Archive: Foreign policy | Czech-American relations Czech-American relations
Havel’s contribution to Czech-US relations recalled at plaque unveiling
A series of events have been held in Prague and elsewhere in the Czech
Republic observing the first anniversary of the death of Václav Havel, who
led the country to democracy in 1989’s Velvet Revolution. The
commemorations have included the unveiling of a new plaque to the late
president at a statue of Woodrow Wilson in the capital. More
Czech MEP: European conservatives would prefer Romney at White House
Czech MEP Jan Zahradil will appear at the US Republican Party convention in
Tampa Bay, Florida, later this week. The convention will formally nominate
Mitt Romney as the party’s presidential candidate, and Mr Zahradil, who
is a deputy chair of a conservative group in the European Parliament, says
conservatives would welcome Mitt Romney’s becoming the next US president.
Jan Zahradil will appear at a panel entitled Hey America, Don’t Take This
Road. RP spoke to the Czech MEP and asked him what his message to the
Republican delegates will be. More
Czech embassy stays in Damascus as violence escalates
The Czech Republic will provide consular services for the US in Syria, the
Foreign Ministry confirmed on Wednesday, after Poland, which had taken on
that function until now, withdrew its diplomats recently. As the conflict
between pro-government forces and anti-Assad rebels escalates, the Czechs
are among the few who have retained their mission in Damascus. More
Madeleine Albright christens new Aspen Institute in Prague
Thursday saw the ceremonial opening in Prague of a new branch of the
US-based Aspen Institute. The ceremony was attended by numerous former
foreign ministers from around the globe, including former us Secretary of
State Madeleine Albright. More
President Klaus looks back on US-Czech relations ahead of 4th of July
Ahead of Independence Day in the United States, President Václav Klaus
visited an event at the American embassy this week. As he noted, it was the
last such occasion that he would attend as head of state, and he took the
opportunity to look back on relations between the Czech Republic and the US
over the course of his two terms in office. More
Shared destinies: Kissinger and Dienstbier meet in 1964
The early 1960s saw dramatic developments in the Cold War, with the
building of the Berlin Wall and then the brinkmanship of the Cuban Missile
Crisis. But there were also signs of a greater pragmatism in East-West
relations. One channel for dialogue was a series of international
gatherings, where scholars and public figures discussed how to reduce the
risk of armed conflict. These were known as the Pugwash Conferences, named
after the town in Canada where the idea was first launched back in 1957. In
September 1964, one such conference was held in the Czech spa town of
Karlovy Vary. More
Prime Minister Petr Nečas to meet US President Barack Obama
Czech Prime Minister Petr Nečas is on a brief working visit to the United
States where he will be meeting with US President Barack Obama later on
Thursday. The agenda of Mr Nečas’ first visit to the Oval Office will be
dominated by the multi-billion tender to expand the Czech Temelín nuclear
power plant, in which the US firm Westinghouse is one of the bidders. More
Czech-US relations: like a 20-year-old marriage without sex, envoys say
In this edition of Czech history, we look at the development of
Czech-American relations over the past two decades. Ever since the fall of
the Iron Curtain, they have been the pivot of Czech foreign policy. But
after the euphoria of the Velvet Revolution and the era of Washington’s
fascination with Václav Havel, these relations today are like a 20-year
old marriage with no sex – at least according to some current and former
diplomats who appeared in Friday’s debate hosted by the Foreign Ministry. More
US Ambassador to Prague Norman Eisen discusses 9/11 & the War on Terror
Ahead of the upcoming tenth anniversary of 9/11 on Sunday, Czech Radio’s
Martina Mašková interviewed the US Ambassador to Prague Norman Eisen. In
the interview the ambassador is asked about Czech cooperation in the War on
Terror, CIA renditions at Czech airports, and al Qaeda. Mr Eisen begins
first though by discussing the attacks on that fateful September day,
including where he was when the first plane hit. More
Krtek tours Czech Republic after return from space
The Czech cartoon character Krtek, or Little Mole, has been given a
hero’s welcome back home after spending two weeks in space. The American
astronaut Andrew Feustel, who took Krtek to space aboard the Endeavour
space shuttle, arrived in Prague last week with his family, and is now
touring the Czech Republic with Krtek to promote science and technology
among young Czechs. More
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