In his opening remarks, Ambassador Ivo Šrámek, Permanent Representative of the Czech Republic to the UN, OSCE and other International Organizations in Vienna recalled the important role that the multilateral diplomacy had played for the independent Czechoslovak state since 1918. He continued by saying that today’s Czechia is committed to multilateralism and engages actively with international organizations. In Vienna, the Czech Chairmanship of the Board of Governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency 2022 -23 and the Czech Chairmanship of the CTBTO Preparatory Commission in 2021 are a case in point.

Ambassador Šrámek did not forget to mention the grave challenges that the world multilateral order is facing now and recalled Russia’s ongoing aggression against Ukraine and the recent brutal terrorist attacks by Hamas against Israeli civilians. “I regret to say that while we fondly remember the creation of the independent and democratic state of Czechoslovakia in 1918, now, 105 years later, looking beyond our borders, there is little reason for joy. While we in Czechia continue to enjoy life in peace and prosperity, Russia’s illegal and unjustified war of aggression has stripped the whole of Ukraine of such a privilege. So has the heinous terrorist attack of Hamas against Israel left us speechless.” he stressed in his remarks.