Prague Leaders Magazine Issue 05/2010

NO 5/2010

www.leadersmagazine.cz

195,- CZK

m a g a z i n e

incl. electronic version

now available in Brussels

Martin Kocourek, Minister of Industry and Trade of the Czech Republic Photo: Mr. Kocourek´s archive

Business Without Burdens Diplomatic Event

Wedding

Legal Matters

Business Event

Industrial Event

Reception for

Wedding of the Year

CEELI Institute

Int. Energy Club

Int. Engineering Fair

All Czech Ambassadors at the Senate

at Chotěboř

Annual Meeting

(IEC) Ostrava 2010

(MSV) Brno 2010 Is a Promise for the Future

On the days of 30 August – 3 September 2010, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs held regular meetings of heads of diplomatic missions of...

Spectacular aristocratic wedding took place at the Castle Chotěboř between Anna Countesse Dobrzensky de Dobrzenicz and Count Charles...

CEELI Institute recognized Judge Vojtěch Cepl for his contributions to the rule of law at the US Residence. During its Annual Meeting...

To act as a platform for an informal business negotiation and exchange of opinions for representatives of energy, gas and related fields...

The International Engineering Fair was again the largest presentation of industrial technologies in the area of Central Europe. Its scope, high...

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page 68

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LEADERS MAGAZINE now available in Brussels COVERING

TOP CZECH EVENTS

For Full Photocoverage Go To w w w.leadersmagazine.cz/photogallery

Leadders Magazi Lead zine ne® foc ocus uses es on life liife fest styl yle, e, int nter err vi views, bus usin inness, ess, cul es ultture tu andd lux uxur uryy prod pr odductss and cov odu o er e s maanyy imppor o taant n and int nter eres estiting ng eveent nts. Our rea nts eade d rs are de re people from diplomatic society, governme meentt offi fficcia ials ial ls decision makers in busils, ness, Czech citizens with higher income and tourists. The targeted distribution is cca 20 000 copies including 1400 pcs to the top EU officials in Brussels.

VÝSTAVA

368 unikátních exponátů - 163 let historie

THE EXHIBITION

368 Fabulous Objetcts - 163 Years of History

CARTIER NA PRAŽSKÉM HRADĚ

CARTIER AT PRAGUE CASTLE THE POWER OF STYLE Do 17. října v Jízdárně Pražského hradu www.cartiervystava.cz Vstupenky v síti Ticketpro

Until October 17 at the Prague Castle Riding School www.cartierexhibition.com Tickets available at Ticketpro

Photos: Nick Welsh, Cartier Collection © Cartier. Cover photo: Nils Herrmann, Cartier Collection © Cartier

SÍLA STYLU

WE PRINTED THIS MAGAZINE WE ARE READY TO DESIGN AND PRINT YOUR: BILLBOARD, CITYLIGHT, POSTER, STAND, BANNER, CATALOGUE, MAGAZINE, BROCHURE, LEAFLET, ETC.

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Production PUBLISHING ACTIVITIES: • Catalogue of the Security and Defence Technologies of CR • IDET NEWS - magazine • ISET NEWS - magazine • CDIS Review - magazine • CDIS Review Special

Official Media Partner of IDET Brno Trade Fair, DSIA CR, ASIS CR, Guns and Ammunition Manufacturers and Sellers Association, CzechTrade Agency and Partner of Conferences in the Sphere of the Defence, Aerospace and Security Technologies

Catalogues of Security and Defence Technologies of the Czech Republic IDET NEWS No. 1 - 5/1997 - 1999 IDET NEWS No. 6/2000 IDET NEWS No. 7/2001 IDET NEWS No. 8/2003 IDET NEWS No. 9/2005 IDET NEWS No. 10/2007 IDET NEWS No. 11/2009

EDITING ACTIVITIES: • TANKS - 1 to 5 series books (Edition - Modern Military Technology) • History of chemical war - book

ENGLISH-CZECH

REPROGRAPHIC ACTIVITIES: • graphic projects, design • digital type-setting, page-breaking • scanning and adjustment of graphic patterns • data archiving on CD • banners, posters

ENGLISH-CZECH ADVERTISING ACTIVITIES: • the most efficient advertising methods in the defence and security industries • exclusive advertising representation for all issued titles

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ENGLISH-CZECH

Czech Defence Industry & Security REVIEW

CDIS Review Special

English-Czech quarterly published magazine intented on the security strategy of the CR, on communication among public and state sphere and defence and security industry.

It serves for promotion of Czech defence and security industry and introduction of foreign companies in the Czech Republic.

ENGLISH

MS Line

MS Line, s. r. o. - Publishing house

Publishing house

MS Line is a Publishing house in Defence and Security area.

MS Line publishes and distributes exclusive magazines - CDIS Review, CDIS Review Special, CDAI Review, IDET NEWS, ISET NEWS as well as Catalogue of Security and Defence Technologies and Defence and Security Industry Catalogues of the DSIA CR, Companies’ profiles, provides special military consulting, etc.

P. O. BOX 11 289 15 Kounice Czech Republic phone/fax: +420 321 672 601 e-mail: info@msline.cz www.msline.cz

Exclusive distribution net: Parliament and Senator Committee for Defence and Security of CR, Military Office of President CR, Embassies, NATO authorities, Ministry of Foreign Affairs CR, Ministry of Defence CR, Ministry of Industry and Trade CR, Ministry of Interior CR, Police authorities, Integrated Rescue System CR, Fire-fighter Rescue Corps, trade companies and business partners in the CR and abroad.

Published on the occasion of important international exhibitions, particularly exhibitions with official participation of the Czech Republic, is devoted to the support of Czech Defence and Security Industry in specific areas.

The magazine serves for long-term use of especially representatives of CzechTrade Agency and abroad.

MS Line, s. r. o. - Media partner:

publishers note & contents

Dear Readers,

It is a glorious late summer day, or if you prefer an early autumn day, and after a morning practicing golf at Hodko koovi kovi vičk čkyy čk golf course, I am now inn the offffic icee an ic andd writing to you Dea earr Re ea Read aders soome wor ad ords ds about whatt you o cann f innd in thi hiss Se Sepptember issue of Lea eade ders de rss Mag a azine.

