to be active towards the Arab world. “For 10 months now, the Middle East has witnessed a conflict that provoked a brutal attack by Hamas terrorists against Israel. The threat of further escalation and expansion of the conflict is real. We must work together to return the region to the trajectory of the Abrahamic Accords. Let us work for a peaceful solution in Gaza and the release of the Israeli hostages. Let us also make it clear that the Czech Republic is aware of the suffering of the Palestinians in Gaza. We have already provided tens of millions of crowns in humanitarian aid. Let us recall that the Czech Republic and the European Union continue to stand for a two-state solution and that one of its preconditions is democratic leadership on the Palestinian side.’
Minister Lipavský also recalled that the Czech economy is based on successful exporters. The role of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and embassies in promoting the country’s economic interests is irreplaceable. On this occasion, he thanked all the Czech diplomats present for the work they do for the Czech Republic and for Czech exporters abroad.
“Whether we are talking about the work of the Czech Foreign Service in the world or inside our country, they have one thing in common – proactive, effective, multifaceted and modern public diplomacy. Diplomacy in the 21st century no longer takes place exclusively behind closed doors. Our key concern is that the domestic public understands the importance of Czech diplomacy and what it brings to the security and prosperity of the Czech Republic. Equally, it is our key interest that the world knows that the Czech Republic is a modern, confident and advanced state, ready to contribute to global security, to promote international order or to be a reliable trading partner. And successful public diplomacy cannot be done without embassies and you, their heads,” added Minister Jan Lipavský.
“Please tell everyone: if you travel abroad, be responsible, have valid documents, valid travel insurance and register in the DROZD system. I will give one example for all of you. Registration in the DROZD system can make the difference between a Czech citizen getting timely information about an evacuation flight or not. This is the reality of today’s world plagued by natural disasters and a volatile security situation. Following the example of other EU countries, we have set up a single line for European countries for Czech citizens in distress abroad. By the end of the year, we want to connect the rest of the world to it.”
The Minister also welcomed the approval of a postal vote for Czech citizens living abroad. This will be the first time that many Czech citizens will be able to exercise their constitutional right to vote without hindrance. “I hope that this will be reflected in an increase in voter turnout. Our government will thus fulfil another of its promises and remove decades of injustice. The role of the Czech Foreign Service in fulfilling the postal vote will be irreplaceable and its smooth delivery will be one of the main challenges for your embassies next year.”
At the end of his speech, Minister Lipavsky said that the multipolar world of tomorrow requires active and smart diplomacy from us in Asia, in Africa, in Latin America. “We must be visible, we must explain, we must listen to others. The struggle over whether the world will be run by a concert of great powers in the 21st century version or whether we will maintain a world where international law and the UN Charter play a strong role is our struggle too. In 7 years, we will be seeking a seat in the General Assembly as a non-permanent member of the Security Council. Our interest in a world where the Czech Republic can feel secure and prosper is already relevant today. The choice is clear – we can passively watch the world become dangerous, or we can act to shape the world and protect our freedom and democracy.”
“We must strengthen the Czech Republic’s position within the European Union and NATO. To be globally active. Support Czech companies abroad. At every step we take, we should send a clear message to the world that the Czech Republic is a modern, confident and advanced country. And to work as one team. A team of Czech diplomacy. Thank you for your commitment!” With these words, Foreign Minister Jan Lipavský concluded his speech to the heads of Czech diplomatic missions and consular posts.
Speaker Marketa Pekarova Adamová and CDA Roman Masarik
During the meeting, the Heads of Czech Embassies also met with the Speakers of both chambers of the Czech Parliament, Miloš Vystrčil and Marketa Pekarova Adamová.
Source link : https://mzv.gov.cz/damascus/en/news/meeting_of_heads_of_embassies_of_the.html
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Publish date : 2024-09-01 07:00:00
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