Prague Leaders Magazine 02/2009

www.leadersmagazine.cz

NO 2/2009 195,- CZK

Leaders Magazine No 2/2009

incl. electronic version

now available in Brussels

PhDr. Ing. Ivo Klimeš M.B.A, Managing Director of Intrum Justitia s.r.o. photo: Vladimír Weiss

FAIR

PLAY PARTNERSHIP prague city hall

moravian-silesian region

EU presidency

gala evening

European Summit

The 4th Charity Ball

Conference

Synot Tip Lounge

Swan Lake

of Regions & Cities

of the Rotary Club Ostrava International

“EU Enlargement – 5 Years After”

Was Bustling in Liberec

On 5th–6th March, 2009, the Municipal House and Žofín Palace. This peak meeting of the...

On 7th February, 2009, the fourth charity ball of the Rotary Club Ostrava International was...

The conference was organised on 2nd March, 2009 in Prague by the Czech Presidency in...

SYNOT TIP, a.s. was the official partner of the Organizational Committee for the Nordic...

On 12th February the National Theatre witnessed the premiere of the new production of the classical ballet Swans Lake with the...

page 76

PLM_Coverpage_0902.indd 1

page 88

page 106

page 118

national theatre

page 134

13.3.2009 14:35:16

"HO DIFFERENT WILL THE "HOW WO WORLD COME OUT OF THE CUR CURRENT FINANCIAL CRISIS?" Czech National Bank & Residence of the Mayor of Prague

PRAGUE March 24-26, 2009 KEYNOTE K EYN SPEAKERS: M Mr. M Mirek Topolánek Prime Minister of the Czech Republic

Ms. Christine Lagarde French Minister of Finance

Mr. Zdeněk Tůma Governor of the Czech National Bank

Mr. Charles L. Evans Governor of the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago

Mr. Grigori A. Marchenko Governor of the National Bank of Kazakhstan

a conference presented by

COMENIUS Pan European Society

Mr. Pier Carlo Padoan Deputy Secretary General, OECD

Mr. Alexandr Vondra Deputy Prime Minister for European Affairs of the Czech Republic

More information and registration on www.ebff.cz

Inzerat_PLM.indd 1

2/20/09 4:01:05 PM

Celebrate the Anniversary of the Velvet Revolution with the Authentic Cognac THE LIMITED EDITION OF 99 PIECES IS INTENDED TO CELEBRATE 20 YEARS FROM THE EVENTS IN NOVEMBER 1989 Each dedication personally numbered and signed by Jean-Jacques Godet

I aam honoured to share with you Goodet Folle Blanche, an exceptional coggnac, year 1989. This bottle combinnes the exceptionality of grape croops in 1989 with Folle Blanche.

Thhe history of Folle Blanche dates baack to the 16th century. In 1870s, thiis grape variety was ravaged by thee Phyloxera in 99 % of Cognac vinneyards. More resistant grape varieeeties have been used to pr ri p oduce coggnac ever since. Making cognac froom Folle Blanche grapes, Godet is currently one of the few of such maanufacturers in the world. The ressult is a cognac of unique aromaa and taste; the limited edition of 999 pieces is intended to celebrate 200 years from f the eventts in th i November 1989 and is only distributed to cuustomers in the Czech Republic. At thiis sppeciiall momentt, enjoy th j th the only l coggnac that can consider itself to be exxactly the type off cognac drank by Freench impressionists, Victor Hugo annd Napo p leon Bonapparte.

The price: 4890,– CZK without VAT Th The Velvet Revolution Cognac

Interviews.indd 3

Exclusive distributor: Berentzen Distillers CR, spol. s r.o. mil milan an.sed sedla lak@ k@be bere rent ntze zenn.cz cz

13.3.2009 16:32:53

You can now enjoy all the comforts of a 5 star hotel when you fl fly Turkish Airlines First Class.

The ultimate in comfort, service and luxury awaits you - feel like a true Superstar!

Th

For further information please contact:

Turkish Airlines, Václavské náměstí 19, 110 00 Praha 1, tel.: +420 234 708 708, www.turkishairlines.cz, info@turkishairlines.cz G0022_inz_first_class_234x162,5.indd 1

10.2.2009 10:32:10

LEADERS MAGAZINE COVERING TOP PRAGUE EVENTS For Full Photocoverage Go To www.leadersmagazine.cz/photogallery

Turkish_Photogallery.indd 4

13.3.2009 18:21:27

From left: MUDr. Štěpánka Stehliková, Homolka Hospital, Prof.

MUDr. Josef Vymazal, Homolka Hospital, MUDr. Ota Schutz, Owner, Žilní klinika, Albin Sybera, Managing Director Sybera Enterprises spol. s.r.o., Benke Aikel, your Publisher and Mrs. Diana Marhoulová, Managing Director, Hotel U Jezulátka

friends of Kampa

Off the Record

AT HOTEL U JEZULÁTKA more photos and electronic version available on www.leadersmagazine.cz

Mrs. Diana Marhoulová, Managing Director, Hotel U Jezulátka, Prof.

MUDr. Josef Vymazal, Homolka Hospital, MUDr. Štěpánka Stehliková, Homolka Hospital, Albin Sybera, Managing Director, Sybera Enterprises spol. s r.o and MUDr. Ota Schutz, Owner, Žilní klinika

From left: Albin Sybera, Managing Director, Sybera Enterprises spol. s r.o. and Doc. MUDr. Julius Špičák, CSc, IKEM (Institute of Clinical and Experimental Medicine)

PLM_0902_events__2.indd 5

From left: Albin Sybera Jr., Advisor to President of Comenius and MUDr. Ota Schutz, Owner, Žilní klinika

MUDr. Štěpánka Stehlíková, Homolka Hospital, Albin Sybera, Managing Director, Sybera Enterprises spol. s r.o. and Prof. MUDr. Josef Vymazal, Homolka Hospital

15.3.2009 9:32:14

Dear Readers, Slowly, slowly I am seeing the first few signs of spring. A few days ago, in ouur backyard while my dog Rhea was sni nifffff ing inng around, I saw the fifirs rstt wi rs willd snoowd wdro ropp ro flowers. This si sigh ghtt, tog gh oget ethe et herr wi he with th longer hours of day lig ight ig ht,, gi ht g ve ves mee the he fee e liing that des espi pite pi te all the gloom m and cririse sess we se w aree he ar headingg fo for sp spririring ng and summer s an d thhat hop tha opee an op andd optititimi m sm sm, lo l ve andd carre shou sh ould ou uldd be in the airirr. Let’ss co c nq nquerr an a d confrront the the rec rec eces essi es sion with ch sion c al a leeng n es andd ne new w po poss ssibillititie ss i s, with leesss gre ie reed ed a d more shaaring an ng,, wi ng with t mor oree id idea eass an ea andd creativityy and ppar a titiccularlyy mo more re use use of coommon sennse se.

Slow wly as we welll, bu butt on iitt s wayy, ou our re rede desi de sign si gned gn ed web pagge is is eme mergging. g The elecctrton onic ver ersi sion si on ooff th the magazizine ine iiss a bi bigg succ cceess. Accordding to Go cc Goog ogle og le’s le ’s anal alyt al ytic yt icss se ic serv rvice we had in 3 we rv week ekss nearly 6400 uniqu ek que visitors qu r ttuurni rs ning ng the the pag a es andd ch an chec ecki ec king ki ngg the connte tent ntss an nt andd 15, 155,228 page views – qu q ite itte im impr pres pr essive numbe es b rs. be rs W are now We w llau aunc au nchi nc hinng the pos hi ossiibi os bilility ty ffor or com ompa pani pa nies es to ha h ve their logo vissibble afterr ea each ch cli clilick ck on o a page. Iff yyouu wan wan antt to fin indd somebodyy you tthi in h nk would ldd be be inn thee ma th magazine you can nnow ow uuse se our seaarc rchh en enggine in the eleectronnic ver ersi sion si on. on Video pooss ssib ibilililitititie ib iess ar ie a e also takingg shap apee an andd ho hope pefu pe fullllllyy wi fu willll bbec e om me an atttrac at actititive ac ve ser ser ervi vice for rea vi eade ea ders as weell. Thhe ma de main in thing ng is to show impo im mpoorttant even ev ents en ts suc u h as seminaar s, con onfe on fere fe renc nces nc es,, ch es chaarity evven e t s, baalls etc. Theree iss a gr grea e t possibiliit y he here r for spo pons nsor ns orss annd adve vertisers to bee visiibl ve b e. Pleasee visi sitt ou ourr we webb page att w ww.le lead adeersm mag agazine.czz.

Slow Sl owly ly bbut ut ddet eter e mi minedly my new w sen enio iorr ad advi vise serr Mi Mirk rkoo La Lach chma m n iss also progres gr e sing ng in his role ooff pr promotinng th thee ma maga gazizine to po pottential cliennts. s. Mr. L achman waas bo born in Prag aguue but lef leftt th thee co couuntry by swimm mming from Yuggosslavi viaa to IIta taly ly.

From om Ita taly ly hhee we went nt ttoo Sw Swed edenn aand became a faamo mous coach ch iinn voolllley eyba ballll and teenniss, af afte ter whhicch he wennt too complete thhe samee tas tasks ks in in Ge Germ rmany, Fra rancce andd Spaiin. In Spain he alsso deeve an velo lope pedd a su succces essf sful ul bbus u ines esss, which is noow partly sold. Itt is pa i no surp rpririse se to an anyb ybody th that at he speaks ks 10 laanguages flueen-tly. y. Besides es this trtrem emen endo dous us asset et ffoor our magazine Mr Mr. La Lach chma m n’ss othe her innte tere rest stss ar aree mu musi sic, c, spo p r t,, gastronomy my and nd bbusiness wh whiich alsoo fit f it wel welll innto thee ma th maga gazizinee.

In this issue we are proud to have Ph. D. Ing. Ivo Klimeš, Managing Director of Intrum Justitia, on our front page along with an interview. Other very interesting interviews are with the well-respected Hon. Karel Schwarzenberg, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mrs. Daniela Filipiová, Minister of Health, Prof. Jan Švejnar at the University of Michigan and former candidate for the Czech presidency, Mr. Stanislav Mišák, Governor of the Zlín Region, Mr. Jiří Havel, ČSSD Shadow Minister for Education, candidate for the European Parliament, Mr. Jaromír Šlápota, Chairman of the Czechoslovak Foreign Institute, Mr. Karel Paar, Grand Prior of the Grand Priory of Bohemia, H.E. Rachid Kaitouni, Ambassador of Morocco as well as an article by Jiří Paroubek, Chairman of ČSSD, to name just a few.

Finally I would like to welcome three new people starting to work for Leaders Magazine. Ingrid Železníková and Michala Myy ddo M dog og R og Rhheeaa Vosková, both from Slovakia, have already shown impressive ambition, creativity and ideas to meet the challenges we have in front of us in sales and marketing. Max Salamatin and Daniel Raska are working on our web page and from 16th March Zuzana Krchnavá starts as office manager.

Welcome aboard.

To our readers I wish you all the best, keep reading the magazine and keep your yo ur oopt ptim imis ism m an andd crea eatitivi vity ty at wo work rk whe when yo youu fa face ce tthee upc u com omin ingg ch chal alle leng nges es.

pa e 10 pag 06 6–C Conf onfere onf ereennce cee “E “EU Enlargement – 5 YYe Yea eeaars r s Af Aft Aft f ter e er”

events 5 22 25 35 36 38 40 50 52 54 57 72 75 76 88 92 111 118 120 128

Off the Record at Hotel U Jezulátka Round Table of Comenius with JUDr. Cyril Svoboda, Minister for Regional Development of the Czech Republic VIP Party Incheba Praha Event “The World on a Plate” Lions Club Prague Eagle The President Hotel Honours its Business Partners in the 4th Annual President Awards Ceremony Business Breakfast with Gernot Mittendorfer, CEO/Chairman of the Board of Česká spořitelna Bank Lions Club Prague Bohemia Ambassador at Restaurant Pelikan Lions Club Prague Bohemia Ambassador at Restaurant Pelikan 5. 2.

Slavia Danced at Žofín Austrian Ball Beseda Ball 2009 Czech Society in New York at Bohemian National Hall 17th International Leadership Conference The Mayor of Prague Gave an Audience to Scientists on the Occasion of the International Astronomy Day 2009 European Summit of Regions & Cities The 4th Charity Ball of the Rotary Club Ostrava International Lions Club Prague Eagle, Pharmaceutical Evening Financial Consulting Differently Synot Tip Lounge Was Bustling in Liberec Peter Formánek´s 70th Birthday Prague Student Summit

diplomatic events 42 136

Farewell to H.E. Richard Graber, Ambassador of the USA and his Wife Alexandria 10th of February Diplomatic Day of Russia

page 134 – Swan Lake

Yourr s si sinccerely,

Benkke AAiike kell ell I benke..ai aike kellll@l @ eadersm maggazine ne.c .czz www.le lead ader ersm smag agaz azin ine. e.cz cz

6

contents.indd 6

Lead Le adeers Ma ad Maga g ziine II/ 20 2009

16.3.2009 9:00:56

interviews

contributors

9

19 Show what YYou don’t Like/ Ivan Pilný 45 The Insolvency Act During the Crisis/JUDr. Roman Jelínek, Ph.D. 58 The Energy-Climate Crisis is Your Business Part VII: Winds of Change–Energy, Jobs, and Economic Opportunity1 / James A. Cusumano, PhD. 70 Wind of Change Is Blowing/ Jan Muehlfeit 85 Sweet Are the Uses of Adversity/ Karin Genton L'Eppée

12 14

16 20 26

27 28 30

32 46

48

60

62

82

94

1122 11 114

116

The Creditor’s Position Towards the Debtor Should Be Legislatively Strengthened An interview with PhDr. Ing. Ivo Klimeš M.B.A, Managing Director of Intrum Justitia s.r.o.

A Luxury we Simply Can’t Afford An article by Jiří Paroubek, Chairman of ČSSD People do not Have to Live in the Same Way but They Should Have the Same Chances An interview with Cyril Svoboda, Minister for Regional Development The USA don’t want the radar? Nonsense, says Schwarzenberg.

An interview with Karel Schwarzenberg, Minister of Foreign Affairs The crisis? Nobody knows what is going on.

An interview with Professor Jan Švejnar, Renowned Economist Great Golf Resorts Have Got Great Golf Academies A talk with Jiří Kromichal, one of the most recognised golf coaches in Europe, about teaching golf Albatross – the Resort An interview with Mr. Jiří Winkelhöfer, Manager of the Albatross Golf Resort Health Care Without Barriers An interview with Daniela Filipiová, Minister of Health We Have to Use The Czech EU Presidency to Fight Growing Protectionism An interview with Doc. Ing. Jiří Schwarz CSc., Dean of the Faculty of Economics and Public Administration EU Enlargement – 5 Years After A speech by the President of the European Commission José Manuel Barroso Law Lags Behind Technological Development An interview with Richard Wágner Wágner, Senior Partner at Pokorný Pokorný, Wágner & Partner Partner, Attorneys-at-Law Fairness & Leadership An interview with Marta Gellová, Secretary General of the Association of Financial Intermediaries and Financial Advisors of the Czech Republic Our Industry Is Based on Personalities An interview with Michael Specking, General Manager, Hilton Prague & Hilton Prague Old Town Occupation: Volunteer Czech Cultural Diplomat An interview with Jaromír Šlápota, Chairman of the Czechoslovak Foreign Institute (ČSÚZ) Services TTailored to the Needs of Customers An interview with Mr. Drahomír Ruta, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Pražská energetická, a.s. (PRE) We Are More Compact, Operational and Stronger Now An interview with Jiří Havel, Shadow Minister of Education and Candidate for the European Parliament The Key Priioritit y Is Th I to IIncrease Competit titiiveness off our Regi gion An interview with Stanislav Mišák, President of the Zlín Region Morocco – Open for Business A talk with H.E. Mr. Mohammed Rachid Idrissi Kaitouni, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Czech Republic Tuitio Fidei et Obsequium Pauperum A talk with Karel Paar, Grand Prior of the Grand Priory of Bohemia of the Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of St. John of Jerusalem of Rhodes and of Malta

culture events 66 68 123 124 126 1300 13 132 134

contents.indd 7

Juraj Jakubisko Bathory and Other Horrors, a Selection from Graphic Works Jazz at the Castle with Eva Olmerová Jewels of Slovak Paintwork from a Private Collection Prof. Věra Chytilová Awarded AMU Gold Medal January and February of the Prague Symphony Orchestra FOK Jazz Ja zz at at th thee Ca Cast stle le wit withh Le Lew w Ta Taba back ckin in Q Qua uart rtet et National Theatre Swan Lake

page 118 – Synot Tip Lounge Was Bustling in Liberec

the good things in life 64

Burgundy/Trois Glorieuses

EU matters 96 97 98 99 100 102

103 104 105 106 108

page 108 – Daniela Filipiová Opens “E-Health for Individuals, Society and Economy”

CEBRE Debate – to Deal with the Crisis, Czech Presidency Should Combine Efforts on Internal as Well as Global Market The Prague Conference on the European Way of Security 2009 Business News Future t off EEurope’s ’ Telecommu l nicati i tions Was Discussedd iin Prague Czech Republic Should not have Any Sarkozy Complex An interview with Daniel Guéguen, Top European Lobbyist Upon the Invitation of the COPA-COGECA Praesidium, Czech Minister of Agriculture Petr Gandalovič Introduced the Presidency Programme to its Members Czech Mate Czech Flash Minister of Justice Welcomes EU Exxperts at International Conference “E-Justice Without Barrriers” in Prague Conference “EU Enlargement – 5 Years After” Daniela Filipiová Opens “E-Health for Individuals, Society and Economy” page 64 – Burgundy/Trois Glorieuses

86–91

16.3.2009 9:49:27

We are pleased to announce that we have considerably extended Leaders Magazine spread to include 80 top– notch restaurants in Prague.

Total circulation: cca 20.000, bi–monthly Including 1400 magazines to Brussels

Aria Hotel Coda restaurant

225 334 791

Le Palais Hotel Prague Le Papillon 234 634 611

Crowne Plaza Harvest Restaurant

224 393 692

Readership total: cca 500.000

Prague Marriott Hotel Brasserie restaurant 222 888 888

Račanská vinárna

224 393 855

Leaders Magazine is sent as a compliment to: Those who are the most influential, powerful and affluent readers in the Czech Republic. To representatives of the businesssphere, diplomatic corps and to top goverment and mayor’s officials.

On the board of the ČSA business class & VIP lounges of Prague aiport.

We are also cooperating with Prague City Ci ty H Hal alll, C Czech ch Inv nves est, t, C Cze zech ch C Cen entr tree, Thee Cz Th Czech Medi dica cal Ch Cham ambber, all C Chambers be rs of Co Comm mmer erce ce, Fo Forum m Fr Franncophone Affa Af fair ires es, Českká Manažersská Aso soci ciac ace, e, CMC CM C Grad adua uatee Schooll of Bus usin ines e s, Universityy oof Ne New w Yo York rk in in Pr Prag ague, An Angl gloo A ericcan S Am Sch chool,l, U Unive vers rsity of Pitttsburg bu rghh, C CEE EELI Instititu tute te, Lions Clubbs, Rota Ro tary Clubs, The Pr Prag ague ue Soc Socie iety ty for for Int. Coope p ration,, CZEC ECH H TO TOPP 10 100, 0, Czecch 10 100 0 Be Best st, CEBRE, Eurotelegraph, The Senate, Minister of Agriculture, Minister of Foreign Affairs, andd Ministry of Culture, Ano pro Evropu an many ma n more.

Grand Hotel Bohemia U Prašné brány 234 608 111

For sale in Luxor Bookstore at Václavské náměstí.

Leaders Ma Maga gazi z ne iss av avaailaabl blee in aall room ro omss of tthe hese see ttop op ssta tarr fine ta ne hhot otel elss el andd th an thei eirr re ei rest stau st aura au r nt ra nts: (tel (t e ephoone numberr fo forr reeservation))

Hilton Prague CzechHouse Grill & Rotisserie

Radisson SAS Alcron Hotel La Rotonde 222 820 000

Sieber Hotel Restaurace h. Sieber 224 250 025

Contributors: José Manuel Barroso, Villiam Bucher, MF DNES, Vanessa Bulkacz, James A. Cusumano, David Creighton, Joseph Drebitko, EurActiv.cz, Karin Genton-L’Epée, Pavlína Holancová, Martina Hošková, Filip Hubáček, JUDr. Roman Jelínek, Ph.D., Zuzana Kasáková, Jan Muehlfeit, Jiří Paroubek, Euro2009.cz, Ivan Pilný, Věra Řiháčková

Top Hoteel Praha Top Rest stau aura rannt Bohemiattopp Tell. R Te Rec ecep epce ce:: 26 267 7 28 284 4 11 111 1

Marketing/Advertising: Michala Vosková, Ingrid Železníková, Max Salamatin

Restaurant Alcron

222 820 000

Rezidence Lundborg Praha 257 011 911 224 842 700

Hilton Prague Old Town – Maze Restaurant 221 822 303 Holiday Inn Prague Cong Co ngre ress ss C Cen ente terr Esspr pritt

61 6 1 17 175 5 03 030 0

Hotel Be Bellllag agio io Rest Re stauraant IIsaabeella

221 77 778 99 999 9

Hotel Hoffme meiste terr R staurant Re nt Ada

25 2 51 017 133

Hotell In Hote Intterc rcon onttinental al PPra rahha Zlat Zl atáá Pr P ahha 296 29 6 63 631 1 111 Hotel Pa Palaace Praha Gourme met Club ub

Rezidence Nosticova Restaurant Alchymist 257 011 670

Audien Aud ence ce D cission makerss inn the fields of De busi bu sineess, publicc reelatio ions ns, in inde depe penn dent pro de rofe fess ssio ions ns and ddip iplomaacy cy, gove go vern rnme ment nt officia ials ls, local of offifici c alss.

225 22 5 77 777 7 77 7 7

Hotell Sa Hote Savo voy, y, Resta tauurace Hrad adčany 224 302 2 150 0 Kemp K empin insk skii – Hy Hybe bern ern r skká Hybernská 12 Hy 12,, 110 00 00, Pr Prah ahaa 1 ah hote ho tell & re te rest staaura st rant ra nt 226 22 6 22 26 111

Youu ca cann fifind the M Mag agaz ag azin az ine inn tthe in hese finee re he resstaaurants: (te telleph te phon ph onee nu on numb mber mb er ffor or rres eservaatitioon) es Ambi Am biennte – R bi Ris istorant is ntee nt Pastta Fr Pa Fresca Arom omi om Ambbiente – The Livvinng Am Resstaaurants Az teca ca Baro Ba r ckk B ro Bar a & Caf aféé af Bellllevue Be lll e Brasserie Le Moliere B eak Café Br Bugsy’s Baar Bu Cafe Ca fe La Ve Vera rand ra ndaa nd Cafe Ca fe Savoy Cafe Ca fe De Paariss Caffé Re Resstaura aur nt au Prem Pr emié iéra raa Casanoovaa C’es C’ esst La VVie ie C em Cl e enttinu num nu Casa s And sa ndina Červen enáá tabu en taab lka (Na Hu Hutíchh) Červ Če rvenná ta rv tabu bulk bu lkka ( odec (L eckká) ec Dům Dů m vína U závojee L’ Ang ngol olo ol Frranncouz uzsk uz skáá re sk rest staaura st race ce v Ob Obec e ním ec ím do domě Giar arddino ar Enot En oteca con Cuucina ot Heergget etov o a Cihe helnna he Hung ngar arria iann Gr Grot ottoo ot Jaapanese R Res estaaurant es

224 230 0 244 4 222 71 13 222 222 22 2 72 727 7 85 851 1 257 327 27 389 22 22 32 329 9 221 800 0 123 553 222 22 2 514 41 165 65 222 231 31 10 065 65 5 222 22 2 32 329 9 94 43 22 24 814 733 257 57 329 860 603 160 718 224 48 828 28 1 159 59 9 257 535 127 27 257 321 511 224 813 892 2 22 815 99 22 224 96 23 33 32 3 3 42 29 224 810 0 40 401 1 226 006 6 1 20 2 4 82 22 829 9 355 3 55 35 222 002 2 745 222 513 427 25 257 57 53 535 5 53 5 4 257 532 344

Nagoya 251 5 51 11 724 4 Kampaa Pa Parrk 257 532 685–6 Kavárn á na v Ob O ecníím domě 222 2 002 764 Kavá Ka várnaa & Vinotéka Breestto vá (Ště (Š těpá ěpáns páánsská ká)) 222 22 2 21 212 2 81 810 0 Kingg Solom mon Koogo g – Havel elsk el skáá sk Kogo Ko go – Slo lova vans va n ký dům m

224 2 818 752 224 22 4 21 14 54 543 3 221 451 259 59

La Per erle de Prague ue L mb La mborghini PastaaCaffé fé (VVězzeňňská) Laamb mbor orrgh ghini Paast staC aCaff féé aC (Vodičko (V kova ko va)) va Laary Faryy Lee Café fé Colo loni lo niial al Les Moules Louka Lu 257 721 123 388 Lvví Dvůr Lví

221 984 16 66 224 8 813 13 257 222 22 2 23 231 869 222 32 320 0 15 4 2 224 24 8 81 18 322 18 2 222 315 022 2 224 372 361 6

maama lluc ucyy uc Marc Ma r o Po P lo IVV Metamo moorpphiss Metropoll Mussicc Club Mlýnec N stre No ress re s cafee ggal ss alle al leery lery Oran Or ange an ge Moo oonn Oste Os teria Da Clara te

222 32 22 327 7 207 224 819 81 19 668 22 21 77 771 1 06 0 8 222 314 4 071 71 221 0 082 82 2 208 08 222 317 004 4 222 22 2 325 119 271 7 726 548 776 77 6 41 4 8 559 9

Pálffyy Pallác Parn rnn s rnas Pass Pa ass ssep epar ep arto r to t utt Patrio iot– io ot– t–x Prav Pr avdaa av Red Fisshh sushi

257 7 530 5 522 22 224 2 216 244 4 222 513 340 0 224 235 15 58 222 326 203 222 220 716

EU Matters: Ministry of Agriculture of the Czech Republic, CEBRE Czech Business Representation, AMO, CESES, Europlatform, Ano pro Evropu Photographers: Tomáš Jacko, Zuzana Jirásková, Pavel Kaucký, Philippe Veldeman, Martin Janas, Dagmar Kneřová, Martin Malý, Jiří Zerzoň, Jaroslav Marek, Pavel Lebeda, Radovan Miča, Paul Pacey, Jaroslav Petrek, Roman Sejkot, Martin Siebert, Jadran Šetlík, Radovan Šubín, Vojtěch Vlk, Vladimír Weiss, Lillis Werder

224 2 24 0 093 93 111 111

Hotell Re Hote Resi side denc ncee A chym Al ymist 257 25 7 28 286 011 Hotel Residence Hote Irronn Gat atee

Publisher: Benke Aikell

Rest stau st aurace Hanil au R staaurace U Vladaařee Re Reest s au aurant bar Pood kř kříd ídle íd lem le m Rest stau aura au rant ra nt M Miichall Rest Re stau st aura au rant ra nt Palác Kinskýých Pa

222 715 86 67 257 534 121 224 22 4 95 951 1 741– 1–2 1– 2 222 22 2 2 6 30 224 810 1 750 10 50

Restaurant Ryybí trhh 224 4 89 895 5 44 447 7 Restaurant u K Koolowraata 2 257 57 530 729 R st Re stau aura au rant ra nt U ma maltlttézskýcch ry rytířů Reyk ykja yk javí ja víík Rio’s Vyše š hr še h ad

257 7 533 3 666 22 22 22 221 1 218 224 2 24 922 22 1 156 56 56

Ristorantte Amic Am icii Mi M eii R st Ri stor oran or ante an te D Da Em Eman anue an uel ue

224 2 24 8 24 81 16 6 16 688 88 224 22 4 312 934

Ristoranntee Incontro Ri Juunggma manoovo nám. 19

224 2 948 650 0

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Please send them to: Leaders Magazine, Moravská 14, 120 00 Praha 2, tel.: 224 255 277, fax: 224 256 172, e–mail: info@leadersmagazine.cz www.leadersmagazine.cz Leaders Magazine comes out bi–monthly.

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Russalkaa 224 93 934 4 10 09 Sahhara Caf afé/ é/Re é/ Rest Re stau st a ra au rant nt 7 774 7 557 763 74 Taj– Ta j–Ma j–Ma j– Maha hall ha 224 225 5 56 566 U Červ Čeervveného ko kola l la U Ka Kamenného moosttu U ma malířů U mo mod é kachni modr ničk ni ičk čkyy

224 811 118 224 097 7 10 00 25 57 75 530 3 000 30 257 25 7 320 30 308 8

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info.indd 8

13.3.2009 15:29:45

PhDr. Ing. Ivo Klimeš, M.B.A Managing Director of Intrum Justitia s.r.o.

Photos: Vladimír Weiss

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An interview with PhDr. Ing. Ivo Klimeš, M.B.A, Managinng Director of Intrum Justitia s.r.o.

The Creditor’s Position Towards the Debtor Should Be

Legislatively Strengthened Ivo Klimeš (52 yearrs) was engaged in companies SAKO,CO. Ltd., in Riyadh in the Saudi Arabia as Executive Directtor; in Coca Coola Amatil in the Czech Repuublic as Home Market Manager; in Duracell Int. as Country Saless Manager in the Czech Reppublic and Slovakia, and in ING in Nationale-Nederllanden as Busiiness Manager. Since Febbruaary 2000 Ivo Klimeš has worked in the company Intrrum Justitia, s.r.oo. in Prague as its Managinng Director.

The Intrum Justitia is Europe’s leading credit management services company. Could you specify its activities?

Our success came also thannks to the Intrum Justitia Group foundation alreeady in 1923 in Sweden. Thus it has more thann 85 years of successful activities. We have cuurrently branches in 24 European countries, employing over 3,000 people with the annual turnover exceeding 3,2 billion Swedish Crow wns. We can say without a trace of flush that thhe Intrum Justitia is the biggest financial group engaged in providing services concerning creedit management and administration. As one of thhe few companies of the given area in the world, itss shares are listed and traded on the stock exchannge. In case of the Justitia Group it is the Nordicc Exchange. This guarantees the accomplishment of the strictest quality, security and ethical criteria. The Intrum Justitia has been active in thee Czech Republic since 1996. We have become the most important company in this field in the Czech Republic with the market share of more than 40 percent after twelve years. It gives an entirely clear evidence of the Intrum Justitia’ss position on the Czech market. And we keep growing successfully…

What other service do you offer your clients?

As I already said in my prevvious answer – it does not concern only claim ms but complete services of credit management. The Intrum Justitia s. r. o. offers its clients complex solutions of their problems. Our clients can use

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eitther the whole package or only some of thhose provided via the whole range of particular activitties or services. I mean the real compplete sppectrum, i.e. credit information; invoicing and claaim ser-vices, furthermore all service of both thee court and out of court collections; dispensaation of adjudication, i.e. the execution; and alsso the so-called “long-term” written off debtt annd apparently bad debt collection. Conncurrently, we are helping our clients with the purchhases of complete debt portfolios anytime duuring the above mentioned proceedings. It all cooncerns business debts if debtors are both coompanies and physical persons. In addition to that – all services are available in bothh the Czzech Republic and internationally, in more thaan 150 countries.

What novelties do you prepare?

We have quite a lot of complete noveltiess and tinny improvement of our services. However, all off theem are heading to one goal – the satisfacc tion of our clients! We want to solve our clieent’s problems in a complex way. Thus they doo nott haave to make any other internal activities and sppend extra money to solve the given probblem.

Onn the contrary, we want our clients to be fully enngaged in their main business task. Moreoover, wee want our clients to have a systematic,, detailed and perfect overview of the current state of the solution of their problem. We try to achhieve maa ximum comfort of our clients, distinct f lexibillity and high effectiveness! If anybody wants to get more detailed information, I would likke to reccommend our web page www.intrum.cz.

The Intrum Justitia conducts a survey the “European Payment Index (EPI)” twice a year.

What is its content and what is it aimed at?

The EPI is really the representative survey concerning the total payment index of particular European countries. The survey was initiated by the Swiss bank circus who asked the Intrum Justitia as a renowned company within the credit management field to carry out the survey. It comprises all important European countries (it covers 97 percent of the Europe’s GDP) and the results inform of payment morale and payment habits in particular countries, and last but not least, they also calculate the total risk index.

You are members of the Collection Agency Asso-ciation in the Czech Republic (AIA).

Could you shortly discuss its main objectives?

We are the founding members of the AIA. When we founded this professional association in 2002, we set up two main goals: to cultivate market environment in the field of debt collection and also to become a typical company concerning quality and ethic work and transparency for our members’ clients. After few years of the association’s existence we have relatively considerable results. The AIA gathers all key market players at present. Their turnovers represent approximately 85–90 percent of the market turnovers of debt collection. I can say that state administration bodies and media take our association as a relevant partner. I am glad that I could have and I still can take part in the AIA work as its president and currently as the vice-president.

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16.3.2009 9:46:27

Do you cooperate on the international level as well?

Yes, we do. Our association was accepted into the Federation of European National Collection Associations (FENCA). It was a significant step forward and an irreplaceable option to consult, to compare our work and to exchange experience and information with the best European companies in our field. The distinct acknowledgement not only of my work but also of the whole Association resulted in my election as a member of its four members’ Board in Nice at the FENCA World Congress. Thus, the Czech Association has its representation in the FENCA Board as the only member country of the Central European countries.

In this connection, what events do you prepare?

We plan a lot of events. Our members, for instance, appreciate very much the regular supply of information concerning our field of work and many forthcoming novelties in legislation. However, I would like to mention two most important events we can expect. Firstly, it is the meeting with the European Parliament and the European structures’ representatives which is going to take place in Brussels in April. Anyway, this year’s crucial event remains the next FENCA World Congress organized here in Prague, in September. It is a unique opportunity to send

furthher signals towards our clients, to open our Assoociation even more deeply for the cooperaation with public administration bodies and leggislatioon creators, with judiciary representativees, etc. And I hope that it increases the prestige of the whole area of our work in the eyes of broaad publiic.

The Ministry of Justice revaluated the plan on the insolvency law amendment with regard to the current economic crisis. Is it possible to keep a balanced relationship between creditors and debtors at all?

Wee know that it is impossible to reach an ideal in anny field and thus we can only approach it.

Conccerning the creditor-debtor relationship, howeever, the ideal is really far off. I suppose thhe posittion of these two subjects is really not wellbalannced. Practically, the debtor is given an advaantage, although it should be the oppositee!

Well,, the creditor has still not only the right but he shhould have the real chance to get his moneey backk in time and the debtor, on the contrary, haas the obligation to fulfil his commitments. Thhe preseent state leads, among others, to the risse in deebt of business objects and households, annd in higgh payment risks in our country.

What would be the possible solution?

I can see several possible solutions, som me of thhem can be influenced by the participants direcc tly, other only indirectly. First of all, every

entrepreneur can improve and optimize management of their risks inside their company.

Secondly, another solution can be the full focus on the business liine, i.e. to do a thing I am best at and to entrustt the care of my debts to specialist companiess, as they are again best at it.

I am talking aboout the well-known and constantly growing trend of outsourcing. Thirdly, a distinct factor is represented by the legislation. The creditor’s position towards the debtor should be legislattively strengthened. It is rather the opposite at present! I hope that our laws will be harmonizedd with the EU law soon. Yet, it is also our duty, as we are the EU member country.

The European Uniion Directive No. 35/2000 describes this problem clearly. Last, but by far not least in the light of significance, it is necessary to find the solutioon in the sphere of justice. We need a sort of law w interpretation harmonization.

I do not mean any attack on judiciary independence but rather greater “predictability” of adjudications. Simply,, I want that the same problem be judged in the same way everywhere, e.g. at courts in Brno and in Ústí n/Labem and also by courts in one citt y, but with different judges, since at present, different judgements appear.

By Pavlína Holancová I českou verzi naleznete na www.leadersmagazine.cz

Leeaders Maagazine Leaders gaziine II II/ I/ 2009

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13.3.2009 16:35:39

A LUXURY WE SIMPLY

CAN’T AFFORD

Jiří Paroubek, Chairman of the Czech Social Democratic Party Photos: Archive LM

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The United Statess experrienced it seven years aggo. Anyone oppose s d too Bush’s warmongerring waas labelled as unpa p triootic. What followed was allmost an expulsionn from m “respectable” socieety.

Tooday we are seeinng soom mething similar takking pllace in our countryy. It iss not a question of war, off course, but ratherr of quuaality of life.

I am talking about u thee cabinet’s “crisis packagge”. Like Bush’s mo m deel that took advantaage off people’s fears, Primee Minister Topolánekk is puushing through hiss meaasuures under the sloggan off “national unity inn difficcuult times”. Any kindd of diiscussion is descrirbed inn advance as almost a sabotage threateni n ng thhee nation.

This is not a matt tter off the Social Democrrats diisagreeing with thee cabbinet’s proposal. There arre not so many step e s thhat could help solve the crrisis as not to find agreeem ment with the cabinnet.

Due to the gravity of the situation, we mightt as weell generously overlo l ok thee fact that many thinngs haave obviously beenn copieedd from the ČSSD crisis prrogramme that wass put ttoogether at a time whhen thhe cabinet blatantlyy claim meed that the crisis woould noot affect us…

We will definitelyy agreeee on the accelerattion off tax write-offs, thee supppport of business loaans thhrough guaranteess andd investment in inffrasttructure. We can allso suuppport the accelerattion off VAT returns, tax remissssions, an amendment off the bankruptcy law w andd subsidising the insuulatioon of prefab house s s. TThhe ČSSD has pushhing foor the last item on the llisst for a long time, but

it took the current crisis for the government to support this investment in energy savings.

So, in a way, we can be satisfied; however, there is one big “but”. With all that in mind, we will never agree with the cabinet’s proposal to lower social security payments. That might lead to the disruption of the pension system and its subsequent privatisation. We would not agree to this even under ordinary circumstances, but we deem it scandalous to push this step through at a time when we are facing several years of crisis.

“We have repeatedly expressed our conviction that all the financial markets, products and their participants have to be subject to suitable supervision or regulation, without any exception and without any regard to the country they operate in,” Reuters quoted from the declaration endorsed in Berlin last Sunday. Who signed it? The highest representatives of Germany, the United Kingdom, France and other countries. Mirek Topolánek also attended the meeting. It seems, however, that he failed to understand what exactly he agreed to in Berlin in a preparation for the G20 summit.

“Tough times like these test our character and values as a nation,” British Prime Minister Gordon Brown wrote in The Guardian. “So even in a recession, we have to act now, both to protect people from the downturn and to prepare and equip ourselves for every future challenge. Our future lies in low-carbon, high-technology manufacturing and services. Hence our investment in science, green jobs, skills and the digital backbone

Jiří Paroubek, Chairman of ČSSD with his wife

on which the rest of the economy depends,” he said.

Topolánek’s cabinet has nothing off the kind inn its plan, but it has still not given upp the idea of pushing its neo-liberal recipe throughh the lower house in one package. Thus, it would refuse the constructive suggestions of the opposittion, since itt is not used to engaging in debatee. It would also show who’s the one unwilling to cooperate inn difficult times.

Such contempt for opposition readdy to offer a helping hand is a “luxury” that we cannnot afford inn times of a crisis.

By Jiří Paroubek, Chairman I of the Czech Social Democratic Party Translated with the permission of the Prague Daily Monitor českou verzi naleznete na www.leadersm magazine.cz

From left: Otto Jelínek with his sister, both World Champions in Figure Skating in the sixties and Jiří Paroubek, Chairman of ČSSD

Leaders Magazine II/ I 2009

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13.3.2009 16:36:36

An interview with Cyriil Svoboda,, Minister for Regional Development

PEOPLE DO NOT HAVE TO

LIVE IN THE SAME WAY

BUT THEY SHOULD HAVE THE SAME CHANCES The policy of cohesion is applicable to people, not to an area, says the Minister for Regional Development Cyril Svoboda in his interview foor the EurActivv.cz portal, which was foundedd in cooperation with the Lorrd Mayor’s Office of Prague on the occasion of the Europeaan Summit of Regions and Citiees which was held in Prague on 5th–6th March.

In connection with the forthcoming European Summit of Regions and Cities the policy of cohesion is being talked about more and more. What is it, what can we imagine under this term?

The policy of economic, social and regionnal cohesion is a long title; that is why the term “cohesion policy” is used more often, it has been adopted recently even in the Czech language. It is true that this term is taken from English, but it is shorter and it has sort off “all by itself” naturally became part of our language. Coohesion policy is a financial means of the EU that supportss the minimization of social and economic differences, mainly among European regions. According to the Trreaty on the Functioning of the European Union and to the so far not ratifie d Lisbon Treaty, the general aim of coohesion policy is „the minimization of differences betweeen the levels of development of various regions, reducttion of provin-

cialism of the most handicapped regions and the strengthening of economic, social and regional cohesion with the aim to develop the EU harmonically.“ In the programme period 2007-2013 cohesioon policy of the EU stresses predominantly employment and the increase of the competition strength of regions that have to face structural changes. Since the 1980’s thee amount of funds aimed at cohesion policy from the geneeral budget of the EU has been increasing constantly and now it represents about 36% of the total budget of thee EU. It is therefore the most important policy of the EU. In the Czech Republic the financial help from European Funds, together with domestic and private capitaal, should strengthen the economic efficiency of our country and of the regions at the same time, enhance the com mpetitive strength of our economy through the modernizattion of its structure and heighten the level of education am mong the

citizens. The given financial innvestments are aimed predominantly at transport acceessibility, at the infrastructure in the sphere of environmeent, modernization of public administration and self-admiinistration, at the support of entrepreneurship and scienttific research, development of human resources, educatiion of citizens and at the development of tourist trade.

In my opinion, the term ”coohesion” applies to people and to the quality of their lives, not to the characteristic features of their region, settlements or buildings. As Thucydides of Athens said in the 5th century BC: “It is people who create municipality, not walls.” As the basic long-term and strategic aim off cohesion policy I therefore consider the support of the coohesion of people, crossing boundaries of cities or regionns. It does not mean that people in various cities andd various parts of Europe should live in “the same way”; they should have the same

From left: Jan Kohout, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Cyril Svoboda, Minister for Regional Development and Ziv Nevo Kulman, Deputy Head of Mission of the State of Israel

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chancces to choose themselvees where and how they want to livee and work. Therefore thhe Czech Republic stresses so muuch the idea of open Euurope, Europe “Without barriers” and the basic freedom oof movement.

How w do you view the cooperation coop of cities and countryside, and their situation in the Czech Republic?

At present, the Ministry for Regional Development considerss the cooperation between the city and countryside to be one of the key prioritiess of regional development of the Czzech Republic. The mainn reason for this is the specific sttructure of municipalitiees in the Czech Republic and the neeed of a polycentric development which is impossible without the upper-mentioned cooperation.

Thaat is why the ministry took responsibility for the fulfilment of the activity 1.1.a) of the First Action Programme for thee implementation of thee regional agenda of the EU which covers the relations between the city and countryside. T he aim is to learn how thhese relationships are set at the level of the EU countriess and what difficulties they have to face.

We see the basis of the relaationships in the perception of the development of cities and their closest surroundings as a complex process. TTheir relationship can be of mutuaal help and they have a lot to offer one to another.