Afte Af terr a ve te very ry quiet sum umme merr he me here re inn Prag Pr ague – exc ag xcep eptt fo ep forr a ma massive tourr is ism innva vasi sion si on – you saw w veer er y lilitt ttle tt lee act ctio ionn io frfrom om t he Business s, s Pol olitititic ical ic al,, Cuultt ural al and Di Dipplom omat atic at ic sph pher ere, but foor 3 wee er eeks noow th ther eree haave bee er een a lot of intterestitit ng ee even entt s (and mo en morre aree com omin ing) in g) so it feels lss lilke busines ess s s as usual suual al. Lead a er s Magaad zine iss of couurs rse gr grat atef at eful ef ul for this, s,, andd we ar aree trtryi ying yi n hard too covver the mosst ng inteere rest s ingg ev even entt s from th en t is sph pher ph ere. er e e.

Lett me mention some of the Le hem: m: T he farew welll re rece cept ce p ionn fo forr th thee ve very ryy pop opularr Chin Ch inesee Am in Ambass ssad ss ador ad or H.E. E Hu Huoo Yuzhen, Th Thee CEEL ELII In EL Inst stitut st utee Receptionn andd ut C nferren Co encee for Jud udges from ud m var a ioous cou ount ntririres nt es, Sllov ovak akia National Day, ak y, T he Spec Sp ecta ec tacu ta cuularlrlyy Aris Ar stocratic icc Wed eddi ding di ng at Ch Chootěboř, Thee BV BVVV – Intern rnat rn atio at iona io nall na Engiine En neering Fa Fair, Th Thee Ca Cart rtie rt ierr sparkl ie klinng and glitteririring kl ng Gala Di Dinn nneer at th nn the Casstle, Thee Le Ca Lead ader ad ers Ma er M ga gazine Advissory Bo Boar ardd Di ar Dinn nner nn er, Cz er Czec echh Fa ec Fash s ioon and Prag Pr ague ag ue Day ay at the Expo po Inn Sh S anghai ai, a Re ai Rece cept ce ptio pt ion forr al io all Czech Am mbass baa sad adors at the Sen enaate, The Int nterna natitition na onal on al Ene nerg rgy Club rg ub inn Os Ostrava 20100 (IIEC), Th Thee Flower Car arpe pet at the Old Tow pe ownn Sqquare arrangeed by the h Bellgi gian an Emb mbas assy sy in con onne nect ne ctio ion on wi with th their heeir EU Pres Prresid siden den ency cy, an andd fifina nall allyy Ja Jazz zz at th thee Cast Cast stle le witithh Fran Fr antitiše šekk Uh Uhlílířř an andd Ursula Dudzziaak & Mic icha hall Ur Urba bani niak ak.

Duee to the chhang ngess of the po polilitiica call sc scen ene, wee ha have a new Govvernm nment, and many ma ny new Minisste ters and top Pol olititic icians. De Desp s itee their tight andd haard wor orki king ng sche hedu dule le wee ha have ve man anag aged ed too get highly intter eresstiting ng interview ewss with th Mr. Martin Koco Ko cour urek ek,, Mini nist ster of Indu dust strr y and Tradee, who iss als lsoo fe feat atur ured ed on ouur frfron ont page pa ge, Mr Mr. Pa Paveel Drobil, Minnissterr off En Envi viro ronm nmen ent,t, MUD UDr.r Leošš Heeger, Ministerr of Health, Mr. Jiříří Besser, Minniste He terr of Culture l e, Mrs. Kateřř in ináá K lassnová, Chambe ber Deputy Hea De eadd annd Vi Vice ce Cha hairirw woma mann of o thhe VV, Peter Tluch choř oř, ODS De Depu puty ty Grou Gr oupp He Head ad of th thee Ch Cham mbeer of Deputtiess of the Parliam mennt, Přeemy mysl sl Sob obot otka ka,, Spea Sp eake ker of the Senat ate, e, Zde deněk Tůma ma Top 09 ca cand ndid idat atee in the ele lect ctio ion to be the new Mayor of Prague City Hall, Mrs. Sandra Day O’connor, First Female Associate Justice of the Supreme Court USA – to mention a few.

I salute the company Omnipol a.s. which partly sponsored our photo report of the National Day of Slovakia. The reception was very successful, with participation of the Prime Minister Petr Nečas of the Czech Republic, four other Ministers and many representatives from the Business, Political, Diplomatic and Cultural sphere. Great music, the best of weather, food and wine contributed to make this National Day a very special day despite the very tough economic and financial restrictions that the Embassy is bound to follow. But I ask myself – where is the generosity and the corporate responsibility of the big companies with roots from Slovakia, such as Penta Investments, J&Tbanka and others. Shame on you. You should support your country on Myy dog M dooogg Rhea Rhea Rh ea this particularly important day. You are very rich and successful companies – you should be proud when your home country celebrates its National Day, and to help and sponsor the Embassy’s efforts no promote its country. Look at other Embassies and their National Days – no shortage of sponsors.

Finally, I wish you a pleasant Autumn, hopefully you will find a lot of mushrooms in the forest – a very popular tradition of Czech people during thei th eirr frfreee tim ei i e – be niicce to eac achh ot othe herr an he andd be gen eneerous ous in mat atte terr s sma m ll andd bi an big. g. Itt always pay ayss off.

Benkke Ai Aike ike kelllll benke.aaikkelll@l @lea eade ders rsma maga gazi zine ne.c .czz www. ww w.le lead ader e sm mag agaazine.cz cz

