H.E.Ambassador Jiří Slavík, in his opening speech on the National Day of the Czech Republic on 17 November 2022, recalled not only the events of  17 November 1939, when Czech universities were closed by Nazi Germany on that day, but also the 33rd anniversary of the Velvet Revolution of 1989 in the Czech Republic, which was started by students from Universities in Prague and marked the end of the communist regime in what was then Czechoslovakia.

In honor of the events in November1939 and 1989 in the Czechoslovakia, the National holiday of the Struggle for Freedom and Democracy and the International Student Day were declared which has been symbolically celebrated both in the independent Czech Republic and Slovakia since 1993.

Today, as HE Ambasador Slavík Stated, 77 years after the end of the Second Warl War, when we are witnessing the barbaric invasion of the Russian troops in Ukraine, it is necessary for all of us to remember the importance of the fight for freedom. The Czech Republic, currently holding the Presidency of the Council of the European Union, stands firmly behind Ukraine and helps it defend itself against the aggressor by all possible means. The Czech Republic has provided shelter to almost 400,000 refugees, most of whom are women and children. We hope that this conflict negatively affecting development throughout the all World will soon be ended through diplomatic means, and that life in Ukraine will be peaceful again.

In this context, Ambassador Slavík also appreciated the significant humanitarian aid provided to the Ukrainian people by the United Arab Emirates.

The main Emirati guest among the many invited was the current director of the European Department of MOFAIC, Mrs. Aisha Ibrahim bin Sidan Al Suwaidi, with whom Ambassador Jiří Slavík cut a ceremonial cake with the Czech and Emirati flags after the opening speech. The ambassador also recalled the very good bilateral relations between the Czech Republic and the UAE, which will celebrate 30 years since their establishment next year.

The reception was attended by a number of representatives of the Emirati state authorities and important companies and a large number of representatives of foreign diplomatic missions from Abu Dhabí and Dubai and their military and air attachés

The Czech community living and doing business in the UAE was also represented in large numbers.

All participants very positively evaluated the selection of food and drink, which included Czech sponsor beer Budějovický Budvar, Moravian wine and, in the czech corner, an offer of typical Czech cuisine, prepared by the chef of the Czech pub and restaurant in Ras Al Khaimah where the Association of Czechs and Slovaks Expatriates living in the UAE is based.

The musical accompaniment of the reception was provided by the Czech Musical Trio “The Survivors” with the band's frontman, multi-instrumentalist Jiří Slavík JR.

The Embassy of the Czech Republic in Abu Dhabi would like to thank the sponsors of this reception, without whom it would not be possible to organize such reception  in such a format. In particular, a big “Thank You” goes to: CSG - Czechoslovak Group, TATRA Trucks, Omnipol, Sellier & Bellot, Budějovický Budvar, Smartwings and Petrof.