Thereffore it is necessary to ennsure larger interconnection betweeen them by the intervenntions directed at cities and at the countryside area aroundd them, in order to avoid the increaase of imbalance betweeen them.

Lonng-term goals and strateegies always – necessarily – contain the features of solidarrity because some groups of citizenns have to be helped in tthe sense that they too shall have the opportunity to fulfil their basic freedoms. It is obviouus that with the growing social and individual wealth also thhe possibility of choice bbecomes greater, and therefore thhe solidarity is aimed at the support of the groups in most need and of the least ddeveloped regions. I do not limit thhe solidarity when reachhing cohesion only to a “one direction” movement, consisting just of the support aimedd at the least developedd regions and groups of citizens. A part of solidarity is predominantly the formation of relaationships and their nettworks – which is also fully valid in the terms of the policy of cohesion, e.g. in the suppoort of the relationships off cities and countryside.

What Wh hat are the priorities of the Czech EU Presidency at thee Council of Europe from f the point of view of region regions? ns?

Thee main priority of the Czeech Presidency in the sphere of cohhesion policy is the mooderation of the debate on the fuuture character of this bbranch of European policy.

The Czzech Republic therefore follows the preceding presidencyy states and with the usse of input prepared by the European Commission it form med a platform for intensive profess sional and political disccussions on basic principles on which the future cohesion ppolicy should develop.

Since I stress strongly thee fact that there should be also the regions participatingg in this discussion, representattives of the Committeee of the Regions should be invitedd to participate in these debates. Representatives off European regions will be “there” and we – ministers – together with our speecialists will listen to them and share with them our vieews of the future character of cohhesion policy.

What Wh hat are the aims of the th Czech Republic as the Presid Presidency dency country in view of the issue of cities?

Thee priority is significant ppromotion of the integrated approaches in the developmeent of the city from the point of view w of control and program mmation, the support of the approaches towards the depprived zones of cities and the prromotion of principles oof the sustainable develop-

ment suppoorting the increase of the quality of life. Czech Republic woould like to contribute – predominantly by the exchange of experience and good examples – to the state when the principles defined in the so-called “Leipzig Charter on the sustainable cities”, are, with the use of integrateed approaches, a standard part of the view of the devellopment of cities.

At preseent there are first pieces of experience with the integraated plans of cities that are the condition of the effective use of European funds in larger Czech cities with more than 20 thousand inhabitants. There are 63 succh cities in our country and the integrated plans are covered by the Regional European Programmes and by the Integrated Operational Programme administereed by the Ministry of Regional Development.

There aree also first pieces of experience with the support of houusing in parts of larger cities endangered by social deprr ivation. Even from the point of view of demographical changes – ageing of the EU citizens – it is necessary, in my opinion, to start serious discussions on the supportt of housing of the socially endangered groups of househoolds within the framework of the future wider cohesion poolitics.

In October the so-called “Green Book on Territorial Cohesion” was published. Could you specify the contents and importance of the document?

On 6th October, 2008, the European Commission published, within the programme of the opening day of the week of reggions “OPEN DAYS”, a Statement, containing the “Green Book on Territorial Cohesion”. The Green Book was createdd in reaction to the demand of the European Parliament,, member countries and also other bodies in connectioon with the opening of the debate on the theme of regional cohesion and the issues resulting from this aspect for the EU politicians.

The aim of this document is to “start the debate on territorial cohesion with the aim to enhance the understanding off this term and its importance for politics and cohesion. T his debate does not touch the results of the simultaneously running contemplations of the Commission of the review of the budget. The Green Book does not cover financial aspects of the policy of cohesion within the existingg financial framework.”

In the Green Book the Commission asserts that a number of issuees that have to be faced by the regions touch more areas and efficient solutions are necessary together with an inteegrated approach and cooperation of the bodies and paarticipating parties. The Green Book contains a muse ovver various approaches to regional cohesion from the geeographic view across the EU and it identifies the four maain spheres where it is necessary to seek political answeers: concentration (overcoming of differences in density),, interconnection (overcoming of distances), cooperationn (overcoming of divisions) and the circle of regions withh specific geographic features (mountainous, island and rarely inhabited).

The conccept of “regional cohesion” is thus discussed on many exxpert and political levels. I do not consider this concept as another – new – aim of cohesion policy, because in my opinion the basic goal of cohesion policy stays still thhe same and it refers to the inhabitants of the EU. The reggional cohesion is just one of the principles of cohesionn policy, as its principles are also diversity and diversiification or cultural identity. The geographic character of the region is undoubtedly important, but it is “just” one of the factors of the EU citizens’ lives. In my opinion, thoose activities that are aimed at people, not at regions, aree therefore those that can help fulfilling the cohesion ass a goal.

Photo: Archive

You are talking about the importance of the cooperation of the EU countries in the sphere of regional development. What shall such cooperation look like? What are its concrete shapes or outcome?

It seems thatt continuous cooperation of delegated representatives of single member countries in various work groups and workshops proves to be the most effective platform. Various impulses and different ways of approaches of the member states, in view of their specific conditions, offerr an interesting and inspiring discussion, exchange of expeerience and sharing of good practice that can lead to mutual concrete outcome and results.

A good example are also the activities covering international cooperation and European programmes that help spread thee level of knowledge among member states – such acttivities are e.g. the URBACT, the European Knowledge Network on Cities and others.

What do you expect from the forthcoming European Summit of Regions and Cities which will be held on 5th–6th March in Prague?

Firstly I wouldd like to express how proud I am that Prague organizess such an extraordinary and important event in the beauutiful area of the island and palace Žofín and with an outsstanding presence of participants. It will be one place where the President of the European Commission and the Commissioner for Regional Development will meet with thee elected representatives from a number of European regioons and cities. It will be a unique opportunity mainly to “lissten to one another”. I am really very glad to take part in such event and to share my experience and visions. I am suure that during the times of economic stagnation and certain difficulties that work irrespective of “boundaries”, such meetings and listening to the needs and proposals of all partners are extremely important – on all levels.

“To rule means to be inquisitive,” said the French statesman Adolpphe Thiers in the 19th century and I totally agree with him. Thus as a member of government I am “inquisitive” as I can, if we take into account my duties, and therefore froom the European Summit of Regions and Cities I expect to get a number of inspiring ideas and a load of wise expperience. And I am really looking forward to seeing them alll together with all guests.

By EurActiv.cz I in cooperation with Prague City Hall českou verr zi naleznete na www.leadersmagazine.cz

Leaderss Magazine II/ I 2009

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An interview with Karel Schwarzenberg, Ministter of Foreign Afffairs

The USA don’t want the radar?

Nonsense, says Schwarzenberg.

What does the Minister of Foreign Affairs Karel Schwarzenberg thiink of the approvaal of the Lisbon Treaty in the Chamber of Deputies? And why does he still think that the American radarr will be located in the Czech Republic? The answers are in his interview by the MF Dnnes newspaper.

Photo: Zuzana Šmajlerová, HN

Minister, President Václav Klaus disturbed the European Parliament on Thursday morning.

Why do you think that the reactions he provokes are so stormy? He keeps saying the same all the time.

It is because Václav Klaus formulates his views in a very special way. And he is, forgive me, the head of the state.

The head of the state cannot, forgive me, say what he thinks?

Well of course that he can, but it draws more attraction. When it is said by a Mr. Nováček in the pub The Black Bull that is not far from our ministry, even if he said the same as the president, no-one is really interested in it. In Europe it is usual that heads of states generally follow the direction of the foreign policy set by their government. And that is what Václav Klaus does not do. He speaks sometimes in a totally different manner and this is an exception in Europe.

In the past you were the chancellor of his predecessor Václav Havel who also quite often proceeded in a way that differed from

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the government and his ministers of foreign affairs.

Yes, but these were not such crucial issues.

Moreover, Václav Klaus’s opinions are very pointed and he formulates them inn a very pointed way.

On Thursday the Chamber of Deputies approved the Lisbon Treaty which is also criticised by Václav Klaus. It seems that there are extremes on the both sides – there are ones who state that we cannot live without it and others saying that we have to live without it, don’t you think?

Of course it is exaggeerated. We will certainly survive without the Lisbonn Treaty. But worse.

Why worse?

Even the current econoomic crisis shows us that it would be most appropriate if Europe spoke one voice. Take the Russian--Ukrainian argument over the gas. We saw that Euroope needs a general policy of energy. Economic issuues show that we are just one Europe and that wee have to create relevant institutions for it.

So you do not mind the Lisbon Treaty very much...

It is a compromise of 27 countries and that can never be perfect. It reflecc ts not only the interests of the countries, of the Euuropean Commission and various lobbyist groups. We will not have any perfect treaty that we createdd in our dreams.

Very well, but is it normal that the Lisbon Treaty was created by elites for elites and a common citizen who votes for the political elites does not understand it at all and even cannot understand it?

Everyone wags their toongue just because they do not understand it. I had the pleasure to listen to the gabble over Lisbon on Wednesday evening in our Chamber of Deputties. I did not go there on Thursday morning becausse I could not stand it the day before. But I know that the elections draw closer and that is why everybody bangs the big there.

I am trying to learn from you why we need a document that does not take into the account the voice of the voters.

It is a treaty that will ameliorate the current state of the functioning off the Union. Today it looks like the only possibility how to get any further.

I repeat that the Lisbon Treeatt y is not perfect, but it is the only thing that will exxistt now.

You are well experienced cedd and you have seen a lot of things. The critics cs of the Lisbon Treaty say that it will restrict our ur sovereignty. It is like uch dependence on it works in our lives, tooo m much someone else can be harmful. mful.

I will tell you something – we are dependant even nowadays! We have no singgle large Czech bank.

Over 80 per cent of Czecch exports go to the EU countries. The Skoda Worrkss in Mladá Boleslav or Plzeň belongs to shareholdderr s from abroad. We are so much interconnected with w h Europe that the only chance to keep any sovereeignnty lies in the fact that we will participate in the deecision-making of the European Union. We do our shopping in the English Tesco or German supermaarkeets. This is given. And this is our certain dependdennce. We are not in the position of Norway with itss enndless reserves of gas and oil and huge fishingg areas, which is now worth more than gold. If wee were in such a position, we could consider staying apart, but not in our situation.

So you are saying thatt there thhere is no other poshavve no other choice? sible way for us, that we have No, we have not. We wouuldd find ourselves in a far worse situation if we did not have appropriate representation in all panels in Brr ussels.

What is your personal ex experience xperience from Brussels? Do you think thatt inn the EU everything is decided just by the large ge countries and we are there just because we belong eloong there but without any decisive power?

It is not true that everyything is decided by the large countries. But it is natural that such countries as France, Germany or Britaiin will always be more powerful in decision-makingg than us, it is natural and clear. Nevertheless, wit w thin the framework of the European Union everyything has civilized a lot.

When president Sarkozy preesented his improper statement that French com mpanies should not have produced cars abroad, whhichh applies to our Kolín, his European colleagues caalled him to order immediately. And he stopped it.

Now we moved to thee economic economic crisis. Before we analyze it, I would uldd like to ask whether it is true that in your identity denntity card there was

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13.3.2009 16:37:41

a note that you were „a forester and innkeeper“ once?

It was not like this. I haad never any profession written in my ID. But it occcurred more than thirty years ago. The Austrian TTV presented one of the first talk-shows in Europe, it was called Club No 2.

I was invited there and thee condition was that besides the name also the profession was shown.

I said I was a forester annd innkeeper, which was true at that time. It stayedd like this until two years ago when I handed all this over to my son.

How are foresters during the crisis?

It is very difficult and problematic like in any other profession. Without aany doubt. Sales of wood depend on the construction boom and nowadays no-one dares build.

Have you invested anything into funds or shares in recent years?

I have not had so much m money, to tell the truth... … but you are said to belong among the very rich people.

What I have earned, e.gg. at Orlík, that has been invested into monuments. When investing I am very conservative, plus I did noot trust the boom of the past years. So I invested something into state bonds, so that I did not havve to take care of it.

Once you also said: “Goods come and go. In history it has repeated incessantly... And finally you learn that properties lack stability and are vulnerable to time.” Was the current crisis not caused by costliness, by the fact that everyone wanted to have everything, even though it is clear that it is impossible?

Yes, also, but the finanncial crisis has different reasons, I think. Since thhe 1960s we have successfully degraded and thhrown over the board all taboos – from the religiouss ones to sexual. Banking was once based on ratheer strict rules and a true banker just did not do cerrtain things. People were naive and thought that the taboos in banking would remain the same. But evenn here the morals loosened. And the bank is like a girl, everything depends on the reputation. Suddenly boys just over thirty years of age in banks mannaged the sums reaching billions and no-one obstructed them in investing all over the world into variouus virtual projects. Why does anybody wonder now w how come that everything collapsed?

If I use a formula – do people lack common sense?

It was not just a matter of common sense, but also of morals and responnsibility. An old banker of the past respected and had personal responsibility for the money that was enntrusted with. This sense has disappeared and bannks worked with money as if it were their own moneey.

Does the financial sector have to be more regulated and does the regulation have to be carried out by the state, which conforms to the demand of quite a lot of people, mainly in Europe?

Certain regulations would do no harm, but as we know, if there are no com mmon moral presuppositions, no rules will help youu.

But politicians all over the world are trying to

From left: JUDr. František Mikeš, Deputy Minister of Culture of the CR, Karel Schwarzenberg, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Nils Silfverschiöld, former President Nordic Chamber of Commerce

stop the crisis just by various rules, changes of acts and laws, by credits, stimuli. Can these state interventions be successful?

To a much lesser degreee than the majority of people think.

I mean, if it is not just billions thrown out of the window?

I am no economist to be able to say exactly what has to be done specifically. But today everything is so globally connected that the measures taken by single governments caan be of a very limited influence.

But no-one will help you when you manage your forests in a bad way.

Of course not: Why shouuld they?

So why do states have to intervene so much elsewhere?

They have to. When a large bank collapses, it immensely influences the whole society. Not only the board of directors lost the money of the financial institution, but mainly millions of petty savers lost their money. Credits for companies will stop and a catastrophe will drraw closer very quickly.

That is why the states offer their help mainly to the financial sector. I quite undderstand it.

You are the Minister of Foreign Affairs. During talks with your European colleagues, do you have the feeling that everyone is more interested in saving themselves than in acting like the European Union, i.e. jointly?

I have seen many times that in the EU there is an honest will to take some steps together. On the other hand every politician is seduced to protect his market, his industry, they try not to lose their voters. I hope that the world will not repeat the mistakes from the Bigg Economic Crisis of the 1930s. That would be a catastrophe. But I can imagine that some countries will pump money into branches that are importt ant for them because of jobs. However, they have to realize that it will have negative impact on market economy, too.

Can the crisis and the lack of money also influence the American decision to build the radar in the Brdy Mountains?

Not so much. Although there will probably be some financial cuts.

You said that every politician is tempted to do everything just for his voters. Politicians that just received certain posts are then tempted to do a lot of things differently from their predecessors. A couple of days ago you went to the USA and met the new Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Then the newspapers presented titles saying that the US radar might not be built in our country. This is what the Americans really said?

They said the very opposite. The representative of the Ministry of Defence, the Secretary of State Clinton and the consultants of President Obama.

They said that they were still interested in the antirocket system, but they wanted to study its technical successfulness. Basically they see that in the future they will need some anti-rocket defence system. Their priority now is the issue of Iran, because of the rockets, but let us not forget that rockets are owned also by Pakistan and who knows who will rule there in five years. We do not know even how it will look like in China in ten years where massive internal clashes may occur.

What exactly did the Americans say during the talks about the US radar in our country?

No-one talked about any cancellations of the plans to build the US radar. At the press conference Mrs. Clinton said that if the Iran politics changed completely and subjected to controls and Iran did not want to produce nuclear weapons, the USA could proceed in a different way.

But she used the “if-clause”. Obama wants to talk directly with the Iranians, that is obvious. If the Iranians changed their politics in a radical way, we will have to understand that the radar project will be postponed.

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You say postponed? You do not say cancelled?

I can practically rule out the possibility that the project will be cancelled. It is like if I found roses in blossom in January in my garden, then I would have to re-value the basis of my garden. But I would not cancel my garden because of it, moreover, there are no roses in blossom in January. I understand the new American administration that it wants to check everything. Even my son, when I gave my properties to him, checked my previous decisions.

But then I do not understand why numerous journalists and experts understood the talks in the States in a completely different way?

If you wish for something too much, every statement that could support it in some way, is interpreted in the sense of your wish. This is a normal human feature. But we clearly heard that the project is about to continue.

Barack Obama is trying to negotiate with Russia on the help in Afghanistan. Could this be also one of the reasons for the slowdown of the support of the anti-rocket defence system by the Americans?

America mainly tries to reach the stadium when Iran would give up its own nuclear ambitions. And they want the Russians to support them in their pressure on Iran.

You personally have always supported the US radar very much. Would you feel it was a mean trick if the Americans gave up the idea of the radar in the end?

If it is just a postponement in terms of time, I fully understand it. I want just to point out that development is fast. Ten years ago no-one thought that

e.g. the Iranians would be able to send their own satellite into space. And yet they have succeeded.

And this is, according to you, the reason why the agreements between us and the USA should be approved by the Chamber of Deputies?

It is not just the issuees of safety. However, we managed to get so advantageous agreements with the States so that there is no other country in the world that has such condditions and none of them has kept such independeence from the USA under such circumstances. We also gained access to the best scientific institutess, which is not common.

Therefore the agreementss should be ratified, even if there is never any balll built in the Brdy Moun tains. It will bring even more advantages to Czech economy, science and ressearch. These advantages do not depend on the connstruction of the US radar, but on the ratification of the agreements.

Why are there so many voices saying that it should be a project shielded by the NATO? The Alliance did not agrree to it because of its love to us and to the Americanns, but because it is considered to be the pillar of the European anti-rocket defence system.

But Russia is still against it.

I had an interesting perr sonal experience with the Minister of Foreign Affairss Lavrov in Russia a couple of days ago. During the talks he did not speak really sharply, but he ordered a question from a friendly journalist and he said thaat the Czech Republic belonged to Eastern Europpe. Why did he say that?

These were the countriees that belonged to the Warsaw Pact. This commeent is alarming and that is also the reason for the radar in our country. Not because it would be direected against Russia. It is

not. But we need to state clearly and openly that we belong to the West.

What is the radar scenario that you expect?

The Americans are studying and checking everything again and they will decide afterwards. A slight postponement in the terms of time together with financial cuts may occur but they will continue their work in the anti-rocked defence system. I also expect that the Russians will try to hug the new American government and embrace it in expressions full of love, under the pressure of the crisis.

Well, the Russians have given their love hugs to quite a lot of nations but then there came a strong bearer hug.

My long-time experience tells me that the honeymoon with Russia never lasts long. As far as Russia is concerned, it is always strong power interests that prevail.

If there are no early elections, there is just one year and about four months till the next parliamentary elections in the regular term. If it were possible for you to stay in the government even after the elections, would you decide to do it with respect to your experience from the current government?

I do not think it is realistic. After the elections there will be a different coalition. I have never occupied myself with things that are mostly improbable. Either I am going to serve till 2010 with the help of God, or the government will fall earlier and I will finish. Fair enough.

By Viliam Buchert I MF DNES českou verzi naleznete na www.leadersmagazine.cz

From left: Josef Zoser, Senator, Mrs. Ája Vrzáňová-Steindler, the only Czech World Champion and quadruple European Champion in Figur-skating and Karel Schwarzenberg, Minister of Foreign Affairs

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SHOW WHAT YOU

DON’T LIKE

The period of election campaigns... This is always the time of the harvest and the peak season of picking negatitive ga ve def defin inititio ions ns. Th Thee Cz Czec echs hs and their special elected or more or less tolerated species PCP (Petty Czech Politician) show verbally, with the help of their fingers, on billboards, in texts and in pictures what is the other like and what crimes has he committed. Sometimes it is true, but how beautifully it detracts from the fact that normally they have nothing to say. Or even that someone might happen to realize th t I am iin ffactt th that the same as those I am pointing my little finger at. At present it seems that negative definitions almost catch up with another Czech widely-spread characteristic feature – envy. Sometimes no one is able to avoid such reactions – a collision with an idiot, a civil servant, my own pubescent children bring a temptation when no one can resist negative reactions. Where is the period characterized by the well-known cartoon by Rencin? There is a citizen leading a bull, he is holding it by the ring in its nose to a clerk and saying a magnificent sentence: “S Sirir, la last st tim timee we wer weree no nott ab able le to to ag agre reee, so so today, I’m coming with an interpreter.” At that time the Czechs were witty and did not fret about things.

Sometimes the Rule No 6 might help. I read about it in a book by the famous Chicago conductor and musician Benjamin Zander. Benjamin writes in it about his visit to the Foreign Ministry in London. He was talking with the deputy minister when an angry junior minister ran into the office with a litany of complaints.

The deputy minister interrupted him and mentioned the rule No 6. The junior minister stopped immediately and relaxed. When he

Photo: Archive

left Benjamin asked about the Rule No 6 and the deputy minister replied: “The Rule No 6 says – Don’t take yourself so goddamn seriously!” He observed that after its implementation the work at the ministry was definitely more relaxed and more effective. It was usually sufficient just to mention it.

It would do no harm if we, when blaming our boss bo sses es, co comp mpan anie iess, ggov over ernm nmen entt, aand nd eenv nviriron onment, started with ourselves. It often seems to me that the Czechs should have at least ten fingers on each hand to point at everyone and everything that is to blame for the misery which they find themselves in now. This way of expressing ourselves at the same time miraculously moves the responsibility for our health, education, and work from us and puts it on someone else who just messed it up.

What if we tried for a while and kept those accusations where they belong – in the pub and social chatter and what if we asked not only our politicians for positive changes and

responsibility for our fate but ourselves. If we could manage it with a bit of fun addressed at ourselves, we will become one of the most charming nations in Europe. We should vote not for political parties but for real personalities who know something and have done something. Regardless of the leaders of the candidate lists who reached their place with the use of sha sharp rp elb elbow owss or tha thank nkss to tthr hrea eadb dbar aree tr trou ousers from sitting for long hours at party secretariats. In Europe we cannot achieve anything thanks to quantity; we are far too small a nation for that. What if we tried to use our qualities?

By Ivan Pilný I President of Tuesday Business Network Former Chairman of Czech Telecom In partnership with Leaders Magazine

českou verzi naleznete na www.leadersmagazine.cz

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An interview with Proofessor Jann Švejnnar, Renowned Econom mist

THE CRISIS? NOBODY KNOWS WHAT IS GOING ON Professor Jan Švejnaar (1952) is a rennowneed economist,, author and editor of numerous academic articles, boo o ks and studies. His academic interes ests ts are in the areas of economic developpmentt and transition, n labour economics and behaviour of the firm. He is Dirirec e tor of the International Policy Center at the Gerald R. Forrd School of Publicc Policcy, the Everettt E. Berg Professor of Business Administration, and Professor or of Economics and Public Policy at the University of Michigan. Before jooining the faculty att the University of Michigan, Jan Švejnar was a professor at the University of Pittsburgh and at Cornell Universitity. He received his B.S. from Cornell Unniversity and his MA and Ph.D. in Economics from Princeton Univeers rsity. He is also the founder and Chairman of CERGE-EI in Prague. He seerved on boardd of several companies (ČSOB, GE Capital Czech Republic, SPT Telekom) m) aand as an advisor to President Václav Havel in 1994–20033. His involvement in Czech political life culminated in 2008 when he ran for the presidential posst ag against Václav Klaus. At the mom ment, he is devoting most off his energy to thee project of establishing a major non-partisan multi-issue think tank in the Czech Repu publ blic ic.

How long do you expect the current economic and financial crisis to take?

Nobody really know ws how long and how deep itt is going to be because it is very unnusual. In a way, it is the mosst profoundd financial crisis since thhe Great Depression; the econnomic crisis is not so deep yet buut we don’t know how far into it we are.

It seems to go in phasees; the most recent one is happpening

in Central annd Eastern Europe and it is causing repercussions worldwide. The he financial crisis itself is still unfinished and that brings about a new level of heightened uncertainty – nobody quite knows what at is going on. The impact of the financial crisis on real economy wi w ll be felt around the world, even in countries that have not beeen involved yet – like the Czech Republic.

Everybody is affected. M My prediction is that we will see a deeper

crisis in the United States than elsewhere but probably also a shorter one. In Europe, with many social stabilizers that are in place, the crisis is not going to be as deep but it may last longer. Beyond that, it is very hard to say what will happen.

Do you expect the economic policy of the new US administration to help US economy to recover quickly?

Yes, it will help but the question is, whether it is enough.

Photo: Vladimír Weiss

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The scale of intervention is virtually unprecedented in moddern history; when you look at the spending that is envisioneed, it is going to exceed 10% of GDP, which is unheard of in Eu Europe.

It is a massive infusion of government spending, and yet many people think that it may be not sufficient. The probblem is an issue of expectations; many people are assuminng that things are going to get worse and act accordingly, whic ich is a self-fulfilling prophecy. Right now, we are in a downw ward spiral and the question is whether Obama’s administraatition and coordinated actions around the world may manag agee to break those expectations and turn them from negat ativ ive to positive; once this happens, we can see a quick inc ncre rease in the United States.

Do you see the US-Chinese relations as the crucial piece of puzzle solving the crisis?

Yess, I ddo. China is a large economy now and it is an ecoonoYe my that has been built on exports – to the US primarrilily, but around the world as well, but they have been buyyin ingg a lot of intermediate products, so they are large impor orte ters, too. The figures we are getting from China point to a maj ajor fall in exports but they are reducing imports even more. So in a way, the Chinese demand for products iss ggooing down even more than the demand for Chinese pro rodu ducts worldwide. Right now, China is unfortunatelyy pul ulliling the world economy down and the question on iiss wh what is going to happen next.

Do you expect any major economic deals between the US and China?

I think they will continue dealing together as they have been until now. Whether there will be something more in terms of a coordinated government action, I am not sure. It would be difficult to orchestrate but I wouldn’t rule out any kind of deals because everybody realizes the situation is so complicated and difficult that any coordination at a global level can be only positive.

Do you also see a danger in the possible spill-over of the current crisis into the state obligations and bonds market?

Yes, one problem is that some countries are simply not doing well enough. A related problem is that the capital markets are not providing credits in situations where they previously were. There are number of countries that will need to refinance part of their debt, which is normally a routine operation, but suddenly the capital markets will not be able to provide financing. It can happen to Greece, Italy and now, there are worries about the CEE region – not so much about the Czech Republic but about other countries. So if a country suddenly cannot get financing, one possibility would be that other strong European countries like Germany might come to the rescue and providee financing. It goes against the principles of the EU but itt ccoould be done. In some sense, the smaller countries wo wouuld not be such a big problem but imagine a large ecoono nomy like Italy; once the problem of refinancing wouuld st st art coming to countries that are sizeable then en, I th thin ink, nobody has a solution.

How would you evaluate the measures offered on the level of EU and the European politicians, for example by Mr. Sarkozy? Do you think we can still label these politicians on the basis of right-left cleavage?

It stops being a question of left and right; it is questionn of being nationalist versus being internationalist. Some me of of the statements that Mr Sarkozy made are very dannge gerrous; equally dangerous was the original formulatition on in i the Congressional version of the US stimuluss bbililll wh where you could find preferences for “buy uyin ingg th thee US steel” and so on. It is really very importa tant nt for f everybody to stick to the open economy and fre reee trtrade idea because our experience from the Greaat De Depression is that to a large extent, it was broug ught ht aabo bout by the countries erecting protectionnis istt ba barrrrie iers. Without trade the demand goes down so much that the economies collapse.

How do you see the role of the Czech EU Council Presidency in solving the issue at the European level?

If there is something to be critical about, it is that the Czechs should have been and should be much more active and assertive. Once you are presiding, the crisis is booming and we have clearly seen it coming, the activities and concerted actions

that would have been trying to fight it should have beeen organized. If you compare the measures adopted in Euroope to those in thhe US, Europe has employed nation-specific steeps as opposed to overarching type of initiatives, and that’s where the Czecch Presidency, acting together with some of the strrong countriees, should have taken leadership and coordinated, becausee especially when it comes to stimulating demand, it ougght to bee done at a Europe-wide level in order to save the whoole cont ntinent. And the Czechs should be the first to push for it beecaause we are one of the most open economies; we depennd on foreign trade. Stimulating demand within Europe is in ouur primordial interest. Otherwise, on the routine level the Czechhs are proving to be capable administrators of the EU in manny other areas.

Why, in your opinion, the Czech Presidency didn’t have a handful of initiatives and proposals for solving the economic crisis when it was clear it was going to be the issue?

It is surprising. The US economy always shows you in advance what’s going on so the fact the Czech Prime Minister and Minister of Finance were saying until late last fall that we were an island of stability and not going to be greatly affected,, was naïve. Given that they have had enough time to get preppared to be leaders of Europe, they should have started some actions, planning economic summits, coordinating with the US and other large economies, etc. There are lots of questions why the Czech government has not been more asssertive but it is probably linked to the whole approach of how w to handle the task and the domestic political circumstancess.

Turning to the domestic remedies offered, how do you regard the recently published plan of the National Economic Council?

Overall, it is not bad; it is a question of where you place the emphasis. My own thinking is that therre is not much use for stimulating domestic demand, there iss much use in stimulating the overall European demand, and nd that should be handled within the EU Presidency. If onee were to stimulate domesticc demand in the Czech Republic ic, it should be in those sector ors that really have major linkaages to other sectors within the domestic economy. Thosee sectors happen to be construuction, food and wood proccessing; the automobile industryy doesn’t have major linkaage ges because it imports substantial al intermediate inputs from elsewhere. Overall, trying to st stiimulate demand byy going in a targeted way after cert rtaain industries es doessn’ n’t make too much sense. We should plaace more emphaasis than suggested by the Council on relieviing the tax rates th es and social security contributions that are lleevied on labouur; make labour cheaper because then the fifirrms have less of an incentive to lay off workers. That hass tw two positive effec ects to it: first, the employed workers add to the GDP and pa payy taxes; second, by not being unemploye yedd, they don’t coollllect unemployment benefits and hencee ddo not cost the res estt of the taxpayers anything. Preventinng or minimizing unem employment is very beneficial; yet ma manny people don’t fullllyy realize it. The policy recommenddat atiions offered by thhe Council members place some emphasis on this areaa but they should have put even more em eggs into this baske kett.

Looking at the composition of the National Economic Council, one can be surprised there are only economists there. Do you think the team should have been composed in a more multidisciplinary way?

I have not taken part in the creation of the group so I cannott give an answer. It is true the crisis is multifaceted and that at in some sense you need an integrated broader approach.. I know that there has been some criticism; Martin Bursík foor instance stated that this was not a government team butt rather r a PM’s team. Of course we don’t know everything – the PM may have experts at other levels that he is using. I pe personally would have thought that with the Czech EU Pre ressidency coming, it would have made sense to put the gro roup together half-a-year earlier and have not only locaal bu but the best experts from around the world involved,, an andd use the group to solve both domestic and Europeann pprroblems.

There were some rumors you were considering a candidacy for the European Parliament. What are your plans?

I allwa w ys consider al all options because I think one should, buut afteer the presidential al elections I decided the best way for me tto conntribute to the devvelopment of the Czech Republic was not by entter e ing politics but rather remain active in public life – makee sure I am in the mediaa and share my views and advice with whoeveer is interested. I alsso realized that very often, there is a lacck of inf nformation that is vie iewed as being unbiased; independennt inform rmation on which thee political discourse could be fruitfullyy basedd. I realized that we don’t have strong independent thinkk tankss here – sizable instittutions that would gather facts andd perfoorm analyses that eveerybody could use. People and polittical paarties would naturallly argue what the policy should bee like acccording to their philossophical views, but everyone wouldd be beetter off if the argumennts were based on carefully and indepenndently generated factt s and analyses. I have therefore decidedd to devote a fair amounnt of my time to talking to few hundred people in the Czech Reppublic, people who are either in business or personally wealthy, and have broad horizons in teerms of thinking whether we as a country are at a stage when wee could put together significant amount of money to endow a think taank that would be indepenndent and that would providee for everr ybody, who is interestedd, information of the type I mentioneed. I am guardedly optimisstic in the sense that the prreliminaryy discussions that I have had show that we should ld be ablee to generate some resourcces. The question is whetther it willl be enough in order to estaablish a strong think tankk, in part because of the financial and economic crisis.

The think tank should be primarily oriented on economic issues?

It shoulld be broader than that; it cannnot do everything, but few impoor tant topic areas should be sellected like energy and environm ment, the EU and the Czech Reppublic in the EU, socioeconom mic reforms, or quality of gove vernance. The institute should ld also have the ability to react quuickly to breaking news – the capability to respond and provide imminent quick summariees of what we know in a given areaa and offer politicians and the public background that they cann base their decisions on. th I believe doing this through a networrk of both local and international experts would really contribbute to the improvement of the quality of political discourse and decision-making here.

From the experience, it seems that the non-partisan think tanks in the Czech Republic have problems both with the project-based financing and activities, which does not allow for quick response to emerging issues but being nonpartisan also means the access to the decision-making and an ability to impact the policy development is rather limited or very complicated. How do you plan to prevent this?

You are right. There re are two aspects in my idea that by design should help too accomplish the goal; first is that by being large and influent ntial, the think tank cannot be ignored. If you establish an ins nstitution, which is omnipresent – always commenting, reaacting, organizing events and seminars, it will be difficult too eexclude it completely, and also, if the citizens have access to all information they can ask why it was not used.

Secoond nd, I would be using my convening power to make sure that at a number of political stakeholders would like to see the think tank here, given it is not going to be pushing an ideologith cal message; that it will be up to them to seize its products and use them in a way their philosophy tells them to. I believe such an institution could gradually change the receptivity of the public policy establishment both at the national and regional level. It may happen we are not ripe enough, yet, as a country to go for it. I always point out that even for the Rockefellers or Carnegies it took a while to become philanthropists so there may be ten years of work ahead of us but I thought this would be definitely something worthwhile trying.

By Věra Řiháčková I českou verzi naleznete na www.leadersmagazine.cz

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networking/discussion event

From left: JUDr. Cyril Svoboda, Minister for Regional Development of the Czech Republic and Karel Muzikář, President of Comenius

A special thanks to Ifield Computer Consultancy Ltd. for making this reportage possible

Round Table of Comenius with JUDr. Cyril Svoboda, Minister for Regional Development of the Czech Republic On February 4, the first “Round Table of Comenius“ in the year 2009 took place at the Best Western Hotel Kampa. The VIP guest of the Round Table was the newly appointed Minister for Regional Development Dr. Cyril Svoboda. Dr. Svoboda was joined by two of his most experienced deputies – gentlemen Miroslav Kalous and Jiří Koliba respectively. The discussion thus gained even more of a forum character than is usual for the Round Tables of Comenius with managing directors, who represented a variety of sectors from state administration, tourism, transportation services, construction and development to legal services, actively voicing out their concerns, criticisms as well as ideas and suggestions. After opening remarks of the partners of the event, Minister Svoboda took the floor and introduced the priorities which he wants his ministry to focus on the most. These included especially the successful use of the EU structural funds and, in view of the growing global financial crisis, support of the projects which will help secure the highest possible employment rate, and support of the incoming tourism as well as other services bringing investments into the country.

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more photos and electronic version available on www.leadersmagazine.cz

Conference Room in the Best Western Kampa Hotel

15.3.2009 9:38:22

From left: Viliam Sivek, Chairman of the Board and General Director, EuroAgentur Hotels & Travel a.s. and JUDr. Cyril Svoboda, Minister for Regional Development of the Czech Republic

From left: Stanislav Novák, Vice-President, Comenius, Mrs. Šárka Koutná, Director of the Secretariat, Office for the Protection of Competition and Martin Pecina, Chairman, Office for the Protection of Competition

Karel Janda, Chairman of the Board, Austis a.s.

From left: Josef Veselka, MD, PhD, Professor of Medicine and Chief of Cardiovascular Center University Hospital Motol with MUDr. Eva Gottsteinová, Director of Business Relations, MediClinic

Deputy Minister Mr. Kalous then paid a special attention to the problematic of EU structural funds for which sake the ministry under the new leadership is ready to exercise the best efforts and build again a reputation of active and reliable institution. Other participants at the Round Table included the Chairman of the Office for Protection of Competition Mr. Martin Pecina, the new Governor of the Ústí Region Ms. Jana Vaňhová, or a World Champion in figure skating, former Canadian Minister and former Deloitte CEE Chairman Mr. Otto Jelinek. Partners of the event were ESO Travel represented by Ms. Cikánová, Euroagentur Hotels&Travel represented by its General Director Mr. Viliam Sivek, Stomix represented by the General Director Bořivoj Minář and Austis represented by Mr. Karel Janda.

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From left: Ing. Karel Muzikář CSc., President of Comenius, Ing. Eva Trotter, Member of the Board, PEM – Invest, a.s. and Josef Rada, General Director, Civil Aviation Authority Czech Republic

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH IFIELD COMPUTER CONSULTANCY From left: Jan Wiesner, President, Union of Czech and Moravian Production Cooperatives, Ing. Václav Matyáš, Association of Building Entrepreneurs of the Czech Republic, Bořivoj Minář, General Director, Stomix, spol. s r.o. and Ing. Milan Machatka, CSc., Chairman of the Board, CZB of the Czech Republic

15.3.2009 9:39:11

From left: Stanislav Beneš, General Director and Chairman of the Board ČD-Telematika a.s. and Zbyněk Eiselt, General Manager, Chairman of the Board TietoEnator Consulting, a.s.

From left: Otto J. Jelinek, Chairman, Colliers International, Benke Aikell, your Publisher and Michal Donath, General Director, DONATH-BURSON-MARSTELLER s.r.o.

Miroslav Kalous, Deputy Minister, Ministry for Regional Development of the Czech Republic

From left: Jan Lembas, Director, CET Capital s.r.o., Miroslav Hofman, Chairman of the Board, 2N Telekomunikace a.s. and Václav Mach, Director of External Affairs, Microsoft s.r.o.

From left: Pavel Hlinka, General Director, Orea Hotels a.s. and Ing. Jan Sýkora, Director, WOOD & COMPANY, spol. s r.o.

Mrs. Jana Vaňhová, President, Ústecký Region

Jiří Koliba, Deputy Minister, Ministry for Regional Development of the Czech Republic and Mrs. Martina Cikánová, Director ESO Travel a.s.

From left: Marko Pařík, Chairman of the Board and General Director, United Bakeries a.s. and Michal Petrman, Office Managing Partner Deloitte Advisory s.r.o.

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16.3.2009 9:53:30

At the beginning of February, the company Incheba Praha kicked off its trade fair season at the Fair Grounds in Prague-Holešovice. The trade fair calendar was opened by a triathlon of trade fairs: Holiday World, Top Gastro and Golf World Prague. The start of the trade fairs took place in the Pyramid at the Fair Grounds and the ceremonial evening for the opening of the trade fairs – “The world on a plate” – took place in the Křižík pavilion B.

tourism

Cyril Svoboda, Minister for Regional Development in his speech

VIP Party Incheba Praha Event

“The World on a Plate”

From left: Jaroslav Palas, Governor of the Moravian-Silesian Region, Jan Novotný, Sales Director, Incheba Praha and Alexander Rozin, CEO, Incheba Praha From left: Cyril Svoboda, Minister for Regional Development and Vladimír Dohnal, Chairman of the Board TOP Hotels Group, a.s.

From left: Antun Plenković, Director, Croatian Tourist Association in Prague, Alexander Rozin, CEO, Incheba Praha and H.E. Marijan Ramuščák, Ambassador of Croatia

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more photos and electronic version available on www.leadersmagazine.cz

Mrs. Martina Cikánová, Director, ESO Travel, Petr Staněk, Marketing Director, Net travel CZ, Ida Votavová, Marketing Manager, Incheba Praha, Tomáš Cikán, Chief Executive, ESO Travel and Libor Patočka, Manager, Holiday World Trade Fair

From left: Alexander Rozin, CEO, Incheba Praha, Jiří Paroubek, Chairman of the Czech Social Democratic Party with his wife

16.3.2009 15:23:36

A talk with Jiří Kroomichhal, one of the most recogniseed golf coaches in Europpe, abouut teaching golf

GREAT GOLF RESORTS

HAVE GOT GREAT GOLF ACADEMIES Jiří Kromichal started his careeer as a professional coach in Germaany in 1982. He also worked as a coaach for long periods in the USA and Italy. He is the only golfer from the Czech Republic annd only the second continental Europeann to have ever joined the British PGA. He receeived dipplomas from the American PGA in 198 87. In the same year he also toook classees with the legendary Harmon brothers (Butch Harmoon taught Tiger Woods for nearly ten yeears) and in the following year he worked with Dave Pelz. Jiří Kromichal was also heavvily influeenced by Jim Flick, Paul Runyan, and Chuck Cook and learned a lot from m all of thhem.

To be an excellent professional golf player is one thing, but to become a worldwide recognized and respected golf coach is another thing. What are the attributes of being a successful golf coach?

Patience, humility and love for the gamee of golf.

How did you get to teach golf, bring up new golfers as a professional golf coach?

Just by chance. My friend Graham Daarke, a PGA professional, asked me if I couuld substitute for one of his golf pros who was ill. To help out I agrreed and has taught ever since.

You lead the Albatross Resort Golf Academy, what was your first contact with the project? Have you been around since the very beginning of it?

I wanted to return back home, mainly beecause of my mother who turned 81 this Febrruary. Theen I heard of plans for the Albatross, and aff ter an interview with the investor, Dr. Šimáně I was so excited I wanted to participate. I truly believe we aree creatingg a great golf resort and teaching facility.

What role should the golf academy play in the context of the Albatross Resort?

The academy should be the heart of the resort. We are dedicated to introducing as many peoople as possible to the game of golf and helpping them m to play their best. The academy should workk for all plaayers, of any age or level of ability.

Do you draw in any way on your rich international experience of teaching golf all over the world and do you bring any new ideas that Czech players do not know and which will be new to them?

First of all, our academy will have a statte-of-the-art computer and video equipmentt to help analyse our customers’ swings. There will be a puutting studio equipped with the newest technnology annd we will be able to find the most suitable equipmeent for every player.

Is there anything truly new or distinctively different that you are bringing in your concept of a golf academy in comparison to the other golf schools in the Czech Republic?

It will be the technology and service foor every customer, which should stand out.. I want evvery serious golfer to feel that they have just founnd their golf heaven. When I started as a naational coaach in 2002 we recruited a sport psychologgist and physiothera-

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pist for the first time. We definnitely have some real novelties, but they should remaain a surprise for our clients.

Who is the Albatross Resort Golf Academy meant for? Will it focus on the adult players-beginners, or do you also prepare programmes for kids and the youth?

Extensive juniors programmee is a must in every modern golf resort. The kids are the future of golf and we will invest in them. We plan to launch an international programme too, so the kidds of whatever nation who happen to live in Prague can find their golfing home at the Albatross Academyy. We want to attract families and we will have family oriented programmes as well.

Is it necessary to have different programmes in the teaching and training process for young girls and boys? Or is it possible in golf to teach them together?

Golf is a game of fine motor skills and the hand-eye coordination. Girls are better movers, boys hit it faster and most of the time better. So each of them can serve as an example for the other. That is the reason why we practise and train together.

You have worked as a professional golf coach for almost thirty years. Has the view of the golf training process of beginners changed or developed in any radical way over the time?