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Lead Le adeers Ma ad Maga g ziine V/2 /201 010 01

events 14 30 40 42 48 50 64 68 80 82 86 90 102 106 114

4th Leaders Magazine Advisory Board Dinner Wedding of the Year at Chotěboř Opening of the Exhibition on July 8, 2010 – Gala Night at Prague Castle An Evening in the Ledeburg Gardens Lions Club Prague Bohemia Ambassador European Certificate EFA Course Lions Club Prague Eagle CEELI institute Annual Meeting Opening Ceremony of the Prague Day at the EXPO 2010 in Shanghai Czech Fashion in Shanghai page 36 Prague Intercup Arabian Horse An interview with Kateřina Klasnová Show Debut Summer Boat Trip of the German-Czech Chamber of Industry and Commerce A Golf Festival in Čeladná International Energy Club (IEC) Ostrava 2010 International Engineering Fair (MSV) 2010 Is a Promise for the Future

culture events 128 129 130 131 132 136

page 40 – Opening of the Exhibition at Prague Castle

Patrons’ Club of the National Theatre Káťa Kabanová Celebrational End of the Theatre Season at the National Theatre The National Theatre Thanks Jazz at the Castle with Ursula Dudziak Band & Michal Urbaniak Jazz at the Castle with František Uhlíř 60

page 30 Wedding of the Year at Chotěboř

contents interviews 10 12

20 22 24 36

38 44

46

52 54 60 66

76 78

96

104

126

Business without Burdens A talk with Martin Kocourek, Minister of Industry and Trade of the Czech Republic Defending Speaker A talk with Přemysl Sobotka, Speaker of the Senate of the Parliament of the Czech Republic Health Care with Social Face A talk with Leoš Heger, Minister of Health of the Czech Republic Honesty and Authentic Leadership A talk with Jiří Besser, Minister of Culture of the Czech Republic Nuclear Energy is the Most Ecologic One A talk with Pavel Drobil, Minister of Environment of the Czech Republic Politics Still Remains Sort of a Men´s World An interview with Kateřina Klasnová, Chamber Deputy Head and the Vice-Chairwoman of the VV You Cannot Look Back in Politics An interview with Dagmar Zvěřinová, Senator and Deputy Mayor of Žďár nad Sázavou First Lady of the Supreme Court An interview with Sandra Day O´Connor, first female Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States Regenerative Medicine Is Our Future An interview with Prof. Eva Syková, MD, DSc, Director of the Institute of Experimental Medicine (IEM) at the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic Magic Stems from the Steadiness of the Constitution A iinterview An t i with ith SSenator t Jiří Žák Nuclear Energy Industries Offer Promising Perspective An interview with Josef Fiřt, Chairman of the Energy Regulatory Office Responsibility and Credibility are Key for a Politician A talk with Zdeněk Tůma, TOP 09 Party Frontrunner for Lord Mayor of Prague Political Greenhorn to Change Prague Townhall?

An Interview with Jan Kalousek, Prague ODS Independent Candidate in Municipal Elections Eating and Not Breathing Is Impossible An interview with new President of Czech Statistical Office, Ms. Iva Ritschelová ODS Needs to be a Standard Political Party and Not a Pack An interview with Peter Tluchoř, ODS Deputy Group Head of the Chamber of Deputies of the Parliament of the Czech Republic The Path to Film Paradise A talk with Michal Surma, Executive Director of the Summer Film School and the Head of Production of the Association of the Czech Film Clubs International Energy Club (IEC) Ostrava 2010 An int nter ervi view ew witithh In Ing. g. Ale lena na Vititás ásko ková vá,, Pr Pres esid iden entt of Klu lubb pl plyn ynár áren ensk skýc ýchh po podn dnik ikat atel elůů ČR, s.r.o. and Ing. Evžen Tošenovský, Euro Deputy and Vice-Chairman of the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy of the European Parliament (ITRE) Věra Rašková - Interior Design Expert page 94 An interview with Věra Rašková, Interior Design Expert Flower Carpet

contributors 19 35 51 88 98

111 118 135

Can Computers Communicate without us?/Ivan Pilný Beware of Your Bad Business Manners/ Karin Genton-L’Epée Don't miss your chance, Füle tells Belgrade/EurActiv.com Is the Future Cloudy?/Jan Mühlfeit A Business May Be Your Life – But – Life Is Your Business - Part VI: Creating A Successful Business A,B/ James A. Cusumano, PhD The Influence of Women/Emil Jimenez Art/Architecture/Iva Drebitko Anti-Discrimination Act/JUDr. Roman Jelínek, Ph.D. page 80 Opening Ceremony of the Prague Day at the EXPO 2010 in Shanghai

diplomatic events 26 56 72 94

Reception for All Czech Ambassadors at the Senate National Day of Slovakia Farewell to the Chinese Ambassador H.E. Huo Yuzhen Flower Carpett

112–117

100–110

EU matters 120

Eastern Partnership Helps to Develop Cooperation Between Governments, ments, NGOs and Businesses An interview with H. E. Štefan FÜL FÜLE, ÜLE, EU Commissioner ÜL for Enlargement ment and Neighbourhood Neighbouurhhood oood Policy Po

122

Every Business ess Can Be Innovative! ee!! But Bu support to Innovativve Solutions is Needed!!

Business Neews Generatitionss Meetitingg att the Czechosl hoslovak vakk Foreiign Institute Coourse

124 1255 12

info We are pleased to announce that we have considerably extended Leaders Magazine spread to include 80 topnotch restaurants in Prague.

Total circulation: cca 18.000 bi-monthly including electronic version.

Readership total: cca 500.000 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 govermentt andd mayor’s officials.

On the board of the ČS SA bu b sineess class & VIP lounges off Pra ragu g e ai gu aipo port po rt. rt We are also cooperatinng wi w th Pra rague City Hall, Czech Invves est, t, Czechh Cen entr tre, tr e, The Czech Meedi d ca call Ch Chaamber,r, alll Cha hamm bers of Comm mmeercee, Fo mm F ru r m Fr Fran ancophonne an Affa Af fair ires es, Če Česk skáá Ma Mana naže na žers že rská rs ká Aso soci ciac acee, ac CMC Gr Grad adua ad uate ua te Schoool of Bus usin ines in ess, es s s, Univerrsi sity ty of Ne New Yorkk in Pr Prag ague ag u , An Angglo Am mer eric icaan Sch ic choo ool,l, Uni oo nive verrsity of Piit tsve burg bu rghh, CEE rg EELII Ins EE nstitu tutte, Lionss Cllub tu ubss, Rota Ro tary ta ryy Clu lubs bs, Thhe Pr bs Prague Soc ocieety for Int.. Coooperationn, CZ In CZEC ECH EC H TO TOPP 100, Czecch 100 Be Cz Best st,, CEBRE, Eurotelest graph, The Senate, Minister of Agriculture, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Culture, Ano pro Evropu annd manny ma ny more. e.

