“I believe the state has a duty to value its most experienced diplomats—especially those who have served in exceptionally complex and demanding conditions. Czech diplomacy owes you its gratitude, and I greatly appreciate that I can thank you personally on behalf of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs,” Minister Petr Macinka said at the award ceremony.

Eva Filipi studied Oriental Studies and Turkology at the Faculty of Arts of Charles University. Before joining the diplomatic service, she worked at the Oriental Institute of the Czech Academy of Sciences. At the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, she headed the Middle East and North Africa Department and served as Ambassador to Iraq, Lebanon, Türkiye and Syria. In Syria, during the civil war, she also represented the interests of the United States and several other European Union countries.

The Medal for Distinguished Contribution to Diplomacy has been awarded since 2019 as one of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ two departmental honours. It serves as an expression of appreciation to Czech and international figures, and is awarded by foreign ministers for an outstanding contribution to Czech diplomacy, Czech foreign policy, the development of the Czech Republic’s foreign relations, and the strengthening of peace worldwide.