Well, today we know that beginners who started with an excellent professional develop much faster than players who were ”taught” by friends, husbands or amateurs in general. A good

professional will simply not allow his pupil to adopt bad habits. Even kids should be taught by fully qualified proffessionals. They build great fundamentals withinn three months, which last for the rest of their lives. T he same iss true for bad habits. They too stay with thhe pupils for the rest of their lives.

Why does a golf club need its own golf academy?

Is it necessary for the success of any golf resort nowadays, or can a golf club exist easily without that?

Great golf reesorts have got great golf academies.

It is as simple as that.

By Filip Hubáček I Photo: Paul Pacey

Leaders Magazzine II/20009

13.3.2009 16:41:57

An innterview with Mr. Jiří Winkelhöfer, Manager of thee Albaatross Golf Resort

ALBATROSS – THE RESORT

You call Albatross the the golf resort. Why the „resort“ and not simply a golf g club Albatross?

The Albatross Golf Ressorrt does not consist just of the golf course and the cluubhouse, butt also the golf academy will be a very suubsstantial partt of the resort.

One very important featuure of the golf resort will be the modern practice areaa, w which will off fer our guests a first class training facilityy too practice theeir golf strokes.

The range shall have a maa xim mum length of 275 metres and a maximum width of 1655 metres. This will allow up to 50 players to tee-off from the mats. Besides that the exceptional practise areea will offer also a putting green, which shall be linkkedd to a teeingg area and hazards for guests to practice their approach shots and short-game. We are also planning to off fer floodlighting for the practice area after sundown,, so it will also be possible for players to praactice after dark!

Now, you see that we are a resort andd not a regular golf club where you come to do your 18-hhole game and leave. We will be happy to see guestss spending the whole day in Albatross eithher on the green or in the pleasant Kogo restaurant..

Where did the inspiration inspiratio come from? Was there t you had as a model? any particular golf coursee that The inspiration did not coome from anny specific golf course anywhere. Mr. Šim mánně, who is the investor and co-author of the whole prrojeect, carried in his head for a very long time the idea of ccreating an iddeal golf resort for the Czech Republic andd the Czech environment.

Certainly, he had his own experience how similar resorts work abroad, as well as thhe other peoplee involved had international experience. But we alwayys spent time in long debates whether this or that is the right thing or solution for the Czech goolfer, since they have their specifics.

The Czech Republic is a rather r well developed golf country in the region. What Whhat specifically new are you bringing for the Czech golfers gol who can be chosing nowadays among some eighty eigh golf courses?

I could not agree moree that the Czecch Republic is well developed golf counttry.. The numbeer of clubs that

Photo: Paul Pacey

have been opened in a relatively short period of time is stunning. Our aim is to get among the top Czech golf courses and even betteer on their absolute top. We want to achieve this thoughh offering such services that will make a golfer satisfied to the limit. Any golfer should feel in Albatross that we are happy that they are coming to play in Albatross annd that they return to us. No less important to us is thatt the golf course has to be constantly in superb conditions and quality. For this we have as a member of our team Jiří Dvořák, experience and outstanding greennkeeper with many years of experience from abroad.

Your project is grand-scale. Do you intend to recruit your members also among the ordinary golfers or are you targeting the demanding golfers who are willing to pay for quality?

Our price strategy iss not aimed on the rich cliental.

We will not be probablly one of the cheapest golf courses in the country, butt in no way we will be out of the

Mr. Winkelhöfer (37) comes from Pilsen where he served as a mayor of the town district of Pilsen 1 between 2002–2007. Before he spent 10 years as a manager in Unimex Group s.r.o. to where he returned to head the realization of the Albatross Golf Resort project in Vysoký Újezd u Prahy.

Czech contexx t. Pricewiise we will be reachable for any golf player. At the sam me time, we want to offer the meantioned quality soo the result should be that after you play in Albatross you will feel that the price you paid was absolutely addequate to what you got.

To be a member of a golf club is to a large degree a question of emotional and personal relationship with the particular place. You meet people in your club on regular basis, you are used to coming there…

How do you want to achieve a feeling of pleasentness and coziness in your brand new resort? How do you want to make it the place where people want to come and would give up for it their golf club maybe after ten, fiften years?

This is an excellentt question which I can explain on how our club will operate. Albatross should be the club. Wee want to nurture the club atmosphere with organiziing numbber of club events and tournaments. Our activities should not be limited simply to activities around the golf course, which in our geograpfic coonditions are seasonally limited. We can go to play golf to the countries with milder climate or we can go and do other sports together as well.

Certainly, eveery membber can use the premises for organizing their own eveents, celebrations or presentations of theiir compannies. Simply, the club should vibe. A part of this endeaveour is that we would like to keep the number of commercial tournaments on such level so our mem mbers would not need to change their habits due to coommercial events and tournament and woould havee always enough time for their own play as they are used to.

By Filip Hubáček I českouu verzi naleeznete na www.leadersmagazine.cz

Leadders Magaazine II/ I 2009

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interview

Daniela FilipiovĂĄ Minister of Health Photo: VladimĂ­r Weiss

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13.3.2009 16:43:16

An interview with Danielaa Filipiová,, Minister of Heealth

Health Care Without Barriers Daniela Filipiová (1957) graduated from the Faculty of Architecture of the Czech Techhnical Universsity in Prague. Afterw wards, she worked as a designer in the Regional Civil Engineering Design Institutte Prague, and later as a designer at the Geenesis Design Studio. Since 1995 Daniela Filipiová has been consulting generaal requirem ments applyinng to the use of buildings and structures without barriers by impaired persons. She has been Senaator of the Senate of thee Parliament of the Czech Republic since November 2000 and also member of the Senate’s Comm mittee for Health Care annd Social Policy. In 2009 Daniela Filipiová was appointed Health Minister of the Czech Republic. Danniela Filipiová is marriedd and has two daughtters.

The Ministry of Health is considered to be one of the most demanding posts with regard to the majority of unpopular reforms necessary to be implemented at present. According to you, what should be the successful minister equipped with for this period?

The successful minister should primarily equip himself with patience and willingness to compromise. The minister and his team have to learn how to present prepared reforms in order to be comprehensible to wide public.

Thus, depriving reforms of the tag “unpopular”, as a tag like this is not only misguiding but in the first place wrong. On the contrary, the reforms should be popular as they contain positive changes helping Czech patients get better and/or high-quality health care.

In the present-day state health care there are undoubtedly powerful residues of socialism. What is, according to you, the ideal health care you could enforce regardless of political barriers?

First of all, I have to say that I am rather horrified that health care should be politics, as health care is no politics at all. Health care deals primarily with people’s health and with providing the best service available. Unfortunately, the residues of socialism mean mainly that we still have to work within the framework of the laws adopted in the 1960’s. Thus it is impossible to carry out fundamental changes leading to the state where the patient is not only a diagnosis but he is a partner as well. There obviously still exists the experience of people from past times when they were used to see a doctor with an “envelope” in order to gain access to a better care. Moreover, a certain passive approach still prevails, it is the attitude people adopted in all spheres of life under socialism. The passive approach is apparent in the relationship with doctors. The perfect health care occurs when the patient is the one who decides. The doctor should realize that the patient has a right for information, and thus he should notify them of the options in their treatment. Patients should have an opportunity to consult whether the

treatment offered to them in a particular institution is good. There should be at leasst a relationship based on partnership as thee doctor is the one who has knowledge and oppportunity to help the patients, to cure them.

You decided to carry on with reforms of previous Health Minister Julínek. Could you give reasons for this decision?

The reasons are entirely simple. It is these reforms that contain the transformatioon of socialistic health care into modern heaalth care in which patients know, as soon as thhey enter a health care institution, that they are going to use a service they had prepaid in a certain way. In other words, they are the “mastters” and the doctor should respect their wishess. Thus it did not take me long to decide whether to continue with the reforms of the previous minister Julínek and I will be very happy if I maanage to enforce all reform laws to the maximum m extent.

In this context what is your negotiation strategy? How far are you willing to go to make a compromise?

My strategy is to hold talks and find compromises with all parties involved, i.e. with the health service providers, insurance companies and certainly also with political partneers. How far am I willing to go? I obviously cannot help the law become empty, as it would lose its sense and its substance. However, I am m not going to be content with mere critique. I wiill always require concrete proposals in the preparation stage, which I will consequently try to embody into the legislative form. Then I expecc t further talks over the entire nature of the law ass we have to find a compromise of the final versioon we all will support.

Many advocates of the reforms emphasize that the essential changes of the payment system can lead to further debts in the health care system. Do you think that this view is justified?

Payments mean an income for thee health care insurance system, they are its indirect income, as thanks to payments we alsso reach considerable savings. I can also admit that

changes of the payment system could lead to debts in health care. Any saved billion is a good billion because it is particularly aimed at treatment of all serioously ill. Moreover, the most up to date treatment is available to more paatients.

I only regret thaat the changes of paymeent system were too brroad. For my part it was not just a simple compromise but rather an eff fort to preserve at leasst 70 percent of the incom me and savings of heallth care insurance comppanies.

I find this effort successful.

You have invited several representatives of the Czech Medical Chamber to the preparation talks on reform laws. What do you think you will get?

I would appreeciate responsible approoach of the representatives of medical public reggarding the new law. Mooreover, I am convinced we will find a mutual coonsensus.

An architect by profession, you help to solve the issues of barrier-free interiors. What is the situation in the Czech Republic in this respect when compared with other EU member countries?

During the last twenty years definitely a lot of things have changed for better. In my opinion, the situaation in large cities is almost comparable witth Western Europe. Prooblems remain in smaller cities or townships where barrier-free problems are not approached as I would like to seee.

Do you have time for your hobbies? How do you relax?

I have to confess that I have not enough time for my hoobbies lately. My hobbiies are music and reading. The only opportuunity is when I sit back in a chair, take my cat onto my lap and relax, which lasts for about a quarter of an hour a dayy. I really have no more time for longer relaxationn at present.

By Pavlína Holanccová I

českou verzii naleznete na www.leadersmaggazine.cz

Leaders Magazine II/ I 2009

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13.3.2009 16:43:34

WE HAVE TO USE THE CZECH

EU Presidency to Fight Growing Protectionism

Photo: VladimĂ­r Weiss

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Leaders Magazine II/2009

13.3.2009 16:44:10

An interview with Doc. Ing. Jiří Schwarz CSc., Dean of the Faculty of Economics and Public Administration You are lecturing courses in the field of history of economic theories and in the macroeconomics at the University of Economics in Prague. What economic theory is your favorite?

I prefer non-intervention economic theories. Theories based on individual or company decision-making and respecting the freedom of choice and the inviolability of private property. Therefore, I am more in favour of the Chicago and Austria schools than the Keynesian economy or its derivates. I am, however, afraid that when someone’s ambition in the middle of the crisis is to influence the economic policy in a Central European country, they are to a certain extent Keynesians.

Do you assume the world economic crisis is going to hit hard on domestic economy?

The economic crisis begun with the mortgage crisis in the United States and through the United Kingdom, which is connected with American economy, it moved to Europe. The economic depression and downturn started to manifest in Western European countries in the second half of the last year. The fourth quarter of 2008 showed a faltering economic activity in our significant business partner countries when the demand for Czech goods and services decreased. One can be almost certain that the crisis will affect also our small open economy. We can not avoid it due to its openness. Yet I do not want to say that in our response to the crisis we should close our economy. That would be a fatal mistake! On the contrary, we have to use the Czech EU Presidency to fight growing protectionism in the crisis period (for instance the postponement of the opening of the Austrian labour market or the discriminatoryy declaration of the French president concerningg the French production of cars abroad).

You became a member of the National Economic Council of the Czech Republic (NERV). Could you discuss what its primary goal is and what measures do you prepare?

The NERV is the consulting body of the Czech Government. So, it is not an executive body, therefore I would not suggest we should have to take a vote on our recommendations and the majority would have to “overprint” the minority view. The NERV’s members should settle on recommendations! Not necessarily agree upon something, please! It means that even if any member were fundamentally opposed to a particular proposal, it can still become an official recommendation of the NERV. The member who does not agree with it has the right to present his official view in public.

Our work is based on competition of arguments and an agreement requires a thorough preparation of the draft material and consequently a well-founded and critical discussion. The members of the NERV can create an expert commission aimed at a particular problem analysis. For instance, I have founded the Expert Commission on the State Obligation Sale to Public. I assume the outputs of this and other commissions should become the draft material for the NERV negotiation. It follows the respectable recommendation that it can be submitted only on paper and has to be established on the indepth analysis. So, all this can be done by the NERV members and in addition to that with a large interest of the media. And this is quite a lot, at last! After the

completion of the material “7 Sets against the Crisis” the NERV should deal with the evaluation of the efficiency of the governmental anticrisis measures. Furthermore, it will take part in the preparation of the Czech EU Presidency materials.

The European Commission called upon the EU member states to include actively their social partners into the social mitigation of the financial crisis impacts as well. What is your opinion?

I am against the institutional negotiation of the government with the worker’s organizations and the trade unions. Thus, I am against the existence of the tripartite institution. It does not, however, mean that I am against the social dialogue of employers with the trade unions or the trade unions with the government if the government institutions serve as the employer at the same time. Without any doubt, during the economic crisis both worker’s organizations and the trade unions have to work on the solutions of the crisis. But the interests of the representatives of these institutions do not have to be identical. The trade unions for instance can insist on the growth of salaries (more than 4 percent per year) as it happened to the Škoda Auto car company although there is a decline of demand in cars, and parking lots for the new unsold cars in the neighbourhood of the car companies are filling in. The trade unionists obviously want to preserve not only the increase of salaries but the rate of employment as well. However, in case of the decrease of demand it is rather impossible. It is only possible provided that the government steps in and e.g. with the use of the so-called “scrapping money” it tries to increase the demand for the unpurchaseable cars at the current pr p ices byy artificial means. Conseqquentlyy car purchases can really be re-established at the existing prices and also the volume of car production can be re-established as well. This joke in the form of growing revenues of car companies and their subcontractors and growing wages of their managers and employees, as well as of the managers of their subcontractors which all will be paid by the tax-payers. Among them, there obviously are retired people, women on maternity leave and minimal wage recipients. Thus, because of subsidies to the rich car companies whose pure revenues in past ten years exceeded 50 billion CZK it will not be possible to build hospitals, rest homes, or to repair roads from the public resources. Therefore I perceive the institutionalized negotiation within the tripartite rather sceptically. Its efficiency is very small because both businessmen and trade unions are naturally trying to extort from the government more than they have got so far. The period of the economic crisis is really unsuitable for the implementation of such goals!

According to you, what is the best possible prevention and elimination of the world crisis risks for the Czech Republic?

I would recommend our government to carry on in the reform direction so that the Czech Republic will become “user-friendly” for domestic businesses, attractive for foreign investors (without having to entice them via high budgets costs investment impetus) and pleasant for everyday life. It requires a systematic approach by the perfection of our legislation leading towards more effective law enforcement, further tax and administrative

decrease and wider flexibility of the labour and construction laws. During economic problems people take a look inside their wallets, think over their income and costs and they may also change their behaviour. A responsible government should behave similarly. It should assess whether the budget and the costs are really so important that we can run into debts because of that.

Possibly, we could satisfy some needs in other ways than with the help of public estates. After all, the growth of the deficit of public budgets up to 10 billion per year is paid by every Czech citizen, it reaches 1,000 CZK on average! This is 33 times more than the unpopular doctor’s fee of 30 CZK! Therefore the pressure upon the effective spending of public resources and the budget discipline has to become the priority of the Czech government even during the crisis!

In this context, is the date of the Czech Eurozone accession in 2012 still reasonable?

Not in 2012 but in 2013, yes. If I am right, the Czech government considers the year 2013 as the possible date of the Czech Eurozone accession and wants to deliver an opinion on this issue exactly at Autumn 2009. This year will not, most probably, will stick to the Maastricht criteria concerning the amount of the budget deficit. I suppose the Maastricht criteria observation is an indication of a healthy economic growth and they should be respected independently from the political decision on the Eurozone accession. Our exporters enjoy an amazing advantage of the floating course of the Czech Crown at present. After all, in the last three months our currency depreciated towards the Euro by almost 25 %. This is the most significant market export supp pportingg stimulus which the go g vernment could not achieve by any other export supporting measures!

Thanks to it Czech goods can be sold on foreign markets at almost 25 % smaller price than 3 months ago without any decrease in the revenues of domestic producers.

Thanks to the decrease of the Czech Crown our goods are more competitive.

Do you have time for your hobbies, as you are a very busy man? How do you relax?

Yes, in any case, I relax even during the economic crisis. Regularly, twice a week I spend one hour in a gym with a coach, once a week I swim one kilometre in 28 minutes in breast stroke in a public swimming pool and when I happen to be free, I play tennis. Apart from that I started to learn French and I attend a lesson twice a week! In winter, I enjoy cross-country skiing with one of my colleagues at Moldava in the Krušné Mountains, yet I prefer downhill skiing. During this season, I have already spent 11 days on skis! Moreover, I spent one sunny day skating with my wife (after twelve years) at Lipno. Besides, I still have enough time for a dispute with one well-known dandy who pretends he is a great expert in art while he cannot tell originals from fakes which he keeps selling with joy.

By Pavlína Holancová I

českou verzi naleznete na www.leadersmagazine.cz

Leaders Magazine II/ I 2009

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13.3.2009 16:44:28

Speech by the President of the European Commission

José Manuel Barroso: EU ENLARGEMENT – 5 YEARS AFTER Prime Minister Topolánek, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, I’d like to start by saying thank you to the Czech Presidency of course, for the privilege of speaking to you today – but just as importantly, to all the Member States of the European Union who joined in the enlargements of 2004 to 2007.

Thank you for your contribution in boosting the EU economy. Intteggratition in tthhe EEuropean th Union has greatly improved living standards in your own countries. But by opening up new markets and investment opportunities, you have also stimulated growth and job creation in other Member States.

Thank you for strengthening the Single Market – the rock on which European inte-

gration is built. By dramatically increasing the size of that market, you have helped us all to reap greater benefits from it. You have enhanced the economic competitiveness and resilience of the EU as a whole.

Thank you for bolstering EU security, by extending Europe’s zone of peace and stability, and taking the fight against organised crime and illegal immigration to the outer fringes off our contitinent. t Al Alll Member b St St attes enjjoy the benefits of your actions, while your experiences of reform provide an attractive model for many of our non-EU neighbours.

Thank you for increasing the EU’s political and economic weight in the world. We are now in a much better position to take a leading role in the world economy and its governance,

and in international negotiations in areas like trade, energy and climate change. Our improved geostrategic position also reinforces the transatlantic relationship and opens up new possibilities and perspectives in diplomatic relations with our neighbours and beyond.

Finally, thank you for bringing your ancient histories and cultures to the common European hhome we are build ildiingg toggeth ther. Your dynamism and diversity have made the EU immeasurably stronger and culturally richer.

All these benefits and more are highlighted in the European Commission’s report “Five Years of an Enlarged EU”. And Commissioner Almunía will present this report in more detail in a moment.

From left: Dr. h. c. Günter Verheugen, Vice President of the European Commission and Commissioner for Enterprise and Industry, Václav Klaus, President of the Czech Republic and José Manuel Durão Barroso, President of the European Commission

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13.3.2009 16:44:50

But I fe But feel el itit is imp impor orta tant nt tod today ay to to hi high ghliligh ghtt these facts up-front and clearly. Particularly as the consequences of the global financial and economic crisis work their way through our societies to devastating effect.

If we are to continue to realise the full potential of the European Union during these difficult times, a basic condition must be respected: that coherence and solidarity are not pushed to one side. On the contrary, they should be reinforced.

We need to help our citizens who are suffering the effects of this crisis. I know the Czech Presidency shares this concern. This is why Europe’s leaders met for an informal summit yesterday. We had an informal, yet comprehensive and open discussion that created a real meeting of minds, and a meeting of purpose. Prime Minister Topolánek and I have also called for an Employment Summit, to take place in May. Now No w is tthe he ttim imee fo forr co conc ncre rete te m mea easu sure ress, at the European level, to help those most in need. And Europe is delivering: I balance of payment support for Hungary and Latvia worth almost € 10 billion, reflecting Member States’ strong resolve to contain the effects of the crisis among fellow EU members; I frontloading of cohesion and structural funds releasing € 11 billion – € 7 billion of which for the new Member States; I a significant expansion in the European Investment Bank’s activities, with an extra € 15 billion per annum available in 2009 and 2010 – an increase of 30% above average lending. Convergence lending will increase by € 2.5 billion per annum, with particular emphasis on the new Member States.

Thes Th esee ar aree la larg rgee su sums ms of of mo mone neyy, sho showi wing ng the EU is serious about solidarity. And the Commission will always be on the side of those who want to make solidarity a reality for our citizens.

More coherence is also necessary, if the EU is to project itself in the world effectively.

We need a greater capacity to act together.

That is why the Lisbon Treaty – which was signed by all 27 Member States – is the treatyy of enlarggement. It will make the EU more efficient, and make further enlargements possible.

But institutions alone are not enough. As well as greater capacity to act, we also need a greater willingness to work together. We need to develop a real culture, a real mindset, for European action.

The stakes are high, because as this crisis

José Manuel Durão Barroso, President of the European Commission

intensifies, our achievements together are increasingly coming under attack.

Theyy are comingg under attack from those who fear open p societies and open p markets.

And they are coming under attack from those who say widening the EU came at the expense of deepening.

Let me look at both of these briefly in turn.

There is no doubt that we are living through the greatest financial and economic crisis in living memory. The latest forecasts show that world trade and the world’s GDP are both lilike kely ly to to co cont ntra ract ct thi thiss ye year ar – for for the the fir f irst st tim timee since 1947.

As businesses fail, and job losses mount, the siren voices of economic nationalism are making themselves heard again, as if we have learned nothing from the 1930s.

But there is one small problem for those hoping economic nationalism will protect them: it won’t.

The Single Market on the other hand, with its free movement of goods,, capi p tal,, peopl pe and services, has delivered plenty of growth and jobs. Steady integration into the Single Market through the accession process is estimated to have boosted growth in the new Member States by an additional 1.75 % a year, for total growth of 5.5 % a year from 2004 to 2008. A strong Single Market is the way out of this crisis.

Likewise labour mobility, far from ‘stealing jobs’, adds 0.3 % to the EU’s GDP in the medium term. Furthermore,, this mobilityy has helped p to meet labour market demands and reduce bottlenecks in the construction and services industry, for example. Perhaps those industries could spell out publicly what the consequences would be, if that labour mobility did not exist!

All this doesn’t mean that no further improvements could be made, of course. In fact the crisis has exposed vulnerabilities, and unde un derl rlin ined ed the the fac factt th that at Mem Membe berr St Stat ates es fro from m Central and Eastern Europe must make further efforts to safeguard their achievements.

In particular, it is crucial to continue with economic reforms. Only the right reforms can speed up entrance into the euro zone. And as the crisis is showing: the euro provides a safe harbour in stormy financial seas.

The EU’s policy frameworks will help all Member States to face these challenges, and ensure a swift return to sustainable job creation and growth. Truly, this is a moment for reinforcing European unity. Together, we all win; divided, we all lose.

As for those who attack enlargement for preventing any deepening of European integration, I say: check your history books.

Widening and deepening have always gone hand-in-hand.

Leaders Magazine II/ I 2009

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13.3.2009 16:45:09

Thee si Th simp mple le fac factt is is, en en-largement has always been a potent tool for spreading peace, democracy and prosperity to all corners of our continent. As a Portuguese, I know that. Many of you also know that, from more recent experience.

So enlargement should continue when appropriate, taking into consideration the lessons learned, and based on our renewed consensus on enlargement. In other words, the EU’s own capacity; the candidate countries ability to fulfil strict conditions; and better communication with our citizens.

Ladies and gentlemen, We are in fact celebrating two anniversaries this th is yyea earr. N Not ot jjus ustt th thee 5t 5thh an anni nive vers rsar aryy of tthe he largest ever EU enlargement, but also the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Iron Curtain.

And the two are inextricably linked. Prior to 1989, the countries of Europe could not build a common home, despite our ancient, shared history. Prior to 1989, integration efforts were forced to accommodate artificial divides.

José Manuel Durão Barroso, President of the European Commission

I The accession of the UK, Ireland and

Denmark was an essential prerequisite to the Single Market; I cohesion and regional policies are linked to the first two Mediterranean enlargements; I the euro owes its existence to the ‘silent enla en larg rgem emen ent’ t ooff Ge Germ rman an rreu euni nififica catition on, fo folllowed by the Nordic and Austrian accessions; and I since the ‘Big Bang’ enlargement, we have seen great strides in the field of justice and home affairs, and the creation of an integrated, European energy policy, that were unthinkable just 10 years ago.

Butt th Bu than anks ks ttoo th thee co cour urag agee an andd pe pers rsev eveerance of the peoples of Central and Eastern Europe, the shackles of Communist dictatorship were thrown off. And with that, the societies of those countries won a proud place in European history and a special role in healing Europe’s fractured identity.

Five years after European reunification, the Czech Republic occupies the Presidency of the European Council – a challenging task which it is carrying out very effectively. This great responsibility is also a great privilege.

In difficult times, Prime Minister Topolánek and I are working hand-in-hand to lead Europe in tackling the crisis.

So let me finish with a word of gratitude.

I started my speech with a lot of thank yous, so it seems appropriate to finish with one as well: Thank you for making the European Union truly European – and as great a Union as ever ev er!!

Thank you.

By José Manuel Barroso I President of the European Commission

českou verzi naleznete na www.leadersmagazine.cz

All together

Interviews.indd 34

13.3.2009 16:45:32

networking/charity

A special thanks to Ifield Computer Consultancy Ltd. for making this reportage possible

From left: MUDr. Jan Bříza, CSc., MBA, Director of General University Hospital in Prague, Colonel MUDr. Štefan Brunclík, MBA, Director of ÚVN, General Andor Šándor (ret.) and General Ing. Karel Pezl (ret.)

Lions Club Prague Eagle

From left: MUDr. Michael Vít, Ph.D., Chief Public Health Offices of the Czech Republic and Vice-Minister, Ministry of Health of the Czech Republic and Petr Nevický, Portfolio Investor

From left: Ing. Jiří Slavík, Marketing Senior Adviser, Petr Materna, Aviation Consultant and Jan Beneš, Managing Director, Votvírák spol. s r.o.

Ing. Jan Kalaš, Zone Chairman, District 122, Czech Republic and Slovakia, Lions Club Praha Hartig

From left: Benke Aikell, your Publisher and Jaroslav Kubišta

more photos and electronic version available on www.leadersmagazine.cz

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Ing. Jana Flanderová, Governor of Lions Club District 122, Ing. Zbyněk Štáf, Quality Season Product s.r.o, Production Director and Dr. Jaroslav Barták, M.D., F.I.C.A., Secretary and Charter President, I. Czech Lions Club Prague Eagle, Czech Republic

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH IFIELD COMPUTER CONSULTANCY

15.3.2009 9:18:12

top performance

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH LEADERS MAGAZINE

From left: Guillermo Olivares, General Manager, President Hotel, Mrs. Lenka Žlebková, Director of Sales & Marketing, President Hotel, Lenka Decina, Incoming Executive, Destination and Mrs. Petra Černocká, Moderator

The President Hotel Honours its

On Thursday, 5th February, the President Hotel honoured its most productive business partners at its annual „President Awards“ Ceremony.

This is the fourth year that the President Hotel has organised this popular award evening and, as in previous years, prizes were given to the tour operators and international companies that brought the highest revenue to the President Hotel during 2008.

BUSINESS PARTNERS in the 4 Annual President Awards Ceremony th

Mrs. Martina Pokorná, Sales & Marketing Assistant, President Hotel, Mrs. Lenka Valachová, Reservation Agent, President Hotel, Mrs. Zuzana Neumannová, Event Coordinator, President Hotel, Jan Kadlec, Medista, Mrs. Kateřina Vynikalová, Corporate Sales Manager, President Hotel and Michal Zadák, Medista

Alonso Melero, Managing Director, Prázdninový Klub Evropa and Mrs. Gabriela Manunzio, Sales Representative, La Boheme

more photos and electronic version available on www.leadersmagazine.cz

From left: Štepán Pokluda, Key Account Manager, Deutsche Lufthansa, Mrs. Lenka Žlebková, Director of Sales & Marketing, President Hotel and Jan Škaroud, Key Account Manager, Deutsche Lufthansa

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Guillermo Olivares, General Manager, President Hotel, Mrs. Radka Saint Germain, Managing Director, AR Tour and Mrs. Petra Černocká, Moderator

15.3.2009 9:34:53

From left: Guillermo Olivares, General Manager, President Hotel and Stathis Lazaris, Lazaris Travel Service

Guests in a dancing mood

Guillermo Olivares, General Manager, President Hotel, Mrs. Lenka Žlebková, Director of Sales & Marketing, President Hotel, Mrs. Simona Skrčená, Office Manager, Medtronic Czechia and Mrs. Petra Černocká, Moderator

From left: Mrs. Marika Konupková and Mrs. Sophie Joubert, Sales Executive, Royal Prague Travel

PLM_0902_events__2.indd 37

From left: Mrs. Barbora Dittrichová, Accountant, PDM Blaguss, Mrs. Jiřina Záluská, Project Manager, DZK and Barbora Kubošová, Project

From left: Mrs. Nikola Borecká, Liberty International, Mrs. Eva Kopečková, Prague Post, Mrs. Lucie Hammerová (behind), Liberty International, Mrs. Martina Skálová, Tempo Tours and Veronika Velasová, Liberty International

Alan Ilczyszyn, Sales Manager, Finance, Telefonica O2 CR and Mrs. Simona Richterová, Relationship Management, Telefonica O2 CR

The winner of first prize in the tour operators’ category was, as last year, Lazaris Travel Service, whilst second prize went to AR Tour Prague and third to Destination. The winner of first prize in the corporate category was Medtronic Czechia, again, the same as last year, whilst second prize went to British American Tobacco (Czech Republic) and third to DHL Information Services (Europe). Apart from the above awards, the President Hotel also attributed a special prize to “Best Wholesaler”, which went to Gullivers Travel Associates. Giving out the awards, Guillermo Olivares, General Manager of the President Hotel, thanked all of the hotel’s business partners for their co-operation during the previous year. This year´s ceremony was held in the spirit of the 70´s and 80´s and the evening was moderated by Petra Černocká who also sang several of her songs. The programme included ABBA STARS – the popular Czech Abba revival band and a number 37 37 Performances by danof dance performances that created cers (Claro Production) a great atmosphere of the evening.

15.3.2009 9:36:37

canadian chamber of commerce

From left: Gernot Mittendorfer, CEO/ Chairman of the Board, Česká spořitelna and Peter Formanek, President, Canadian Chamber of Commerce

IN COOPERATION WITH LEADERS MAGAZINE

Business Breakfast with Gernot Mittendorfer, CEO/Chairman of the Board of Česká spořitelna Bank

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more photos and electronic version available on www.leadersmagazine.cz

From left: Mrs. Hana Vidrmanová, VP of University Development, Anglo-American University, Alan Krautstengel, Ph.D., President Anglo-American University and Mrs. Michaela Jorgensen, Lawyer, Smed Jorgensen Attorneys at Law

16.3.2009 11:27:15

Mark Harris, Business Development Director Central & Eastern Europe, International SOS Assistance and Kateřina Machková, CEO, Adastra

Stephen Lukas, Owner, Vienna Woods Ltd and Mrs. Dagmar Zdrubecká, Private Advisor, Česká spořitelna

Tomáš Říha, Deputy Director, Stem/Mark

Mrs. Patricia Haws, Finance Director, Vodafone

From left: Monika Franková, Head of Expat Center, Česká spořitelna, Jaroslav Havel, Česká spořitelna and Gernot Mittendorfer, CEO/Chairman of the Board, Česká spořitelna

James Hicks, President, Global Payments Europe

Nikolaus Seiwald, Commercial Councellor, Embassy of Austria

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Peter Koritschan, Associate Director/Deputy Head Representative, UBS

Alan Krautstengel, Ph.D., President, Anglo-American University and Benke Aikell, your Publisher

Petr Mooz, Program Director, BSC Praha

Jan Bubeník, Managing Partner, Bubeník Partners

15.3.2009 9:17:17

networking/charity

IN COOPERATION WITH LEADERS MAGAZINE

Guest of Honor: Prof. RNDr. Václav Hořejší, CSc. Lions Club Praha Ambassador is one of the biggest and most active club of Lions. They participate in number of charitable projects like build-up a hospital in Kenya, help to handicapped fellow-citizens and improvement of environment.

LIONS CLUB

From left: Ing. František Chaloupecký, Entrepreneur, Ing. Josef Čekal, President, LC Praha Bohemia Ambassador and Ing. Anton Gerák, CSc., Business Director

Prague Bohemia Ambassador at Restaurant Pelikan

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more photos and electronic version available on www.leadersmagazine.cz

From left: Ing. Jiří Kubát, Prof. RNDr. Václav Hořejší, CSc., Director, Institute of Molecular Genetics, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Ing. Ladislav Vaško, Business Director, Ing. Antonín Mika, Regional Director for Foreign Business and Ing. Antonín Novotný, General Director, CSI, a.s.

15.3.2009 9:29:35

From left: PhDr. Martin Komárek, Chief Commentator, MF Dnes, Ing. František Chaloupecký, Entrepreneur, Ing. Jiří Málek, Cashier, LC Praha Bohemia Ambassador and Ing. Jaromír Kaulfus, Entrepreneur

From left: JUDr. Čestmír Sajda, Consultant and PhDr. Oldřich Vejvoda, Journalist

Ing. arch. Petr Bílek, Architect, Atelier Bílek Associates, spol. s r.o. and MUDr. Blanka Seifertová

From left: Mirko Lachman, Senior Advisor, Leaders Magazine and PhDr. Ladislav Říha, Owner, CK RiTours and Charter President, LC Praha Bohemia Ambassador

From left: Jan Budín, Professor, Deyls Academy, Ing. Josef Čekal, President, LC Praha Bohemia Ambassador and Ing. Pavel Barák, Economist

Mgr. Jaroslav Drápal, Analyst, ČSOB

Oldřich Hořák, Entrepreneur, Owner of the Hotel Bílá Růže in Poděbrady

From left: JUDr. Jaroslav Novotný, Advocate, Membership Chairperson, LC Praha Bohemia Ambassador, JUDr. PhDr. Oldřich Choděra, Charter President and Secretary, LC Praha Bohemia Ambassador, JUDr. Vojtěch Trapl, Advocate, Past Governor, LCI Czech Republic and Slovakia

PLM_0902_events_1.indd 41

15.3.2009 9:30:15

diplomatic/farewell event

H.E. Richard Graber, Ambassador of the USA, with wife Alexandria

IN COOPERATION WITH LEADERS MAGAZINE

Farewell to H.E. Richard Graber, Ambassador of the USA and his wife Alexandria

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PLM_0902_events_1.indd 42

From left: H.E. Alexey Fedotov, Ambassador of the Russian Federation, H.E. Peter Brňo, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Slovak Republic and H.E. Jean–Francois Kammer, Ambassador of Switzerland

15.3.2009 9:27:35

From left: H.E. Rachid Kaitouni, Ambassador of Marocco, Benke Aikell, your Publisher and Mrs. Formanek

H.E. Argita Daudze, Ambassador of the Republic of Latvia and JosĂŠ J. Pereira Gomes, Ambassador of Portugal From left: Dr. Hubert Palan, Exclusive Prague Travel HP Tours and Martin Palan

From left: H.E. Alberto Salas, Ambassador of Peru, Peter P. Formanek, President, Canadian Chamber of Commerce and Most Reverend Diego Causero, Titular Archbishop of Grado, Apostolic Nuncio

H.E. Charles Fries, French Ambassador and Mrs. Geraldine Mucha, Mucha Foundation

From left: Mrs. Andrea Lindemann, Timothy F. Lindemann, Defence and Air Attache, US Embassy and Greg O´Connor, Commercial Officer, US Embassy

more photos and electronic version available on www.leadersmagazine.cz

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From left: H.E. Dhia Al-Dabbass, Ambassador of Iraq, with wife and H.E. Seong-Yong Cho, Ambassador of the Republic of Korea

15.3.2009 9:28:02

From left: Peter J. Kalas, Advisor to the Prime Minister, Office of the Government of the Czech Republic, with wife Dagmar and Peter P. Formanek, President Canadian Chamber of Commerce

H.E. Ole Moesby, Danish Ambassador to the Czech Republic, with wife

From left: Arnie Bieber, EdD, Director International School of Prague and Jan Bubeník

From left: Mark D. Ferbrache, Legal Attache, U.S. Department of Justice US Embassy and Marc Wint, Attaché, US Embassy Mr. and Mrs. S. Germenis, Castle Blatná From left: H.E. Charles Fries, French Ambassador, with wife and H.E. Richard Graber, Ambassador of the USA, with wife Alexandria

From left: Petr Mooz, Marketing and Sales Department Manager, BSC Praha, spol. s.r.o. and H.E. Peter Brňo

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Farewell to H.E. Richard Graber...

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The very popular and much favoured Ambassador of the USA H. E. Richard Graber and his wife Alexandria sadly had to leave the Czech Republic. A lot of friends and colleagues came to the reception (of many) to say goodbye and wish them good luck back in the USA. This magazine lines up with all well-wishers and its publisher will surely miss his golf partner in the next season.

16.3.2009 11:28:12

legal affairs Produced in partnership with the PRO BONO association

THE INSOLVENCY

ACT DURING THE CRISIS As late as a couple of months ago, politicians, economists and journalists competed in ensuring citizens that the financial or economic crisis did not touch us, that the former economic development and the preservation of national currency would save the country.

Today we know that the Czech Republic is no “miraculous island” within the world economy and therefore we accompany other countries pulled by all manifestations of the crisis. We count victims. The fall of the value of shares, the exchange rate of the Crown, tens of thousands people losing their jobs, collapses of a number of companies and probably the end of a traditional industry – glass manufacturing.

Unfortunately, not prevention, but the results of the manifesting crisis woke the government which is now trying to find solutions: the formation of the National Economic Council of the Government, the adoption of a pack of measures leading to the reduction of the impacts of the economic crisis and the adoption of necessary amendments of relevant acts.

After one year of the force of the new insolvency act it is subject to the most difficult examination. And as early as in the introduction it is necessary to state that besides more or less legislatively technical flaws its insufficient reflection of social impacts is fully revealed.

This flaw is mainly visible in the absence of the protection of employees as creditors of the debtor, in the absolute subordination of the insolvency operation to the will of secured creditors, mainly banks and last but not least the restriction of the preservation of the activities of the company only in case of some debtors.

As far as the first rebuke is concerned, it is necessary to note that the formerly valid act on bankruptcy and compensation classified the claims of the employees of the debtor among the claims that had to be satisfied

with preference in the bankruptcy dealings.

The main point was the idea that the employees generally did not have other opportunities how to ensure their personal needs and needs of their families and households but from their salaries and the drop-out of the salary meant a serious social impact including existential problems for a lot of employees and their families. The new Insolvency Act did not take over this philosophy and the claims of the employees were put beyond the claims of the secured creditors of the debtor.

The priority of the secured claims against other secured claims including their full compensation is the result of the proposal of the act that was mainly prepared and then put through in the lawmaking body by banks and other financial institutions.

In principle, also the equality of creditors of those claims that had emerged even before the adoption of the insolvency act was violated, since according to that law, when it was relevant, the non-secured creditors had the right to get compensation reaching at least thirty percent of the profits from the realized security. This was, of course, applicable to the employees of the creditor whose claims were in no way secured. At present when the creditor does not have any other unattached assets, there remains nothing from where the employees’ claims can be satisfied.

The new Bankruptcy Act is formed according to the model of foreign laws and implements the institute of reorganization which basically enables the preservation of the creditor’s company even in the case of bankruptcy. Apart from other features this institute is important also because it helps ensure workplaces and work opportunities. The act presupposes that reorganization can be enabled only in such companies which have at least 100 employees in a permanent work relation or whose total turnover in the last fiscal period reached at least 100 million Crowns. In other cases the creditors with

JUDr. Roman Jelínek, Ph.D., lawyer Association of Lawyers PRO BONO

secured claims have to agree, by which middle and small companies are disadvantaged.

Their importance in the preservation of work places is indispen-sable.

From the upper-mentioned sentences it is clear that in spite of a lot of positive solutions the Bankruptcy Act does not reflect sufficiently the present needs of the society, especially the social effects impacts connected with company bankruptcies and we can therefore welcome the initiative of the Ministry of Justice to present an amendment of the Insolvency Act in the near future. We will discuss its contents again in one of our next articles.

JUDr. Roman Jelínek, Ph.D., lawyer Association of Lawyers PRO BONO

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Leaders Magazine II/ I 2009

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15.3.2009 14:11:45

An interview with Richard Wágneer, Senior Parrtner at Pokorný, Wágner & Partner, Atttoorneys-at-Law

LAW LAGS BEHIND TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENT

Richard Wagner graduated from Charlles University Faculty of Law in 1983 and subsequently worrkeed in the Foreign Insurance Division at the Czech Statee Insurance Com mpany in Prague. In 1987 he became a senioor research fellow at the Research Institute of Foreign Economic Relattions. Between the years 1991–1995 he wass counsellor at the Permanent Mission of the Czech Repubblic to the UN Off fice and other international organizations in Genneva and deputy permanent representative of the Czech Republic too the World Trade Organization/General Agreeement on Tariffs and Trade (WTO/GATT). Since 1996 hee has been senior partner at Pokorný, Wágner & Partner, Attoornneys-at-Law. Photo: Paul Pacey

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Leaders Magazine II/2009

13.3.2009 16:47:31

Why did you start your yoour own law firm?

Myy way to the prrofess ssion of attorney-at-law was ra rather tortuoouss. Whhen my stay in Geneva was nearing ne g an end,, I cooontemplated my professionaal futurre. Theen I meet by chance Radek Pokornýý who I had knoown ssince 1989. He told me that he wouldd havve liked tto start his own law firm.

Althoouggh I was noot an accttive lawyer at that time, the iddea inttriguedd me a lot. We agreed to try it togetther. Wh When I cam me back a from Geneva at the end of of 19955, eveerytthingg was already arranged.

On Jaanuary 1, 19996 we started. t We were three – Radeek Pokoorný, Anddreaa Cejnarová and I. One assisst ant heelped us. Noow 34 lawyers and some studeents en wor ork in ourr firm m.

How were the begin beginnings? nnin Wee sstarted ed in a tim me whhen renowned firms had a very ry signi nificannt markket share. We did not preseent en real al com mpeetitioon for them and could build our laaw firm m. Buildding the position of the law fiirm on the markket iss very important. It cannot bee omittted. Yoou buildd your firm by your name, your knowled edge and know w-how.

Wee w wanteed to speeciallise from the beginning.

Howeever, att the veryy begginning it was not possible. We workked onn vaariouus orders within the basic focuss on com mmercial law w. The only limitation was that we prov ovided leegal sservices only for entrepreneeurs. eu As sooon as we developed a bit and couldd affordd it, wee stt arteed to specialise.

What do you specia specialise alis in?

Wee foocus on comm mmerciaal law, by which we mean all leggal ga serv rvices thaat thee entrepreneur needs for their en enterppriise. We are ddealing with specialised areass such as ecoonoomic ccompetition, fusion and acquisiition (M&AA), bankk and financial markets or peerssonal data prootection. We also engage in revisiion ons off businness coonntracts and labour law.