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Le Palais Hotel Prague Le Papillon 234 634 611

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224 393 692 2

Prag ague ag ue Mar arri riot ri ottt Ho ot Hote tel te B ass Br assserie rest stau st aura au raant 222 rant 2 888 888

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61 175 03 030 0

Hote Ho tell Be te Belllllagio Rest Re stauurant Isabellla st lla

221 22 1 77 778 8 99 999 9

Hote tel Ho te Hoff ffme ff meis me iste is terr te Resstau Re staura ura rant nt Ada

251 017 133

Hote Ho tel Intercon te ontine on nental Prahaa ne Zlaatá Praha 296 29 6 63 631 1 11 111 1 Hote Ho tel Paala te lace ce Pra raha ha Goour urme mett Cllub me

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224 093 111

Hotell Re Resi sideence Alchym misst 257 7 28 286 6 01 011 1 Hottell Re Resid idenc dencee Iron on Gat atee

22 25 777 777

Ho l Savoy, Restaaurac Hotel acee Hrad Hr adča čany 22 24 30 302 2 15 150 0 Kempinnsk Kem skii – Hy Hybe berrnsk skáá Hybe Hy bern rnsk skáá 12 1 , 11 110 0 00, Prahaa 1 hote ho tel & resttau aura rantt 226 22 26 11 11

Youu ca Yo c n fifind nd the Mag agaz aziine in the hese se fine rest staaura rant nts: s: (te tele leph phon onee nu numb m er for reservvatiton on)) Am ente Ambien te – Rissto torrantee Past Pa sta Fres esca ca 224 4 230 244 Ambiente – The Living Restaurants 222 727 851 Aromi 222 713 222 Azteca 257 327 389 Barock Bar & Café 222 329 221 Bellevue 800 123 553 Brasserie Le Moliere 222 514 165 Break Café 222 231 065 Bugsy’s Bar 222 329 943 Cafe La Veranda 224 814 733 Cafe Savoy 257 329 860 Cafe De Paris 603 160 718 Caffé Restaurant Premiéra 224 828 159 Casanova 257 535 127 C’est La Vie 257 321 511 Clementinum 224 813 892 Casa Andina 224 815 996 Červená tabulka (Na Hutích) 233 323 429 Červená tabulka (Lodecká) 224 810 401 Dům vína U závoje 226 006 120 L Ang L’ ngol oloo 224 829 22 9 35 355 5 Fran Fr anco couz uzsk s á re rest stauura race ce v Ob Obecním m do dom mě 222 002 745 45 Giiar arddino Enootecca co En conn Cuciina 222 513 13 427 Hergget He e ov ovaa Ci C he heln l a ln 257 53 35 53 5 4 Huung ngar a ian Gr Grot otto 257 532 344 Ichn hnus usaa – Plasská 5 Prahha 5 605 60 5 52 525 5 74 748 8 Kampaa Park rk 257 532 2 685 85–6 6

Leaders Magazine is member of

Kavárna v Ob Kavá Obec ecníím do domě mě 222 00 002 2 764 Kavvárna & Vi Ka Vino notéka ka Bre resto (Štěpánská) 222 212 810 King Solomon 224 818 752 Kogo – Havelská 224 214 543 Kogo – Slovanský dům 221 451 259 La Perle de Prague Lamborghini PastaCaffé (Vězeňská) Lamborghini PastaCaffé (Vodičkova) Lary Fary Le Café Colonial Les Moules Louka Lu Lví Dvůr

221 984 166 224 813 257 222 231 869 222 320 154 224 818 322 222 315 022 257 212 388 224 372 361

mama lucy 222 327 207 Marco Polo IV 224 819 668 Metamorphis 221 771 068 Metropol Music Club 222 314 071 Mirellie Mediterranean Restaurant Korunní 783/23, Praha 2 222 521 814 V.P. Čkalova 502/14, Praha 6 222 959 999 Mlýnec 221 082 208 Nost No stre ress ssca sca cafe fe gal alle lery ry 222 317 7 004 Orange Mooon 222 22 2 325 5 11 119 9 Osteria Da Clara Os 271 726 548 7 6 418 559 77 9 Pálflflffy Pá fy Paláác Parnass Passepar arto tout ut Patrio Pa iot– t–xx Prav Pr avda da Redd Fi Fish sh sushi

257 7 530 522 224 24 216 244 222 2 513 340 224 22 4 23 235 5 15 1 8 222 326 203 222 220 71 16

Restauuraace Hanil Rest Restau Re aurace ce U Vla lada daře ře Restaurant bar

222 715 867 257 534 121 21

Pod křídlem 224 951 741–2 Restaurant Michal 222 222 630 Restaurant Palác Kinských 224 810 750 Restaurace Na Rozhraní 224 323 876 Restaurant Rybí trh 224 895 447 Restaurant u Kolowrata 257 530 729 Restaurant U maltézských rytířů 257 533 666 Reykjavík 222 221 218 Rio’s Vyšehrad 224 922 156 Ristorante Amici Miei Ristorante Da Emanuel

224 816 688 224 312 934

Ristorante Incontro Jungmanovo nám. 19

224 948 650

Rusalka 224 934 109 Sahara Café/Restaurant 774 557 763 Taj–Mahal 224 225 566 U Červeného kola U Kamenného mostu U malířů í řů U mo modr dréé ka kach chni n čky U Mo Modr dréého Hr Hroz o nu U zllaté hrušky U Záávoje U tr Ul tram amarin am Vino di Vi Vino

224 811 118 224 097 100 257 530 000 00 257 32 20 30 308 8 222 221 185 85 220 514 4 77 78 226 006 122 2 224 932 3 249 9 222 312 2 999

Zátiší Záti ší Res esta taur u annt 222 2 22 21 15 155 Zahrada v Op Opeř eřee 224 239 23 68 685 5 Zelená zahraada – Šmilovskéhho 12, Prah Šm ahaa 2 222 518 159

