Annual meeting of Czech Ambassadors and Consuls General  

Czech Foreign Minister Lubomír Zaorálek and Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka opened an annual meeting of Czech Ambassadors and Consuls General in Czernin Palace on 28 August 2017.  

Foreign Minister Zaorálek’s speech followed up on the opening address by Prime Minister Sobotka who emphasized the importance of relations between the Czech Republic and its neighbouring countries. The Foreign Minister spoke about the current situation in Europe in the second half of 2017, the future of the European Union, and relations with neighbouring countries, and underlined the importance of V4 cooperation and the so-called Slavkov Triangle.

Foreign Minister Zaorálek stressed the importance of the EU. He drew attention to the need for a dialogue among the Member States on a new course of European integration. During the meeting, Czech diplomats and invited guests addressed a wide range of issues, including foreign policy, security, European Union, economy and administrative matters.

Foreign Minister Zaorálek during his speech

 

Minister of Foreign Affairs of Portugal Santos Silva was this year’s main guest.

Foreign Minister Lubomír Zaorálek and Portuguese Foreign Minister Santos Silva

 

Czech Ambassadors and Consuls General with Foreign Minister Zaorálek

 

 

Czech diplomacy in action…

After 20 years, the Czech Republic again chairs one of the UN’s three principal organs

 

The Czech Republic, represented by its Ambassador to the UN, will chair the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) from July 2017 to July 2018. H.E. Marie Chatardová was elected seventy-third President by the ECOSOC members in New York on 27 July 2017. It is a great success for Czech diplomacy which puts the Czech Republic in a leading position in one of the UN’s main organs after an interval of twenty years.

 

Ambassador Marie Chatardová presiding the ECOSOC

 

 

The Czech presidency’s priorities include promoting progress towards sustainable, resilient and inclusive societies through participation of all. The emphasis on participation, and especially on democracy and human rights, reflects Czech long-term experience and foreign policy priorities as well as Concept of the Czech Republic’s Foreign Policy.

 

 

Honorary consuls are actively involved in the Czech Republic’s humanitarian assistance

 

1/ Ecuador

 

A humanitarian project funded by the Czech Republic ended with success in Ecuador in August 2017. The project’s aim was to renew craft industry in Ecuador’s Manabí province after a 7.8 magnitude earthquake which hit this area in April 2017. The devastating earthquake caused extensive damage and loss of lives.

The project worth CZK 3 million was implemented by the Ministry of Industries and Competitiveness of Ecuador (MIPRO) from December 2016 to July 2017.

The aim of the project was to provide equipment and tools to professional associations of textile producers (traditional hats and clothing), food producers (snacks and sweets made from traditional products of local farms) and craftsmen (traditional decorative items).

The project was visited by Mr. Pavel Bechný, Czech Ambassador to Peru, and Mr. José Miguel Aguilar Mora, head of the Czech Honorary Consulate General in Guayaquil. The Czech Honorary Consulate General in Guayaquil was represented at the opening ceremony of the project. Logistics support in connection with the MIPRO was provided by the Czech Honorary Consulate in Quito headed by Mr. Tommy Schwarzkopf.

 

Delivery of humanitarian aid

Delivery of humanitarian aid (in the centre: Mr. Pavel Bechný, Czech Ambassador to Peru)  

 

2) USA

 

In September 2017, the Czech Foreign Minister approved immediate humanitarian aid to the people of Le Grange in Texas, USA, following Hurricane Harvey. Mr. Brian Vanick, Czech Honorary Consul in Texas, visited the site to find out the needs of local people and Czechs living in the area. He helped to identify the Good Shepherd Fund NGO as a close partner in assisting people who have lost their homes. The honorary consul will further monitor the delivery of aid.

 

From the life of the honorary consular community at home and abroad...

 

1) Newly opened honorary consulate of the Czech Republic

13 July 2017 – Opening of the Honorary Consulate in Majuro with a consular district covering the Republic of the Marshall Islands. The Honorary Consul heading this post is Mr. Joseph Jerry Kamer.

 

2) Reopened honorary consulate of the Czech Republic

8 August 2017 – Reopening of the Honorary Consulate in Cartagena de Indias, the Republic of Columbia, with a consular district covering the departments of Bolívar, Córdoba, Sucre, San Andrés, Providencia and Santa Catalina. The Honorary Consul heading this post is Ms. Gabriela Thuronyi de Londoño.

 

The reopening of the Honorary Consulate of the Czech Republic in Cartagena de Indias brought the number of active Czech honorary consulates to 200.

 

3) New honorary consulate opened in the Czech Republic

10 July 2017 – Opening of the Honorary Consulate of the Republic of Italy in Brno. The Honorary Consul heading this post is Mr. Pavel Zezula.

 

4) Closed honorary consulate in the Czech Republic

July 2017 – Closing of the Honorary Consulate of Belize in Prague headed by Mr. Antonín Šimek.