I speecificallyy focuus on inntellectual property law, adverr tisemen ent, unnfaiir com mpetition and litigations and innternattioonal tradde laaw (WTO/GATT).

You were in GATT, w when he the negotiations on trade liberalisation of trad de proceeded within the Uruguay Round. How were we these negotiations? later the Czech How was Czechoslovakia, Czechosloovak Republic, perceived??

Wee w were relatively paampered. We came to GATTT as repr presenntattivess of a free country unencumbbered by the paast, oon which it did not want to inssisst, and nd whoosee policcy towards introduction of mar arket mechaanismss was very liberal both inwarrds andd outw wardds. W We supported the establishm ment off markket mecchanisms and their arrangeement em withinn interrnnational market rules.

The countrie co ies thaat now aare called fast developing were veer y differeent in comparison to Central and Ea Eastern Euroopeean ccountries. These coun-

tries such as India or Brazil that never experienced communism very intensely keep an eye on what they created at home. Altthough their domestic system contained market mechanisms, they did not want to give up certaain protectionist restrictions that were primarilyy set up in their agriculture sector, but not only there. These states had very competent negootiators who had a relatively strong mandate froom their governments not to open themselves. In this respect it was a success that the Uruguuay Round was completed. Nevertheless, I thinkk it was extended by a year, and the end was very hectic indeed.

At the end of negotiations delegates decided on the establishment of a new organization.

Yes and it was a bit of a surprisee. Approximately a year before the end of negootiations nobody thought or at least they gave no sign that another new organization would be estabblished. Suddenly, big players like the US and EU presented the idea of creating the World Tradde Organization.

They negotiated it before with some developing states that supported them. T he majority of states were very surprised andd did know what to do. We did not mind in principle, but many states did because they did noot participate in the negotiations, and furthermorre, the establishment of a new organization was not in the mandate for the Uruguay Round. It was thus clearly shown that if big states agreee on something, they also manage to enforce it.

Do you follow the current WTO negotiations?

I follow it only from a distance now. When I came to GATT, there were 74 contract parties, but there are 150 of them theere today. I am rather sceptical whether it is possible to complete Doha negotiations when thhere are so many member states and the intereests they represent are often very contradictoryy.

What is your biggest case in the area of intellectual property law?

For example, we act for the Nestlé concern, especially in litigation. This company suffers from exploitation of its famouss trademarks or from the use of proper namees like typically Nescafé Classic or Maggi. Nesscafé Classic is something that our client connsiders its first tradition and litigates with thosse who use this name for their own products. I can also mention Vodafone campaign with antlers. In this case we acted for Telefónica O2 and haad a preliminary injunction issued that banned thhis campaign.

Are there any substantial differences in international and European law on intellectual property protection?

Generally it is possible to sayy that European

legislation is not different from international usage and principles. The European Union managed to enforce many things into the international agreement on intellectual property law – Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS). The area of intellectual property is internationally rather strongly unified but there are still differences. US copyright is based on slightly different rules than the European continental law. Typically, the authorial rights are inalienable in continental law, but in the USA, when you sell them, you can never have them back. Continental law knows about stealing of property rights, but not personalities.

In connection with Internet development authorial rights have been more and more violated. How does the law cope with it?

The internet is such a phenomenon today – it quite undermines the existing principles on which the authorial right is based. I do not say that it makes the law toothless, but it is a matter that lags behind technological development.

The possibilities of legal regulation without the law being based on specific cases are limited.

It is evident that the gap is widening.

If you assess your past 13 years, do you like your job? Do you regret your decision to work in a law firm?

I have never thought that I would end up like this. However, now I am glad that I work as an attorney-at-law. Where we are and the targets I have with my partner, these are attributes that keep me at this job. There are moments when I wake up at night and wonder if I did everything well. It is not possible to resist it, because we are responsible not only by our reputation, but also by our property. In this branch it is probably twice as true that a good reputation is difficult to get, but easy to lose. Then it is lost forever and it is very difficult to gain it back, if ever. It is very binding for us. On the other hand it is compensated by a good feeling when something comes out well.

What are your hobbies?

I like reading, films and music. I started to play golf with my wife four years ago. It is an acceptable sport for us non-sport people because there is reasonable amount of exercise. Furthermore, it is very relaxing and you meet very interesting people. I mainly play during the weekends and do not avoid the tournaments.

By Zuzana Kasáková I

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Leaders Magazine II/ I 2009

Interviews.indd 47

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13.3.2009 16:47:54

Ma ta Gel Mar ellov lová, lo á,, Sec S retary Se Gennera e l of the thee AAsssoociiatiion of o Fin Financ n ial iaa Inn eerm Int rm medi d ari di ar es es and nndd Fi Finan nanncia c l Advi ci visor vi ssoo s of the CCzeech ch Repub Re ubblic liic

FAIRNESS & LEADERSHIP

P to: Pho o VVlladi adimír adi m We mír W iss

Interviews.indd 48

13.3.2009 16:48:44

An interview with Marta Gellová, Secretary General of the Association of Financial Intermediaries and Financial Advisors of the Czech Republic Marta Gellová graduated in 1992 from Charles University in Prague, Faculty of Law. She spent 6 months at the Council of Europe in Strasbourg as a trainee and has professional work experience from a solicitors’ office in UK. She worked as an executive for multinational companies such as Rothmans of Pall Mall and Ford Motor Company. Between 2000 and 2004 she was the Chair of the Board of Directors and the General Director of the IP banka, a.s. Marta Gellová also has experience in consultancy for accreditation of educational programs for the state administration. In November 2005 she was appointed to the position of the Secretary General of the Association of Financial Intermediaries and Financial Advisors of the Czech Republic. In January 2006 she was elected member of the Association. Since June 2006 she has been a member of the Board of Directors of the FECIF. She is also a member of the Ethics Committee of the Association of Funds and Asset Management of the Czech Republic and since 2008 of the Czech Capital Market Association.

Since February 2007 Marta has also held the chairmanship of the Supervisory Board of the Czech Radio.

You have worked in several managerial positions in the financial field. What brought you to the Association of Financial Intermediaries and Financial Advisors of the Czech Republic (AFIZ)?

It happened by chance and I am very happy about it. After three years of its existence, the AFIZ was looking for a new manager. I had been told about the selection procedure by my financial advisor and I was successful in it.

The Association is a rather new body at the Czech financial market. What led to its foundation?

The AFIZ was originally founded as an association of investment intermediaries as the reaction to a new legal g form, approved pp in 2002. At that time, the intermediary of investment instruments was exempted from businesses. Moreover, the new business authorization necessary for this activity – registration of the then Commission for securities (KCP) – was codified. At that time, the AFIZ noticeably helped hundreds of interested persons in this new business authorization, especially via their qualified training and with their own registration process. At that time already the close cooperation betw be twee eenn th thee re regu gula lato torr an andd su supe perv rvis isio ionn, i.e. e th thee Ministry of Finance and the KCP proved excellent.

As all the AFIZ members offered a considerably brighter scope of services than merely the mediation of investment instruments on the financial market, the Association activities logically widened and provided mediation of all products on the financial market. Consequently there occurred the merger with then Association of Financial Advisors and Intermediaries (AFPZ) and so was the AFIZ established.

Could you discuss what consulting services does the AFIZ largely focus on?

The AFIZ members pursue financial consultancy primarily for retail oriented clients while the consultancy is connected with the mediation of recommended financial products. Thus, it concerns the most widelyy sppread model of financial consultancy, in which case one consultant is paid from

commissions for consequently conveyed financial products and does not receive any direct payment from his clients.

What is your membership base? Do your members gain any special advantages, what services do they use primarily?

Our membership base covers large consultancy firms and intermediary companies, as well as specialized small businesses. We have 11 members like that and as I mentioned earlier, also the largest companies on the Czech market are involved. Apart from that, we have about 1,000 individual members, i.e. physical persons. The AFIZ members use both special workshops organized by us, and particularly specialist consultancy services of our legal g department, p primarily p y once the new legislag tion is applied. Part of the services concerns also the commentaries of acts and regulations when they are under preparation. Another area we focus on is the communication with clients in case any dispute arises, for instance in the situation when the client complaints about provided services.

Then the AFIZ tries to find a peaceful settlement of the dispute suitable for both the client and the consultant. Obviously, we have an option to repr re preh ehen endd ou ourr cl clie ient nt ifif ou ourr Et Ethi hica call Co Comm mmititte teee finds a serious failure. Within the disciplinary proceedings we can give targeted penalties, or we can even exclude our member and make this fact public, which has already happened.

Could you specify the aim of the Ethical Committee?

The Ethical Committee is an independent body of the AFIZ elected by its general meeting. Its members are not only our members but also the Czech consumers’ associations (t(he Consumers Defence Association and the Czech Consumer Association) and also some specialist attorney’s offices. The primary goal of the Ethical Committee is to supervise the adherence to the Ethical Code of our members and to seek solutions, when it is breached, in disciplinary proceedings on the basis of the sugg ge g stions of the clients of our members.

From this year onwards, we would like to advance

the activities of the Ethical Committee in the field of self-adjusting standards.

The AFIZ focuses also on the educational area.

What events incited the biggest interest?

I would say that most successful were particularly the workshops aimed at the application of new legislation. With regard to the fact that we participate in its preparation, we have an ideal opportunity to present it and help with its implementation through workshops where we invite the authors of new legislation directly.

Is the AFIZ somehow going to respond to the current world economic recession?

With regard to our activities we can consider only the organization of workshops aimed at this issue. However, we do not interfere with the business activities of our members.

Are you planning to launch any new projects in the future?

Yes, we are. We have several projects ready, particularly in the sphere of the creation of expert standards regarding our profession and furthermore in the sphere of public education in the Czech Republic and within the international projects of the EU. Concerning the creation of expert standards we would lilike ke ttoo co coop oper erat atee cl clos osel elyy wi with th tthe he Min Minis istrtryy of Fin Finan ance ce of the Czech Republic and with the Czech National Bank. Concerning the area of public education and support of financial literacy we are launching a project together with several partners, among others for instance the Business School Ostrava plc, the Czech Consumer Association, the Debt Advisory Centre – Counselling in Stringency in Public Benefit Company form; the Czech Financial Arbitrator, and the Microfinance. As far as international projects are concerned,, I would like to name,, amongg others,, the project EQUALIFISE. In this project, representatives from 21 EU countries take part, with the main goal to identify qualification within the field of financial services in the EU, its methodology and monitoring.

By Pavlína Holancová I českou verzi naleznete na www.leadersmagazine.cz

Leaders Magazine II/ I 2009

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49

15.3.2009 14:25:33

networking/charity

IN COOPERATION WITH LEADERS MAGAZINE

LIONS CLUB

From left: Ing. Vladimír Staňura, MBA, Chairman of the Board, Českomoravská stavební spořitelna, a.s. and JUDr. PhDr. Oldřich Choděra, Advocate, Charter President and Secretary, LC Praha Bohemia Ambassador

Prague Bohemia Ambassador at Restaurant Pelikan

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more photos and electronic version available on www.leadersmagazine.cz

From left: Petr Laštovka, Entrepreneur, Ing. Petr Kučera, CSc. Authorized Expert, Ing. Vladimír Staňura, MBA, Chairman of the Board, Českomoravská stavební spořitelna, a.s. and Ing. Josef Čekal, President, LC Praha Bohemia Ambassador

15.3.2009 9:32:57

From left: Antonín Felix Slováček, Conductor, Ing. Jaromír Kaulfus, Entrepreneur, Ing. Jaroslav Hořák, Owner, MPH Medical Devices, s.r.o. and Oldřich Hořák, Owner of the Hotel Bílá Růže in Poděbrady

From left: JUDr. Jaroslav Šátral, Chairman of Senate of the Municipal Court Prague and JUDr. Jaroslav Novotný, Advocate, Membership Chairperson LC Praha Bohemia Ambassador Prof. ThDr. Jiří Huber, President, Vyšehradská kapitula

From left: Ing. Ladislav Bouček, CSc., former District Governor, LCI Czech Republic and Slovak Republic, Ing. Anton Gerák, CSc., Business Director and Prof.

MUDr. Václav Mandys, CSc, LF UK

From left: MUDr. Václav Poláček, CSc. Plastic Surgeon, LD Clinic and Ing. Arch. Petr Bílek, Owner, Bílek Associates s.r.o.

From left: Ing. Antonín Mika, Regional Director for International Business, MUDr. Blanka Seifertová, Ing. Ladislav Vaško, Business Director and Ing. Antonín Novotný, General Director, CSI, a.s.

Guest of Honor: Ing. Vladimir Staňura, MBA Chairman of the Board, Českomoravská Stavební Spořitelna, a.s.

Topic of the Evening: “Bank Crisis in ČR”

Lions Club Praha Ambassador is one of the biggest and most active clubs of Lions. They participate in number of charitable projects like build-up a hospital in Kenya, help to handicapped fellow-citizens and improvement of environment.

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51 All together

15.3.2009 9:34:16

celebration

Football Players and Models

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH LEADERS MAGAZINE

Slavia second dancing ball is in the past. On Saturday 24 January hundreds of visitors came to enjoy an exciting evening lasting to two o´clock. The main stars were the footballers and coaches of Slavia, who attracted attention not only on the dancing stage, but also on the fashion catwalk. Miloš Pokorný and Roman Ondráček, the moderators of the evening, invited to the stage all the players and coaches and gave them presents – red-white bow ties, every player also heard his short profile.

Slavia kitman Jiří Strnad had his comeback to the popstage after twenty years, he sang together with Petra Zámečníková a song “We are in for it”, which used to be popular twenty years ago. The fashion show of the Respect company followed – and the models were Slavia players – Pavel Fořt, Petr Janda, Jakub Diviš, Ladislav Volešák, Vladimír Šmicer, Dušan Švento, Peter Grajciar, Mickael Tavares, Amadou Cissé a Jaroslav Černý accompanied by three professional models in Slavia tops. Tomáš Jablonský prepared his own performance, he played the piano and sang two of his own songs. The evening also included a charity auction, which earned money for the Foundation Fund Plaváček and oncological clinics in Motol. General Manager Petr Doležal bought the main auctioned item – the picture of Juraj Jakubisko. Another charity action was the tombola, which was by coincidence won by Slavia forward Zdeněk Šenkeřík. The main stage belonged to Karel Vlach´s orchestra and also Slovakian singer Peter Nagy who sang his best hits.

The other stage belonged to the Slavia fan rock group Baraki.

Slavia Danced at Žofín

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more photos and electronic version available on www.leadersmagazine.cz

From left: Petr Doležal, General Director and Member of the Board, SK Slavia Praha, Karel Jarolím, Head Coach, SK Slavia Praha and his son

15.3.2009 9:24:33

Josef Fanfulík, ALO Jewelry with his wife and on the right Mgr. Alice Tomasová, Business & Marketing Director, SK Slavia Praha

From left: Ing. Tomáš Rosen, Chairman of the Board, SK Slavia Praha, and Moderator

Mgr. Jindřich Moník, Managing Director, Allrisk and his wife

From left: Milan Smeták, Owner, Betosan spol. s.r.o., Mirko Lachman, Senior Advisor, Leaders Magazine and Mr. Veselý

From left: Ing. Miroslav Němec, Director, Správa a Údržba silnic Pardubického kraje, Ing. Jaroslav Krauter, Deputy for the Section of Financial Sources Administration, SFDI, wife of Miroslav Němec and Jaroslav Krauter, son of Jaroslav Krauter

From left: Mgr. Klára Sovová, Advocate and Mgr. Lucie Šimáčková, Advocate

Milan Smeták, Owner, Betosan spol. s.r.o. and Mrs. Smetáková

Mrs. Andrea Novotná and Inmar Al-Azawi Mrs. Petra Zámečníková and Jiří Strnad singing

53 SK Slavia Praha Football Team

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16.3.2009 10:16:01

gala/charity ball

Austrian Ball

H.E. Margot Klestil-Löffler, Ambassador of Austria and Přemysl Sobotka, President of the Senate, Parliament of the Czech Republic

Mag. Georg Stöger, Auditor spol. s r.o., President of VÖT (Association of Austrian People in CR) in his welcoming speech

more photos and electronic version available on www.leadersmagazine.cz

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IN COOPERAATION WITH LEADERSS MAGAZINE 15.3.2009 9:22:55

From left: Mrs. Outratová, H.E. Chikahito Harada, Ambassador of Japan, with wife and Ing. Edvard Outrata, Senator (Ret.)

Bernard Bauer, Executive Manager of the Board, GermanCzech Chamber of Industry and Commerce, with wife Mrs. Eva Hellová, Head of the Independent Protocol Unit Parliament of the Czech Republic The Senate Chancellery and PhDr. Petr Kostka, Press Secretary of the Senate Chancelery Parliament of the Czech Republic The Senate Chancellery

From left: Dipl. Ing. Franz Josef Püribauer, General Director, LLC Böhler Welding Group Russia with wife and Dr. Nikolaus Seiwald, Trade Counsellor of the Embassy of Austria

H.E. Franc But, Ambassador of Slovenia and Mrs. Sobotková Luděk Sefzig, Chairman of the Commitee on EU Affairs Parliament of the Czech Republic The Senate and MUDr. Irena Pillmannová

The “Austrian Ball” – Ball of the Association of Austrians living in the Czech Republic has been organized since 2000. This very beautiful Viennese style ball takes place in the noble ambience of the Žofín Palace. Not only Austrians are taking part in this ball, but also a considerable number of (young and not so young) Czechs, politicians, ambassadors and VIP’s. Although this event is quite young, it managed to become one of the highlights of Prague’s social life. The profit from the ball is used for charity purposes.

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From left: Martin Schmid, Partner, Fortissimo Prague (organizer of the event), Thomas Soukup, General Manager, Impact-corti s.r.o. and Ing. Alexander Lochman, General Director, Bacchus

15.3.2009 9:23:20

From left: Richard Hofer, Pharmacy Development, s.r.o., Mrs. Kaplin, Dipl. Ing. Franz Josef Püribauer, General Director, LLC Böhler Welding Group Russia with wife

From left: Mag. Margund Schuh, UBM with a friend

Ing. Hana Pavlišová, Managing Director, Česká Informační Agentura and Daniel Pavlíček, Editor

From left: Dr. Georg J. Schoiswohl, Mrs. Katalin Fraydenegg and Alexander Waidmann

Mrs. Šimková and Turan Sahin, Group Managing Director Siemens s.r.o.

From left: Ing. Alexander Lochman, General Director, Bacchus with wife and Benke Aikell, your Publisher

Austrian Ball PLM_0902_events_1.indd 56

Mrs. Eva Krajová, Andreas Ueltzhöeffer, Advocate, Mrs. Patricia Schmitt, Dipl. Kfm. Oliver Schmitt, Managing Partner Teamconsult s.r.o. and Mr. Daumann with Pavla Daumannová

15.3.2009 9:23:57

BESEDA BALL 2009 CZECH SOCIETY IN NEW YORK AT BOHEMIAN NATIONAL HALL more photos and electronic version available on www.leadersmagazine.cz

Prof. Václav Klaus, President of the Czech Republic during his travelling in the USA paid a visit to the newly renovated Bohemian National Hall.

From left: Petr Gandalovič, Minister of Agriculture, Mrs. Ája Vrzáňová and Pavel Semerák

Mrs. Betty Lee Knorr, Chairman of the Beseda Ball, Petr Gandalovič, Minister of Agriculture and Joseph Balaz, President of BBLA, Bohemian Benevolent and Literary Association

Joseph Balaz, President of BBLA, Bohemian Benevolent and Literary Association, Prof. Václav Klaus, President of the Czech Republic and H.E. Petr Kolar, Czech Ambassador to the US

Bohemian National Hall

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15.3.2009 10:09:10

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH LEADERS MAGAZINE

The Energy-Climate Crisis is Your Business Part VII: Winds of Change–Energy, Jobs, and Economic Opportunity1 Figure 2(7)

James A. Cusumano, PhD

“The answer my friend is blowing in the wind.”

Bob Dylan

Figure 1(3)

In 1888, Charles Francis Brush, an inventor and entrepreneur, built a large wind turbine in his backyard to generate electricity for his home in Cleveland, Ohio.

Mr. Brush’s company, Brush Electric eventually merged with Thomas Edison’s company, Edison Electric to form General Electric1. Wind power has come quite a way since then.

Wind is the most developed of all renewable-energy technologies and is now the fastest-growing form of electricity generation in the world, employing more than 350,000 workers. There are 9,000 large-scale turbines in some 60 countries. Wind power grew by more than 30 % in 2007, reaching over 100,000 megawatts of installed power by April 2008, the equivalent to the installed power of more than 100 large coal-fired plants, or a similar number of nuclear plants.

The U.S. leads in annual wind power growth, although surprisingly, China is close behind (see Figure 1)3.

In Europe, wind provides a respectable level of total electricity in several countries – 20% in Denmark, 10%

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in Spain and 7% in Germany. Czech Power Group (CEZ) plans to build a 600 megawatt wind power park in Romania, which would be the biggest onshore wind power park in all of Europe3. With no significant change in power-generation strategies, wind power is expected to nearly triple in global capacity by 2012 to 290,000 megawatts. At that point wind will account for nearly 3% of world electricity generation, and by 2017, it could be nearly 6%4.

Although wind energy currently supplies 1 % of U.S. power, a U.S. Department of Energy study found that wind energy could readily supply 20 % of U.S. electricity requirements by 2030. With no significant improvements in technology this would cost a mere 2 % more than staying with the current energy mix. This 2 % increase in cost would be more than compensated for by modest tax incentives, and this expansion would create more than 500,000 new jobs. This growth in zero-emissions wind energy by 2030 would nearly eliminate the projected increases in greenhouse gas emissions from U.S. power plants between now and 2030. It would also eliminate the consumption of 4 trillion gallons of water, an increasingly preciouscommodity5.

Wind power is attractive because it is available nearly everywhere, and is a renewable source of energy, producing neither pollution, nor climate-changing greenhouse gases (see Figure 2)7.

The World Energy Council estimates that more than 80 % of the Earth’s surface has wind speeds suitable for capturing energy. By exploiting just 10 % of the global wind resources, the world’s entire electricity requirements could be met in a carbon-free future.

The cost to generate wind energy has decreased significantly, from more than 30 cents/kwh (cents per kilowatt-hour) in the 1980s to less than 10 cents/kwh today. When tax credits and feed-in tariffs are factored in, wind power is already cost-competitive with electricity generated from the most efficient gas-, coalor nuclear-power plants. With a modest carbon tax of $30 per ton of CO2, subsidies would not even be required and wind power would compete with all other power sources, globallyy7.

Modern wind turbines are very efficient, extracting around 50 % of the energy of the impinging wind-close to the 59.3% theoretical limit. The newest turbines are built with light-weight, graphite-fiber-reinforced blades and are computer controlled so that the blade pitch can be adapted to wind speed fo-r optimum energy generation (see Figure 3)9.

Currently, 99 % of all wind turbines are located onshore because they cost 40 % less to build and install Figure 3(9)

Leaders Magazine II/2009

15.3.2009 15:12:53

TO BE CONTINUED...

Figure 4(11)

than offshore turbines. However, as the technology is further developed, more turbines will move offshore.

There are a number of advantages. Offshore winds have much greater speed and are less intermittent than winds over land. Offshore machines are also easily positioned near highly populated areas, where power is most needed. They can be built sufficiently offshore to be out of sight, and not heard, appealing to those who oppose wind power for those reasons.

The two most significant challenges for wind power are wind variability and ineffectiveness of the current global power grid. As for variability, it is now possible to forecast wind speed over a 24-hour period with good accuracy, making it possible to schedule wind power just as fossil power sources are planned. However, unlike electricity from conventional sources, wind power is not always available on demand. Utility operators must ensure that reserve sources of power are available in case the wind is not blowing at sufficient speed. But because wind power generation and electricity demand both vary, the extra capacity required to reach a 20% share of power by wind is quite small, just a few percent of the total installed wind capacity, and it can come from other existing power sources9.

To exceed 20% power provided by wind, will require a means of storing electricity that is generated during low demand periods for use when demand is high.

Several technologies have been developed to address this issue. These include pumping water uphill and discharging it through turbine generators during highdemand periods; super-capacitors for electrical discharge when extra power is required; high-power flywheels that store energy mechanically for conversion back to electricity; high-capacity lithium ion batteries; and flow batteries (see Figure 4)11.

Flow battery technology is particularly promising.

When excess electricity is generated by the wind turbines, it is used to convert a water solution of vanadium

5+ ions to vanadium 2+ ions. This means that each vanadium 5+ ion captures 3 negative electrons and forms vanadium 2+ ions. The vanadium 2+ solution is stored in a tank, and when electricity is in high demand, this solution is run through an ion-exchange battery and the vanadium 2+ ions give up their electrons which flow as electricity to the grid, giving back vanadium 5+ ions, and the system is recycled again as needed (see Figure 5)12.

This flow battery system can also be used for solar power, providing a means of storing electricity for distribution at night.

The most significant challenge for wind power, as well as other renewable power sources such as solar energy, is the current ineffective global grid system. Though more complex and larger in size, the global grid is not much different than the original one constructed in 1882 by Thomas Edison to serve Figure 5 59 customers in lower Manhattan. A key challenge is that power transmission lines are not optimally located. For example, in the U.S. the gusty plains in the Midwest, an area that could supply the entire nation with wind power, are far removed from major electrical arteries that supply major metropolitan areas such as Chicago, New York or Los Angeles. Using current technology to reach 20% wind power installation in the U.S. by 2030 would require a $60 billion investment in 12,650 miles of new transmission lines12. However, this would more than pay for itself in a short period of time in fossil fuel saved and carbon credits.

A second issue is that the current grid lacks the electrical storage capacity to deal with power variability.

This could be addressed by the storage technologies listed in Figure 4.

And finally, power flow is currently managed by human beings in a control room. Compared with other mechanized systems used in our modern world, the grid is quite “dumb.” For example, in many instances if the power goes down in your neighborhood, the utility company will not be aware of this unless you or one of your neighbors calls them. In a smart grid system there is a seamless two-way connection with every user of electricity (see Figure 6)14. During a power demand surge, a signal goes out to meters in homes, factories and offices of customers who have agreed in exchange for

rate reductions, to let the utility control the power to certain appliances, e.g. water heaters14. The technology exists to create a “smart” grid and is being implemented in a limited number of areas throughout the world. But much broader investment will be necessary to tap into the great potential of variably available power sources such as wind and solar energy.

Over 100 years have passed since Mr. Brush built the first wind turbine to generate electricity for his home. Wind power may never supply all of our global power needs, but it could supply a meaningful fraction.

Indeed, it has already demonstrated that it has great potential to address simultaneously both energy security and climate change.

Victor Abate, Vice President of Renewables for GE Energy sums it up this way, “From a zero-fuel-cost and

(12)

Figure 6(14)

zero-carbon perspective, wind power is currently the most cost-effective and scalable technology available to mankind.”

James A. Cusumano, PhD 1

Marc Gunther, “Taking on the Energy Crunch,” Fortune Magazine, February 7, 2005, p. 61.

2 Janet L. Sawin, World Watch, July/August 2008, p. 35.

3 Jana Mlcochova, “CEZ to Build Biggest Onshore Wind Park in Europe,” Reuters Business & Finance, August, 27, 2008.

4 “Wind of Change,” The Economist Technology Quarterly, December 6, 2008, p. 21.

5 “Study Supports Wind Expansion,” World Watch September/October 2008.

6 Katherine Davis, New Scientist, September 25, 2004, p. 12.

7 Op cit., “Winds of Change,” p. 21.

8 Technology Review, November 2004, p. 82.

9 Ibid, p. 23.

10 Tim Thwaites, New Scientist, January 13, 2007, p. 40.

11 Ibid, p. 41.

12 David Talbot, “Lifeline for Renewable Power,” Technology Review, January/February 2009, p. 44.

13 Emma Marris, Nature, Vol. 454, July 31, 2008, p. 572.

14 Ibid

About the Author: James A. Cusumano is Chairman and owner of Chateau Mcely (www.ChateauMcely.Com), chosen in 2007 by the European Union as the only “Green” 5-star luxury hotel in Central and Eastern Europe and in 2008 by the World Travel Awards as the Leading Green Hotel in the World.

He is a former Research Director for Exxon, and subsequently founded two public companies in Silicon Valley, one in clean power generation, the other in pharmaceuticals manufacture via environmentally-benign, low-cost, catalytic technologies. While he was Chairman and CEO, the latter – Catalytica Pharmaceuticals, Inc. – grew in less than 5 years, to a $1 billion enterprise with 2,000 employees. He is co-author of “Freedom from Mid-East Oil,” recently released by World Business Academy Press (www.WorldBusiness.Org) and can be reached at Jim@ChateauMcely.Com.

českou verzi naleznete na www.leadersmagazine.cz

Leaders Magazine II/ I 2009

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15.3.2009 15:13:21

Michael Specking General Manager, Hilton Prague & Hilton Prague Old Town Photo: VladimĂ­r Weiss

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13.3.2009 16:49:28

An interview with Michael Specking, General Manager, Hilton Prague & Hilton Prague Old Town

OUR INDUSTRY IS Based on Personalities

Michael Specking, 51 has been promoted to the position of General Manager of the Hilton Prague & Hilton Prague Old Town. He joined Hilton Prague as General Manager in July 2007 from Hilton Dusseldorf, where he was General Manager from 2001. Michael Specking is a graduate from the University of Munich with a degree in Economics and Hotel & Restaurant Management. He has been working in the hospitality industry for more than 25 years. His extensive career path with Hilton includes various positions at the Hilton Munich Park, Hilton Abuja, Nigeria (opening), Hilton Ankara, Turkey (opening), Hilton Dresden and Hilton Dusseldorf as General Manager and most recently General Manager of Hilton Prague, where he completed a major refurbishment. Michael Specking is married to his wife Claudia. Both enjoy having three children.

You have worked at several Hilton hotels in Germany. Could you compare these managerial positions?

Both countries have their own challenges and opportunities. What I see as opportunities in the Czech Republic is the high degree in skills, on which one can build future managers, great willingness and personality, which are even more important than skills. Our industry is based on personalities.

The Hilton Prague Hotel has just undergone a large reconstruction. What is its result and how was it completed? Do you prepare any new projects?

Recently, major renovation of all guest rooms has taken place. The project was divided into phases over the period of three years to minimize disturbances to our guests. The total investment reached 21 million Euro. Five new meeting rooms with a total area of 120 square meters for up to 130 delegates were built and the total number of meeting rooms at the Hilton Prague reached 38. Other of the recent renovation projects focused on the hotel arrival area, the landscaping of the entrance area was redesigned with added greenery and new trees. One of the latest highlights is the Cloud 9 sky bar & lounge, which opened in August last year on the hotel rooftop after a nine month construction. Speaking about the results, we have now an upgraded product which is at customers’ expectations. We have future project in the pipeline, which is the further construction of additional meeting facilities, since Hilton Prague in particular is ideal for large group business.

In this context, how would you evaluate the new Cloud 9 sky bar & lounge, located on the roof, half a year after its opening?

Cloud 9 sky bar & lounge is a great enhancement to the Prague bar scene. It has excellent signature cocktails created by one of the best Czech bartenders Roman Uhlíř, it has a unique grazing food concept, unbeatable views of Prague, live DJ’s at weekends, you name it... No doubt it has gained its reputation amongst the local crowd, which of course was our aim. We have some 80 % of the local Prague clientele.

This may be due to the fact that the prices are on the same level as in the other Prague bars, the corporate

identity is different from the Hilton and we are marketing it as a non-hotel bar.

Next to the Hilton Prague Hotel, a new hotel – the Hilton Prague Old Town opened. What is their relationship and could you compare them?

The Hilton Prague is a group and meeting hotel on a large scale, whilst the Hilton Prague Old Town focuses on the same segment in a smaller size. In fact, business at the Hilton Prague Old Town is better than expected. In terms of positioning, having said the above, the two hotels do not compete but complement each other. For large events, it also gives us more flexibility when participants of one event can share capacities of both properties.

What are the specific features of both Hilton hotels in comparison to other local hotels?

Firstly, it is the power of the brand, the Hilton is one of the leading global hospitality brands with over 3.000 hotels in more than 74 countries. Globally, the Hilton offers an array of signature brand products, which ensures consistency of the guest experience world-wide. As an example, it is the famous Hilton Breakfast, Hilton Executive Lounge or Hilton Meetings.

One of the strongest assets is our loyalty program Hilton Honors, which helps us to maintain our position even during these difficult economic times.

Could you mention what target group you focus on and how you attract potential clients?

At the Hilton Prague, we target mainly the meeting and convention segment and group business in general, the same at a smaller scale applies to the Hilton Prague Old Town, in addition to that we target leisure business for weekends and low seasons. We are using various channels, such as online marketing, printed advertising, presence of our sales team during major trade fairs on our key source markets, which are continental Europe, UK and US with even more rigid focus during the present financial crisis.

Do you find Prague sufficiently interesting also for a demanding clientele?

Prague in general is highly attractive for the rest of he world. It is a hub of the Central and Eastern Europe and with a new and enlarged airport which contributes highly to its positive trend. While the Prague Convention Centre needs to be modernised and needs a plan for

the future, the newly established Prague Convention Bureau is on the right track streamlining various activities in the city to further increase the attractiveness of Prague. Being a member, I have just seen the marketing plan for 2009 telling me that this task force is in the right direction. And yes, clients are always demanding. We should not forget that Prague competes with cities like Rome, Lisbon, Barcelona, Vienna, Berlin, Copenhagen. The latest statistics show that we lost ground in 2008 over 2007, so by all means we cannot lie back over the good results we achieved, we must move forward.

Do you think the current economic crisis will have an impact on your clients? In this context, do you prepare any actions?

One would not be honest to say that the present economical crisis has no impact, year on year revenue per available room at the Prague market is down by 25 % in 2008 compared to 2007. Regrettably, the trend continues in the first quarter of 2009. In terms of costs, we are checking every area to identify potential cost reductions without jeopardizing quality. At the same time, we invest into technologies, which on the long run help us decrease costs. As an example, I would like to mention our recent investment into the heat recuperation system, which helps us reuse heat instead of buying expensive energy.

Do you have time for your hobbies? Could you reveal what you like doing in your free time and what places do you like visiting?

Unfortunately, I have less and less free time but the one which is left I enjoy spending with my family – my wife Claudia, three sons and a dog, I am a lucky man in this respect. I enjoy driving my red convertible Volkswagen Beetle of 1979 or my wild cross country motorbike BMW. I am completely relaxed when I can work on the repairs and maintenance of my vehicles myself. In terms of sports, I am an adrenalin guy who likes to explore new horizons. I am crazy about diving, in winter, I love skiing. I found a fantastic place in the Krkonose Mountains to enjoy winter weekends.

By Pavlína Holancová I českou verzi naleznete na www.leadersmagazine.cz

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13.3.2009 16:49:52

An interview with Jaromír Šlápota, Chairman of Czechooslovak Foreign Institute (ČSÚZ)

OCCUPATION: VOLUNTEER CZECH CULTURAL DIPLOMAT Jaromír Šlápota served as a deputy of the Parliament of the Czech and Slovak Federal Republic inn 1990–1992. He was a member of the Ceentral Committee of the Czechoslovak People’s Party and KDU-ČSL. When his term in office ended, he started a career in business. He became a member of thee Czechoslovak Foreign Institute. He was elected its chairman for the first time in June 1992 and has continued servingg at this post until today. The non-profit orrganisation experienced changes under his leadership and implemented many projects in cooperation with Czechs and their organisations in Bulgaria, France, Croatia, Israel, Mexico, Germany, Austria, Romania, Russia, Ukraine and the USA. Under his leadership, the Czechoslovak Foreign Insttitute received the “Gratias Agit” award for contributing to the good name of the Czech Republic in the world in 2004. As the chairman of the ČSÚZ, he was granted maany awards by different institutions and orgganisations; in 2007, he was awarded a Diploma of the Chancellor of the Ivan Franko National University in Lvov for good coopperation and support of the Department of Czech Studies. In 2008, the Parliament of the Czech Republic awarded him with the silver memorial medal “T.G. Masaryk” for his longstanding and beneficial work for the Czech Republic.

The Czechoslovak Foreign Institute was established in the interwar period and again after 1948; it was subordinated to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. What was the most difficult task when re-establishing the institute in the 1990s?

The Czechoslovak Foreign Institute was removed from the administrative powers of the foreign ministry already in September 1989 and became a fully

independent non-profit organisation again.. After the events of November 1989 it was up to us to decide on the future of the organisation. Som me ideas emerged like renaming the institute thhe Czech Foreign Institute.

It happened right after 1989?

Yes, almost; it happened at the turn of 19990–1991 because it started becoming obvious that the coun-

try was going to split. After all, it was decided by the majority of members thatt the original name would be kept. We declared religious, political and racial tolerance and embodied intoo our articles of association that we would cooperatte with anyone who promotes the Czech and Slovaak cultures and languages. That’s why we cooperatte with the departments of Czech Studies at the universities in Lvov, St.

Photo: Paul Pacey

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Petersbburg and Kiev, proviiding them with teaching materiaals, video technologgy, expert and academic publicaations. We also startted establishing new contacts with different organisations of Czech people worldwide.

In some countries, there are already three generations off Czechs and Slovakks and also people of different emigration waves who are unalike, including their diiffering opinions onn relations with Czechoslovakiaa, Czech Republic and Slovakia. So it was necessary to find an activity or an area of interest which would suit everyone. After careful consideration wee decided to focus oon supporting pupils and studentt s of the Czech schoools established in different couuntries and also culttural activities. One of our current major projects is suppporting the Czech school establisshed in Vienna, whiich has been growing for some t ime, with over 400 0 pupils at the moment and 60 children in the kindergarten. We are also cooperating with two grammaar schools in Croatia – one in Daruuvar with 300 studeents and a kindergarten with 12 20 kids as well as a school and kindergarten in Konččenice. We provide tthem with teaching materials annd equipment – forr example, we supported construuction of a new librrary and supplied it with literature and equipped sppecial IT classrooms with hardwaare and software.

We also widely support cultural activities; one of our majjor projects was thee purchase of musical instruments for Czech brasss bands in Croatia and supportt to several dancingg groups. In the last five years we also funded and implemented erecting three memorials to T.G. M Masaryk, in particular in Mexico City, Uzhgorod, at the St. Petersburg University where Masaryk lectured and was designated an honnorary professor inn 1916 as well as one joint memorial of T.G. Masaryk and M.R. Štefánik in Košicce.

How ddoo you finance your you activities? Do you have some gr rannts from the Min grants Ministry of Foreign Affairs?

We received financial suupport from the Ministry of Finannce only last year; w we are foremost financed by contt ributions and donations from our members.

There are approximately 260 members of the Institute now who are active in Czech public and political life. An individual, orrganisation or a company can beccome a member of thhe Institute. many foreign members memb do you have?

How many We have some foreign m members even though it is rather difficult for them to m meet us regularly. We are insteadd keeping friendly rellations with them such as the Czech organisation in Beelgium, which we support, and wee just started coopeeration with the publisher of a Czeech newspaper in Australia. We also cooperate withh an organisation oof Czech women who live in Syriaa and several projeccts were implemented in Bulgariaa and elsewhere. TThe cooperation with our partnerr s is diverse and we usually implement a project witt h those who contacct us directly and propose a suitabble programme, actiivity or project. We are interested in cooperating with established organisations with a certain track reecord because we do not have thhe possibility of esstablishing organisations ourselvves or persuading soomeone to become active in Czecch issues. Existing oorganisations with a successful history and remarkaable activities are our potential partners. When theyy turn to us we are always ready too cooperate on a projject. We are quite flexible.

Very often we fund material support – literature, journals and periodicals, study materials or equipment; for instance, one of our members recently funded publishing a Czech-Ukrainian dictionary.

Otherwise we have around 15 stable partners with whom we haave established long-term cooperation.

All members involved in our activities are volunteers and implemeent the projects in their spare time. We all have reguular jobs or our own business activities.

All travel coosts related to the projects come out of our own poockets.

I noticed you also cooperate with one organisation in China.

Yes, we cooperate with several organisations which do noot deal with Czech issues directly, for example witt h the Society of Chinese People for Cooperation with Foreign Countries. Their representatives visited us for the first time in 1994 and then we starr ted cooperating. We organised an exhibition of laarge format photographs of Shanghai together. Noow we are helping them to organise meetings wiith Czech officials and businessmen when they arre visiting the Czech Republic; for example, we had a delegation from the Shanghai municipality coming to Prague and they were interested in our experiience with property registers; so we organised a meeting at the Office of the Government Representatt ion in Property Affairs. We are also organising meetings for businessmen recommended by the organisation. Our delegation has been to China, too, at the invitation of the Society on the occasion of its 50 year anniversary.

What is your biggest project at the moment?

It is our cooperation with the Association of Czechs and Slovaks in the Republic of Croatia, which is one the major organisations in the world with 9–10,000 reegistered members. At the same time, we have beeen cooperating with the Educational Association Komensky in Vienna, which is managing the Czech school there, on projects of comparable size foor the last three years. We have also been extensiively cooperating with the three departments of Czeech Studies I mentioned. Every year we organise a reegular summer course in Czech language; two studeents from each of the schools in Croatia and Vienna and departments of Czech studies are invited everyy summer. Besides studying Czech, they are also makking trips and getting to know the whole country. Thesse cooperations have always been multifaceted butt it is also a sensitive issue. The Czechs living abroadd differ in their opinions on politics and culture. Theyy left the country for different reasons and political convictions; they were variably successful and also lived their lives differently. Living in a foreign country, it is naturally much more difficult to becom me a full-fledged member of society.

Are you also of assistance to those who want to return? Are you getting many requests in this sense?

No, the nuumber of requests is minimal. We can provide them m with information but it would be an agenda too large for us; it is rather up to the public administratioon. It is also a question of legislation. In 1992–1994 we tried to lobby for certain formulations in diffferent laws, namely in connection to voting rights and citizenship. Today, there are expert teams at thhe ministries and also deputies and senators aree dealing with these issues so we have

focused on practical cooperation with foreign organisations.

What personally brought you to this activity?

I am from Znojmo and I was asked at the beginning of the 1990s to help the Czechoslovak Foreign Institute with one particular matter. So I became familiar with its activities. I also knew one of the founding fathers of the Institute was Monsignor Jan Šrámek. I liked what the Institute did and decided to be of moderate assistance. The idea that my “moderate assistance” would last almost twenty years did not cross my mind at that time. I am glad we are able to implement more and more substantial projects each year thanks to our members and their contributions. At the moment, the financial perspective and plan for the next year is ready and I am happy we managed to secure the same funding as the previous year. The cooperation with our active partners will continue.

Do you have any plans for collecting and recording the stories of Czech people living abroad?

There is one of our internal publications titled “Dictionary of names, titles and notions of the Czech countrymen”, which contains some of their stories.

It was written by Dr. Josef Kolínský. There is, for example, one man, originally from Slovacko, who is a genius in engineering bridges. He immigrated to the USA in 1948 and despite his impressive career and achievements he remained a very modest person and a proud patriot; or another member bishop Jaroslav Škarvada who served as a secretary to cardinal Beran in Rome and a coordinator of the spiritual service for Czechs. He was flying around the world and visiting them. One of them has a cheese factory in New Zealand and he was telling me once how he personally piloted his small plane with the bishop on board. When I was telling this story to bishop Škarvada, he replied: “Yes, I remember, my prayers have never been so intense.” One hears many stories like that.