Publisher: Benke Aikell Contributors: James A. Cusumano, Joseph Drebitko, Karin Genton-L’Epée, Pavlína Holancová, Martina Hošková, Filip Hubáček, Emil Jimenez, Ph.D., Zuzana Kasáková, Jan Muehlfeit, EurActiv, Ivan Pilný, Věra Řiháčková Marketing/Advertising: Lynn Tourkiová, Max Salamatin, Alexander Fernando, Shalva Sikharulidze Marketing & Editorial Director Vladimíra Václavíková EU Matters: CEBRE Czech Business Representation, CESES, Europlatform Photographers: Petr Berounský, Josef Dvořák, Ivan Hoza, Miroslav Hoza, Martin Janas, Miloš Janů Jr. Zuzana Jirásková, Lada Kičmerová, Jaroslav Kocián, Renata Kolářová, Jan Kruml, Michaela Kulíšková, Šárka Kulíšková, Jakub Ludvík, Petr Nikl, Jaroslav Odstrčilík, Anna Pecková, Lenka Pekárková, Filip Pokorný, Zbyněk Prokop Martin Salajka, Radek Salaquarda, Hana Smejkalová, Michal Stichauer, Štefan Špic, Michal Šula, Kateřina Šulová, Vladimír Weiss, Jiří Zach, Meshulam Zisso Subscription service: Bc. Daniel Raška Leaders Magazine, CEPONA, s.r.o.

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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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Opinions expressed in this publication are those of the authors or persons interviewed and do not necessarily reflect the views of the editors or Leaders Magazine.

All editorial material and photos in Leaders Magazine is digitally stored and may be republished by Leaders Magazine either in printed form or in various digital media. All correspondence to Leaders Magazine may be published.

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Leaders Magazine Advisory Board The positive siitive repu rep reputation of Leaders Magazine continues to grow, however we realize that we must mus maint maintain nt to improve and learn, particularly during these times of dynamic change. hang nge ge. That h is why we have decided to set up an Advisory Board for the magazine. I am convinced convinc onvvinced that th creating a platform of high profile individuals will be an excellent opporttunity tun nity for tthe he magazine to acquire new ideas and define new directions of future developm lopment. ment. ent Bennkee Aike Benke Aikell A el Your ur Publis Publisher There are only on few projects started in the Czech Republic by foreigners which I consider ass useful to this country as Leaders Magazine. The magazine has brought to the Czech Republic p the completely new concept of making important people – the decision makers be they Czech or foreigners – visible and worthy of positive admiration.

As you might know this is something not very common and perhaps even not very natural in the Czech Republic. It is therefore all the more of an achievement to start and successfully develop a project such as Leaders Magazine. I understand fully the intention of Benke Aikell, the magazine’s founder and editor-in-chief, to progress further with Leaders Magazine, and for this purpose to form a team of experienced Czech citizens of different backgrounds to create a consulting body which would bring this project to an even higher level.

Ing. Karel Muzikář, CSc. President Pres en of Comenius I was pl ple pleased to be invited by Benke Aikell to cooperate on the preparation of the Advisory Board Boar ard rdd project. proj I personally see one of the main goals of the project in creation of a positive environment environme enviro ironm for networking, exchange of views, presentation of new ideas, experiences, proposals prop osaalls or suggestions.

I am m convin convinced nv that the formation of a platform of highly profiled personalities and potential ddiscussion iscussi of different topics in very informal setting will be useful for both sides – for the magazine maga azi as well as for the members of the Advisory Board.

Ing. ng. Petr Kubernát Director Dire Di D rect of Pekos s.r.o.

Consulting Consu o and Training Company ADVISORY BOARD COMITTEE Benk Aikelll,, Publisher, Benke P , Leaders Maggazine IIng. Petr Ku Kubernát, Director, PEKOS s.r.o. and former Czech Ambassador to the Netherlands Ing. Ing g. Karel Muzikář, CSc., President, COMENIUS HONORARY MEMBERS ABROAD AND GOODWILL AMBASSADORS H Mr. William J. Cabaniss, former United States Ambassador to the Czech Republic H.E. Vincent J. Derudder, Secretary General, The European Federation of Financial Advisers and Financial Intermediaries H.E. Mr. Alexey L. Fedotov, former Ambassador of the Russian Federation to the Czech Republic H.E. Mr. Richard Graber, former United States Ambassador to the Czech Republic H.E. Athar Mahmood, former Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan to the Czech Republic H.E. Dr. Zdravko Popov, former Ambassador of the Republic of Bulgaria to the Czech Republic H.E. Mati Vaarmann, former Ambassador of the Republic of Estonia to the Czech Republic Ája Vrzáňová, Czech World Champion in Figure-skating, Sport Legend H.E. Huo Yuzhen, former Ambassador of the People´s Republic of China to the Czech Republic

ADVISORY BOARD MEMBERS PhDr. Zdeněk Čáp, Managing Partner, Equity Solutions s. r. o.

Josef Drebitko, CEO, D&COMM Prof. Ing. Jiří Fárek, CSc., First Deputy Mayor, City of Prague 6 Ing. Peter P. Formánek, President, Canadian Chamber of Commerce in the Czech Republic Mgr. Marta Gellová, Secretary General, AFIZ Michal Heřman, General Manager, Star Communicationss Václav Hudeček, Violinist Plk. Mgr. Vladislav Husák, Director, Alien Police Service, rv Police of the Czech Republic JUDr. PhDr. Oldřich Choděra, Lawyer, Law Firm JUDr. PhDr. Oldřich Choděra & spol.

Prof. Ing. Kamil Janáček, CSc., CNB Bankk Board Member Membeer and Chief Executive Director Otto Jelinek, Member of the Board, OKD K Ing. Peter Jusko, MBA, Executive Vice c President sident – Gr Ground round Operations, Czech Airlines and Partner, London donn Market Ma Ing. Petr Kalaš, former Minister of Environment nvi ment Ing. arch. Jan Kasl, AIDstudio, President dent EUROPAN EUROPPAN CZ CZ Ing. Josef Kreuter, CSc., former Czech Ambassador b ad r to the EU Prof. Dr.h.c. JUDr. Jan Kříž, CSc., Partner, Law Firm Kří Kříž a Bělina s.r.o.

Ing. Jaroslav Kubišta, Secretary, Lions Club Prague ue Eagle Genmjr. JUDr. Lubomír Kvíčala, former Director of the Department of Protection of Constitutional al O Officials, ls, Police of the Czech Republic Ing. Vladimír Laštůvka, former M.P. Jan Muehlfeit, Chairman, Europe Microsoft Corporation po Ing. Jiří Maceška, Chairman of the Supervisory Board, Boa Česká pošta a. s. and former Czech Ambassador too OECD O D Ing. Jozef Piga, Member of the Supervisory Board, Omnipol a.s.

