Archive: Foreign policy | Diplomacy Diplomacy
Ombudsman takes Czech visa issues to European Commission
Czech ombudsman Pavel Varvařovský has officially complained to the
European Commission about persisting problems with issuing Czech visas to
citizens in some post- Soviet countries. The ombudsman says that many
people applying for long-term visas at Czech embassies in Kiev, Astana and
elsewhere have been unable to even book appointments there, and that talks
with Czech government officials have not fixed the problem. 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
Protesters call on Czech government to sever diplomatic ties with Syria
On Tuesday, protesters from the initiative “For a Free Syria” gathered
in front of the Czech government’s headquarters. Demonstrators are
demanding that the Czech Republic sever all diplomatic ties with Syria, as
many other European nations have already done. However, it seems unlikely
that the Foreign Ministry will take this step. More
Prague conference explores role of culture in diplomacy
This Thursday saw the hosting of a Culture Plus event at Prague’s
Černín Palace, co-organised by the Czech Foreign Ministry. On the table
was the topic Culture & Diplomacy – namely how culture, including the
arts, can be used to promote greater communication and understanding. More
Government vows no cuts in this year’s foreign aid budget
The Czech Foreign Ministry has vowed that in spite of severe austerity
measures, this year’s budget for the country’s foreign development aid
will not suffer any cuts. The Czech Development Agency is planning to spend
over 430 million crowns on development projects mainly in countries that
have been earmarked as priority recipients, including Mongolia, Ethiopia,
Moldova, Afghanistan, and others. More
Czechs held in Zambia return home
Three Czechs who were detained and charged with espionage in Zambia have
returned home. They showed up unexpectedly at their doorsteps at the end of
the year and have refused to disclose any information regarding the nature
of their escape. The Czech Foreign Ministry which made an all out effort to
secure their release through regular diplomatic channels has put an
information embargo on the case. More
Russian President Medvedev signs business contracts, opens exhibition at Prague Castle
More than a dozen important bilateral agreements and business deals were on
the agenda of a two-day state visit to Prague by the Russian President
Dmitry Medvedev and his entourage. Bilateral relations were at the
forefront of attention, but topics such as the eurozone’s debt crisis and
the recent parliamentary elections in Russia were also addressed. More
Russian President Medvedev in Prague
Russian President Dmitri Medvedev arrives in Prague on Wednesday at the
invitation of Czech President Václav Klaus. His short visit will entail
primarily meetings with President Klaus, who is often noted for his warm
attitude towards Russia, and later on Thursday with Prime Minister Petr
Nečas. There is plenty on the table for discussion among Czech and Russian
leaders, namely business deals and Russia’s bid for the tender to
complete the Temelín nuclear power plant in South Bohemia. Many of the
milestones in the last decade of Czech-Russian relations however have been
negative, with years of debate over the abandoned American missile defence
plan and a spy scandal two years ago. Christian Falvey spoke with Petr
Kratochvíl, one of the heads of Prague’s Institute of International
Relations and an expert on Russia, who he first asked where relations stand
now. 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
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