Do you plan to continue with your activities regarding the memorials?

Yes, it is interesting that the licensing process didn´t take longer than three or four months anywhere in the world – not in Mexico City, Ukraine, St. Petersburg or Košice. In Mexico City we enjoyed great assistance from our ambassador Mr. Sečka without whom we probably would not have been able to build the monument of T.G. Masaryk. Once the statute was in place they even renamed the square where it was standing to Masaryk’s. The Mexicans have a certain connection to Masaryk; he communicated intensively with the Mexican president at that time and kept sending him the Czechoslovak laws and legislative proposals, which were used as a template by Mexican legislators – but it is a bit of a different issue. We would like to build a memorial of cardinal Beran and cardinal Tomášek now at Svatý Kopeček because many pilgrims go there.

Unfortunately, the licensing process is taking rather long.

We believe that the Czechoslovak Foreign Institute will accomplish many good projects with our countrymen around the world in the coming years.

By Věra Řiháčková I českou verzi naleznete na www.leadersmagazine.cz

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Burgundy/Trois Glorieuses Claude Lelouche, movie Director and President of the La Paulee de Meursault 2008 with Iva Drebitko

PART 2 We are staying in a ty typi p cal and very popular local hotel “Le Cep” in the hear artt of Beaune. A charming owner Jean-Claude Bernard, stillll bbea e ming with positive mood, very well-read and witty annd full of generosity during every our visit unveils in front nt oof us more andd more of the never-ending charms of Bur an urgu g ndy.

Togeether we are preparing for the next, third fes estitve event of ouur stay: III – 76th La Paulée de Mersault – gala lunch, banquet on 16th November, 2008 Thhe origgin of this fea f ast was a small gathering and treat afterr the end off vin intage attended by owners, wine makers an andd their colllab abor orat a ors to which friends often from far awa way were invited, who helped with vintage. In 1923, Co Coun u t Lafon maanaged to attract amateurs and professioona nals from thhe spheres of gastronomy and wine from all over the wor o ld and mix

them on this occasion with local wiinee ma m kers and celebrities. A new form in the style of a banque uett at a Chateau Mersault has been successful ever since.

After pompous celebrations of the preceding two days, after the auction at “Hospice de Beaune” when famous Burgundy wines are sold and after the gala dinner and dubbing of knights at Clos de Vougeot, with the feast for gourmands, businessmen and all lovers of Burgundy wine, the “La Paulée” crowns the three days of celebrations and festivities. da Thhe ba b nquet is very original. 700 guests are crowded at hugge lo l ng tables where from 12.30 to 19 hrs selected mealls aare served. Everybody has to bring wine and they have to share it with others. The banquet is presided by an outstanding personality, elected by the local “artistic” co comm m ission. The winner is usually an important artist whoo bbro r ught fame to one of the areas of art on the internaatition onal scene. The celebrity person receives the “Le Prix de la l Paulée de Mersault” together with 100 bottles.

Each selected artist is very proud of this awa ward rd. This year’s president is the famous French director Cla laud ude Lelouch. His speech is witty and connected with winee, of course.

The banquet goes on, in a friendly and goodhuumoured atmosphere and rising spirits, underlined by thhe orchestra, again the irreplaceable Cadets de Bourgoggne (Burgundian Cadets) everybody, no matter where theyy are from, enjoy themselves. The mutual language of all guests is a friendly co-habitation, pleasant exper erie ienc n es and shared joy of feasting and degustation of wines. Guests rotate with their bottles and full empty glasses at to their discretion. Every-

Receptionist Hotel le Cep

Clos deVougeot

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body wants to bring the best from their crop or cellar, the opposite would be discrediting. The wine marathon during which it is common to taste 60 different wines, seem emss to have no end. Wine makers walk around tables, fillll gglasses, compare, muse, compete in the effort to get pr pres e tigious ovations, and every guest has to be experienced to be able to enjoy the evening and not to lose the abbililitity to decide, together with his consciousness. The deggus ustation marathon-runners and individuals who are exxce cept p ionally resistant can visit the wine cellars where vario ious u wine makers offer their “unique” wines till the next mor orni n ng.

The Burgundian character is typicaal for two famous quotations: “toujours buveur, jamais ivroogne”, roughly translated as “always drinking but never ddrunk” and “Quand le verre est plein, on le vide, quand le ve v rre est vide, on le plains!” – “When the glass is full, we drink it up, when it is empty, we are sorry but we fill it aga gain!”

Romanée Conti During this year’s Burgundy Festivities we aree eexx pecting to witness one rarity beyond the framework of the official celebrations and that is the visit to thee world-famous winery that produces the best wines in the world according to specialists, amateurs and lovers. It is a small area in the heart of the Cote de Nuit, winery Romanée Conti. Wine from this proNu ducc tion is a legend, the temple, peak, personification of perr fection, and holds all superlatives, ever uttered aboutt wine.

An incconspicuous plaque at the door – 1, rue Derriere-lle-Four, 21 700 Vosne Romanée confirms that the adddress is correct. We are kindly greeted by the very Mr. Bernard Noblet who has been the pillar Hotel Staff on Traditional Costumes

Ph Photos: hotos: Archive of Autor

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76th Paulee de Meursault

Bout 3 famous wines – La Tache, Romanee Conti and Richebourg

Paulee – Cadets de Bourgogne

of the winery for more thann 30 years. Hi Hiss sparkling eyes and lovely infallibility cconfirms andd corrects our knowledge at the beginning. Vineyard rdss, in the total area of about 25 hectarees, producce wines under names Romanée Conti, La TTache, Ric ichhebourg, Grands Echezeaux, Romanée Sainnt Vivannt and Echezeaux.

The vintage goes through aan unco com mpromising selection and gives approximateely 255 hectolitres per hectare per year. Everything is “totaal bio”, no chemistry during all processes from ggrow owin ing to maturation and production. Biodynamics is used according to the theory of Rudolf Steiner. T hee value of the winery in Romanée Conti is based on the following categories: Floral, vegetal, mineral, frfuiit. The impact of nature is the main feature and the h producer of the resulting wine does not prefer any chharacteristic feature of the wine: dens n itt y, y f la lavo vour ur oorr th thee dark colour of the wine are not import r an ant, the impportannt thing is the total of precious qual a ittiees andd thheir bbalance when the wine is examinedd fro rom m th the point of vview of colour, smell, taste and total haarm mon ony of all sennses and experiences.

We ttas aste te the who w ole prroduction of the vintage off 20007 that is still in barreels. Echezeaux has a wonderful bouquet, floral, fulll of smells, unbelievably

soft; Grand Echezeaux addresses us mor oree strongly, it is spicy, in this phase excellent; Richebbourg is fuller, rich, it embraces us and surprises ple leasantly by its distinctiveness; La Tache is a wondder, the wine is silky and fills our senses with its exteent and duration, it is fully harmonious and juicy, deep and it has a soft end that modifies the chhar aracter of its taste. Even in this phase of maturatiion it is surprisingly persistent, and we all agree that it is the best wine from those we have tasted so far.

Then there is th thee legend of Romanée Conti (wine from the area of only 1.85 hectares) we are full of expectation and catch our breath. We bring the admirable vintage to ouur lips, we are excited, silence falls and our eyes aree full of tears of emotion and happiness.

We are still full of emotions when we smell the wine and humbbly we taste the grand perfection and elegance devvoid of any attributes…

We are lucky, Mr. Noblet decided to invite us to the cellar where the legendary vintages of bottles are storedd for f the chosen ones. We walk through thhe preciouss treasury. Mr. Noblet brings three bottles without etiquettes, only marked with chalk. We tastte, guess, bluunder… it is an experience. Mr. Noblet seemingly

enjoys the moment and smiles quizzicallyy. He complimented us with bottles of Grand Ech cheezeaux 1986, 1990 and 1996 that come up to their fame.

Mag- nificent…

Once enclosed and re recl clusive Burgundy which is called “the belly of Fraanc nce” is now thanks to its policy of dynamic developpme ment known world-wide, it is omnipresent and de demanded in various places of th thee world. During the hardest times of the inter-war per eriod it found thee way out of its poverty, its people woorked very har ardd, and with conviction and patience they succeededd in developing region. They are veery well awar aree thatt they have not won forever and it is remarka kable how they strive every day Romanee Conti sign to keep and develop their successes. It is a pleasant and easy decision of every visitor to participate in their success.

By Joseph Drreb ebit itkko I Photos: Archhive of Autor

českoou verzi nalezznete na www.leadersmagazine.cz

From left: Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Drebitko, Romanee Conti, Winemaker, Mr. Bernard Noblet and Mrs. Irena Valka

In the courtyard of Romanee Conti cellars

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culture event

IN COOPERATION WITH LEADERS MAGAZINE

From left: PhDr. Peter Kováč, Art Historian and Journalist, Deana Jakubisková, Actress and Film Producer, J & J Jakubisko Film s.r.o., Juraj Jakubisko, Film Director, Miro Smolák, Director of the MIRO Gallery and Petr Šandera, LIRA a.s. Český Krumlov

JURAJ JAKUBISKO

Bathory and Other Horrors A SELECTION FROM GRAPHIC WORKS

From left: PhDr. Libuše Benešová, Office of the President Czech Republic with daughter, Mnislav Zelený, Traveller, Publicist and Ex-Ambassador of the Czech Republic in Colombia and Ecuador with wife

From left: Milutin Perič with wife, SLOT Game a.s. and Juraj Jakubisko, Film Director Mrs. Lída Rakušanová, Chief Editor, Central Editorial Vltava-Labe-Press and Juraj Jakubisko, Film Director

Mrs. Beáta Greneche, Actress with her partner Radovan Blažek, Jan Jirásek, Music Composer and Mrs. Bára Červenková, Script Editor

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From left: George Csaszar, Managing Director of the Santé Holding Company and Jaap Aardse, Ardsco s. r. o.

15.3.2009 9:18:57

From left: Miro Smolák, Director of the MIRO Gallery, Juraj Jakubisko, Film Director, Deana Jakubisková, Actress and Film Producer, J & J Jakubisko Film s.r.o., Anna Lazurová, Author of the poetic collection Hladná něha

From left: Dr. Vratislav Šlajer, President, VILA CONSUS and Ivan Licharski, Chairman of the Board, Czech-Turkish Committee JUDr. Jan Černý, Law office Černý-Raupachová and Mrs. Andrea Kalivodová, Soloist, State Opera Prague

From left: Tom Goldscheider, Sales Director, Crowne Plaza Prague Castle Hotel, Jorik Jakubisko, J & J Jakubisko Film s.r.o.; Deana Jakubisková , Actress and Film Producer, J & J Jakubisko Film s.r.o. and Ulf Landeberg, Director, Crowne Plaza Prague Castle Hotel

From left: H.E. Peter Brňo, Ambassador of Slovakia in the Czech Republic, Peter Štrelinger, Writer and Co-Editor of the poetic collection in the Czech and Slovak languages Hladná něha, Zdeňka Povolná, Book Translator

From left: Benjamín Szakal, Parliament of the Czech Republic and PhDr. Jozef Gáfrik, Economic Journal Bratislava From left: Vladimír Páral, Writer and Juraj Jakubisko, Film Director

more photos and electronic version available on www.leadersmagazine.cz

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From left: Ulf Landeberg, Director, Crowne Plaza Prague Castle Hotel, Alena Medková, Soloist, State Opera Prague and Juraj Jakubisko, Film Director

16.3.2009 10:55:12

prague castle event

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH LEADERS MAGAZINE

Mrs. Eva Emingerová and Prof. Václav Klaus, President of the Czech Republic

Jazz at the Castle with Eva Olmerová Nová Galerie Eva Emingerová, Gabriela Kočí, Yvonne Sanchez, Elena Suchánková Jiří Stivín – Woodwinds, Matěj Benko – Piano, Petr Kořínek – Contrabass, Josef Vejvoda – Drums, Günter Kočí – Saxophone, Mirek Linka – Guitar, Vladimír Strnad – Piano, Pavel Smetáček – Clarinet

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more photos and electronic version available on www.leadersmagazine.cz

From left: Jiří Stivín launching a new CD, Prof. Václav Klaus, President of the Czech Republic and Prof. JUDr. Jan Kříž, CSc., Law office Kříž and Bělina

15.3.2009 9:26:00

From left: H.E. Linda Duffield, Ambassador of the United Kingdom and H.E. Catherine von Heidenstam, Ambassador of Sweden

Jiří Stivín

From left: Prof. Kamil Janáček, Professor and Chief Economist KB, Pavel Smetáček, Clarinet and Mrs. Stanislava Janáčková, Adviser to the President of the CR

Mrs. Marta Gellová, General Secretary, AFIZ, with her son

From left: RNDr. Karla Říhová, Ministry of Health, MUDr. Michael Vít, Ph.D. Chief Public Health Officer of the Czech Republic and Mrs. Veronika Křížová

Günter Kočí, Saxophone and Mrs. Gabriela Kočí

From left: JUDr. Jan Kříž, CSc., Jiří Stivín and Ing. Kamil Provazník, Managing Director, Imperial Tobacco CR, s.r.o.

H.E. Alexey Fedotov, Ambassador of the Russian Federation with wife

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From left: Jaroslav Šedivý, former Minister of Foreign Affairs and Prof. Václav Klaus, President of the Czech Republic

From left: Jan Černý, Advocate, Černý-Raupachová, Mrs. Dagmar Raupachová, Advocate, Černý-Raupachová and Mrs. Marie Kousalíková, Deputy Mayor of the City of Prague, with husband

15.3.2009 9:26:42

global perspectives

IN COOPERATION WITH LEADERS MAGAZINE

Jan Muehlfeit Chairman Europe Microsoft Corporation

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WIND OF CHANGE IS BLOWING As I continue to hear and read about details of the various economic stimulus packages that the government leaders worldwide are announcing to diminish the impact of the global economical crises, one of my favorite quotes keeps popping up in my mind more and more. It was Albert Einstein who once said that “we can’t solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them” and I increasingly feel a relevance of this brilliant quote to the way some countries have been ttryin be ingg to resol olve tthi his cris isis is so fa far.

Hopefully it is now obvious to everyone that the current situation presents a completely new challenge, such that none of us has had to face during our lifetimes regardless of in which region of the world we live or how emerging or matured is the economy of any given country. Both the political and business leaders should therefore realize that any incremental economical steps (unfortunately even despite of how mind-blowing the sizes of economic stimulus ppackages g might g be)) or down-playp y ing or shying away from the real reasons of why we got to this point point, will not succeed to tackle this crisis on the long-term. I am very glad that in addition to more announcements of economical injections, the political leaders also start to recognize this fact.

U.S. President Mr. Barack Obama has said in his inaugural speech that the current crisis is a consequence of greed and irresponsibility; my friend Danny Thorniley, Vice President of Economist’s Intelligence Unit in Vienna, has even said that it is an outcome of greed and stupidity. I personally believe that we really need to learn a big lesson from where got to and take a different, more balanced, approach both to resolving this challenge and the way we conduct business and govern our markets moving forward.

I certainly understand the need for immediate liquidity injections that the many governments were forced to provide to various financial institutions in the second half of 2008 in order to save citizens’ savings or insurance policies as well as the rationale of the additional broader economic stim st imul ulus us ppac acka kage gess. H How owev ever er w whi hile le tthe hese se ssho hort rt-ter term m supp su ppor ortitive ve aact ctio ions ns wil willl ho hope pefu fullllyy en enco cour urag agee an inincrease in the currently damaged consumer confidence and spend, we should not let the short-term market volatility to distract us from what need to remain our long-term priorities: the innovation, creativity, education and the skills for the 21st century.

At the same time, the private and public sector also need to ensure together that the money that are currently being pumped into many of the econo-

mies really make an impact as soon as possible, otherwise this would be like injecting a blood into a patient’s heart without the heart subsequently circulating it into and thru the body. It is actually my belief that both private and public sector leaders and executives should be jointly accountable and measured for achieving this and that such approach would also help to restore a consumer confidence in the financial systems, institutions and their governance.

The othe Th ther le lesson llearntt fr from tthe he cririsi sis will ill bbe in countries’ willingness to open up their markets to foreign import. I am a strong supporter of a free trade and hence I was both pleased and privileged to be invited to speak at the Forum on Services and Trade Liberalization in February in Prague, which the Czech Government have organized as an official event of the Czech EU Presidency in cooperation with the European Commission. When you look back over the past two decades, you realize how significant pprogress g has been made in free trade and liberalization and as a result the global trade has tripled since 1990 1990. I therefore believe that despite of how serious it might get, the current economical crisis cannot not be used as an excuse for any political and economical protectionism and a free trade should simply continue be given a free way.

Overall I believe that while both private and public sectors work hard to address and eventually resolve this crisis; we really need to strike the right balance between the short-term and long-term measures.

That’s one of the reasons why I really appreciate that the European Commission – even before the full impact of the crisis could have been felt or even predicted – has declared the 2009 to be the European Year of Creativity and Innovation. Microsoft is a proud supporter of this effort thru participation of Jean-Philippe Courtois, President of Microsoft International, who has been named an official Ambassador for this key European initiative.

The European economical recovery package which has been put together in the late 2008 and anno an noun unce cedd la last st D Dec ecem embe berr is bbui uiltlt aaro roun undd fo four ur main ma in pil pilla lars rs:: pe peop ople le, sm smal alll & me medi dium um ent enter erpr pris ises es, energy & environment and infrastructure. These are indeed the right focus areas, but as I have noted earlier, European education needs to continue to be our priority as an on-going underlying pillar.

Markets go up and markets go down; GDPs grow and later they stall and eventually they start to grow again. Those are all natural market developments and so sooner or later the current economical cri-

sis will be resolved. But in the decades to come Europe will continue to be faced with other critical challenges that will need to be addressed, such as the aging of the European population. Whether young or senior, the Europeans will have to get used to real long-life learning and continue to upgrade their skills to be able to succeed in the rapidly changing marketplace. That’s why I think that the next “Lisbon Agenda” or whatever will be the name of the next agenda for Europe should be about Skilills Sk ls & G Growth th as oppose to the the JJob obs & Gr Growth th tha thatt we have been focused on over the past decade.

Finally, I believe it is necessary for the European success to put an emphasis on how easy it is for the small and medium enterprises to do business here. While SMEs are naturally faced with similar challenges like large enterprises, such as the need for liquidity, in their case the situation is even worse – less venture capital and angel investors might prevent some of their great ideas from being brought g to life. That is whyy especially p y in their case,, the Governments need to renew their focus on decreasing the administrative burden put on them and generally decrease the time it takes to start and operate a new SME. Recently I had the privilege to jointly open a new Innovation Center in Tallinn together with Mr. Toomas Hendrik Ilves, the President of Estonia. I was amazed to hear from him that it now takes only 18 minutes to do all the administrative work associated with starting up a new company in Estonia. When you compare this with the length of the very same process even in some of the founding members of the European Union it takes 4–6 weeks to establish a small business, you clearly realize that such progressive approach should be a way to go for the rest of Europe, too.

Newspapers are full of headlines about the economical crisis and its impacts and it is obvious why that’s the case. However at some point we should also start to look beyond this crisis. Therefore while from the media it may not feel that way, I am convinced that the wind of change is already blowing and let us all make sure that when it comes to that poin po intt, w wee – in indi divi vidu dual ally ly aand nd aass a co cont ntin inen entt – wi willll even ev entu tual ally ly eeme merg rgee fr from om tthi hiss ch chal alle leng ngee st stro rong nger er than before.

Jan Muehlfeit Chairman Europe Microsoft Corporation

českou verzi naleznete na www.leadersmagazine.cz

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education – cross cultural conference

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH LEADERS MAGAZINE

From left: Ismayil Khayredinov, Conference Director, Civic Concepts International, Thabiso Nkile, Botswana and Mrs. Kitso Kitchin, South Africa

17TH INTERNATIONAL LEADERSHIP

The reception was hosted by the PricewaterhouseCoopers at PwC Business Community Center in Prague 2 on January 6th.

CONFERENCE

From left: Thabiso Nkile, Botswana, Ms. Ahrani Ranjitkuman, Australia, Ms. Kathleen Correal, USA, Ms. Lauren Fong, Australia and Ms. Cassandra Ogbuehi, USA

In January, 100 participants, of university age, from every corner of the globe came to Prague to attend the week-long IYLC. Since 2001, around 2000 participants to the IYLC have been thrown into multicultural situations where they were given the opportunity to speak in front of a large group of their peers or debate important international issues. Participants meet top local leaders in their respective fields during speaking events, panel discussions and important social events We supply the tools, the situations and the guiding hand and it is up to each individual to get as much out of the opportunity as possible. Students from 34 different countries, including Australia, Belarus, Botswana, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Canada, Cayman Islands, Czech Republic, France, Georgia, Guinea, India, Indonesia, Jamaica, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Malta, Nepal, Norway, Pakistan, Poland, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Singapore, South Africa, South Korea, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, the United Kingdom, and the United States, confirmed their attendance. With the help of our partners and speakers, the IYLC concentrated on a range of important global issues, including international security, responsible leadership, international law and justice, media, and environmental sustainability. The participants paid visits to the Senate of the Parliament of the Czech Republic, Anglo-American University, Embassies of Afghanistan, Germany, Ireland, Slovenia, South Africa, Switzerland, and Pakistan.

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From left: Benke Aikell, your Publisher, Prof. Alan Krautstengl, Ph.D., President, Anglo-American University and H.E. Ochir Enkhtur, Ambassador of Mongolia

Edvard Outrata, Senator (Ret.) and Mrs. Hanelore Breitmeyer-Jones, Financial Director, USA

From left: Aaron Gates, USA, James Nuthall, UK and Ms. Lenka Kovaříková, AIESEC

From left: Dr. Belle McDonnell, Professor at AngloAmerican University and Private Practice Psychologist and Mrs. Natalie Thompson, Team Leader at Chatham Financial Ltd, UK

Speakers of 17th IYLC represented European Parliament, Senate of the Czech Republic, Anglo-American University, New York University in Prague, Institute of Security Studies, PricewaterhouseCoopers, foreign embassies and international companies.

more photos and electronic version available on www.leadersmagazine.cz

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From left: Ms. Boryana Gotsova, Bulgaria, Ms. Radka Janečková, Marketing & Admissions Manager, AngloAmerican University, Ms. Annisa Lifta, Indonesia and Ms. Lucy Crathorne, UK Peter Formanek, President, Canadian Chamber of Commerce

H.E. Ole Emil Moesby, Ambassador of Denmark

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15.3.2009 9:21:24

From left: Ms. Maria Echenique, Puerto Rico, Stefen Durmeies, Germany, Ali Akbar Kiani, Iran, Ms. Julianne Piper, Canada and Ms. Emily Kayser, USA

From left: Mrs. Formanek, Ms. Monique London, Canada and Ms. Kelsey Piper, Canada Patrick Sciarratta, Executive Director of Friendship Ambassadors Foundation, USA

From left: Mrs. Natalie Thompson, Team Leader at Chatham Financial Ltd, UK, Ms. Pokuaa Busumru-Banson, South Africa and Ms. Victoria Mbogo, Facilitator

From left: Mrs. Marie Kohoutovรก, ECN, Mrs. Dorothy Mills Kohakova, ECN, H.E. Abdulaziz A. Al-Duaij, Ambassador of Kuwait, Ms. Maryna Puzdrova, Belarus, Mrs. Nadia Barhoumi, First Secretary, Embassy of Tunisia and Ms. Persis Loomis, USA

From left: Sathyanarayanaa Nellore Sampat, India and Ms. Farah Jamal, Canada

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Enthusiasm and to keep warm

15.3.2009 9:22:14

The Mayor of Prague, Mr Pavel Bém, gave a gala audience to the delegation of scientists on the occasion of the International Astronomy Day in the EU in Brožík’s Hall of the Old Town Hall today afternoon. The audience at the Old Town Hall was preceded by a gala opening of the International Year of Astronomy, also attended by the Mayor of Prague. „Leon Lederman, the Nobel Prize winner in physics, once asked: ‘If space is the answer, what is the question then?’ I do not doubt that during the year 2009, the International Year of Astronomy, lots of questions will be put and I hope that at least some of them will find the right answers, not only in the space,“ said the Mayor of Prague, Mr Pavel Bém. The year 2009 was proclaimed the International Year of Astronomy by the UNESCO in 2006 and by the UNO in 2007. The International Year of Astronomy is organized on the occasion of the 400th anniversary of the first astronomical observation with the help of the telescope made by Galileo Galilei.

From left: Prof Václav Pačes, President of the Academy of Science of CR, Prof Jan Palouš, President of the Czech Astronomical Union, Prof Joachim Krautter, President of the European Astronomical Society, Prof Helena Illnerová, President of the Learned Society of the Czech Republic, Prof Catherine Cesarsky, President of the International Astronomical Union, Dr Jiří Grygar, Vice-President of the Learned Society of the CR, and Asist. Prof Petr Heinzel, Director Astronomical Indy

prague city hall

It is a worldwide reminder of astronomy and its contribution to the development of society and culture, with strong stress on education and involvement of public. After the European opening of the International Year of Astronomy the worldwide opening will be held. It will take place at the seat of the UNESCO in Paris on 15th and 16th January.

The Mayor of Prague Gave an Audience to Scientists on the Occasion of the International Astronomy Day 2009 more photos and electronic version available on www.leadersmagazine.cz

From left: Asist. Prof Petr Heinzel, Director Astronomical Indy, Prof Catherine Cesarsky, President of the International Astronomical Union, MUDr. Pavel Bém, Lord Mayor of the City of Prague

Prof Joachim Krautter, President of the European Astronomical Society

Prof Catherine Cesarsky, President of the International Astronomical Union

From left: Prof Joachim Krautter, President of the European Astronomical Society, MUDr. Pavel Bém, Lord Mayor of the City of Prague, Prof Catherine Cesarsky, President of the International Astronomical Union

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From left: MUDr. Pavel Bém, Lord Mayor of the City of Prague, Prof Joachim Krautter, President of the European Astronomical Society

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prague city hall

José Manuel Barroso, President of the European Commission

IN COOPERATION WITH LEADERS MAGAZINE

EUROPEAN SUMMIT OF REGIONS & CITIES

more photos and electronic version available on www.leadersmagazine.cz From left: Pavel Bém Lord Mayor of the City of Prague, José Manuel Barroso, President of the European Commission, Luc Van den Brande, President of the Committee of the Regions, Cyril Svoboda, Minister for Regional Development of the Czech Republic

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On 5th–6th March, 2009, the Municipal House and Žofín Palace hosted the peak meeting of the highest regional representatives of European regions and cities with the participation of the representatives of the Committee of the Regions, European Commission, European Parliament and other institutions organized by the City of Prague in cooperation with the Committee of the Regions. In terms of the number of delegates it was the largest event of the Czech EU Presidency held in Prague. The evening gala opening of the Summit was held on Thursday 5th March in the Art-Nouveau building of the Municipal House, accompanied by a concert of the philharmonic orchestra and a banquet. The summit whose main topic was “The Future of the European Cohesion Policy” was held on Friday, 6th March in the Žofín Palace.

13.3.2009 16:01:40

Pavel Bém Lord Mayor of the City of Prague

Cyril Svoboda, Minister for Regional Development of the Czech Republic with his speech

From left: Pavel Bém Lord Mayor of the City of Prague, Luc Van den Brande, President of the Committee of the Regions and Cyril Svoboda, Minister for Regional Development of the Czech Republic

From left: José Manuel Barroso, President of the European Commission, Pavel Bém, Lord Mayor of the City of Prague, Luc Van den Brande, President of the Committee of the Regions

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13.3.2009 16:05:36

From left: Ilmar Reepalu, Chairman of the Executive Board, Mayor’s Office, City of Malmö, Sweden, Benke Aikell, your Publisher and Mirko Lachman, Senior Advisor Leaders Magazine

Bas Van den Barg, Representative of the Province of Utrecht in Brussels, House of the Dutch Provinces

From left: Vicente Alvarez Areces, President of Government of Asturias and Jose Montilla, President of Government of Catalunya, behind in the middle Ernest Benach, President of Catalunya’s Parliament

MUDr. Pavel Bém, Lord Mayor of the City of Prague with his wife

From left: Martin Seti, Stephan Martinli and Andrea Pierucci, Head of President’s Cabinet, European Economic and Social Committee

H.E. Ole Moesby, Ambassador of Denmark

EUROPEAN SUMMIT OF REGIONS & CITIES – GALA EVENING IN MUNICIPAL HOUSE 4

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From left: H.E. Jan Pastwa, Ambassador of Poland, Miroslaw Panasiuk, Rejon Drog Wojewodzkich w Chelmie, Mrs. Alicja Majewska-Galeziak, Director, Regional Office of Pomorskie Voivodeship in Brussels, Mrs. Eva Panasiuk, Stanislaw Szwabski, Chairman, Gdynia City Council, Mrs. Krystyna Wroblewska, Director, Department of International Cooperation, Office of the Marshal of the Pomirskie Voivodeship, Jan Kozlowski, Marshal of the Pomorskie Voivodeship, Ploand and Mrs. Bogna Rodziewicz, Administrator, Groupe UEN-EA, Committee of Regions of the EU

16.3.2009 13:02:05

From left: Paul Gillham, Mrs. Linda Gillham and Endrik Marfia, Political Advisor UEN-EA Group, Committee of the Regions of the EU

From left: Mrs. Martina Šandová, Prague City Assembly and Mrs. Marie Kousaliková, Deputy Mayor of Prague City Hall From left: Peter Straub, President des Landtags von Baden-Wurttemberg and Christian Gsodam, Head of Unit, Media, Comminication, Associations, Committee of the Regions of the EU

From left: Mrs. Brande, Luc Van den Brande, President of the Committee of the Regions, MUDr. Pavel Bém, Lord Mayor of the City of Prague and Miroslav Sklenář, Deputy Executive Director, Prague City Council

Mrs. Jana Zelinková, Office of the Ministry of Industry and Trade of the CR and Philip Kippers, Ministry of Culture, Berlin

From left: Petr Osvald, Mayor’s Commissioner for EU Affairs, Municipality of Pilsen, Martin Cerny, Pavel Horak, Deputy President of the Olomouc Region and Martin Hysky, Member of the Regional Council of Vysočina Region, Regional Development Department

From left: Petr Osvald, Mayor’s Commissioner for EU Affairs, Municipality of Pilsen, Martin Cerny, Pavel Horák, Deputy President of the Olomouc Region and Martin Hysky, Member of the Regional Council of Vysočina Region, Regional Development Department

Mrs. Štěpánková and Petr Štěpánek, Councillor, Prague City Council From left: Joop Binnekamp, Member of the Executive Council of Utrecht and Mathijs Verhagen, Sr. Adviser Europese Zaken, European Affairs, Association of the Provinces of the Netherlands

From left: Antonio Gonzalez Terol, Director General, Direcction General de Asuntos Europeos, Comunidad de Madrid, Gordon C Keymer, Leader of the Council, Tandridge District Council and Alfredo Sanchez Gimeno, Director, Oficina de la Comunidad de Madrid en Bruselas

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From left: Mrs. Lucie Havelková, Senate of the CR, Petr Štěpánek, CEO, State Environmental Fund of the CR and Michal Vryc, Prague City Hall

13.3.2009 16:35:16

From left: Mariusz Mielczarek, Director, Marshal’s Office of the Lodz Region, Wlodzimierz Fisiak and Mariusz Kozinski, Assistant of Marshal – Marshal’s Office of the Lodz Region

Mrs. Petra Vémolová, EU Funds Expert and Petr Vlasák, Consultant From left: Jan Jarolím, Mayor, Municipality of Prague 9 and Tomas Chvála, Prague City Assembly

From left: Mrs. Lineková, Roman Linek, 1st VP, Presional Development, Investment Policy, EU Matters, Pardubice Region and Radek Václavík, Representation of the Pardubice Region to the EU Director, Pardubice Region

Clemens Lindemann, German Delegation and Mrs. Benedicte Charbonnier, German Delegation

Varhan Orchestrovic Bauer, Conductor

EUROPEAN SUMMIT OF REGIONS & CITIES – GALA EVENING IN MUNICIPAL HOUSE Prague City Hall.indd 80

From left: Dennic Abbott, European Commission, Dr. Madeleine Mahovsky, Member of Cabinet, European Commission, Alice Langerová, Administrator CR, European Commission, Jack Engwegen, European Commission and Martin Stašek, European Commission

13.3.2009 16:32:46

From left: Mrs. Brande, Luc Van den Brande, President of the Committee of the Regions, MUDr. Pavel Bém, Lord Mayor of the City of Prague and Mrs. Bémová

Bernard Boidin, Councillor Mission Economy, French Embassy and Mrs. Jana Ryšlinková, Prague City Hall

From left: Ing. Lucie Čadilová, Director of Prague House in Brussels, Ing. Marie Kousaliková, Deputy Mayor of Prague City Hall and Mrs. Markéta Reedová, Deputy Mayor of Prague City Hall

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Dr. Herwig Van Staa, President of the Regional Parliament of the Tyrol/VP of the Committee of the Regions of the EU

Mrs. Anna Schade, Cabinet of the President, Committee of Regions of the EU and Hendrick Theunissen, Member of the Committee of Regions of the EU

From left: Werner Jostmeier MdL, Landtag Nordrhein-Westfalen, Dr. Klaus Zech, Ministry of EU and Federal Affairs, Germany, Mrs. Christine Holeshovsky, Head of Office, State Chancellery, Freistaat Thuringen and Michael Bock

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An interview with Mr. Drahomír Ruta, Chairman of the Board of Directoors of Pražská energetika, a.s. (PRE)

SERVICES TAILORED TO THE NEEDS OF CUSTOMERS Will the January gas crisis affect PRE and its position on the energy market? Did the crisis of such proportions in a different energy sector have some direct effect on PRE and its sales activities?

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No, not at all. The problems with the transmission of gas to the Czech Republic did not affect Pražská eneregetika, a.s. in any way.

Our explanation is that end gas consumers in the Czech Republic had no problems with

supply and did not havee to search for an alternative energy source am mong which we can also partly include electricity. In January Pražská energetika recorded ann increase in electricity consumption by aboutt 3.4 % in comparison with the same period last year. However, this increase must be asccribed to the climatic conditions as the winteer this year in January was more severe than laast year. The same sort of figures also applied to February.

There is talk of the need for a common energy policy in response to this crisis. Do you agree with this? What would you say about the creation of a European agency for regulating the price of energy?

In my opinion Europe needs a common energy policy. Its priority is certainly the question of sources, whether gas wiill flow into Europe from Russia or from the former Soviet Republics such as Kyrgyzstan. But are such regions stable enough politicallly? It is also a question of considerable investm ment into building gas lines. There are many more of these questions that a common energy policy in Europe should respond to. So far Euroope has been concentrating on creating an electrical energy market which is a relatively easier task. If you ask about creating a Europeean agency for regulating the price of energyy, then I am decidedly against any regulation of the price of electricity itself. This negates thee whole idea of a competitive environment and economic competition. Regulation should only continue to apply to wires, i.e. the transm mission and distribution networks.

What would your attitude be to the energy sector being protected by a common market?

You probably mean thhe creation of one electricity market. This is probably not so simple.

I don’t think all the connditions have been created for a completely single market. For example, today individual couuntries are, to a certain extent, limited to so-caalled cross-border profiles – i.e. the flow of electricity is limited to

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16.3.2009 11:25:47

a certain extent by the capacity of electricity lines between individual countries. This is not just a question of administrative decisionmaking, but of highly expensive and long-term investments. On the otheer hand, today we often hear that we are not living in an isolated environment, that the demaand for electricity and its price in neighbouringg Germany, as well as Slovakia and Hungary, iss also having an impact on our market. Obvioussly a single European electricity market will bee created in future and we will see how it will surrprise us.

Do you think there could be full liberalisation in the field of energy in Europe sometime in future, or, in view of the important strategic and safety aspect of this sector, energy should always be regulated by the state?

I always think that theere is a need to distinguish the networks along which electricity flows and electricity as an actual commodity, the price of which is exxposed to competitive pressure. The price for tthe use of a network is subject to state regulattion and it can be expected that the regulatoors of individual countries will always keep ttuning their notes and unifying regulatory modeels. On the other hand, I expect that the price of electricity itself will be the result of the process of supply and demand.

Full liberalisation in the true sense of the word would require the same rules for all players on the energy market, the ssame technical conditions, and full connectioon of transmission networks thus allowing freee movement of electricity throughout Europe aand so on. On the other hand, tightening state reegulation in the energy sector would result in thee removal of a competitive environment in Euroope.

When we speak about PRE – what is its position on the industrial customer market?

Pražská energetika, a. s. is the third biggest trader on the energy market in the Czech Republic and through itts subsidiary PRE distribuce is the provider oof electricity to the City of Prague and the nearbby town of Roztoky. We have over 700 thousannd customers and this figure goes up slightly evvery year. Likewise, the quantity of electricity sold is rising slightly form one year to the next. When we realise that several tens of new traders in electricity appeared suddenly on the market in the last three to five years, and some of thesse are doing very well, then someone on the m market must be losing out, but it is not Pražská energetika.

Is your strategy to strengthen your position on the industrial customer market or to focus on small customers?

The main priority is to maintain this position,

retain our customers. Simply speaking, we like all our customers – the industrial, commercial and household customers. The clearly less numerous group of industrial customers consumes more than half of the electricity we sell, while the hundreds of thousands of Prague households are also important customers to whom we constantly strive to offer new products, to make matters concerning electricity simpler for them and thereby provide them with a perfect service.

In what way are you trying to compete with the dominant company ČEZ in the struggle for industrial and commercial customers?

We provide a perfect service, with an offer that is tailored to the needs of our customers, and also personal contact. In this customer segment competition has been expanding gradually since 2002. We prepared ourselves very well at the start, created teams of sales representatives, a strategy department where new products are created and so we have plenty to offer. These are special products allowing our customers to use electricity economically. This includes advice on how to maintain a high quality wiring network in our customer’s buildings and so on. There is a lot more and I am convinced that we are often one step ahead of our competitors.

Your competitor Moravia Energo is now having problems. Is there an opportunity here for PRE to strengthen its position?

Of course there is. In the first place, by law we are Provider of the Final Instance for the territory of the City of Prague and the town of Roztoky. This means that immediately after Moravia Energo stopped its supplies, we took over the position of a provider from them. It means supplying electricity for the price fixed by the Energy Regulatory Authority which is a little higher than the price negotiated in standard business contracts. This is because suddenly we will incur unexpected expenses supplying such a consumer. We have to purchase electricity from somewhere and this operatively purchased electricity is normally more expensive than electricity for a negotiated price from long-term purchases. There are expenses involving the administration of the new consumption points and so on. Obviously, we also endeavour to arrange a standard offer of a business contract for the supply of electricity to such customers. This means that such a consumer will be provided with cheaper electricity whereas other traders, like us, also attempt to offer a supply of electricity, so we just have to be quicker and more accurate.

You were the first last year to fix the price of electricity for households. Has this product been a success among Czech customers?

I would characterise the public’s response as very cautious and hesitant. More than 10 thousand readers have shown interest when visiting our web pages, but in realistic terms, only several tens have concluded contracts so far. We have extended the deadline by when the product with a two-year fixed electricity price can be ordered by two months.

So we have until the end of April to respond to the market price trend and the steps taken by our competitors. If we reduce the price for 2010, we will adjust it retrospectively for those households that have already concluded a contract for the two-year product.

Nobody will lose any money. However, I must point out that a normal Prague household that does not use electricity for heating and heating water will save about 650 CZK a year by using this product.

Energy companies are under constant pressure with regard to environmental care.

Are you developing any programmes in this area?

A whole range. Inside the company – in our energy network – we have virtually replaced our oil-filled transformers where there was the risk of leakage of oil products with new modern dry ones. We have no production of our own so we do not pollute the air. We have included our main administrative buildings in the European Green Lights Programme, which means that we have significantly reduced electricity consumption for lights while maintaining optimum light conditions. We have replaced light fixtures with energy-saving ones. We offer our consumers electricity from renewable sources and we have sufficient sources for both industrial customers and households. Some 600 of these so far are consuming electricity from renewable sources. We are contributing to the construction, for example, of photovoltaic power plants, and you can find hybrid drive cars in our car park which show how electricity can also be utilised in car transport. There are dozens of these environmental protection projects and we will certainly continue with them in future.

By Filip Hubáček I

českou verzi naleznete na www.leadersmagazine.cz

Leaders Magazine II/ I 2009

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THE ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY THIS IS SOMETHING THAT RHYMES AT

PRE

The PRE Group ranks among those modern organisations that prioritise their responsibility for the environment and strive to constantly improve conditions for its protection. Considerable funds are invested as part of the policy of environmental protection into the modernisation of equipment for the distribution network. This goes hand in hand with the offer of electricity products made from renewable resources and especially the wealth of advice on the economical use of electricity and on how to achieve savings in the household and commercial sector.

More and more matters concerning the electricity supply can be easily settled by a phone call or an e-mail without the necessity of a personal visit of the customer centre

CLEAN DRIVING WITH HYBRID CARS In an endeavour to actively express its support for energy savings and alternative sources Pražská energetika purchased two cars equipped with a hybrid drive last year.

The Toyota Prius and Honda Civic are to be used for regular corporate business as company cars for the employees. Our customers also have the opportunity to test driving them as they can compete to borrow a car free of charge. Numerous exhibitions and events organised for the public by Pražská energetika also provide further opportunities to see the cars.

Running one of these hybrid drive cars means a saving of 1 ton of CO2 every year.

PREKO ENERGY It is four years that PRE has been contributing to the reconstruction or creation of renewable sources of energy.

At the end of 2008 PRE collected almost one million crowns for this purpose through the special PREKO tariff.

Since 2004 PRE has been depositing a ten-heller surcharge per one consumed kilowatt of PREKO tariff on a special account. The proceeds go to those members of the public who want to consume electricity generated from renewable resources, and support projects for their further development.

An expert commission of not only PRE representatives will decide which project will receive support. The independent companies Centrum pro obnovitelné zdroje a úspory energie EkoWATT (Centre for Renewable Resources and Savings in EkoWATT Energy) and the Středisko pro efektivní využívání energie SEVEn, o.p.s. (Centre for Effective Utilisation of SEVEn Energy public benefit company) will also contribute to the assessment of the projects.

GREENLIGHT The GreenLight Programme is a voluntary initiative of the European Commission as part of the prevention of environmental pollution which encourages public and private electricity consumers to install light-saving technology in their facilities and establishments. The aim is not only to improve the quality of light conditions but also achieve financial savings.

On PRE web pages it is possible to follow updetailed information concerning the operation of hybrid cars, achieved savings and emissions

PRE is the only energy company so far to have joined this important project. The GreenLight Programme already has many partners in Europe. One of the first organisations to join the project was Johnson & Johnson. Further partners of the programme include Ikea, Tesco, McDonald´s, Nike and Vodafone.

We could name many more similar activities carried out by the PRE Group. However what is significant is that environmental protection arises from social responsibility to the region in which the PRE Group operates. It is personal to all employees and all residents of the City of Prague are becoming increasingly more aware of this fact also thanks to all the abovementioned projects.

By Lucie Badová I Marketing PRE Plaquette on PRE building informs that the building is exclusively illuminated by energy saving light fixtures, thereby PRE saves more than one third of electricity consumption needed for the building illumination

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SWEET ARE THE Karin Genton-L’Epée has 15 years of management experience in the United States, France and the Czech Republic.