George Parobek, Managing Director, Ifield Computer Consultancy Šárka Parobek, Director, Ifield Computer Consultancy Doc. Ing. Antonín Peltrám, CSc., Director IEI, Bankovní institut vysoká škola, a.s.

Doc. Ing. Václav Petříček, CSc., General Manager of the Chamber SNS Ing. Lucie Pilipová, Partner, Via Perfecta, s.r.o.

Ing. Ivan Pilný, President, TUESDAY Business Network JUDr. Čestmír Sajda, MBA, former Deputy Minister of Labour and Social Affairs MUD MU Dr. Richard h d Sequens, PhD hD., Headd off Surgiicall Gastroenterology Center, Nemocnice Milosrdnýchh sester sv. Karla Boromejského v Praze and former Senator o or PhDr. MgA. Miroslav Smolák, Owner, Galerie MIR MIRO RO Mgr. Albin E. Sybera, Managing Director, Sybera ra Enterprises spol. s r. o.

Brigadier General Ing. Andor Šándor (ret.), Consultant onnsultant PhDr. Jaroslav Šedivý CSc., former Ambassado dor and Minister of Foreign Affairs JUDr. Josef Šesták, Lawyer Bc. Vladimír Šiška, MBA, 1stt Deputy Minister, Ministtryy of Labour and Social Affairs Ing. Pavel Štefka, MSc, 4-star General (ret.), Chief of Defence and Special Programs, Tatra Ing. Helena Švédová, Director, Department of Trade Administration, Czech Export Bank Ing. Jiří Vávra, Vice Chairman, STROJEXPORT, a.s.

JUDr. Petr Vyroubal, Partner, Law Firm Vyroubal Krajhanzl Školout

interview

Martin Kocourek Minister of Industry and Trade of the Czech Republic Photo: VladimĂ­r Weiss

A talk with Martin Kocourek, Minister of Industry and Trade of the Czech Republic

Business without Burdens Ing. Martin Kocourek (1966) graduated after studying economiccs and management at the Czech Technical University in Prague. He was elected (the ODS nominee) as a member of the Federal Assembly in 19992. He was an adviser of Prime Minister Václav Klaus from 1992–1997. During the economic transformation and privatization he was engaged in the statutory bodies of several state and semi-state corporations (Česká Spořitelna, UNIPETROL, etc.). He was a member of the Presidium of thee Land Fund of the Czech Republic from 1997–2005. Martin Kocourek became an MP (ODS) and held the office of the Deputy Chairman of the Budgett Committee, in the years 1998–2006. He has been the president of the supervisory board of the ČEZ since 2006, and also has business in the field of economic consulting. For a long time, he has been involved in several non-profit organizations, including the Václav Klaus Endowment Fund. Martinn Kocourek was appointed the Minister of Industry and Trade in 2010.

The key priority of your department is to strengthen the energy security of the Czech Republic. In this context, what do you think of the emerging common energy policy of the EU, and the EU’s effort to increase renewable resources, and manage the overall consumption of energy within the EU? Strengthening the energy security of the Czech Republic is one of my main priorities. Energy is a very complex field, and the state’s role in this issue is to ensure the delivery of energy to its citizens and firms, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

In this context, we need to see that the energy coming from renewable resources is part of a wellbalanced energy mix. The Czech Republic particularly pledged to produce 13 percent of its energy from renewable resources by the year 2020. Yet, we need to be balanced with renewable resources, especially with regard to stability and control.

One of the energy security priorities of the Czech Republic is to successfully complete the nuclear power station Temelín. What risks do you face in this respect?

The nuclear power station Temelín has to be completed to satisfy the energy needs of the Czech Republic in the mid-term and the long-term.

Energy investment needs to be planned about 40 years ahead. The tender for finishing Temelín, however, was announced by the ČEZ. Thus, the role of the state here is indirect, and is conducted by means of the supervisory board. In regards to nuclear power stations, we are looking for an optimal solution for the protection of their operation.

Regarding the exclusion of some players from the tender in advance, I don’t think it would be beneficial. The tender will only bring the best offer if it is available to all of the competition.

What do you think the Czech business environment needs most?

I continually speak with businesses and professional associations, with the chief goal of establishing better conditions for entrepreneurship in the Czech Republic. Our businesses in the Czech Republic, and the Czech Republic in general, should be globally competitive. Obviously, any

professional association has its own issues, but almost all agreee on one thing: they want the state to ensure simple, transparent conditions of entrepreneurship, without redundant bureaucracy.

Thus, eliminatioon of the useless bureaucratic burden is one off my main priorities.

Finding new markets could, without a doubt, be one way of solving the problems of Czech business. However, entrepreneurs are calling for a better state policy to promote export. So, what is the state’s role concerning exports?

The Czech ecconomy is very open, and more than two-thirds of our GDP is exports. Under these conditions, the business sphere obviously needs a strong voice too show strength in foreign markets.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade actively supports the entryy of Czech exports into foreign markets, as weell as finding new business and investment opportunities. Obviously, we have cooperated closely with other bodies of the state administration, such as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Furtherrmore, we cooperate with state bodies such as the Czech Trade, the Czech Export Bank, and withh the Export Guarantee and Insurance Corporation. On top of that, the Ministry of Industry and Trade has several tools for creating a pro-exporr t policy. For instance, the Czech Republic particcipates abroad in 25 official fair trade events. Thhis activity has a strong multiplication effect. Thee fair trade costs make up about 70 million CZK annually, and we do really appreciate that the economic return, with regard to closed contracts of Czech companies, is around 8 billion CZK. So where are the biggest shortages in the state’s pro-export policy?

I would like too change the pro-export policy so that our tools arre in the greatest possible synergy with other toolss. I am analyzing some options to make industry, and export promotion, as effective as possible. This might perhaps require some institutional changes as well. In doing so, I want to unify and optim mize the trade-economic departments of the Czzech foreign branches and offices of Czech Trade and the CzechInvest. Beyond this

goal, I am intensively preparing the Export Strategy for 2011-2016, which I will submit to the Government by the end of this year.