For the last 10 years Karin has worked as a successful business coach in the Czech Republic offering international professional expertise. As a business coach, Karin has developed a range of coaching and training programs for mid- and top-level managers to focus on leadership development, cross-cultural understanding and effective communication in an international environment. With her knowledge, skills and range of experience, Karin has been a frequent guest speaker at business conferences and educational institutions. She is also a regular contributor to business journals and magazines. Karin works in English and French and can be reached at karin@coaching.cz Have you ever witnessed the metamorphosis of a Monarch butterfly from its chrysalis?

Before emerging from its cocoon, the young butterfly has a fat body and folded, limp wings. It is hardly an image of strength and beauty. And it cannot free itself from the chrysalis without a long struggle. As it stretches, pulls, and shakes with tremors, liquid from its body is pushed into the veins of its wings. Slowly the wings extend and grow steady until finally, a beautiful Monarch breaks free and flies away.

A life without difficulties is a classroom without lessons, yet very few people undertake a life-changing journey without being forced to do so. Like the Monarch, our chrysalis is our comfort zone. And unless we accept the struggle and break free from the security of our cocoons, we can never fly.

“People need adversity, setbacks, and perhaps even trauma to reach the highest levels of strength, fulfillment, and personal development,” explains Jonathan Haidt in his book The Happiness Hypothesis. Adversity builds character and the challenges we face teach us resourcefulness, self-reliance and courage. “In rising to the challenge, we reveal our hidden capabilities. This, in turn, changes our self-concept: we realize we are much stronger than we once thought,” writes Haidt.

As uncomfortable as today’s economic situation is for many people, it is a great opportunity to break free from our comfortable habits and discover resources and abilities within ourselves that we didn’t know exist.

Indeed, most of us have potentialities that have never been developed simply because of the circumstances of ours lives never called them forth.

In my own opinion, no one embodies this better than Nelson Mandela, the anti-Apartheid activist and the first President of South Africa to be elected in a fully representative democratic election. In 1964 Mandela was sentenced to life imprisonment at the Robben Island prison. The 27 years that followed were characterized by physical, spiritual and emotional challenges.

“Ultimately, the key to understanding Mandela is those 27 years in prison. The man who walked onto Robben Island in 1964 was emotional, headstrong, easily stung.

The man who emerged was balanced and disciplined,” writes Richard Stengel in Mandela: His 8 Lessons of Leadership.

It is our attitude that determines whether we benefit from misfortune or not. Mandela could have fallen into depression and despair; instead he chose to rely on his strengths and spent 27 years preparing himself for his life

purpose, which was to put an end nd to Apartheid and create a non-racial democratic South Afriica ca.

Respect, ordinary respect One of the ways Mandela worked tow oward this goal while in prison was to make a connection witth the prison guards by showing them “respect, ordinary respec ect,t” says Walter Sisulu an African National Congress (ANC) act c ivist, who was interviewed for John Carlin’s book Playing ng the Enemy.

While imprisoned, Mandela refused to defer to the guards by calling them baas, meaning boss or master.

Instead, he was determined to persuade them to treat him with respect and understood that the best way to earn respect is to give respect. This strategy contradicts our natural tendency to respect others on a conditional basis, when they meet our expectations and behave according to our own values and belief system.

In a most brutal and hellish place, and while confronting and standing up to his oppressors, Mandela always kept his cool and polite demeanor, despite the poor treatment he received on a daily basis.

Of course, that didn’t mean that he failed to stand up assertively for his rights when the situation required it. However, he didn’t want to crush nor humiliate his enemies; he simply wanted them to treat him with dignity and respect. He also knew that the best way to achieve that goal was to behave in a respectful manner himself.

That key strength, respecting his opponents, taught Mandela to wield power without humiliating his enemies and would serve him well in the years to come.

Don’t address their brains, address their hearts Mandela’s focus on respect and the right to be treated with dignity, compelled him to learn and understand the Afrikaner mentality, their history and their language, despite it being seen as the “the oppressor’s tongue” by many black South Africans.

He greeted the prison guards in Afrikaans and took every opportunity to speak with them in their language.

The fact that he went out of his way to study and understand their culture won over many white Africans.

While in prison, Mandela also learned that one of the shortest ways to the white South African’s heart was through their beloved game of rugby. Though the game was seen as the representation of white culture, Mandela believed that rugby could play an important role in bridging the great divide between white and black South Africans.

“Don’t address their brains. Address their hearts,” was Mandela’s answer to the challenge of reconciling

white fears with black aspirations, and central to this strategy was the use of rugby as an instrument of reconciliation as well as an instrument of political persuasion.

A single rugby game to heal three centuries of racial division During Apartheid, the ANC had encouraged an international boycott of South African rugby. “Preventing us from playing rugby with the rest of the world turned out to be a hugely successful lever of political influence” says South African ex-security chief Niel Barnard in Carlin’s book.

Af Butt at a time when many blacks dismissed rugby as Bu “the bru rutitsh, alien pastime of a brutish, alien people”, Nelson Mannde d la saw it as the perfect opportunity to unite a racially dividded country through sport.

With this purpos ose in mind, Mandela agreed to host the 1995 Rugby Worr ld Cup in Johannesburg, and then undertook to transform black South Africans into fans of Springboks, the South Afrf ican rugby team. Thanks to his personal charisma and inn nnovative approach, the Springboks enjoyed an unprecedennte t d level of popular support among black South Africans. In Indeed, the home team defeated New Zealand’s All Blacks in th the World Cup final, one of the greatest moments in Sout uthh Africa’s sporting history, and a watershed moment in thhe postApartheid nation-building process.

“Up to now,” Mandela said, “rugby has been the appliication of Apartheid in the sports field. But now things are changing, we must use sport for the purpose of nation-building and promoting all the ideas we think will lead to peace and stability in the country.”

Faith can move mountains; Life is really what you make of it.

“The world is an incomparable classroom, and life is a memorable teacher for those who are not afraid of her,” writes John Gardner in his book Self Renewal: The Individual and the Innovative Society.

When Nelson Mandela was imprisoned on Robben Island, he could have complained about losing his freedom or simply given up on life. Instead, he focused on his strengths and on what could be learned from each incident and situation. He overcame the challenge of a 27-year imprisonment and then went on to change the world using what he had learned during that time.

His dramatic life story has inspired the world and teaches us that by relying on our strengths, we can all achieve something greater than ourselves, despite the adversity that life might throw our way.

I českou verzi naleznete na www.leadersmagazine.cz

Leaders Magazine II/ I 2009

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13.3.2009 16:53:04

Dear readers,

Itt hass been eeen a gr g eat pl p eaasuuree to realize how much enthusiasm and interest our pages on Moravian-Silesian R gi Re g on o bro roug ougght ht .

As I havve hoope p d whhen sta tart r tin rt inng thhiss prooje ject cctt, th ther e e ha h s be been en a great int n erest in the news from the most nt i du in d sttriralliz ized e reggionn of ed of the he Cze zecch ze ch Rep epub ublililic. ub c c.

With thee New W w YYea e r annd wi ea w th all the hee cha hallllllen ennge g s thes thesse ddiifff ic i ul u t titime mess ar me aree br brin ingi in giinngg ttoo us us,, maany ny are r looki k ngg witithh grea gr eat resp ea reesppeecct too thee Morr av a ia iann-Si nSile Si lesi le s ann Reg si egio ioon. n Man anyy inndu dust sttriiess pre r se sent nt in thhis reggion ioon ma mayy be fac acinng so s me m d ff di ffic icul ic u tities ul es,, bu es butt iti is al a soo ver e y po poss ssib ss ible ib l that the reegi le gion o w wililll coont n innue u to dr driv ive v the thhe Cz Czec e h ec ec econ onom on my. y.

Inn this hiis year yee r to co c me m we wi willl gui uide ide you thr h ou ough gh the eve vent ntts of o the Mor o avia avviaann Si S leesi s ann Reggio ionn an a d we wililll al a soo heelpp you ou too un unde d rssta de t ndd w who ho are itss suc u ce cess essfu ssfuul pl p ayyerr s. s Thhiis we we bel e ieve ieeve is th t e mi m sssio ionn off tthe h se pag he ages e and es nd of thiss m maaga g zi z ne n . Too int n ro rodu dduuccee and n preese sent n suc ucce cess s fu ss f l sttor o ies, s, intter s, e es e titing ngg ccom om ompa mpa pani n es, ni ess, in i teere rest stin st ingg pl play ayyer e s. s.

A l th Al this iss, ma mayb y e mo yb m ree thaan ev ever er, will er willl be im wi impo portan po annt me m ssssagge foor th thee ye y arr to come comee. co Benke Aikell, Your Publisher

Wee are thr hrilille illle ledd to to ann nnou ouunc n e thhat a tthe hee new w presi s de dent nt of the reegi nt gion on,, Mr Mr.. Pa Pala laas wi w ll be co c nt n rir bu b ting to ou ourr ma magazine ga e ga andd wi an willl innffor o m us abo bout ut his is per e specti sp t ve sp ve of this yea e r chal alle l ng nges es.. Miich es chaela Jorgeens n en willl allssoo int n rroodu d ce to us th thee ne n w me memb m er mb e s of of thee reg e io i naal goove vern rnme m nt and we wi willlll def e iniitely intervieew so s me of them em for you.

Wee wililll also brirng W n inntterr vi view ews wi ew withh impor mpor mp o ta tant n business pers rson onal alitiees and intr trod o ucce so s me inter eres er esti stiting ngg new cuultl ur ural al act al ctivities t s an a d evven ents t . ts W alll wissh yyoou ma We m rv rvellous u yea e r 200099.

Bestt reg Be egar ards ar d ds Benk Be nkee Ai Aike kellllll,, Yo ke Your urr Pub ublililish sher sh e er

Váážeeníí čte tená n řii, ná

Dr. Michaela Jorgensen, Smed Jorgensen Attorneys of Law Office

SSupp Su upp ppor o te or t rs and Gen ener eral al Par artn t er ers o M of Mor orav avia iann-Si Sile lesi sian an Reg egion:

Nesm Ne smírírírně sm ně náss těš ně ěší,í, kol olik ik nad adše š níí a zzáj ájmu mu naš a e stránk n y o Mo M ravssko koslezssk ském kra raji vzbudily. y Spln Sp l ililoo se naš ln ašee oč o ekkáván ávánní z do áv doby byy, kd kdyy js j m mee s tím ímto t pro to roje jekt ktem em začčín ínal a i: o zzpr al práv ávyy z ne nejp jprů růmy mysl slovvěj ější šího ší h rreg ho e io eg ionuu Česk Če ské re repu p blikyy jee nebbývval a ý zááje jem. m.

S přříchoodem m nového h rokuu a se s všeemii pře řeká kážk žkam ami,i kkte teré ré nnám ám ttot oto složité obdoobí přiná náší, vz vzhlížej ejjí mnoz oí k Moraavsko k sl s ez e skému krr aj a i s úcctou. Řada prům ůmys yslovýých odv dvět ě ví, které v něm m sídlí,, se moožn ž á buude mus u et vyrovnávat s jistými obt b ížemi, je však také možné, že region zůstane i nadále me m zi vůd ůdčími silami če č ské ekonomiky.

V roce 20099 vá váss prrov o eddem e e ud udál álos osstm mi v Mo Mora ravs avsko skosl oslez lezzskkém ém kraaji a sez ezná n mí ná míme me váss s úsp spěš ěššný nými m hhrá mi ráči rá čii na zdejším poli. Jsmee ppře řesv ře svědčeni, že právě to je posláání sv ním m naše šeho še h časopisu. Uvádět a představ avov o att úúsppěc ěchhy, zajímavé společnostiti,, zajímavé lidi. Totoo vš v echno možn žnná ví víc než kdy jindy bude důležitým possel e st ství vím ví m pr pro nadcházející rok.

S ra radoost stí může ž mee ozn známit, že do našeho časopisu buude de přiř spívvat at i novýý he hejtjtma man krr aj aje je, e, ppan an Pal an alas as,, a předdst stav avíí nám svůj ů pohle l d na úkoolyy, kter ktter eréé s sebo sebo se bou le bou leto tošnní ro tošn to rokk př přin ines in eesse. e M Mic iccha hael ella Jo J rg rgennseen ná náss sseezn znám ámí s noový v ými m mi členy kr krajskéhho zaasttupitelstt vaa a i s něk ěk te t rý rými ými mi z nnic ichh vá ic v m jiist s ě př p in ines essem emee ro rozh zhov zh ovor ov vor ory. y. Zárov y. árov ár oveň eňň bbud udem ud eme pu em p bl bli-i-i kova ko vat ro va rozh zzhhoovvor o y s výýznnamný nými ný mi pře ředs dssta tavi vite vi teelii poddnika nika ni k teels lské ké sfééryy a zpr p osstř třed eddku edku kuje jeme je me zaj ajím ím mav avéé kuultltur u ní akc ur k e a události.

Přej Př ejjem me vá v m sk s vě vělý lýý rokk 200 009!

9!!

Part Pa r ne rt n r:r Se srd Se rdeč eččný ným ým po pozddrave raave v m Benk Be n e Ai nk A keellll, ll, vy v daava vate tel te

86

Ostrava region.indd 86

Lead Le a er ad erss Ma M gazi gaazine ziine II//20009

13.3.2009 15:35:40

The Moravian-Silesian Region Region with a Clear Idea of Development The Moravian-Silesian Region, the largest and most densely inhabited region of the Czech Repu Re p bllic i , iss a stabl t able ta le region with a clear idea of iti s de deveeloopm pmen ent; t; it has t; haas a lot to offer to its inhabitant n s as nt a wel e l ass to the he vi v sitors. The following feat feat fe atur ures e bel elon onng amonng itss as a seets t : a co c nssidderably stroongg iind st stro ndus nd dus ustr trr y an try a d be b autititifu fuul na natu tuuree witithh ititss jjeeweel – th w thee wo w nd n er erfu full Be fu Beskk yd ydyy Mo Moun unntaainns. s In shor shhoorr t, t, thee Mo th Mora raavi vian a -Sil an -S Sililes esia es iann Regi ia gionn haass a gre r at a poten ottenenntitial andd har ardw dwor dw o ki or k ngg peoplee wh whoo ar aree ab a le l to use usse itt wise wi sely se lyy ly.

Ass foorr the h furthher e dev e elop opmeentt of thhe re op regi g onn, ouur pr p iooririty ty wilil be b thee ffin i isshiingg of thhe tr traf af ffiic innfr af f aa-sttrruuct ctur uree an ur andd th thee inte terc te erccoonnne n ct c tio ion ooff the Airpoort r ooff LLeo e š Jaanááče č k in Moš ošno novv wi no w th rai ailw lway lw ays and mo ay m torw to r way rw a s, as well ass the supp p or pp ortt off sma m llerr tow o ns andd vi an villllllag agges age es. We es.

W wannt we w lll baallance c d de develo l plo ment me nt ooff Mo Mora ravi ra vian vi an-S an -Sililles -S esia ian Regionn it me ia ian m anss nott to t cent ce ntra nt ralililize ra ze aallll oour ur int nter eres er estt onnly iinn la es larg argge induussttririal all centtre ce ress of tthe he rreg egio eg ionn. io n. O Our ur nnex extt pr ex prio iooriity is th thee ennvi vivironm mentt wh w erre wee w willl be abl blee to aame melililior me orat or atee th at thee situ si t atio ionn noot on io o ly by thhe co c ns nstr truc tr uctitition uc on of of ci circ rcum rc um-um fere rential hi re high g waays arooun und to town wns an wn andd ci cititities es but also al lso by pprroc ocee ocee eedi ding di ngss wiithh aallllll lar ng a ge ger poll poollllut uter ut ter ers. s T hes Th esse pr proc o eedi ding nggs ar aree ai a me medd att the heiri approacch too this issue in the fo foll ollow owin inng years.

As we try to reaach a higgher level of the deveelop-ment in the qualitt y of thee region, we want to “ddrag”” industries with higher added value to the reggion..

Thhis can be heelp lped edd e.g .g. by the he foorrma matition tition of th t e baack grrou o ndd ooff th thee fa facu c ltltyy of eele cu lect le c ririca ct call en ca engi gine gi neer ne erer i g an in and by b the hee est stab a lish shme sh ment me nt of of th thee fa facu cultltltyy off cu

medicine. We are going Photo: Robert Mročka to seek ways of financing these projects at the very beginning of 2009 at a meeting with the mayor of Ostrava and rect c orr s.

T e upppe Th p r mentioonedd pr ne proj ojec oj jec ec tss sho h uldd be prroff itt ab able l not le ot onl n y forr t e Moorraavi th v an an-S -S Silles e ian R gi Re gion o , bu on butt al a soo foorr its its ts neig ne igghb hbou ouurss. Ou O r re r gi g on i not is ot an is isol olat olat ol ated ed sub ub-j ct je c . On O the h connttrrarr y, y onne of o the sspe peci c fif icc feeaturees of the Morrav tu a iaann Sile Si lesi esi sian ann Reggio i n is its c nttra ce r l po posi sitititon amo si mong ng itt s neeigghb its h ouurs r :S Sllov lov ovaakkia anndd PPol olan ol and, an d, whi d, hich chh for orms m ms thee ba th basi asis sis off the si he devvel e op opin ingg fron o tiier er ccoo ooope pera raatition o .

Thro Th roug ro ughh the Assooci ug ciat atio at ionn of Regio io eggio i nss of tthhe Czzec e h Repu Re publ pu blic bl ic we of couurs r see de deve velo loop oouur coooopper erat atio at atio ionn wiithh ooth ther reg th ther e ions n in ou ns our co coun oun untr try, tr r y, y tooo. I re rega gard ga rd highly ouur ur abi biliity t to dr d aw w on exxperi per enncee fro pe rom m ot othe heer regions and to wor oorrk on on the the he approacch too imp mpor orta or tant ta n nt issues. Moreoverr, wee ccaan an draw onn val va ua uabl blee fif nddbl ings from m ouur pa parttneer reegions – Lo Lorrai a nee in FFrrannce ce,, Silesian Voivode ddeesh s ip ip,, N Noort ort rthh Rh Rhin innee-We West stphaliaa, the se th s lff-governing nngg rreg egio eg ionn off ŽŽilililin io ina, in a, tthe he Bri Briritititish sh resh ree gion gi on Nor orth Eas a t an a d th t e re regi gion gi on ooff Vo Volo logd lo gdaa in tthe gd he Russ Ru ssia ss iann Fe ia Federatiion o . I thhin inkk th that at one ooff th thee mo most st

impo im p rt po rtan a t annd ne an n ce cess s arr y fe feat atur at urees ur es is the the coomm th m unica ni catitition o wititithh thhe hiigh g es estt re repr p essen enta taatitivees off thee Czzecch R C Reepu p bl b ic iinn wh whic i h I in inte tent ntt ttoo usse alll my pers pe rson rs o al con on onta tact ta cctts t s wi w th t the h membe em mbbeers r of th the he ggoovvernm er nm nmen men e t inn ordder e to he h lpp m myy regi g on gi on so th that a it do does e es noot lag laag behi beehind hind iinn th hi thee spphe heree of thhe ccoonsstr truc uucc titionn ooff trraf a fificc innfr f as astr truc tr ucc tu ture re and iin ot re othe her de deve eve v lopm lopm lo mennta tall pprroj ojec ojec ects tss. But Buut I am am not o aafr frai fr aidd of thi ai his. s T he he Moorrav a ia i nn Sile Si leessiian Reg e ioon ha has as al a l pr prer ereq er equi eq uuiisi site tess an te a d po p te tent ent n iaal to devvel elop op in al all sp s here heeres rees an andd re reac achh itt s fuulll ac pote t nttia te i l.

By JJar a os ar o laav P Paala l sI Pres Pr esid es iden id entt of en of tthe hee Mor o av a iaann-Si Sileesi Si s an a Regio egio eg ion

Moravskoslezský kraj – region s jasnou vizí rozvoje Moraavs v koslez ezský kr ez kraj aj, nejvvět aj ětší a nej ejlidnat attěj ější šíí k aj Čes kr eské ké rep epub ubli ub blil ky k , je je sta tabi bili bi ililizo z va zo v ný ným ým reegi g on o em s jjaasn snou ouu viz vizzí ro rozv ozvooje, kteerýý má co c nnab abíd ab ídno íd nnoouutt jaakk svv ým oby byvattelů l m, tak náv lů ávšt šttěv ěvní n ků ní kům. ům. m K jeh jeh e ho před ednnoost s em paat atříí poměr ěrrněě sili ný průůmyysl i nád á herrnná he ná ppřřříroda,, jejímž kllen enot otem ot eem m jjee přek přřekrá krá r sn snéé ppoohhooří Bes e ky k dyy. K rátce řeč ečenno, o Mor o aavvskos skkosle os ezsský os ký kraj kr raj a má ve velk lkk ý ppoote lký t nc nciá iáll a prrac a ovit ovvititéé lid liidi di, ktteř e í jej jeej d ká do k ží ž doobbře ř v yu yuží žít. ží tt..

P ku Po kudd jdde o da d lš l í ro rozv zvoj zv oj kkra raje ra jee, na naší ší ppriririor oritittou or o bude bu de,, kr de k om mě do dobu obu b ddoovááníí doppra ravn vníí in vn infr frras astr trruk uktu t ryy tu a pr p oppojjen ení Le ení L ttiišt išt ště Leeoš ště o e Jaaná náčk čkka v Mo čka Mošn šnoovvě šn s že žele leezn znic icí ic cí a dá dáln lnic ln iccí,í, i podpo oddpo p raa men enší š chh obccí.í. ší Chce Ch c me me tot otiž ižž, ab iž, aby by se Mor Mor orav avvskos skosle sk ossle lezs zský zs kýý kraj raaj ro rozz zvíje ví í jel jeel roovnnom oměr ě něě a aaby ěr b veške by ešške kerá r poz rá ozor orno or nost no s nebbyl st ylaa ssm měřov ěřov ěř o ánna je jenn na n vel e káá pprů růůmy mysl ssllov ováá cceent ntra r kra ra raje je.. je Dalš Da lšší pr prio iooririto iori touu je obl to blas a t ži as živo votn tnníh í o pr p osstř třed edí,í,í, kde ed by k zzle lepš le pšen pš eníí měěla en l kro romě mě sta tavb vbyy ob vb obch chva ch vatů va tů měs ěstt p mo po moci ci t ak ci a é pr práv ávěě pr prob o íh ob í aj ajíc ícíí je íc j dn d án áníí see vše šemi m mi

Suupp ppor orte or ters te rs and and Gen e erral Partn ar tnner ar erss of M Mor orav avia av iaann-Si Sile Si leesian sian a Reg egio ion: io n:

věětš t ím ími mi znečišťova vaateelili ovz v zdu d ší š . Ta se tý týka kaají jej ejiich ic h ic přř ístupuu k tét přís éto prob oble ob lema le matitiicee v dal ma a ššíích ch lettec ech. h h.

Protož ožee nám jdde o kv ož k al alititt at ativvně n v yš yš ší š sstu t pe tu peňň rozvoje regi ro reegi gion o u, chc h em me doo Mor o aavvsskkos osle lezs le z kkéého kraje ´ppři ř t áhnout´ t vvýr t´ ý ob ýr o y s vy v yššší př p iddan anou o hooddou notou. u Tom mu by by moh ohloo pom pom o occi na např př ík í laad vy v ybu bu bud vání záz do ázzeem mí elek eekk tr trot otec ot e hn ec hnic ickké ic ké fakul akkul u ty a zříř ze z níí faku fa kultltltyy lééka ku kařs řské řs kéé. Sp Spol oluu s pr ol p iim mát á or orem em m měssta ta Ostr Os t av tr avyy a s re rekt ktor kt oryy bu or b deeme m hhne need v za z čá čátk átk tkuu rookkuu 2009 20 09 spo 09 pole leečn čněě hl h ed edat at ces estu tu k f inan innan anco c vá co vání níí těc ěchtto p oojjekk tů. pr tůů.

Ty bbyy mě Ty měly ly přiř iné nést né s pro st rofi ofit fif it neejeen Mo Mora Mora ravs vssko ko-slez sl ezsk ez ském sk émuu kr ém krajji,, alee i jeh e o ok o ol olí.í. Náš reggio ion on ro rozzhoodn dněě neení iizo zoolo lova vaný va ným ný m su subj b ek bj ekte tem. te m. Ba na naop aop opak ak.. ak M zi sspe Me p cifi pe ciifif ikaa Mor orav avskos av avsk skkossleezs zské k ho kkra ké raje ra jee pat atříříř jeh ehoo ssoous u ed edst ství st ví se Sl Slov ovven ensk skkem a Pol o sk skem em,, ktter em eréé je j zákl zá klad kl adem ad em roz oz ví ozví víje jejíjíjící je c se se př příh íhhra r ni ničn ičn čníí sp s ol olup u rá up r ce. cee.

Pros Pr oosstř třed e ni ed nict c ví ct v m As Asoc ocia oc iace ia ce kkra ce rajů ra jů ČČes e ké rep es e ub ubliliiky samo sa mozř mo zřej zř ejmě roz ej o ví víjíjíjíme jíme i spo polu lupr lu prrác áci s os osta taatn tatn tním ím mi kr kraj ajii aj

naaší naší š zem emě. ě. O Occeňu ňujijiji, žee můž ů em me vy využ yužžítt zku k še š no n st stii jijiný innýých ch kra kraajů a spo pole leečn lečn č ě pr p ac a ovat ovvat at na ře řešení šeení zzáv ávaž ávaž áv anýchh ppro ných ný roblém ro mů,, k te teréé mussím íme me řřeešit. šiit. t. Cen enné né pozzné natk y vššak ak čerpá páme me t aakké u naši me naaši šich ch paarr tn tner eerr skk ýcch rreegion onůů,, jim mižž jsoou fr f aannnco coouzz sk ský k ý reeggiion o Lo Lotri otrir nnssko ot k , Slez Sl ezz ské skké vvoojvvod odst odst s ví ví,, Seevveernní Po Porý rýní rý nníí-V -Ves estf es estf t álsk álskko, ál o, Ži-i lilins insský ssam amos am osspr p ávvný n kkra raj, ra aj,j bbriririts t ký ts k rreg egion eg ioon No Nort r h Ea East stt a ob obla laast st Vol o ogda g z Ruusské k ffed eder ed errac a ee.. Z a ve velm lm mi dů důůleeži žito toou a neezbbyt y tnou po pova vaažu žujiji i kkom omun om u ik un ikac acii s vrrch ac choo olovýými lo mi přeeds dstaavi vite teelili Čes eské k rep ké epub ublililiky ub ky,, kdde chhci ky c v yuž vy u ítt svý v ých osoobn bníc ích ch ko kont ntak aktů ak tůů na je jedn dnnot otlililivé ivéé čle l ny vlád vl ády, ád y abyy kra kra raj v bu b ddoování váání ddop opra op raavnní in infr fras fr astr truk tr ukk tu tury ry a v ob obla l st la stii da dalš lššíc íchh roozv z oj ojov o ých ov ýcch pr p oj ojek ektů ek tůů nez ezůs ů tá ůs tá-vall pooza va zadu du.. I kddyž toh du ohoo se s neoobá bává vám. vá m. Mor m. orav avsk av skkoo slez sl ezz sk skýý kr kraj aj m máá to totitit ž ve v šk šker e é přřed er edpo pokl po klad kl adyy a poote tennc ál k ttom ci omu, om u aby u, b se ro rozv zvíjíjíjel zv ell po všec vššecch st strá ránk rá nkkác áchh a v pl plné né šířř i.

Jaaro r sl slav av P Pal allas I alas h jt he jtma mann Mo ma Mora ravs ra vsko vs skkoosl slez ezsk ez skkééhho kr kraj ajee aj

Leead Lead ader ers M ers Maaga gazi zinee II/ 20 zi 2009 09

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The 4 Charity Ball of the Rotary Club Ostrava International On 7th February, 2009, the fourth charity ball of the Rotary Club Ostrava International was held at the MaMaison Imperial Ostrava Hotel. The atmosphere at the ball was excellent, supported by the participation of outstanding artists and entertainers. The guests, among whose there were also prominent personalities of the region, had the opportunity to take part in an auction of pieces of art and sport dresses that finally gained about half a million Crowns. Thanks to this and to contributions of partnership companies the organizers could distribute almost 600,000 Crowns among various charity projects (Children’s Equitherapeutic Ranch at Hlučín, The Institute of Social Care for Impaired Persons at Hrabyně, Private Elementary Special School for Pupils Impaired in Several Areas at Ostrava, the Department of Haematology and Oncology of the Paediatric Clinic of the Teaching Hospital and Poly-Clinic at Ostrava-Poruba, DYS-centrum at the 4th Elementary School of J. A. Komenský at Frýdek-Místek, etc.), which was the main objective of this prestigious social event, popular with Ostrava public that grows more important every year.

Ing. Aleš Buksa, President, Rotary Club Ostrava International

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Ing. Lubomír Vavroš, General Director, Airport L. Janáčka in Ostrava

more photos and electronic version available on www.leadersmagazine.cz

Ing. Aleš Buksa, president of RC Ostrava International and JUDr. Jozefa Poláková, guvernor of District 2240 Rotary International

From left: Dr. Eva Stýskalová, Director, Organizing Committee of the Ball, Rotary Club Ostrava International with husband Doc. Vítězslav Stýskala, Prof. Tomáš Čermák, Rector VŠB-TU Ostrava, Ing. Gerhard Herudek, Past President RCOI, MUDr. Eva Mrázková, Member of RCOI with other Rotary members

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Ing. Aleš Buksa, president of RC Ostrava International auctioned the copy of painting „Judita“ for 270.000,- CZK

Marek Swětík and Renata Dohnanská, Champions of Europe in Latin-American Dances Ing. Pavel Bartoš, Vice President, Czech Chamber of Commerce

Josef Laufer, Performing Artist

Ing. Jaroslav Pactl, Business Director, Geofin a.s. and his wife

Jadran Šetlík, renowned Photographer

Jiří Pomeje, Moderator with copy of painting “Judita” G. Klimta

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Katarina and Alexandr Vovk, Soloists, Silesian Theater in Opava

From left: Ing. Pavla Topolánková with daughter Petra

Mrs. Iveta Bartošová, Performing Artist

Ing. Aleš Buksa with wife Zdeňka, Mrs. Iveta Bartošová, Performing Artist and friends

Mrs. Michaela Stýskalová, President, Rotaract Club Ostrava International

15.3.2009 9:50:50

Integrating Role of the Union for the

Development of the Moravian-Silesian Region Václav Roubíček Photo: Archive

Now, dduring N i the h economic i recession, i the h U Union i ffor the Development of the Moravian-Silesian Region plays mostly the integrating role and supports joint interests

of bussinesses and businessmen in this region. Similarly as during the past period of the economic boom, the Union defines now key requirements relating to the topical sittuation in the region and deals with the requirementss at the levels of both the region and of the Czech Repubblic. As most of you know, many requirements set by thee Union and supported by the businessmen operating in this region have been approved and implementeed, supporting thus the development of the region.

Now, the region, similarly as the world in general, faces conseequences of the crisis.

Thee world has been dealing with such situation for the first time after many decades. Intensive collaboration iss needed in the world in general, within EU, the Czech Republic and, of course, within specific regions.

And now it is the time for the Union to start integrating the paarties and initiate and coordinate key negotiations. Our objective is to look for actions that would provabbly and reliably address the unemployment. It is the increasing number of the unemployed that represents the major hazard which would deepen the crisis.

And itt is necessary to minimise and eliminate such hazardd jointly.

Onee of possibilities of overcoming the recession is nott to be afraid of investing. Investments should be maade both in the research and development so that

the scientific level and capacity of the MoravianSilesian Region could go upp even in the critical situation, and into for instance the transport infrastructure.

In the context of the econoomic crisis, it is mentioned from time to time that the coonstruction of the D 47 motorway might be interrupteed. It is the infrastructure in the region where the Union takes specific actions.

Among others, the Union has established contacts with a new government representative in charge for the construction of roads and motorways in the MoravianSilesian Region. Not only the motorway D 47, but also the transport connection of Opava, Ostrava and Slovakia are among key pree -requisites for the stabilisation of the region. Therefore, the Union is struggling for the early construction off the roads and pays a particular attention to prioritiess that are of key importance for minimising and eliminaating the current economic situation. Even in times of thhe crisis, foundations for the future development and prosperity are being born.

And we should keep this in mind!

By Václav Roubíček I President of the Union for the Development of the Moravian-Silesian Region

Moravian-Silesian Region and Businessmen Take Active Actions, when Facing the Economic Crisis Pavel Bartoš Photo: Archive

The Moravian-Silesian Region, similarly as the world in general, faces now the deepening economic crisis.

In spite of adverse conditions, events are organised that are of major importance not only for the life in the region.

Let us mention the traditional Christmas concert “Region for Itself”. The programme included now a welcome of the new President of the Moravian-Silesian

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Regionn, Jaroslav Palas, who was given the symbols of the region (a naked-flame lamp for miners and a steel Walacchian axe with a wooden handle). The President of the Reegion received also a list of eight key priorities identiff ied by the Chamber of Commerce of MoravianSilesiaan Region and the Union for the Development of the Moravian-Silesian Region.

Of major importance was the first official meeting of the President of the Region with representatives of busineesses represented by the Union for the Developmeent of the Moravian-Silesian Region, Chamber of Comm merce of Moravian-Silesian Region and Association of Industrial Enterprises from Moravia and Silesia. Itt is also necessary to mention the conference “Development Opportunities for Businesses in the Moravvian-Silesian Region in 2009” where the President of thee Region confirmed his will to cooperate with the representatives of the regional businesses. Topics of the conference included the present crisis. The businessm men expect an active support of the state that shouldd offer specific-purpose well-prepared state orders. Assisted export would be appreciated too. Prompt drawinng of funds from operational programmes is also of majjor importance. A decrease of energy costs, this being,, in particular, the case of electricity costs, would be connsiderably welcomed.

Thee last topic is closely connected with the international conference “Ensuring the Energy Safety of EU

Member States within thee Joint Electricity Market” that was organised within the Czech presidency over the European Union. It waas evident that the Czech approach, expertise and knowledge should considerably contribute to the creeation of a feasible energy strategy of EU that might be the basis for the energy safety in EU. The current situation is very serious, but the crisis should be viewed as a parr t of economic cycles. The depth of the crisis is influennced by the degree and intensity of errors. Such erroors should be investigated into and analysed in orderr to eliminate them in the future so that some pointless solutions to the crisis would not make it even deepper.

I really warn against finanncial subsidies into various sectors – such subsidies are short-lasting and after some time they result into another subsidies that are not reasonable and should not be granted anymore. Let us assume that the crisis is a kind of an “illness” of the economy and the treatmentt should be based on cause for such illness. Nevertheless s features of the economic crisis include recovery effecc ts and such effects should not be prevented by indigested political decisions.

By Pavel Bartoš I 1st Vice-president of the Union, Chairman of the Board of the Chamber of Commerce of Moravian-Silesian Region

www.msunion.cz

13.3.2009 15:37:04

Union for the Development of the Main Events Organised By the Union for the Development of the Moravian-Silesian Region Each Year The 6th conference focused on post-industrial sites, water management, energy safety of the region and limits for demanding industrial plants in the context of the environment protection.

18 March 2009, OKD Mining Museum in Ostrava, Landek The 9th year of the international conference focused on concepts, legislative, new technologies and investments in waste management in Central Europe countries after the accession to the European Union.

27–28 April 2009, Atom Hotel The 15th regional congress focused on assistance to municipalities in collection of up-to-date ininformation about legislative and development isues and on raising of funds.

9 June 2009, Klimkovice Spa The 10th, jubilee, international conference focused on development perspectives and scenarios for the Moravian-Silesian Region including impacts of development activities on the living standard in the region.

22–23 September 2009, Atom Hotel The 13th international conference on development of the transport infrastructure, serviceability and transport system with the aim to enforce certain projects and connect the Moravian-Silesian Region to the main European road network.

3–4 November 2009, Atom Hotel The 10th Christmas concert Region for Itself organised as a Christmas party for the members of the Union in order to support the regional communication and involvement of the members in the Union.

9 December 2009, Imperial Hotel

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MORAVIAN-SILESIAN REGION

The Union for the Development of the MoravianSilesian Region is a voluntary non-profit organisation that has been participating for a long time in the creation of pre-requisites for the economic prosperityy and general development of the region. The key reasoon for establishing the Union at the beginning of the 19990s was to support the extensive industrial transformaation, to set main targets and promote principal development projects and concepts. Another goal was the coordination of regional activities: after regions were esstablished, cooperation agreements have been signed with the Moravian-Silesian Region and the Chamber of Commerce of Moravian-Silesian Region.

At present there are 160 direct members inn the Union. The members include leading industrial com mpanies and businesses, universities, project and connsulting organisations, industrial clusters, development and HR agencies, some health organisations and muunicipalities. Some of the members represent many other entities. This means, the Union represents, in fact, several thousands companies, entrepreneurs and institutions from various businesses. Thanks to thiss approach, the adopted resolutions, recommendations and priorities are stable and based on practical exxperience. The same applies to the quality of projectss and concepts. Elected representatives of the Unionn are the President and Vice-presidents, namely: Prof. Ing. Václav Roubíček, CSc. – Technical University – VŠB-TU Ostrava; President of the Union, Ing. Pavel Bartoš – Chairman of the Board of Directors and Managing Director, FITE a.s.; 1st V icepresident of the Union, Chairman of the Board of the Chamber of Commerce of Moravian-Silesian Regioon, Doc. Ing. Jiří Cienciala, CSc. – Chairman of the Board of Directors and Managing Director, Třinnecké železárny, a.s.; Vice-president of the Union, Ing. Václav Daněk – Chairman of the Board, TCCHAS, spol. s r.o.; Vice-president of the Union, Ing. Ivo Klimša – Chairman of the Board of Directors and Managing Director, Biocel Paskov a.s.; V icepresident of the Union, Ing. Karel Mazal – Executive Officer of the Board of Directors, RWE Distribuční služby, s.r.o.; V icepresident of the Union, Ing. Pavel Vítek – ODS-Dopravní stavby Ostrava,, a.s.; Vice-president of the Union.

The executive body is represented by the Manaaging Director Ing. Miroslav Fabian.

KEY TOPICS AND ISSUES INCLUDE: • development of the transport infrastructure and serviceability, logistics and transport systems, • revitalisation and development intentions in spheres of power supply, wastes and environment, • R@D and specialised education support, with a focus on the growth of innovations, • improvements of the investment and business environment in the region and region´s ability to compeete, • wide communication and cooperation withinn the region, Czech Republic and European Union.

Ing. Miroslav Fabian Photo: Archive

Activities carried out by the Union for the Development of the Moravian-Silesian Region have resulted in many specific results, exceeding the scope of the region. The Union has contributed to the completion of important infrastructure-projects, has participated in creation of conceptual documents and programmes used as a basis by the Moravian-Silesian Region, has been among those who created the Regional Development Agency Ostrava and Free Zone Ostrava and has established the first recruiting agency in the region and five industrial clusters. The Union has been participating in important projects, incl. the international ones. For a long time, the Union has been improving conditions for efficient drawing of EU funds. The Union has enforced the creation of new fields of studies and has been organising important international conferences and other events. The Union is also among those who are setting long-termed objectives and are trying to find out solutions to the current economic recession.

The number of members of the Union has been steadily increasing since 2001 when the regions were established. This proves that the members are ready to cooperate with each other and to participate in the development of the Moravian-Silesian Region.

By Ing. Miroslav Fabian I Managing Director of the executive body of the Union for the Development of the Moravian-Silesian Region

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A special thanks to Ifield Computer Consultancy Ltd. for making this reportage possible

networking/charity

From left: PharmDr. Petr Svoboda, General Director, Baxter Czech spol. s r.o., Dr. Karla Říhová, Director of Strategy and Management of Public Health, Ministry of Health ČR and Ing. Miloslav Vaněk, General Director, Office of the Government Representation in Property Affairs

Guest of Honor: Ing. Jan Fišer Director, Manta Medica

Pharmaceutical Evening

Lions Club Prague Eagle

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From left: 4-star Army General Karel Pezl (ret.), Ing. Jan Fišer, Director, Manta Medica, Ing. Zbyněk Štáf, President of Lions Club Prague Eagle and Production Director, Quality Season Product s.r.o, Dr. Jaroslav Barták, M.D., F.I.C.A., Secretary and Charter President, I. Czech Lions Club Prague Eagle

15.3.2009 9:45:13

From left: Prof. Ing Richard Hindls, CSc., dr. H. C., Rector, University of Economics in Prague, Stanislava Hronová, Vice Rector of Science and Research, University of Economics in Prague and Gen. Andor Šándor (ret.)

From left: Ing. Vladimír Laštůvka, Consultant and Prof. Judr. Jan Kříž, CSc, Law Office Kříž and Bělina From left: Ing. Tomáš Cikán, ESO travel a.s., Chairman of the Board and 4star Army General Karel Pezl (ret.)

From left: Petr Materna, Aviation Consultant and Luboš Hlinovský, Finance Director, Air Navigation Services of the Czech Republic

From left: Jaroslav Kubišta and Benke Aikell, your Publisher

Ing. Jan Fišer, Director, Manta Medica and Mrs. Lenka Bartáková

more photos and electronic version available on www.leadersmagazine.cz From left: Joseph Drebitko, CEO Activ a.s., JUDr. Vratislav Janda, Head of CORA, British American Tobacco, Czech Republic and Ing. Alexander Lochman, Chairman of the Board, Bacchus Vins & Champagnes a.s.

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Jiří Havel, Shadow Minister for Education and Candidate for the European Parliament Photo: Paul Pacey

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An interview withh Jiřří Havell, Shaddow Minister off Education andd Canddiddate for thhe European Parlliament Jiří Havel graduated in po p litical economyy from the Universityy of Economics in Praggue in 1982, where he also started his pe p dago g gi g cal career. Since 1991 he has been lecturing at the Institute of Economic Studies, Faculty of Social Sciences, Charles University in Prague.

Since 1990s he has been member of statutory bodies of many companies (e.g. Unipetrol, Czech Telecom or Aero Vodochody). He was member of the Communist Party till 1989, and in 1997 he joined the Czech Social Democratic Party (ČSSD). Between the years 1999–2001 he held high offices at the National Property Fund. In July 2005 he became president of the board of trustees of the CEZ company. From January to September 2006 he was Deputy Prime Minister for economic issues. Now he is the shadow Minister of Education and member of the Party of European Socialists presidency. Since December 2008 he has been leader of ČSSD for the European Parliament elections.

Why do you stand in European elections?

It is quite an odd history. I was considering my candidacy about one and half years ago. Then I decided not to stand as a candidate. The whole thing is a bit improvisation because my party asked me in November 2008 whether I would like to stand in European Parliament elections and even became the leader of the ballot. It was nott my pri no prima mary ry dec decis isio ionn in tha thatt ca case se, I go gott a flflat atte teriring ng offer that cannot be rejected. That is why I accepted the nomination. When people stand in some elections, they usually indicate how sharp elbows they have. I told myself that I did not want to show them much. That was one of the reasons why I decided not to stand as a candidate one and half years ago.

What is your programme about?

During the last year I participated as a member of the presidency of the Party of European Socialists (PES) in formulating a European programme for the European Parliament elections of which crisis is a central theme.