The budget proposal for 2011 is counting on the fact that the public finance deficit can not exceed 4.6 percent of the GDP. How does this influence your department? Where are you going to make the biggest cuts?

The state budget does not have its definitive form so far, yet the Ministry of Industry and Trade is going to make the biggest cuts in the area of operational costs, wages and subsidies. This is apart from the science and research expenditures. I see the biggest problem as the lack of means aimed at co-financing the EU structural funds; the budget cuts, with regard to covering damages after mining activities; and the significant decrease of subsidies aimed at the operation of technological centres and centres of strategic services.

In this respect, could those steps toward public finance reform significantly weaken economic growth?

The first phase of public finance stabilization, i.e. the creation of a stringent budget for the year 2011, could cause a weakening of domestic demand, which could constitute a slowdown of the GDP by 0.5 to 0.7 percent in 2011. Nonetheless, if we manage to get the following year’s deficits under control, thanks to the stringent budget for 2011, it would mean a long-term contribution, because trust in the Czech economy would increase as well. Additionally, financing in general would become cheaper, and investment assets would increase. This would subsequently cause an acceleration of economic growth. In other words, if we sacrifice short-term consumer goals for the benefit of long-term stability, we can reach a much higher economic growth rate in the future.

By Pavlína Holancová český překlad naleznete v elektronické verzi magazínu na www.leadersmagazine.cz

Leaders Magazine V/2010

11

A talk with Přřemysl Sobotka, Speaker of the Senate of the Parliament of the Czech Republic

DEFENDING SPEAKER

Přemysl Sobotka (19 944) graduated from the Medical School of Charles University and began his medical career as a surgeon in Liberec Hospital. After two yeears he decided on rentgenology. Since 1991 he worked as the head physician of the X-ray ward of Liberec Hospital. Přemysl Sobotka is a senatorr for the Civic Democratic Party (ODS) representing the Liberec constituency. He was elected to the first Senate in 1996 and got re-elected tw wice in 1998 and 2004. Since 2004 he has served as the Speaker of the Senate of the Parliament of the Czech Republic, and he is thus consttitutionaly second in line after the President. In Autumn he is going to run for a third re-election. Sport has always been Mr. Sobotka’s main leeisure activity. Before he entered public life he competed professionally in volleyball and enjoyed many mountain hikes.

You were the founding member of the Civic Forum after the revolution in the Liberec region. In 1991 you were among the founders of the Civic Democrats. You were elected as a member of the 1st Senate of the independent Czech Republic in 1996... Has it been your destiny to be a “founder”? Do you think you possess a certain disposition, or a gift to happen to be at the beginning of things?

The question here was never about being the first anywhere, but it was rather about not missing any opportnity thaat my circumstances (and development of societyy) enabled. This means the possibility to participatte as a free man and citizen in the dismanteling of the communist regime.

Later, it was the opportunity to get involved with forming a democratic coonservative political party, and even later in creating a constitutional safety pin in the form of thee Upper Chamber of the Parliament. True, I havee the soul of a sportsman, however, in those cases it was never about being first. It was the good feeling of being around when something good and meaningful was happening that drove me innto the centre of things.

Do you know how many of you who were elected in the first election in 1996 are still serving in the House?

Sure, my memory caan easily look that far. We are eight – Sen. Jiří Liška, Sen. Pavel Eybert, Sen. Jiří Pospíšil, Sen. Petr Pithart, Sen. Milan Štěch, Sen. Václav Jehhlička, Sen. Alena Palečková and me.

Are those “veteran” senators, who were forming the institution 14 years ago, in any way different to the newcomers who were succesful in the election two, or four years ago?

Every senator is an incommutable personality, indeed. But they are also politicians and representatives of their political parties. The fortune of the Senate is – exxcept for some neglibible exceptions – that peopple elected there excercise a much higher politicaal culture than is standard of political life in this coountry. It has always been so. I believe and wishh this remains so, also in the upcoming years.

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Leaders Magazine V/2010

Due to the fact that you ran the first time in a two-year county, you have been re-elected already twice. Nonetheless, a third of the senators changes every two years. In the atmosphere within the walls of the Senate, do you talk about changes with the newcomers?

Do you remember specifically any of the Senates whose atmophere was somehow different?

Certainly it does change, athough it changes rather slightly. We had quarrels – sometimes even very harsh ones – over various topics.

However, they were always conducted in a fair and modest air. I reckon that one of the reasons for this has been the prevailing centre-right character of the House, and the fact that the government as well as opposition senators have never drawn any inspiration from the House of Deputies standards.

You have been active in public life during all of our 20 free years. You began at the municipal level; the last 14 years you spent in top political positions as a senator. It seems as if you have never wanted any executive position...

This is always a question of a particular situation. Although, I have never thought about it this way. I have always needed to know that the work I was doing – in local politics, in the Senate, or in politics in general – is meaningful and that it can produce positive outcomes. This feeling still prevails, so I have never had the need to look for a change or for different ways of political involvement.

How is it with your political ambitions?

Constitutionaly you are number two in the country. Is this a fullfilment of a certain ambition?

A good politician should have certain principals, aims, and visions. Their ambition ought to be to fullfil those. But the words “political ambitions” carries for me a connotation of egoism.

Politicians that come to my mind when I hear those words do not belong among those who I recognize as good politicians.

Can a good politician then be with no clear ambitions? Isn’t it a neccessity for success in politics?

Any politician should serve their country and its citizens. That should be the ultimate ambition of anyone involved in politics. Everyone of us can manage just one or two political roles. Someone can be a good mayor and a good senator, however they would not perform good as ministers for instance. On the other hand, you can get a decent minister who would never do a great job in local politics.

You are about to enter the fourth campaign of yours. Does campaigning in the constituency become a routine after time?

Certainly it does not. The atmosphere in every country changes, as it does in a country’s smallest regions. You have to react to different things every time. A considerable part of my constituency was severely hit by the August floods, and dealing with the consequences of the disaster currently worries people more than any politics.

You are about to fight on two battlefields in the Autumn elections. You are defending your seat in your constituency, and you will attempt to maintain the position of the strongest fraction in the House, and thus the right of appointing the Speaker. No matter how well you will perform in your constituency, it might be not enough to keep your position of Speaker...