On the one hand the programme says that we have to find topics by which we manage to solve the crisis; on the other hand,, we have to find themes where we tryy to pprevent the future crisis, so it is prevention. It can be seen for example in regulation regulation. Furthermore Furthermore, it is the whole concon cept of economic policy that we have defined as a smart green growth. The programme of course covers all topics that belong to big politics. There are social themes, general legal ones such as questions of equality or freedom, and also very important question of equality between men and women. There is also one chapter devoted to foreign policy summarizing not only the world trends in foreign policy, but also addressing its special problems and issues. It might be interesting for a Czech reader that the Czech version of the programme mentions that social democrats are ready to respect the majority will of Czech people for example in the question of radar, etc.

It was not probably easy to formulate a unified election programme for all EU member states.

The formulation of the European programme was almost a Sisyphean task. We launched an Internet discussion on the form of the programme in which thousands of people were involved at the end. We also took part in a lot of debates. We discussed proposals submitted by the broad public, and we had to incorporate various comments and remarks from PES members and activists as well. Sometimes it was very difficult to reach a compromise, because each party is a bit different. However, at the end we managed it. The negotiations were good in a sense that they helped us enliven the discussion across the individual parties about the social democratic values.

It is for the first time that the PES will have a unified campaign in all EU member states. Why? It is very simple. Currently, the PES is in the European

Parliament and wants to continue to be the most compact group. Negotiations over our programme helped us find what we want to do at the European level and at home. We are not only more compact now, but also stronger and more operational.

In which issues do you want to engage in the European Parliament?

I am an an ec econ onom omis istt an andd al also so tea teach ch eco econo nomi mics cs at at th thee Charles University in Prague. Recently I have also devoted myself more to education. Therefore, I would like to focus on economics in the European Parliament. Energy, I had to deal with for some time in my life, and also development and education which are, in my opinion, economic issues. It is not possible today to deal with economics without education and research. However, at the end you have to serve there, where it is necessary, and not there, where you would like to see yourself. So we will see.

Where do you think European integration should head towards?

As an economist I would welcome the implementation of a simpler system in a sense that there will be for example p onlyy one legal g regulation g of a certain topic p at the European level that would be valid for all EU member states. Currently states Currently, mostly directives and regulations are valid that the EU member states have to respect in their national legal systems. This system would also involve less national currencies, only the European one respectively. In relation to the economic crisis it has been talked about deepening of cooperation between national regulators of the financial sector. I support that.

What about your academic career?

My academic career has been rather limited recently.

If am a politician, I cannot claim that I objectively explore economics that I am creating. It is the contradictio in adjecto. I have a part-time job at the Faculty now that relates only to pedagogical work. In future I would like to stay in touch with the Faculty. When I was holding state function, I was always on the unpaid leave. I assume that if I were elected to the European Parliament, it would work similarly. On the other hand I would like to teach a bit, because it gives you a feedback. You talk to a different generation of people who hold the mirror up to you which is very important. And if you make a mistake, you are to be ashamed before someone, whether they are your colleagues or students.

The Ministry of Education presented a proposal on the reform of tertiary education that aroused great emotions. What do you think about it?

I admit that I have mixed opinions on the proposal on the reform of tertiary education. I agree with the authors on a number of analytical starting points: that Czech universities swelled up, that not all Czech universities have the efficiency and content that we would want, etc. However, we rather importantly diverge in solutions of this issue. One of the universities’ characteristic

features is their freedom. But it seems that if the proposal is interpreted in a certain way, it could affect this area.

What interpretations?

I am very much doubtful about the proposal on the management of universities that assumes the establishment of managing councils of which majority of members shou sh ould ld be be na name medd by pol polititic icia ians ns. De Devi vill is hid hidde denn in det detai aill.

Every instrument can be used or misused. It is a moment that is necessary to be dealt with sensitively with the affected academia. Every solution that will be adopted has to be discussed first with the academia and reach certain agreement. I cannot imagine that the new model of management would be imposed on universities. If it is imposed on them, they will protest. We just have the possibility either to explain it to them, or to start the discussion again.

The proposal on the financial management of universities has been often criticised, too.

The proposal on the financial management of universities is rather complicated. On the one hand it says that Czech education is deeply p y underfinanced. On the other hand it does not set any political commitment on what level the universities should be financed from public resources. It is an important piece of information. It is quite evident that universities should have some longterm prospects of financing. Yearly bargaining about the amount of resources is not very dignified. The plan says that there will be no money that universities should take from students. But when you pose a question how students would pay for it, wouldn’t it be perhaps selective, you get an answer that the state gives money to students through grants, loans and scholarships. Then you ask yourself whether it is not easier to give the money directly to universities and thus avoid the rise of administration that the introduction of fees, loans and grants will request. I cannot fully make up with it and I do not think it is really logical.

Do you have any political role model?

Among politicians I admire Poul Nyrup Rasmussen who is the president of the PES and member of the European Parliament. He also was Danish Prime Minister for eight years. He is the prototype of a well-read man, man, who can superbly find contributing compromise in negotiations. When I hear the arguments, I would sometimes run away, but Poul continues to sit there formulating patiently the compromise proposals, explaining the core of the issue, and comes to an end. It is absolutely amazing. If there were something I would like to learn in politics, it would be this.

By Zuzana Kasáková I

českou verzi naleznete na www.leadersmagazine.cz

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EU matters

CEBRE DEBATE – TO DEAL WITH THE CRISIS, CZECH PRESIDENCY SHOULD COMBINE EFFORTS ON INTERNAL AS WELL AS GLOBAL MARKET perex

Michal Kadera, Director of CEBRE with reporters

Listeners of the debate

Czech Presidency promotes “Europe without barriers” and plans to focus on persisting barriers to the internal market. Employers and entrepreneurs always welcome such priorities. Participants of CEBRE debate on CZ PRES priorities and Internal Market agreed well functioning market, commitment of all partners involved, simulation of supply and streamlining of better regulation through internal and external dimension of the internal market are great contribution to crisis solution. Business representatives, Members of the European Parliament, Economic and Social Committee and Presidency officials gathered in the Czech Centre – Czech House on the 28th January 2009 to share their view about the role Czech Presidency can play in the future economic development of the EU. Well functioning Internal Market is very high in the agenda of Czech Presidency as maximum implementation of its principles is one of the crisis solution. There are number of measures that can be taken on European level including legislative measures (currently e.g. Third Energy Liberalisation Package, Telecommunications Package, European Private Company Statute, Consumer Rights Directive), nonlegislative measures (currently e.g. Competitiveness Council Key Messages Paper) and informal debates and meetings (e.g. Conference on Future of Services). “Czech Presidency wants to make sure the Commission performs its best when proposing a piece of legislation regarding the impact assessment on SMEs and functioning of Internal Market,” said Jaroslav Zajíček, Head of Internal Market Section at Czech Permanent Representation.

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Panelists of CEBRE debate from left: Jaroslav Zajíček, Head of Internal Market Section at Czech Permanent Representation in Brussels, Joost van Iersel, Member of ECOSOC and representative of Dutch employers, Eoin O´Malley from BUSINESSEUROPE, Ben Butters, Director of EU Affairs, EUROCHAMBRES, Luc Hendrickx, Director of Competitiveness of Enterprises & External Relations UEAPME and Michal Kadera, Director of CEBRE

13.3.2009 18:00:59

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH LEADERS MAGAZINE

EU matters

THE PRAGUE CONFERENCE ON THE EUROPEAN WAY

OF SECURITY 2009

From left up: Stefan Fühle, Permanent Representative of the Czech Republic on the North Atlantic Council and Tomáš Dub, Vice-chairperson Committee on Foreign Affairs, Chamber of Deputies, Parliament of the Czech Republic, Head of Permanent Delegation to the NATO Parliamentary Assembly; down: Narcis Serra, Former Minister of Defence of Spain and Mrs. Genevieve Schmeder, Conservatoire National des Arts et Metiers, Paris

From left up: Mrs. Mary Kaldor, Director of the Centre for the Study of Global Governance, London School of Economics and Political Science and Klaus Reinhardt, Former Commander of the NATO Allied Land Forces Europe (LANDCENT), former Commander of KFOR; down: Miloš Balabán, Head of the Center for Security Policy CESES FSS CU, Lubomír Zaorálek, Deputy Chairman of the Chamber of Deputies, Parliament of the Czech Republic and Robert Cooper, Director-General for External and Politico-Military Affairs at the General Secretariat of the Council of the European Union

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From left: Robert Bjorklund, Defence Attache of Sweden, Viorel Georgiu, Defence Attache of Romania, Shreesh Mohan, Defence Attache of India, Ruman Kasabov, Defence Attache of Bulgaria and Erfried Adam, Director of Friedrich Ebert Stiftung Office in the Czech Republic Libor Rouček, 1st Deputy Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee, European Parliament

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BUSINESS NEWS M

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DO YOU KNOW THAT? … EU calls for Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)?

Commission’s Vice-President Günter Verheugen, responsible for Enterprise & Industry, and Commissioner Vladimír Špidla, responsible for Employment, Social Affa Af fairirss an andd Eq Equa uall Op Oppo port rtun unititie iess re rene newe wedd th thei eirr ca callll oonn Eu European businesses to visibly step up their commitment to corporate social responsibilityy (CSR). ( At a meeting m of the European Multi-Stakeholder der Forum on CSR C held on 10th February 2009, they stressed tressed the importance of responsible and sustainable ble business practices as a means to renew trustt in the market economy econo shaken by the financial and economic crisis. Europe European Multistakeholder Forum is a platform rm fo for an open discussion between – representatives of Members Me of the European Parliament, business, investor, st academics and civil soci so ciet etyy. … The Commission organizes first European SME Week?

The Commission DG Enterprise and Industry organizes the first European SME Week from 6 to 14 May 2009 in the whole of Europe. rop . The SME week w should promote entrepreneurship and inform en entrepreneurs about support that is available ble to them at European, national and local level. National ational an andd regional reg authorities, business organizations, tions, business supp suppoort o providers and education institutions ions will brand their events eve from fairs to conferences,, onlinee eve events,, art & performance,, networkingg events, company ny open days and competitions with the SME week logo. g Topics such as entrepreneurship, innovation, environment, growth, business support, business strategy, creative thinking, etc. will be covered.

To learn more, visit: www.european-sme-week.eu. opean sme wee … The Commission calls for reduce of administrative burdens?

The strategic review onn Better Regulation Regul in the EU was tabled by the Commission mmission showing tha that better regulation is a core component omponent of Europe’s re response to the economic and financial crisis. risis. The T review shows that citizens and compa p nies,, in part particular SMEs,, alreadyy benefit from simplified measures ur and administrative costs savings. The Commission’s leadership on administrative tive burdens has inspired most Member States and nd 221 of them have put in place ambitious national programmes too reduce administrative burdens. The Commission willl continue to improve the quality of all new legislation by further upgrading the quality of its impact assessments. s It will do this by strengthening the subsidiarity check, improving the consultation of stakeholders, and by assessing more thoroughly impacts on, for example, SMEs, administrative burdens, fundamental rights, consumers and regions. … The Commission introduced measures to fight with tax fraud?

The Commission adopted proposals for two new directives aimed at improving the mutual cooperation of tax authorities of Member States in the establishment and collection of taxes. The amendment covers a broader range of taxes and social insurance fees, a mandatory

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exchange hange of information between tax authorities on a trans ransnational basis, removing the possibility of the use of ba banking secrecy, the principle of equal cooperation among the Member States as the well as among partners from third countries and the possibility of verifying the information supplied by officials from other Member Stat St ates es. … The Commission proposes to revise the rules for reporting VAT? The Commission adopted a proposal for amendment of the Value Added Tax (VAT) aiming to increase the use of electronic invoices, reduce the burden on businesses, and promote SMEs and to assist Member States in the fight against tax fraud. The proposal should simply, modernize and harmonize the rules of VAT invoices and businesses across the EU and could help save up to 18 billion Euros per year in case of 100% electronic reporting.

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Czech Finance Minister Kalousek takes part in ECON meeting with National Parliaments The Czech Finance Minister and ECOFIN Council President Miroslav Kalousek took part in a meeting of the EP Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs (ECON) with National Parliaments. The theme of the meeting was: “The European Economy – What next?” The Minister presented a paper on financial market regulation and the system of financial market supervision in light of the current financial crisis. He also mentioned the main targets of the Czech Presidency in the field of financial markets regulation.

Czech Presidency calls for coordinated support of EU car industry

… EIF guarantees over 1 SMEs Euros?

Through the Framework Program for Competitiveness and Innovation (CIP 2007–2013) the European Investment Fund (EIF) has provided guarantees for SMEs in the amount of over 1 billion Euros. Guarantees apply to the medium and long-term investment loans provided by banks, guarantee institutions and credit providers and small businesses can benefit in various stages of its life cycle. EIF guarantees are free and allow financial institutions to increase their risk capacity.

The Czech Presidency aims to give a new impetus to European car industry, a key sector that has been seriously hhitit bbyy th thee gl glob obal al eeco cono nomi micc cr cris isis is. To Toge geth ther er w witithh a ra rapi pidd implementation of the European Economic Recovery plan, the Presidency also supports ready-made and nd rapidly available instruments, such as scrapping schem emes e for old cars, as long as these instruments are used in a coordinated way. The Presidency’s aim is to havee a proposal from the Commission ahead of the Springg European Council in the context of the evaluation of thee Recovery Plan, and to discuss the issue at the March Competitiveness Council, chaired by the Minister of Industry and Trade Martin Říman.

CZECH PRESIDENCY NEWS

EPSCO in Luhačovice: Labour Mobility to Cure Financial and Economic Crisis

European Patent Forum, PATINNOVA 2009 and European Inventor of the Year 2009

The informal meeting of EU Minist Minister for Employment and Social Affairs took ok place in Luhacovice, Czech Republic at the endd of JJan January. anua uary ry. ItIts aim was to highlight the role of workforce orkforce mobility mobiilility ty in in enhancing enhan labour market flexibility, social cohesion sion an and economic growth in the EU. Many countries appreciated ecia the decision of the Czech Presidency to choosee the mobility of the workforce as a major priority. The issue of professional, geographic and social mobility of workers was addressed by representatives of the Trio Presidency – France, the Czech Republic and Sweden – speaking on thematic panels.

Complementary speeches were delivered by ministers from Slovakia, Austria and Spain. The Presidency aimed to point out that the current financial and economic crisis only highlights the need for greater workforce mobility.

Combining three key events in IPR – the European Patent Forum, PATINNOVA 2009 and the European Inventor of the Year awards – these exciting conferences will be held on 28–30 April 2009 in Prague. The events are co-organized by the European Patent Office and the Commission with the support of the Czech zech Industrial Property Office and in partnership with the Czech Pre Presidency. The conferences will bring together ether applicants, applican patent atto attorneys, innovation stakeholders olderr s an aandd ex experts from rese esearch and politics. They will focus on thee system’s ssys yste role inn the knowledge society, y, policy issues and curre current re legal and nd business practice. The Euro ropea ean Inventor of the Year aaward ceremony honour outstanding tsta inventors in the categories: Industry, SME/Research, ea non-European countries, and Lifetime achievement.

Meeting of representatives of the EU and China Representatives of EU and Chinese government signed nine cooperation agreements that should boost joint cooperation. Enhanced cooperation shall take place in these fields: Erasmus Mundus External Cooperation, the Euro-Chinese supppo p rt of the po p litical dialoggue, coopperation program in the field of civil aviation, the EuroChinese Centre for clean energy, bilateral coordination of forest management, the Memorandum of Understanding within on health and safety, action plan for customs cooperation between the European Community and China on the enforcement of IPR and also an agreement on a number of precursors.

Learn more at: www.eu2009.cz

Business News brought by CEBRE – Czech Business Representation to the EU, www.cebre.cz

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13.3.2009 18:02:48

EU matters

Martin Říman, Minister of Industry and Trade of the Czech Republic

FUTURE OF EUROPE’S TELECOMMUNICATIONS WAS DISCUSSED IN PRAGUE

Functional internal market and quality regulatory framework are conditions for future development of EU Telecoms – the aim of the conference “Next steps in EU Telecoms” was to discuss the regulatory framework and appropriate measures that would stimulate investments in digital infrastructure. The Telecom Ministers of the EU Member States and a delegation of the European Commission led by the Media and Information Society Commissioner Viviane Reding had earlier in Prague discussion on the future development of the electronic communications sector in the EU. Digital technologies are one of the main pillars of the EU economic competitiveness. Investments into electronic communications represent an important tool which can significantly accelerate the process of tackling the current economic crisis.

Mrs. Viviane Reding, Media and Information Society Commissioner and Martin Říman, Minister of Industry and Trade, Czech Republic

more photos and electronic version available on www.leadersmagazine.cz Martin Říman, Minister of Industry and Trade of the Czech Republic and Mrs. Åsa Torstensson, Minister for Communications, Sweden

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Mrs. Viviane Reding, Media and Information Society Commissioner

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CZECH REPUBLIC SHOULD NOT HAVE ANY SARKOZY COMPLEX

Daniel Guéguen deals with EEuropean Affairs since 1975. He was a director of some of the most important European associiations attions and has creattedd his own company CL AN Pubblic Af faiirs in 1996. At the same time, Daniiell is the president of the he EEuropean Training Institute and director of the consulting company EBAQUE SA (which has also opened its office in the Czech Republic), a media expert, editorial writer, author and publisher and lecturer.

During his 35-year career, Daniel has developed a significant network in Brussels and has a deep political and financial knowledge. He wrote several books about the European Union, among others the ‘Practical Guide to the EU Labyrinth’ and ‘European Lobbying’, both having been translated in 20 foreign languages, including Czech.

Photo: Archive

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13.3.2009 18:04:26

Dear Daniel, you are known as very heavy weight lobbyist. Could you please explain us what the word “lobbying” means in relation to the Czech Republic or to whole European policy-making process?

You probably know that almost 75 % of Czech laws are coming from Brussels, so the art of the power is in Brussels. And this is why the lobbying on European level is so important. Therefore lobbying is very welcomed in Brussels as it is part of the decision-making process. The Commission, the European Parliament, the Council of the EU th EU, th they have h the power – th th therefore f it is i very productive to lobby them. Power needs productivity and this is why the lobbying yin is so imp important. In Brussels the influencee of lobbying can be extremely big, we can change nge not only a sentence in a text but full orientation entation of the text sometimes.

But to be honest, lot of people think, especially in the Czech Republic, that lobbying is a very negative practice full of corruption.

Is it right?

Not at all! It is not a job based on corruption or manipulation. Lobbying in Brussels is a job based on expertise, competencies and credibility.

Do you think that small members of the EU like the Czech Republic can be effective in lobbying at the whole European scene?

Sometimes, I have the feeling fe that the new Member States, and you are ar one of the very well developed Member States, States are too shy when they lobby, bby, I think it is a mistake. mis You are full members of the EU, you are not second category of members, soo yo you do not have to be shy. And I am pleased too see that the Czech Republic has now some permanent lobbyists in Brussels, in particular CEBRE – Czech Business Representation. CEBRE has a permanent nent office in Brussels B represented by two youngg and very competent c permanent staff which is ver very good. But B there are many more good Czech ech perman permanent lobbyists and consultants inn Brussels, some of them working closely with me. e. We have even oopened an office in the Czech Republic. ublic In January, the Czech Republic started its first Presidency of the Council of the EU. What is your evaluation so far?

I should like to tell you how a foreigner like k me ke sees the Presidency. First of all I think it is a great opportunity for the Czech Republic. But again – do not be shy. You are full member of the EU and you are a full chairman.

There had been some fears of the Czech Presidency before it has started. Especially Nicolas Sarkozy, the President of France was concerned about it. And not just him, many people didn’t trust that such a small country can manage, don’t you think?

Please do not have any Sarkozy complex or syndrome. You have to know that generally the good presidencies are the presidencies coming from smaller countries. Belgium has been very good presidency, Ireland has been very good

presidency, Luxembourg has been very good goo presidency and Slovenia recently was considensi red as a good presid presidency, too. Also, you have many toopics ics of the key interest during the Czech Presideency.

Could you, please, specify some of the topics you find important?

Thee first one is probably the ratification of the Lisbon on Treaty.

T The second important topic for me is the he climate-change energy package. For sure I cannot forget the energy package which is a very important dossier, in particular with its nuclear l implilicatitions.

Could you, please, tell us more about each of them and specify what effect this will have on the Czech Presidency?

Talking about the Lisboan treaty, you are in the best position to solve this delicate problem because you have not ratified it yourself. So probabl ba blyy yo youu ar aree th thee be best st pla place cedd to und under erst stan andd wh whyy the Irish have not ratified also. I believe here you have an account to play. And if you succeed to solve this question at the beginning of your Presidency, it will be a plus for your image in Europe and for your position on the EU scene.

Let’s get back to the energy package. I know that the Czech Republic favours nuclear energy as part of the energy mix and I totally share this point of view. You have to know that in Brussels you have some taboo dossiers and nuclear is one taboo dossier in particular. I think it is a big mistake and I think you have to open the doors, I am convinced that to open the debate it is very essential to put this question in a public and to ask civil society, media, lobbyists to discuss openly about this strategic question.

We should not forget the free circulation of workers and services amongst EU countries. We have to be clear and again we have to be fair what we want to achieve. You are a full member of the EU27, and we have the single market. If we have the single market we have to recognize the free movement of workers, and free movement of services and an here again you have to communicate icate on that th and you have to explain plain to the th French nch in particular. p One other o very important nt dossier to manage will be th the relations with Russia and nd the th Russia partnership artnership. Here again it is very strat strategic problem and I think you have lot of hhistorical and le strategic reasons to be in the heart of this very sensitive topic and an EU negotiator.

The Czech member of the European Commission is Mr. Vladimír Špidla. How do you think this helps the Czech Republic during its Presidency?

That is another very important dossier of key importance of the Czech presidency. I think we do not have to go to social deregulation but we have to go towards social harmonisation because we have to bring European economies closer. The link with the citizens is absolutely key.

One of the reasons why the Irish voted NO is because the European citizen is de-linked from the

construction of Europe. We need to add more transparency to the European decision-making process and finally I insisted on that so pleasee try to push for the simplification of the process.

During the last few months it became very popular to discuss the economic crisis from different perspectives. What do you think this crisis means for the European economics or for each Member State?

I think that financial crisis will have even bigger consequences on the EU than we can imagine and we will face huge troubles. Financial crisis will ill bbe follllowedd bby deep reces sion i andd tthi his deep recession will generate deep deficits, huge debts in some countries like France or Italy in particular but in other countries as well. I am afraid it will also create a big divergence of opinion between France and Germany, and we see it already today.

I am afraid that if the economies continue to dive di verg rgee, whi which ch is is ab abso solu lute tely ly the the cas casee fo forr th thee moment, the Euro itself could be under threat in 2 or 3 years of time. At the same time I think all crises have a lot of opportunities, especially for companies.

Do you think, in this time of economic crisis, it is the right moment for enlargement of the European Union?

We see clearly that the Commission is pushing for more enlargements. They advocate the enlargement for Balkan countries including Albania. I have seen in the Parliament that the European Commission was considering Albania as a country to be able to be candidate next year.

Iceland is now candidate: In front of us we have European Union with 34 4 countries at the t medium term horizon. But this is not the Union, this is a Babel tower. And this his cannot work. Why not to enlarge. But we have to think about a certain re-foundationn of the EU, around 3 circles as Jacques Delors proposed osed 15 years ago. A federal heart with limited number um of countries with the euro, single market ett approach with the other countries of the EU and very strong neighbourhood policies for Ukraine, for Georgia, for Mediterranean.

Daniel, let me thank you for your answers!

I have the last question for you: What do you think is the future for the European Union?

I can tell you my opinion about the future of the European Union. What do we have in front of us?

I think that the main problem of the EU and we see that every day is that we do not have a big joint project. And this is the greatest weakness.

We have the single currency and the single currency is a federal tool and the federal tool needs a political project. But we have 10 years of challenges, turbulences. And your Presidency is at the crossroad of all of that.

By Michal Kadera I CEBRE – Czech Business Representation

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EU matters agriculture

From left: Petr Gandalovič, Minister of Agriculture of the Czech Republic, Jean-Michel Lemétayer, President of Copa and Pekka Pesonen, COPA-COGECA Secretary

UPON THE INVITATION OF THE COPA-COGECA PRAESIDIUM, CZECH MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE PETR GANDALOVIČ INTRODUCED THE PRESIDENCY PROGRAMME TO ITS MEMBERS The presentation of the Presidency programme and the discussion with the representatives of COPA-COGECA took place in mid-February at the seat of the organisation in Brussels. The debate continued at the subsequent reception held under the auspices of the Czech Ambassador to the EU Milena Vicenová and Minister Petr Gandalovič at the seat of the Permanent Representation of the Czech Republic to the EU. COPA-COGECA is an umbrella association of nongovernmental agricultural organisations of the EU27. Minister Gandalovič was invited to the regular meeting of the heads of these organisations by the President of the Committee of Professional Agricultural Organisations (COPA), Jean-Michel Lemétayer, and the President of the General Confederation of Agricultural Cooperatives (COGECA), Gert van Dijk. The Czech Minister as President of the Agriculture and Fisheries Council consults this association on positions concerning current as well as strategic issues of the European agricultural sector before each meeting of the Council. In September 2008, the Congress of European Farmers adopted a declaration on the objectives of the Common Agricultural Policy beyond 2013. The future form of the Common Agricultural Policy, especially direct payments, is one of the priorities of the Czech Presidency, so the exchange of opinions may provide the Presidency with useful guidance.

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All together

13.3.2009 18:06:18

Petr Gandalovič, Minister of Agriculture of the Czech Republic

EU matters

CZECH MATE

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From left: Milan Horáček, European Parliament, Lutz Goepel, European Parliament, Friedrich-Wilhelm Graefe zu Baringdorf, European Parliament and Petr Gandalovič, Minister of Agriculture of the Czech Republic

Moravian wines, Czech beers and regional foods were in abundance in Brussels on the night of The Parliament Magazine’s New Year reception held on the occasion of the Czech EU presidency. MEPs and other well-wishers turned out in force at the Parliament Magazine’s New Year reception in the members’ dining room on 20th January to celebrate the start of Prague’s stint at the EU’s helm. This spring’s informal agriculture meeting in the South Moravian capital Brno could be one of the best-attended events of the Czech presidency, especially after the guest of honour, Czech agriculture minister Petr Gandalovič, 103 10 03 invited the 250-plus audience to turn up and sample even more Moravian wines during the ministers’ meeting. The minister, fresh from addressing parliament’s Agriculture, Fishery and Environmental committees for the first time, broke the ice at the reception with a few wry comments on the controversial Entropa art exhibition. However, Gandalovič pledged that, despite Prague’s Eurosceptic tag, the government would do all it could to make the presidency a success.

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SPIES ALLEGEDLY OPERATE AMONG EU JOURNALISTS The new head of the Belgian State Security Service, Alain Winants, declared there are spies among the 1,500 journalists accredited

by EU institutions. He stated that it is “terrifying how many Russian and Chinese reporters were in Brussels”. Similar allegations are contained in a confidential report of the European Commission, according to which, the risk of espionage in the European Union has increased.

These allegations were immediately rejected by the European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) and also by the International Press Association (API). The EFJ Secretary General, Aidan White, said that “this sort of loose talk ends up smearing everyone working in journalism by casting a cloud of suspicion over them”. The head of the API, Lorenzo Consoli, called the accusations an attack on investigative journalism stating that it is in the interest of the public for reporters to investigate confidential documents.

Accusations Without Proof Won’t Do Any Good It is only logical to t assume that secret services will use all available means to gain ain access to information that might be of interest. terest It would be odd indeed if they decided to respect the journalistic profession and didn’t try to use it as an opportunity to cover up their espionage activities. But the fact is, putting forth unproven allegations, as we have seen with Winant and with the Commission, will certainly not help with the elimination of this potent te ntia iall ri risk sk. Th They ey ssho houl uldd ha have ve eeitithe herr di dire rect ctly ly pointed to the guilty parties and demonstrated that the threat is real; or, they should have just kept quiet – because now they’ve made it look as if they are just trying to scare off anyone who might be trying to gain access to confidential (that is, important) information.

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EU WANTS TO EXTEND MUSIC COPYRIGHTS OUT TO 95 YEARS As early as next month, the European Parliament is expected to vote on an extension of copy co pyririgh ghtt pr prot otec ectition on for for mus music icia ians ns, co comp mpos oser erss and performing artists from the current 50 to a total of 95 years. The copyright protection period would start with the first public presentation of the given song or composition. So far, the proposed change has been reviewed by the legal committee of the Parliament, where it was approved without any major changes. Still, there were several members who opposed the change, claiming such a move goes against the interests of the consumer and lesser-known artists, who will supposedly end up “paying” for regulations that will only benefit large recording companies and a handful of well-known artists. The British media have accused the EU of not having backed up its decision with any in depth analysis and that it just accepted and went along with the arguments presented by the music industry. Musicians and pe performers are of course arguing that they need such a chan change in order to secure incomee for them themselves lvves aandd tthe heirir ffam amililie iess wh when en the they grow oldd.

An Unpleasant Change More and an more music is becoming com easily aavailable over the Internet. This hhowever does not mean that the average consumer won’t have to pay for the newly proposed EU measure.

Its impact will first be felt by any public establishments or facilities playing recent or older music – from dance clubs to supermarkets. These entities will certainly not be willing to bea bearr th thee bu burd rden en of of th thee ad addi ditition onal al fee feess fo forr the extension of copyrights on their own and they will try to pass the cost along to their customers.

EU PARLIAMENT CALLS FOR A “RED SWITCH” FOR COMPUTER GAMES Computer games have a “largely positive impact” on the mental development of children.

This Th is is is ac acco cord rdin ingg to a rep repor ortt re rele leas ased ed by by th thee European Parliament’s Committee for the Internal Market, according to which, half of all children using a computer are doing so without tho hout u any supervision. “Computer games do not pose any hazard and they may even contribute to the development of important skills,” states the author of the report and the MEP, Toine Manders. According to him, such skills include creativity, cooperation and strategic refl ection.

Additionallyy, the repo p rt calls for includingg the use of computer games es in schools. schools However, not all games are suitable able for children child of all age categories and parents ents therefore there need help with keeping ann eye on the type of games that their childrenn are playing and ffor how long.

Computers and com mpute uter games should therefore be equipped wi with some sort of a “red switch” which couldd be used by parents to block access to inappropriate games and to prevent their children from playing for too long.

The Value of Good Advice It isn’t just children, but also parents, that need an education on how to evaluate computer games and to reject those that might be harmful for their kids. Children could receive such information at school – that is, provided the school has someone who is able to help them make such judgments – but, the other question is, who can help the parents make such decisions?

europlatform

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16.3.2009 12:10:24

e

EU matters

From left: Jacques Barrot, Vice President of the European Commission, Commissioner responsible for Justice, Freedom and Security, Jiří Pospíšil, Minister of Justice and Mrs. Diana Wallis, Vice-President of the European Parliament

MINISTER OF JUSTICE WELCOMES EU EXPERTS AT INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE “E-JUSTICE WITHOUT BARRIERS” IN PRAGUE

W. Fellner, Germany

F. Fonseca Morillo, European Commission

J. J. de Almeida, Portugal

F. P. Pereira, GS Council

Tomáš Boček, Deputy Justice Minister of the Czech Republic

More than 300 experts from the EU will present their national solutions in the area of digitising the judicial system during the conference “e-Justice without Barriers”.

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From left: Jacques Barrot, Vice President of the European Commission, Commissioner responsible for Justice, Freedom and Security and Jiří Pospíšil, Minister of Justice, Czech Republic

Jacques Barrot, Vice President of the European Commission, Commissioner responsible for Justice, Freedom and Security and Mrs. Viviane Reding, Media and Information Society Commissioner

13.3.2009 18:08:01

From left: Joaquín Almunía, EU Commissioner for Economic and Financial Affairs, José Manuel Barroso, President of the European Commission and Mirek Topolánek, Prime Minister of the Czech Republic

EU matters

CONFERENCE

“EU ENLARGEMENT – 5 YEARS AFTER” The conference was organised on 2nd March, 2009 in Prague by the Czech Presidency in co-operation with the European Commission at the occasion of the 5th anniversary of the biggest EU enlargement. It should review the effects of the 2004 enlargement on economic and labour market developments both in the “old” and the “new” Member States of the EU. The main focus will be on the effects of enlargement in the three following areas: macro-financial stability, the EU Internal market and labour market mobility within the EU. Studies by the European Commission, the International Monetary Fund, the OECD and the Brussels think–tank Bruegel will be presented at the conference. The results of the conference will be presented and discussed by several EU Council configurations (Economic and Financial Affairs Council, Competitiveness Council and Employment, Social Affairs, Health and Consumer Affairs Council).

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Miroslav Kalousek, Minister of Finance of the Czech Republic

13.3.2009 18:09:05

Joaquín Almunía, EU Commissioner for Economic and Financial Affairs

From left: Miroslav Kalousek, Minister of Finance of the Czech Republic, Joaquín Almunía, EU Commissioner for Economic and Financial Affairs and Mirek Topolánek, Prime Minister of the Czech Republic

From left: Mirek Topolánek, Prime Minister of the Czech Republic and Quentin Peel, International Affairs Editor, Financial Times and Moderator of the Conference

Leszek Balcerowicz, Warsaw School of Economics

From left: Werner Weidenfeld, Director of Centre for Applied Policy Research, University of Munich, Joaquín Almunía, EU Commissioner for Economic and Financial Affairs, Ivan Mikloš, Member of Parliament, former Minister of Finance, Slovakia and Mirek Topolánek, Prime Minister of the Czech Republic

From left: Mario Monti, President of Bocconi University, Vladimír Špidla, EU Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities and Alexandr Vondra, Deputy Prime Minister for European Affairs, the Czech Republic

EU Enlargement Pays Off 1st of March, a high-level conference on “EU Enlargement – Five Years After“ organised in Prague by the Czech Presidency in cooperation with the European Commission, began to discuss the benefits of the enlargement to financial stability, the internal market and the mobility of labour within the EU. The latest data from Eurostat show, for example, that after the enlargement exports from the EU-15 to the new Member States rose by EUR 121.17 billion to EUR 268.93 billion in 2008. “The overwhelmingly positive impact on the European internal market has proved to be the principal argument in favour of enlargement,” said Alexandr Vondra, Czech Deputy Prime Minister for European Affairs. At the request of the Czech EU Presidency, the Commission has published a study of economic achievements and challenges resulting from the enlargements in 2004 and 2007. According to the report, the enlargement added 0.5 percentage points of GDP growth 107 annually in each old Member State, on average. In the twelve new Member States, the GDP grew on average by 1.75 percentage points every year.

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EU matters

Daniela Filipiová, Minister of Health, Czech Republic

DANIELA FILIPIOVÁ

OPENS “E-HEALTH FOR INDIVIDUALS, SOCIETY AND ECONOMY”

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From left: Bujar Osmani, Minister of Health, Republic of Macedonia and Richard Raši, Minister of Health, Slovak Republic

13.3.2009 18:10:15

Maret Maripuu, Minister of Social Affairs, Republic of Estonia

Klaus Theo Schröder, State Secretary, Federal Ministry of Health and Social Security, Germany

Christos Patsalides, Minister of Health, Republic of Cyprus

Bernat Soria Escoms, Minister of Health and Consumer Affairs, Spain

All together

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Pat Cox, former President of the European Parliament, Consultant for European Integration Solutions

The Czech Health Minister has opened the 7th expert conference entitled “eHealth for Individuals, Society and Economy”. The event, which is one of the Ministry’s priorities, has brought together 500 participants from 37 countries.

“Primarily, eHealth brings benefits to patients and healthcare workers. It gives doctors easier access to information on patients’ health, the possibility to control expenditure and greater mobility. Patients will be able to obtain information about their health or drug dosage while their personal data will be fully protected”, says Minister Filipiová. Electronic tools have a great potential in science and development as well as education and training. All in all, eHealth helps increase the quality109 and safety of healthcare services as well as their efficiency.

13.3.2009 18:10:41

MASNÁ

15

A PLACE WHERE I WANT TO LIVE There are many places in Prague which are breathtaking but streets of the Old Town have their own unmistakable charm and magic.

One of the symbols of romantic Prague which is hidden from the rush of the city and crowds of tourists is Masná street. The history of this street goes back to the 14th century when it housed meat shops, hence its name. Along with the neighbouring Fish Market and Fruit Market close by it formed the “supermarkets” of the middle ages during the Reign of Emperor Charles IV.

THE LUXURY OF YOUR NEW HOME The Masná Residential Project is a unique opportunity for luxurious living in the historical centre of Prague.

In the course of the entire renovation of an apartment building dating back to the 1930’s, the original functionalistic/minimalist style has been preserved while using cutting edge technology and high quality materials which meet the expectations of even the most demanding clients in search of a modern lifestyle. Modifications to presented designs are of course made to suit the client’s individual needs.

www.masna15.cz

Finanziaria Immobiliare Monferini S.p.A. (FIM Group) is a solid leader in the real estate world. It is made up of various qualified real estate companies that work in the sectors of real estate development, construction management, property management and facility management.

Our objective is to plan, build and put on the market; directly or by means of affilate companies; a highquality product which is always state of the art in terms of comfort and environmental impact.

Our experience, professionalism and the ability to manage the phases involved in real estate development enables us to face the market with great determination. All the while, we try our best to play an active role in the improvement of the standards of quality found on the real estate market by entrusting our projects to established architectual firms.

With fifty years of solid experience to speak of and an operational background which includes residential, commercial, industrial, office space and ultimately the hotel sector; FIM Group identifies itself as one of the market’s most qualified and experienced developers.

For more information about our projects in Europe, including the Czech Republic, visit www.fimgroup.eu.

RESIDENTIAL PROJECT MASNA 15 PURE FUNCTIONALISM IN THE HEART OF PRAGUE EXCLUSIVE DEALER FIM NEMOVITOSTI, S.R.O., HUSOVA 24/5, PRAHA 1 Tel.: 224 212 740, 724 720 991 e-mail: info@fimnemovitosti.eu www.fimnemovitosti.eu

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At the Partners Conference 2009 the leaders of the company toast to another successful year of this financial consulting firm. Founded only in 2007, Partners is to become the number one on the financial counseling market in the Czech Republic. Among the top managers we can name Pavel Kohout, well-known economist as well as the member of the National Economic Council, or Tomáš Prouza, the former deputy minister at the Czech Ministry of Finance.

With the stress on the motto “Financial consulting differently”, the aim of the company is a rather open and long-lasting relationship with clients as well as a strict control of ethical behavior of each advisor.

partners conference 2009 IN COOPERATION WITH LEADERS MAGAZINE AND AFIZ – ASSOCIATION OF FINANCIAL INTERMEDIARIES AND FINANCIAL ADVISERS OF THE CZECH REPUBLIC

At the conference, financial results of the company were presented together with plans of expansion for the future. Also, most successful advisors of the year 2008 were acknowledged and promoted. The estimated turnover for the year 2009 is one billion Czech crowns. On the picture from left members of Partners management Petr Chmelař, Michal Oppl, Jan Hárovník, Tomáš Hummel, Jitka Lucbauerová, Jan Majer, Radim Lukeš, Kateřina Palková, Petr Borkovec, Tomáš Prouza, Pavel Kohout, Petr Kroupa, Karel Maroušek and Jan Krejčiřík.

Financial Consulting Differently

Tomáš Dvořák, Decathlon Champion and Ing. Kateřina Palková, MBA., Partners CEO and Chairwoman of the Board

Pavel Kohout, Member of the Board

Ing. Tomáš Prouza, MBA., Vicechairman of the board

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From left: Ing. Petr Kroupa, Ing. Petr Borkovec and Ing. Kateřina Palková MBA

15.3.2009 10:01:48

An interview with Stanislav Mišák, President of the Zlín Region

THE KEY PRIORITY Is to Increase Competitiveness of our Region Stanislav Mišák graduated from the University of Veterinary Medicine in 1978. In the first elections after 1989 he became member of the Council in Otrokovice. Since 1998 he has been a member of the Social Democratic Party (ČSSD). In the years 1994-2006 he was Mayor and since 2006 has been Deputy Mayor of Otrokovice. He also became a member of the Council of the Zlín Region in 2000 and since 2006 he has worked as Deputy Governor of the Zlín Region. Stanislav Mišák was elected President of the Zlín Region in 2008.

Stanislav Mišák is married and has two kids.

Photo: Pho t Pe to: Petr tr Zák ákut utnýý utn

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What are the key priorities for the following period of office?

The main priority is to increase the competitiveness of the Zlín Region and at the same time to support everything connected with this goal. It concerns transport accessibility; science, research and innovation environment grants; the development of our organizations like, e.g. the Technological Innovation Centre. Moreover, we are planning investments into education, health care, social service, renovation and development of the country. Our main follow-up priority is the acquisition of the means from the EU funds. Be it regional operational programmes, integrated operational programmes, programmes of cross-border cooperation or operational programmes of entrepreneurship via organizations estt abl bliishhedd by us. TThhe main i t ask, k however, iis to gather the EU and regional means in order to accomplish the best investments possible and so, in a way, to smooth down the economic decline consequences.

Could you mention some particular projects concerning the Zlín Region development launching at present?

First of all, a long-term problem of our region is its poor traffic infrastructure. So, we are going to apply pressure regarding expeditious building of the D1 motorway, particularly its last stage in front of Kroměříž and also its follow-up towards Přerov. Another important highway is the connection of Hulín with Otrokovice via the highway R55 and its follow follow-up up by the south south-east east circum circumferential highway to Austria. Among other priorities I would like to mention the finishing of the highway R49 from Hulín to Fryšták and its follow-up to Slovak border, including its connection to Zlín.

The second important area is the health care system. In February we launched the refund system of patients’ payments in regional hospitals as well as the subsequent transformation of these institutions into public non-profit organizations.

Other essential projects are, among others, the construction of the Strategic industrial zone in Holešov where we would like to bring innovative technologies interconnected with research and science; the establishment of the Cultural and educational centre in the former Svit factory complex. Here we would like to establish a regional gallery, library and museum, and also, we plan to create a regional airport at Přerov-Buchoř providing both civil and military transport.

If I had to mention some specific investments to be implemented already this year, these would be the construction of a new building within the Institute of Social Care in Zborovice, the construction of a parking house next to the Regional Hospital of T. Baťa in Zlín, the reconstruction and building of an annex of the rest home in Uherský Ostroh; improvement of the quality of life in the rest home in Karolínka, the reconstruction of the Institute of Social Care in Kvasice, the reconstruction of the Memorial of Great Moravia in

Staré Město, including a new multimedia display, or the final stage of the construction of regional centres of salvage and rescue service in Valašské Meziříčí and Uherský Brod.

In this context, are you ready to use the EU structural funds? What significant projects are you going to back up out of these funds particularly?

Concerning the Zlín Region priorities, the EU’s financial perspective up to 2013 and for the two following years is involved in the Regional Operational programme for both the Zlín Region and the Olomouc Region. Within this framework, both upper-mentioned regions are going to receive about 16 billion CZK. We are obviously ready to use the money effectively according to the defined top priorities, which is the construction of high hi ghways; devellopmentt off our cititiies andd muniicii palities; and support of tourism. These areas are going to be enriched by investments mostly and we hope they successfully boost our region.

Moreover, we would like to get other financial means from thematic operational programmes.

Significant changes on the regional level occur especially in the area of health care services. Could you tell us more about the anticipated positive consequences of the aim to cancel payments in hospitals for citizens up to 18 years of age and for seniors on the regional level; and to transform regional hospitals into public non-profit hospitals?

I personally insist that payments brought forward nothing but the disruption in relationships between the patient and doctor. On the nationwide level the process of cancellation of payments is going to be completed soon as well.

Starting from 1st February, we have established the system of refunds of regulation payments.

This refund concerns all types of ambulatory payments. Payments of stay in hospital are really going to be refunded for kids and youth up to 18 years of age and for senior citizens over 70 years. Payments for emergency treatment are not going to be refunded. Concerning the refund of the payment at chemists, it is going to depend on their business policy. I mean primarily the possibility that they can for instance dispense their margin for the benefit of their clients. We would like to refund the upper-mentioned groups of citizens primarily in order to decrease social impacts on families with children and elderly people. Moreover, the transition of hospitals into public non-profit organizations should bring better public control over these institutions.

Do you plan to develop the regional centre in Brussels? Could you mention some particular achievements aimed at regional development accomplished thanks to the Brussels centre?

Thanks to our representation in Brussels we have easily managed to get involved with the EU environment and at the same time to make the Zlín Region visible as a dynamic one. We have accomplished direct financing of a variety of projects; to name at least some of them: the RIS,

the Cognac, the SupPolicy, the Equal and the SAVE. Our regional representation also closely cooperates with the European Commission.

Obviously, we want to develop our activities in Brussels also in the future.

Our regions are also involved in the Czech Presidency of the EU. What events do you take part in?

There was already an informal meeting of 27 EU Labour and Social Affairs Ministers in the Zlín Region, particularly in Luhačovice, at the end of January. We organized this event together with the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs and with the Office of the Government. We participated primarily in the creation of the accompanying agenda aimed at the presentation of the Zlín Region with the main focus on tourist attractitions. AAft fter tthhe meetitingg off miiniisters t th there was th the session of the European Youth Forum Jeunesse consisting of the federation of more than 90 national youth councils and international youth NGO’s gathering 10 million young people from the whole world. Another great event is the organization of the conference of PhD graduates from the Faculty of Management and Economics of the Tomáš Baťa University in Zlín under the title: “Baťa’s Legacy for Europe: Baťa’s System of Management and its Applicability in the European Economic Area”. This conference is held by the Tomáš Baťa University in Zlín in cooperation with the Zlín Region authority. Last but not least, the agenda of events is going to end up by the meeting of the informal network of public adminis administration representatives in Europe – the EUPAN (European Public Administration Network) in Kroměříž in mid-June 2009. The EUPAN is a network aimed primarily at the experience and the approved methods exchange regarding the utilization of information and communication technologies in public administration.

In this context, how are you going to support the development of the upper-mentioned Tomáš Baťa University in Zlín?

The University is our long-term partner with whom we carry out a number of projects which is obvious from your previous questions. Yet I would like to mention the most businesslike projects we work on. To name but a few, recently we have launched the Technological Innovation Centre in the cooperation with the Zlín Region focused on regional innovation assistance and at the same time on cooperation of particular businesses and universities. Moreover, we take part in clusters merging which stimulates the development of particular branches. Thus the interconnection of the University, public institutions and businesses is one of the key steps contributing to our region’s competitiveness rise.

By Pavlína Holancová I

českou verzi naleznete na www.leadersmagazine.cz

Leaders Magazine II/ I 2009

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interview

H.E. Mr. Mohammed Rachid Idrissi Kaitouni Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Czech Republic Photo: VladimĂ­r Weiss

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A talk with H.E. Mr. Mohammed Rachid Idrissi Kaitouni, Ambasssador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiaary to the Czech Republic

Morocco – Open for Business After graduating in law and political sciences, Rachid Idrissi Kaiitouni started his proofessional career as a professorresearcher at Mohammed VI University and the National Schooll of Administration inn Rabat. He was then appointed as Director of the Academy of the Kingdom of Morocco. He wass Secretary General of the Parliament of Morocco for 17 years, during which he participated actively in more than 30 seminars and internattional parliamentary conferences.

In 2005, he was appointed by King Mohammed VI as Ambassador E xtraordinary and Plennipotentiary to the Czech Republic.

How would you describe Moroccan-Czech relations in general today?

Relations between Morocco and the Czech Republic are excellent, including at the political and diplomatic levels. We share the same ideals, which are expressed when we met each other at global meetings, when we reaffirm principles of international peace and security and, naturally, in our common efforts to establish the rule of law, secure democratic practices and respect for human rights.

The Prague Spring of 1968 was seen in Morocco as the first demonstration leading to the freedom of the Czechoslovak people, and the Velvet Revolution in 1989 was followed with much interest by all Moroccans. But it was only when His Majesty King Mohammed VI acceded to the throne that a very important series of measures bringing Morocco to a level comparable to that of European countries were introduced. You will be convinced of this when you read the speech of His Majesty the King Mohammed VI to mark the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of the Human Rights. It shows that the path Morocco has taken is an irreversible process that will be accompanied by further measures in the media, in politics and the electoral system.

Can you outline any areas where the two countries cooperate closely?

The Czech company Nehera established a presence in the large cities in Morocco at the end of the 1920s, thus setting an example to other Czech firms and highlighting the commercial activity between the two countries. This justified the opening of a Czech Consulate in Casablanca in 1935. With independence, many Moroccans pursued further studies in Czechoslovakia and later occupied very high positions in Morocco in both the public and private sectors. Often married to Czechs, they maintained close relations with this country and even today are an example of co-operation and integration between the two nations Now that Morocco has obtained the Advanced Statute with the European Union, co-operation between Morocco and the Czech Republic has widened further. The Czech Presidency of the European Union will be an occasion to explore further ways of developing this relationship. We hope that during

this period the Czech Republic will make every effort so that the two only counttries of the Mediterranean region with the Advannced Statute can benefit from equal treatment.

How would you describe Moroccan-Czech business relations?

If we consider only the statisticss, commercial exchanges multiplied fivefold over thhe last five years.

But this figure is still not satisfacttory, and is not in line with EU resolutions recommending the diversification of sources of supply. Howevver there are many areas of co-operation between Morocco and the Czech Republic, including collabboration between Morocco and the EU, and bilateeral relationships.

With reference to the latter pointt, I think that the mutual promotion, the protection of investment, a sector which profits from receivving the particular attention of the Government of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, and other factorss such, as a nondouble taxation treaty, are likeely to guarantee Czech investors a long-term future..

Can you give examples of Moroccan-Czech business projects?

Morocco is a country with considerable promise, which is less than 11 km from Eurrope. I am always awaiting responses from the Czeech companies to take part in the various invitations to participate in tram projects because many Mooroccan cities are on the way to using this environnmentally-friendly means of transport. Czech firms’ experience and know-how in this field, as well as knowledge of markets they have gained in the Unnited States and in Europe, can open the way to businesses projects in this field for many years to com me. There is also room for cooperation in aeronauutics, automotive engineering, and irrigation.

How do you see this business relationship developing in the future?

There is no doubt that in the very near future the business connections between Morocco and the Czech Republic will develop conssiderably. We will benefit from the Czech Presidencyy of the European Union to invite Moroccan employyers to meet their Czech counterparts and to define an overall strategy to put into effect the commitments taken by the Czech Prime Minister during his visit to Morocco two years ago. During this periodd, as well as the

organization of a week of Moroccan crafts and cuisine, new opportunities are bound to open up, in adddition to a better understanding of Moroccan diverssity and potential. I can only express my optimism and my determination to work hard so that the exxcellence of the business connections reflects the warm political relationship between the two countries.

What role can tourism play in it?

I im magine that these two activities can help the underr standing and the discovery of the cultural, artistiic and historical potential of the two countries.

If we manage to set up direct air links between Prague and Casablanca, Marrakech or Agadir, we can establish links with other countries in the Meditterranean area.

Less s than a three-hour flight from Prague, Morocco offeers a very varied climate. In the south, you have the Saahara where you can ski on dunes, an activity which is becoming ever more popular. We can also offer f ishing and diving, and in the mountains you can skki for almost four months a year Thee most known Moroccan cities, thanks to films, like Casablanca or Tangier, co-exist with cities with a richh thousand-year-old history like Fez and Marrakechh. They conceal the diversity and richness of the Moroccan people, which for many are seen as the most Western of the Middle Eastern and Islamic countries. Moreover, the Moroccan people play their part in the Andalusian heritage of Spain and thus Europpe. Their influence can be seen in European musicc, architecture and culture.

Away from work, how do you spend your free time?

In the Czech Republic, spare time is a time of culture. T he architecture of the city, its works of art, opera and the theatre are new things for me, and there are so many that it will take me many years to get to know them. But it is in the museums of Prague that one can measure the extent of a culture, and knowledge of it. To the compatriots who ask me what Prague is like I answer that it is a city which enchants me ass much as it will charm you.

By David Craighton I českou verzi naleznete na www.leadersmagazine.cz

Leaders Magazine II/ I 2009

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16.3.2009 12:00:29

A talk with Karel Paar, the Grand Priior off the Grand Priory of Bohemia of the Sovereign Military Hoospitaller Order of St. Johnn of Jerusalem of Rhodees and of Malta

Tuitio Fidei et Obsequium Pauperum Karel Eduardd Paarr was born in 1934. His father Alfons caarried thhe title of Prince and his motther Žofie was a countess. Karel Paar was brought up in Bechynně toggether with his brother and sister, all siblingss were growing up in the Czzech-speaking environment. A year after the War the family movedd to Switzerland where they were durinng the February 1948 communistt coup. After finishing his studies in Switzerland he moved too Austtria in 1954. The impulse to get involvved witth the Knights of Malta cam me from his father, member of the Order himself.

He finished the novitiate in 1978 and four years later made vows of “poverty, chastity and obedience aspiring to perfection according to the Gospeel”. Inn 1989 he was named member of the Sovereiign Council in Rome. He wass elected Grand Prior of Bohemia in March 2004.

Has there ever been a moment in your life when you did not forgive?

It is an intereesting question I must say. Not to forgive… I must saay it haas never happened to me. I have always forgiven. One can forgive everything. One cannot forget certaain thinngs, but that is something different. None of us is a juudge of the others; everyone has to bear in mindd that they could get judged too. I can say that my life brought me many moments that could have led me to a posittion of not forgiving. The complicated life, wheen I waas forced to leave this country as a young boyy in ordder to return after forty years as a mature man,, taughht me the lesson that one has always to forgivve.

Your Order is an old institution with an ancient history. Today, how is it anchored to the modern world that has changed so radically since the days when the concept, character and philosophy of the Order were formed?

The Order as such was founded as a brotherhood in the Holy Land and trried to help pilgrims in the Holy Land. From thiss brotherhood the Order evolved and was recognized by thee Pope in 1113. The Order had to participate in the Cruusades, however, predominantly it always conceentrated on helping people in need.

They built a hosspital in Jerusalem, but they fought at the same time. T he cooncept that stays until these days has been the deefencee of the faith, at that time meaning the Holy Seepulture, and the service to those in need, injured and alll people no matter of what religion or race. T hose were the virtues of the man of the Middle Agees. Latter, the Order moved to Cyprus and Rhodes. Everywhere they went, so not only in Jerusalem, butt all over the Old Europe where the knights got, theey builtt hospices. Thus, helping people was still the aim m. And this remains to the present days.

Certainly, the ways and techniques differ, but the motto stays thee sam me – protecting faith and taking care of those inn needd. Today, the Order has got over 12 000 membeers all over the world. Hospitals, hospices, emergenncy waards are established. Volunteers help and take care of people. The concept has remained the sam me for more than 900 years.

When did the Knights come to the Czech Kingdom?

Johnites, wheen werre not in Malta yet, were invited to the Czech K ingdom by King Ladislav II. This was already in 1160 wheen they built a covenant in the

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recognized by apprrooximately a hundred statees w which we have diplomaatic relaattionships established withh. W We have been observeers to thhe United Nations. Thanks to the fact that we have our ambbaassadors in many counntries, inn case of some naturaal disassters the Order has gott a direcct access to the governnmennts. So if we are able to heelp we can do so much more effeectivveely than others.

And what is the thhe position po of the Grand Prioryy of Bohemia B within the context of the Order?

The top reepreesennttative of the Order, thee Graand M Master, is in Rome. Theen thhe O Order has got its bodiess in maany countries of which in soomee there are the so-calledd Grandd Priories.

The Grand Prrioryy of Bohemia is the oldest inn thee worrlld. Today, there are sixx Grrandd Priories compared to 25 whicch used to exist before thhe seeculaarization, of which threee aree in IItaly, one in Austria andd one inn England, whichh was abolished under Henry VIII. andd later restoreed. The other bodie s are the soo-caalledd national associations. I am, as the Grand Prior, electted for six yearss, not for the life. Only the Grand Masster is elected for liffe. The Grand Prior can be eleectedd tw wiice, even threee times. In case he is re-electeed foor thhe second time he needs two thirds of the votess.

How would you characterize the rela relationship with the Czech Republic?

Wee have diplomatic relationshipss with the h Czech government. We have the ambassaddor thatt is accreditedd by the President of the Repubblic. Thooough still, this does not mean much. The ambass saddor represents e the Grand Master in front of the goverrnmeent oof another counntry. For instance, the organization Malttese Help is ann independent legal entity whosse fooundder is the Grand Priory of Bohemia. Even though thee staaate knows it is here and it recognizes the efficienccy off its work, manyy people still do not really undeerstaandd what the Ordeer actually is. What is an order of knighhtts? What are thhose people? Is it some sort of elitisst cluub?

Inddeed, to become a member off thee Ordder is not comm monplace. Members must be peooplee who are activve in the Church, culture or otheer sppherrees of civil socieety. It has to be such a personality thatt can guaranteee the mission of the Order, whhich meeans a work in humanitarian and charity activities.

How is your Order financed? Where Wheere does d the money for your activities come from?

The Order is a non-profit organiization. We have certaain income from member fees,, but thhis cannot in any way finance all the activities we wish to do. The Grand Priory still owns only the premisess in thhe Lesser Quarr ter which are the only source of otheer income.

These are to a large extent used to maiinntain the Photos: Paul Pacey

plaace of the he pressent seat at the Lesser Quarter. Since theen the Order has retained its position in the Czech Lannds until now.

You saidd that when the Order came to the Czech lands theyy were still Knights of St. John. Where does the nname ame Knights of Malta come from?

After thee conqquest of Rhodes by the Muslims the kniights waandereed through Sicily before they were givven the is island of Malta by the emperor Charles V. as a feudaatory or benefice with full autonomy and sovvereigntt y in 15530. The Order was active there, they woorked in a parallel with the local administration and theey did not ot interr fere in it. Soon after they had arrived theey defennded thhe island against a Muslim invasion andd they rem emaineed there until the arrival of Napoleon in 1798. The he Frennch did not stay there long and it was thee Englishh who conquered Malta in 1806 and stayed theere until 1968.. This was probably the toughest time in the histoor y of thhe Order. What is interesting is that at thaat time the helpp came from Russia when the Tzar inviteed the Or Order too Russia and was even elected Grand Maaster agaainst all rules of the Order. After the return froom Russsiaa the Order did not possess any center.

Onnly as late te as in 1834 the Italian kingdom allowed thee Order to come to Rome where the Pontiff still possess sed staate pow wer.

What iss the formal legal status of the Order today?

It is an int nterestting phenomenon. It is a church order, butt at the samee time also a sovereign state, which does not possess s its own territory in the traditional sennse. It ha has gott a tiny bit of land in the place of its palace on the Avventine Hill in Rome where extraterritorriality appplies. Italian police cannot step on that pieece of land withhout our permission. We are officially

historical properties that we are obligeed to take care of and preserve. We have to doo that without owing any other property that could produce means for that.

In the past, this was possible since thhere were possessions and assets bringing inncomee that secured a lot of the activities of the Order.. For innstance, during the WWI the Order paid the equippmentt of ambulance carriages heading to the front. Similar actions are impossible today without any posssessionns. The assets and properties of the Orders were neever meant to bring profit. They are supposedd to prrovide support for humanitarian and charity proojects. If we had our confiscated possessions back, we would be able to support the Maltese Help mucch more. At present, we support them with chickenfeeed. Thee restitution of the ecclesial possessions is a raather sensitive issue and at present it does not look prro-mising for us.

If your properties were restituted and you possessed them again, do you think that the Order would be able to manage and take care of such properties? Do you have a plan or a conception prepared what to do with it?

I am aware of the comments thhat thee churches and orders would not manage to takee care of it if they get it all back. I am positive that todaay we would manage the process. The possession wouuld gett transferred to the Order and all the institutions ressiding in them would remain where they are. Certainly, we would need people recruiting from our mem mbers to be in charge of the trusteeship and sure we would find them. We have among us many people with sufficient competence and skills. Nowadays, looking after properties does not require every day presence, though it is certainly better. In thhe age of information technologies you do not need to havve your people everywhere for instance as in thhe casee of managing forests.

Also, I have to say that the villagges and towns where we have our claims are am mazingg in their effort to help us. We have to collect all possible records proving that the properties beloonged to us. We can claim only properties that are sttill in thhe possession of the state. What has been paassed onto someone else has been excluded from ouur claim ms. Towns and villages also object to the presennt statte and the fact that no one can dispose with the property in the present situation, because oftenn the land would be profitable as development sites and thhey cannot use it for their further development.

It has been four years since you took the Grand Priory. In politics this time means one term. In what way has Karel Paar in this position contributed to the Grand Priory of Bohemia?

When I started we had certain financcial difficulties.

Today, also thanks to all the people around me, we have a consolidated economic situatioon. I think I can boast a bit that the Grand Priorr y of Bohemia today after many years is flourishing.. Not that we could afford to do big things, but it is coonsoliddated.

By Filip Hubáček I

českou verzi naleznete na www w.leaddersmagazine.cz

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The Nordic World Ski Championship 2009

The General Director of SYNOT Holding, Kateřina Luisa Daňhelová welcomes the world renowned businesswoman Ivana Trump to the SYNOT TIP LOUNGE.

SYNOT TIP LOUNGE

Was Bustling in Liberec

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Ivana Trump (on the right) also took the opportunity to bet on the success of the Czech team, wagering on the fact that two Czech jumpers would move on from the qualifying group to the main competition.

15.3.2009 10:05:35

From left: Ivana Trump and the General Director of SYNOT Holding, Kateřina Luisa Daňhelová with Radka Jírková, the President of the Executive Committee for the LATA BRANDIS ladies club and MUDr. Jiří Paděra, MBA, Managing Director of ICE, s.r.o. in the background.

SYNOT TIP, the official partner of the Organizational Committee for the Nordic World Ski Championship 2009 in Liberec, welcomed Kateřina Neumannová to the SYNOT TIP LOUNGE in the center of Liberec on Wednesday, February 25th. Neumannová was the President of the Organizational Committee for the championship and signed autographs for fans and also placed a bet on the Czech team.

The President of the Organizational Committee for the Nordic World Ski Championship 2009 in Liberec, Kateřina Neumannová.

Kateřina Neumannová using the SYNOT TIP online terminal to wager on the fact that the Czechs would win a medal in the 4 x 10 km race, one of the most anticipated races of the championship.

Marie Zelníčková, Ivana Trump’s mother, bet on the fact that three jumpers would move from the qualification round to the main competition. Ivana Trump said that any winnings would go to charity.

SYNOT TIP, a.s. was the official partner of the Organizational Committee for the Nordic World Ski Championship 2009 in Liberec, the largest sporting event of the year. SYNOT TIP organized a variety of additional activities during the Championship as well. The entire time the Championship were running, the SYNOT TIP LOUNGE was open right next to the Medal Plaza. The Lounge offered refreshments and the possibility of watching the races in Vestec or the ski jumping taking place under Ještěd. Inside the lounge people could also bet on their favorites. SYNOT TIP LOUNGE also provided a place where fans could meet with their favorite celebrities in attendance. For example, SYNOT TIP LOUNGE was where the President of the Organizational Committee, Kateřina Neumannová held an autographing session and famous businesswoman and former Czechoslovakian ski team member, Ivana Trump, could be met. Even if the center of town sometimes seemed empty, the SYNOT TIP tent was always bustling.

General Director of SYNOT Holding, Kateřina Luisa Daňhelová saying goodbye to Ivana Trump and her mother. This well known Czech-born celebrity came thanks to an invitation from the LATA BRANDIS ladies club.

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15.3.2009 10:06:04

jubilee event

70 Birthday th

Peter Formánek

Mrs. Formanek and Peter Formanek, President, Canadian Chamber of Commerce

One of the most known and popular personality, a great gentleman and a good friend to your publisher, has turned 70 – believe it, or not? When you see how active and full of energy this President of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce is, you might think he nearly passed 50.

PETER P. FORMANEK Education and work experience:

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH LEADERS MAGAZINE From left: Tomáš Hrubý, Partner, Hrubý & Buchvaldek, H.E. Michael Calcott, Ambassador of Canada, Mrs. Monika Franková, Head of Expat Center, Česká spořitelna, Peter Formanek, President, Canadian Chamber of Commerce, Mrs. Alexandra Brabcová, Executive Director, Canadian Chamber of Commerce, Alan Krautstengel, Ph.D., President, AngloAmerican University, Prague, Mrs. Alexandra Rudyšarová, CEO, CzechInvest, Jiří Krejča, Managing Director, G4S Security Services and Sanjiv Suri, President & CEO, Zátiší Group

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Economic University in Bratislava Dipl. Ing. ● University of Toronto re: nostrification for MA ● University of Toronto FICB (Fellow of Institute of Canadian Bankers) ● University of Toronto CLU (Chartered Life Underwriter) ● Management Training: Intensive training in human resources communication and public relation Present: The President & CEO of Canadian Chamber of Commerce in the CR ● Honorary Consul of Jamaica in the CR ● The Governor at large MacLachlan College, Oakville On. Canada ● CEO of Ing. Peter Formanek International Consulting ● ExChairperson of the Board of Directors of Vodafone Foundation ● Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of Anglo-American University

15.3.2009 9:13:59

From left: Mrs. Alexandria Graber, Bruce Walker, Mrs. Charlotte Sommer, H.E. Richard Graber, Ambassador of USA (recently went back to the USA)

Peter Formanek, President, Canadian Chamber of Commerce and Opera Singer From left: Peter Formanek, President, Canadian Chamber of Commerce and Sanjiv Suri, President & CEO, Zátiší Group

From left: Peter Formanek, President, Canadian Chamber of Commerce and H.E. Michael Calcott, Ambassador of Canada

From left: Edvard Outrata, Senator (ret.), H.E. Peter Reader, Ambassador of Norway and Most Reverend Diego Causero, Titular Archbishop of Grado, Apostolic Nuncio

From left: Petr Palečka, Member of the Board/Corporate Secretary, Komerční banka, Mrs. Formanek, Mrs. Palečková and Peter Formanek, President, Canadian Chamber of Commerce

Mrs. Šárka Kroftová and Jiří Buchvaldek, Partner, Hrubý & Buchvaldek

Mrs. Gorman and John Gorman, President, Euro-American Networks, Inc.

From left: Friend of Mongolia´s Ambassador, Karel Wagner, Producer, Multisonic and H.E. Ochir Enkhtur, Ambassador of Mongolia

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more photos and electronic version available on www.leadersmagazine.cz

Mrs. Suri and Peter Formanek, President, Canadian Chamber of Commerce

16.3.2009 12:07:58

From left: Mrs. Manto-Mrnka, Peter Formanek, President, Canadian Chamber of Commerce and Antonin Manto-Mrnka, Renowned Glass Sculpture Artist

From left: Marc Ellenbogen, President, Prague Society for International Cooperation and H.E. Peter Reader, Ambassador of Norway From left: Mrs. Pitrová, Dr. Ing. Luděk Pitra, Senior Advisor Base Technologies and Mrs. Alexandra Brabcová, Executive Director, Canadian Chamber of Commerce

From left: Petr J. Kalas, Advisor to the Prime Minister, Mrs. Dagmar Kalasová and H.E. Richard Graber, Ambassador of the USA (recently went back to the USA)

Mrs. Michaela Jorgenson, Managing Partner, Smed Jorgenson Attorney at Law and Mirko Lachman, Senior Advisor, Leaders Magazine

Mrs. Stimson and Michael Stimson, CRM Lead – Microsoft

PETER P. FORMANEK Career:

Peter Formanek, President, Canadian Chamber of Commerce with son Andy

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London Life Assurance Co. 20 years in management ● Member of National Leaders Congress ● The Bank of Nova Scotia, Toronto Ont. Economist ● International Bank in Moscow, Economist ● The State Bank of Czechoslovakia, Economist Memberships: Member of Czech Managerial Assoc. ● Member of CESO (Canadian Executive Service Organization) ● Served on the Board of Charitatible Org. SERVO

15.3.2009 9:15:55

Martin Benka (1888–1974), Ludovít Fulla (1902–1980), Cyprián Majerník (1909–1945), Miloš A. Bazovský (1899–1968), Vladimír Kompánek (*1927), Ester Šimerová-Martinčeková (1909–2005), Peter Michal Bohúň (1822–1879), Gustáv Mallý (1879–1952), Ludovít Čordák (1864–1937), Gejza Schiller (1895–1927), Ernest Zmeták (1919–2004), Vojtech Erdélyi (1891–1955), František Reichentál (1895–1971), Koloman Sokol (1902–2003), Eugén Krón (1883–1974), Andrej Nemeš (1909–1985), Anton Jasusch (1882–1965), Bedrich Hoffstädter (1910–1954), Ján Želibský (1907–1997), Július Koreszka (1895–1958), Ondrej Zimka (*1937), Imro Weiner Kráľ (1901–1978)

From left: Ivo Gajdoš, Vice-President, Czech Manager Association and Business Director, ZTE Corporation, Doc. Jaroslav Šaroun, Piano, Member of the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra (performance

by Eugen Suchoň: Katrena’s aria from the Opera Krútňava) and Alena Miro, Soprano, Soloist, State Opera Prague

culture event IN COOPERATION WITH LEADERS MAGAZINE

Exhibition in Miro Gallery Prague

Jewels of Slovak Paintwork from a Private Collection

From left: Juraj Jakubisko, Film Director, Artist Reon and Varhan Orchestrovič Bauer, Conductor and Composer

PhDr. MgA. Miro Smolák, Owner and Director, MIRO Gallery, Dr. Juan Ricardo Braun, Writer and President, Journalists without Borders and Dr. Dipl. Ing. Danuše Siering

Mrs. Blanka Adensamová, Painter and Sculptor, Miroslav Kaderka, Art Collector and Marián Hodoš, Art Collector

From left: Leoš Svárovský, Conductor, Stanislav Vaněk, Director, Czech Television, Doc. Jaroslav Šaroun, Member of the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra

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more photos and electronic version available on www.leadersmagazine.cz

From left: PhDr. Peter Kováč, Art Historian, Miloš Nesvadba, Journalist, Actor and Artist, Václav Čapek, Presenter and Jaroslav Holoubek, Journalist, Poet and Writer

16.3.2009 12:36:19

culture event

IN COOPERATION WITH LEADERS MAGAZINE On February 3, 2009 the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague (FAMU) celebrated the legendary film director Věra Chytilová’s jubilee birthday with the presentation of the AMU Gold Medal.

Prof. V. Chytilová, The Chair of the FAMU Directing Department and Prof. M. Klíma, Interim Rector AMU

Prof. Věra Chytilová Awarded AMU Gold Medal

Prof. Ivan Vyskočil, Pedagogue DAMU and Prof. Věra Chytilová, The Chair of the FAMU Directing Department

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more photos and electronic version available on www.leadersmagazine.cz

15.3.2009 9:55:36

event

perex From left: I. Šlapeta, Cameraman, M. Vondříček, Cameraman and J. Kallista, Pedagogue of the FAMU Directing Department

Prof. V. Chytilová, The Chair of the FAMU Directing Department, Doc. M. Jícha, Pedagogue of Cinematography Department FAMU and J. Myslík, Chairman of Senate FAMU

Prof. V. Chytilová, The Chair of the FAMU Directing Department and E. Zaoralová, Art Director of Film Festival Karlovy Vary

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From left: Mrs. Wiener, External Pedagogue FAMU, Jan Wiener, former Mayor General-Airforce and Prof. Věra Chytilová, The Chair of the FAMU Directing Department

A graduate of FAMU, Věra Chytilová studied in the famous class at the directing department that went on to help create the world-renowned Czech New Wave. Known as the First Lady of Czech Cinema, Věra Chytilová has led a distinguished and award-winning career, directing over 30 feature and documentary films, including Daisies, The Apple Game, Panel Story, Inheritance, and Searching for Ester. Currently, she is a professor at FAMU, and the chair of the FAMU Directing Department.

The medal was presented by the interim rector Miroslav Klíma, and among those who congratulated her were the other two vice-rectors, Ivo Mathe and Karel Foustka, the dean of FAMU, Pavel Jech and the chairs of FAMU’s other departments. In his remarks the dean thanked Věra Chytilová for her “contribution to Czech culture and world cinema,” and for her “moral courage, artistic integrity, and perseverance – ideals that inspire her students and colleagues at FAMU.” Among those who went to celebrate this event at the Parnas Restaurant on the ground floor of FAMU’s Lazansky Palace were the actors from her films, including Dáša Bláhová, Miroslav Donutil, David Vávra and Dáša Havlová, cameramen Miroslav Ondríček, Ivan Šlapeta, and Marek Jicha, producers Karel Kochman and Jan Balcar, and many other personalities from the film and culture spheres, more photos and electronic version including Eva Zaoralová, Ivan Vyskočil, Vladimír Opela, and Drahomíra Vihanová. available on www.leadersmagazine.cz

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From left: P. Jech, Dean of FAMU, Doc. J. Dvořák, Chairman of Senate AMU, Prof. V. Chytilová, The Chair of the 125 FAMU Directing Department and Ing. V. Jarošová, Assistant to The Chair of the FAMU Directing Department

15.3.2009 9:56:10

Serge Baudo, Conductor

culture event

On the 3rd and 4th of February, Eugen Indjic gave a concert in the Smetana Hall of the Municipal House taking the solo part in Robert Schumann’s Piano Concerto with the Prague Symphony Orchestra conducted by Serge Baudo.

IN COOPERATION WITH LEADERS MAGAZINE

January and February of the Prague

Symphony Orchestra FOK

From left: Mrs. Adriana Kohútková, Ivan Kusnjer and Tomáš Černý

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more photos and electronic version available on www.leadersmagazine.cz

Antonín Dvořák’s concert-length cantata The Spectre’s Bride was performed by the Prague Symphony Orchestra conducted by Petr Altrichter on the 12th of February. The solo parts in the ballade were sung by Adriana Kohútková, Tomáš Černý and Ivan Kusnjer. The Czech Philharmonic Choir Brno was rehearsed for the performance by the choirmaster Petr Fiala.

15.3.2009 9:46:24

From left: Aleš Březina, Director, Bohuslav Martinů Institute, Karel Košárek, Pianist and Petr Daněk, Programme Manager, PSO

From left: Karel Holas, František Černý, Radek Pobořil

On the 15th of January the popular folk group Čechomor gave a concert, which was sold out long in advance, in the Church of St. Simon and St. Jude

The PSO concerts on the 7th and 8th of January in the Smetana Hall of the Municipal House were part of the “Martinů revisited” programme, which is commemorating the 50th anniversary of the death of this exceptional 20th-century Czech composer with a whole range of cultural events over the year.

These concerts naturally included music by Bohuslav Martinů – the oboist Liběna Séquardtová took the solo part in Martinů’s Oboe Concerto under the baton of the PSO chief conductor Jiří Kout.

From left: Mrs. Liběna Séquardtová and Jiří Kout, Chief Conductor, PSO

From left: Eugen Indjic, Petr Jiříkovský, Mrs. Lenka Říhová and Jiří Kollert (former pupils of E. Indjic)

On the 28th and 29th of January the Prague Symphony Orchestra presented two concerts to mark the Czech Presidency of the European Union. The direction of the orchestra was entrusted to the young Czech conductor Tomáš Netopil, who in the coming season will be taking up his appointment as the principal conductor of the National Theatre opera company in Prague. The Martinů specialist, pianist Karel Košárek, was chosen as soloist for Bohuslav Martinů’s Piano Concerto.

From left: Tomáš Netopil, Conductor and Karel Košárek, Pianist

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Prague Symphony Orchestra

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15.3.2009 9:47:01

educational project Prague Student Summit is a prestigious educational project which gives Czech high school and university students a unique insight into the world of diplomacy and international relations.

The basic idea of the project lies in the interaction of more than 400 students from all over the Czech Republic simulating three key international organizations: the United Nations, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and the European Union. The participants act as the representatives of their nations while trying to resolve current global problems. The program consisted of two main parts. During workshops students learned confident performance, argumentation and rhetorical skills, and working with information sources. This preparatory part was followed by a final conference.

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH LEADERS MAGAZINE

Jan Pýcha, Chief Coordinator

PRAGUE STUDENT SUMMIT

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Erik Best, American Journalist living in Prague and Owner of Fleet Sheet and Mrs. Vladimíra Dvořáková, Czech political scientist

15.3.2009 10:06:47

Richard W. Graber, former Ambassador of the US Jean Fournet, former NATO Secretary General Assistant for Public Diplomacy

Štefan Füle, Permanent Representative of the Czech Republic to NATO

Cyril Svoboda, Czech Minister for Regional Development

Mrs. Jana Berousková, Envoy of US, Human Rights Council

Radek Špicar, Director of External Affairs of Škoda Auto

Mrs. Irena Krasnická, Director of the Diplomatic Academy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic

This year the Opening Ceremony took place on March 6th at Municipal House in Prague. Students´ negotiation continued at the Hotel Hilton Prague until March 9th. The program also included a number of social events, e.g. lectures, excursions, banquets or working breakfasts. This year of Prague Student Summit welcomed many outstanding guests, namely Cyril Svoboda, Czech Minister for Regional Development; Richard W. Graber, former Ambassador of the USA to the Czech Republic; Vladimíra Dvořáková, a prominent Czech political scientist; Erik Best, an American journalist living in Prague; Marie Chatardová, Director of the Diplomatic Protocol of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic; Radek Špicar, Director of the Outer Relations of Škoda Auto; Jan Mühlfeit, Chairman of Europe Microsoft Corporation; Michal Mejstřík, Member of the National Economic Coucil; Jean Fournet, former NATO Secretary General Assistant for Public Diplomacy and Štefan Füle, Permanent Representative of the Czech Republic to NATO.

more photos and electronic version available on www.leadersmagazine.cz

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From left: Michal Mejstřík, Member of the National Economic Council, Jan Mühlfeit, Chairman of Europe Microsoft Corporation and Jan Bubeník, Founder of Bubeník Partners

15.3.2009 10:07:47

prague castle event

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH LEADERS MAGAZINE

with Lew Tabackin Quartet

Jazz at the Castle

Lew Tabackin, Saxophonist and Flute Player

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Nová Galerie, 26. 2. 2009 Lew Tabackin – Tenor Saxophone, Flute Flavio Boltro – Trumpet Giuseppe Bassi – Contrabass Roberto Gatto – Drums

more photos and electronic version available on www.leadersmagazine.cz

15.3.2009 10:02:31

From left: Mrs. Blažena Frantová, Akad. Arch. Antonín Kryl, PhDr. Zita Zemanová, Director of Museum of Central Bohemia in Roztoky u Prahy, Akad. Painter Vladimír Suchánek, Chairman of Hollar Gallery, Pavel Číčel, Attorney ZFP Akademie and Mrs. Ilona Müllerová

Prof. Václav Klaus, President of the Czech Republic with a CD of Juraj Bartoš Hot House

Josef Vejvoda, Musician, Music Publisher and Mrs. Květa Vejvodová, his wife

From left: Vít Fojtek, Foreign Affairs Department Analyst, Czech Republic Office of the President and H.E. Achilleas Antoniades, Ambassador, Embassy of the Republic of Cyprus

From left: Michal Hejnar, Mgr. Barbora Polášková, Production, Culture Department, Prague Castle Administration, Mrs. Kamila Barančoková, Retro Group a.s., Trade Department and Mrs. Veronika Šebková

Mrs. Ivana Gorgolová, Consultant and RNDr. Pavel Zika, Director of Langmaster International s.r.o.

From left: Prof. Václav Klaus, President of the Czech Republic, H.E. Fabio Pigliapoco, Ambassador of Italy and Dott. Antonio Pasquale, President Italian-Czech Chamber of Commerce and Chairman of Mattoni

Massimo Becchi, Managing Director of Agip Oil Czech Republic and his wife Mrs. Veronika Devátová and Jiří Devát, Vicechairman and Vicepresident of Czech Airlines

From left: PhDr. Radovan Čaplovič, Member of Government Council of the Czech Republic, Jan Jakob, Senate of the Czech Republic and Pavel Číčel, Attorney ZFP Akademie

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From left: Petr Materna, Aviation Consultant with his wife, Ing. Jaroslav Beňa, Deputy of the Director, Air Navigation Services of the Czech Republic, Project and Investments Implementation Section with his wife

15.3.2009 10:03:12

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH LEADERS MAGAZINE

culture event The Comédie-Française in Prague The last events of the French Season were the performances of the Comédie Française at the Estates Theatre with Molière’s comedy The Affected Ladies and the modern drama La Festa.

National Theatre

Director of the Comédie-Française Muriel Mayette and the director of the National Theatre Ondřej Černý during the ceremony at the end of the evening celebrating Molière’s birthday.

Mozart’ Birthday: It is a tradition that W. A. Mozart’s birthday is celebrated by a gala concert at the Estates Theatre. Slovak soprano singer Adriana Kučerová was accompanied by the orchestra of the National Theatre under the baton of the new chief conductor Tomáš Netopil. The social event after the concert which was held on the scene of the Estates Theatre was prepared by the TOP HOTELS Group, a.s.

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Mozart’s birthday: Soprano singer Adriana Kučerová and the conductor of the Orchestra of the National Theatre Tomáš Netopil thanking the audience

15.3.2009 9:52:17

Comédie-Française from left: Muriel Mayette and the French Ambassador H. E. Charles Fries with his wife

Mozart’s birthday: social event on the scene of the Estates Theatre

Mozart’s birthday: Mrs. Adriana Kučerová cutting the cake together with the director of the National Theatre Ondřej Černý and the president of the executive board of the TOP HOTELS Group, a.s., Ing. Vladimír Dohnal

An Enemy of the People: David Prachař and Jana Boušková

An Enemy of the People: David Prachař and Jan Hartl

An Enemy of the People

From left: Ing. Tomáš Olexa, Financial Director, National Theater and PaeDr. František Zborník, Director of Cultural Section, Ministry of Culture with his wife after the premiere

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Henrik Ibsen’s drama An Enemy of the People was premiered at the Estates Theatre on 26th February. The play deals with the fact that being powerful does not necessarily mean being right. The director is Ivan Rajmont, principal roles133 are performed by David Prachař, Jan Hart, Jana Boušková and others.

16.3.2009 13:04:13

culture event

On the 12th February the National Theatre witnessed the premiere of the new production of the classical ballet Swans Lake with the immortal music by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky. The choreographer and director of the production is the Danish dancer and choreographer Kenneth Greve, artistic director of the Finnish National Ballet in Helsinki.

Swan Lake

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more photos and electronic version available on www.leadersmagazine.cz

From left: PhDr. Ondřej Černý, General Director, National Theatre, Kenneth Greve, Director and Choreograph and MgA. Petr Zuska, Artistic Director, National Theatre Ballet

From performance, Zuzana Susová

15.3.2009 9:54:30

From left: Peter Palečka, General Director, Komerční Banka a.s., and H.E. Jean-Francois Kameer, Swiss Ambassador and PhDr. Ondřej Černý, General Director, National Theatre

From performance, Zuzana Susová, Jiří Kodym Mrs. Livia Klausová, wife of the President, visited the performance

Mrs. Livia Klausová with grandchildren

František Bányai, Chairman of the Jewish Community of Prague and Miroslava Němcová, Vice-chairperson, The Chamber of Deputies, Parliament

From performance, Nikola Márová and Michal Štípa

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15.3.2009 9:54:59

diplomatic event

IN COOPERATION WITH LEADERS MAGAZINE

This professional holiday was established by a special presidential decree on the 31 of October, 2002, a day when the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation was celebrating 200 years since its foundation.

H.E. Alexey Fedotov, Ambassador of the Russian Federation

10th of February

Diplomatic Day of Russia

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From left: V. Nakorchemny, Counsellor, Embassy of the Russian Federation, Evgenia Litvina, AttachĂŠ, Embassy of the Russian Federation and Denis Grishenko, Counsellor Embassy of the Russian Federation

15.3.2009 9:42:39

From left: Doc. Ing. Václav Petříček, CSc., Chairman of the Board, Chamber of Trade, Jan Horník, Ministry of Industry and Trade and Zufar Talgatovich Abdulgaleev, Trade and Economic Representative Office of the Republic of Tatarstan

From left: Alexej Kolmakov, Attaché, Consulate General of Russia in Brno and Valery Dergachev, Consul General of Russia in Brno From left: Oleg Alborov, General Editor, Inform Press s.r.o. and Aleš Zedník, Non-professional Consul, Honorary Consulate of Russia in Ostrava

From left: Jan Horník, Ministry of Industry and Trade and Alexander E. Ivanov, Director of the Economic Bureau, Embassy of the Russian Federation

From left: Rudolf Kufa, ČSSD Parliament, Jan Hamáček, Chairman of the Foreign Board and František Novosad, Parliament

From left: Director General JUDr. Milan Kandár, CSc., Ambassador (Ret.), Expert Adviser, the Office of Jana Bobošíková, Member of the European Parliament and Acamedician h.c., JUDr. Radomír Jungbauer, Representative of Praha-Zbraslav

The choice of the date is not occasional: On February 10, 1549, the first Russian foreign policy institution was mentioned for the first time. Today this holiday is widely celebrated. On this day a number of activities is being held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Russian Embassies all over the world. These activities are often attended by chief leaders of Russia.

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From left: Vasily Markovich, Minister-Counsellor Chargé d´Affaires a.i. Embassy of the Republic of Belarus, H.E. Vladimír Vereš, Ambassador of Serbia, H.E. Ivan Kuleba, Ambassador of Ukraine and H.E. Alexey Fedotov, Ambassador of the Russian Federation

15.3.2009 9:43:51

Mrs. Taghi-Zadeh, wife of the Ambassador of Azerbaijan, Mrs. Fedotova, wife of the Ambassador of the Russian Federation, Mrs. Voskanian, Embassy of the Republic of Armenia, Permanent Office in Prague and H.E. Ivan Kuleba, Ambassador of Ukraine

From left: Jury Perepechenov and Tomáš Lukavský, Executive Vice-chairman of Civil Association CzechRussian Community, Czech Council

From left: V. Nakorchemny, Counsellor Embassy of the Russian Federation and Mirko Lachman, Senior Adviser, Leaders Magazine

From left: Dr. Boris V. Ionov, Counsellor, Embassy of the Russian Federation, Director of Russian Centre for Science and Culture in Prague and Vladimir J. Novgorosky, Counsellor, Embassy of the Russian Federation

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From left: H.E. Ashot Hovakimian, Ambassador of Armenia and Dr. Ashot Voskanian, Head of the Prague Office, Minister-Counsellor Embassy of the Republic of Armenia, Permanent Office in Prague

From left: František Novosad, Parliament, H.E. Alexey Fedotov, Ambassador of the Russian Federation, Jan Hamáček, Chairman of the Foreign Board and Rudolf Kufa, ČSSD Parliament

15.3.2009 9:44:23

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