That is the situation and political reality. The numbers speak clearly. Our party is defending seats in 18 constituencies; the left none. We can do nothing other than to fight and believe in the voters‘ decision. I cannot speak on behalf of anybody, but the possible success or loss have to be accepted as something inherently belonging to life as such, and not only to sport or politics. However, as a politician and a sportsman, I want to win in those elections.

By Filip Hubáček český překlad naleznete v elektronické verzi magazínu na www.leadersmagazine.cz

Přemysl Sobotka, Speaker of the Senate of the Parliament of the Czech Republic Photo: Mr. Sobotka´s archive

interview

networking/gourmet event

at Alchymist Grand Hotel & Spa

From left: MUDr. Přemysl Sobotka, Chairman of the Senate, Parliament of the CR and Benke Aikell, your Publisher

th

4 Leaders Magazine

ADVISORY BOARD DINNER

Special Honorary Guests of this evening were MUDr. Přemysl Sobotka, Chairman of the Senate, Parliament of the CR and Ing. Eduard Janota, Member of the Supervisory Board, ČEZ and Member of NERV, former Minister of Finance, Jaroslav Míl, President of the Confederation of Industry of the Czech Republic and H.E. Peter Brňo, Ambasador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Slovak Republic. This time also joined us our Goodwill Ambassadors, Mrs. Ája Vrzáňová, legendary Czech World Champion in figure skating and a Sport Legend and Vincent J. Derudder, Secretary General, The European Federation of Financial Advisers and Financial Intermediaries.

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From left: Ing. Jiří Devát, Co-owner, Tornado Lou s.r.o., Ing. Vladimíra Václavíková, Marketing and Editorial Director, Leaders Magazine, Ing. Peter Jusko, MBA, Executive Vice President, Ground Operations, Czech Airlines and Partner, London Market and PhDr. MgA. Miro Smolák, Owner, Miro Gallery

The positive reputation of Leaders Magazine continues to grow, however we realize that we must maintain to improve and learn, particularly during these times of dynamic change.

That is why we have decided to set up an Advisory Board for the magazine. I am convinced that creating a platform of high profile individuals will be an excellent opportunity for the magazine to acquire new ideas and define new directions of future development.

Benke Aikell, Your Publisher

networking/gourmet event

From left: JUDr. Dagmar Raupachová, Advocate, Ing. Pavel Štefka MSc, 4-star General (ret.), Chief of Defence and Special Programs, Tatra, Ing. Ivan Pilný, President, Tuesday Business Network with his wife and Ing. Karel Muzikář CSc., President, Comenius

From left: Ing. Eduard Janota, Member of the Supervisory Board, ČEZ and Member of NERV, former Minister of Finance and H.E. Peter Brňo, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Slovak Republic Ing. Zdeňka Indruchová, Executive Director, Association of Czech Insurance Brokers and PhDr. MgA. Miro Smolák, Owner, Miro Gallery

Ing. Ivan Pilný, President, Tuesday Business Network and Ing. Zdeňka Indruchová, Executive Director, Association of Czech Insurance Brokers

From left: Joseph Balaz, President, Bohemian National Hall in New York, Ája Vrzáňová, legendary Czech World Champion in figure skating and a Sport Legend and Benke Aikell, your Publisher

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

From left: Ing. Jaroslav Míl, MBA, President, Confederation of Industry of the Czech Republic, MUDr. Přemysl Sobotka, Chairman of the Senate, Parliament of the CR, Ing. Vladimíra Václavíková, Marketing and Editorial Director, Leaders Magazine, Mgr. Marta Gellová, Secretary General, AFIZ and Otto Jelínek, Member of the Board, OKD

There are only few projects started in the Czech Republic by foreigners which I consider as useful to this country as Leaders Magazine. The magazine has brought to the Czech Republic the completely new concept of making important people – the decision makers be they Czech or foreigners – visible and worthy of positive admiration. As you might know this is something not very common and perhaps even not very natural in the Czech Republic. It is therefore all the more of an achievement to start and successfully develop a project such as Leaders Magazine. I understand fully the intention of Benke Aikell, the magazine’s founder and editor-in-chief, to progress further with Leaders Magazine, and for this purpose to form a team of experienced Czech citizens of different backgrounds to create a consulting body which would bring this project to an even higher level.

Ing. Karel Muzikář, CSc., President of Comenius

networking/gourmet event

From left: Ing. arch. Iva Drebitko, President, TRIGA, Patrons of Art, Ája Vrzáňová, legendary Czech World Champion in figure skating and a Sport Legend, Otto Jelínek, Member of the Board, OKD, Ing. Peter Formánek, President, Canadian Chamber of Commerce in the CR and Prof. Ing. Jiří Fárek, CSc. First Deputy Mayor, City of Prague 6

From left: Ing. Jiří Kohoutek, Vice President and Executive Director, ATOK and Ing. Petr Kubernát, Director, Pekos, s.r.o.

Joseph Balaz, President, Bohemian National Hall

From left: Mirko Lachman, Senior Advisor, Leaders Magazine and H.E. Peter Brňo, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Slovak Republic

From left: Michal Sedláček, Financial Director, Dominanta, Petr Kadeřávek, Director, London Market and Benke Aikell, your Publisher Ing. Petr Kubernát, Director, Pekos, s.r.o. and Ing. Vladimíra Václavíková, Marketing and Editorial Director, Leaders Magazine

From left: Ing. Jaroslav Kubišta, Secretary, Lions Club Eagle and former Chief Public Officer, Telefónica O2, Ing. Jan Lajka, Vice-rector for development of the College and Air Transport Services, Vysoká škola obchodní v Praze, o.p.s., MUDr. Přemysl Sobotka, Chairman of the Senate, Parliament of the CR and JUDr. Josef Šesták, Assistent Professor, Vysoká škola obchodní v Praze, o.p.s.

MUDr. Richard Sequens, PhD., Head of Surgical Gastroenterology Center, Nemocnice Milosrdných sester sv. Karla Boromejského v Praze and former Senator with his wife

Ing. Peter Formánek, President, Canadian Chamber of Commerce in the CR and Zdeňka Indruchová, Executive Director, Association of Czech Insurance Brokers

From left: Vincent J. Derudder, Secretary General, The European Federation of Financial Advisers and Financial Intermediaries, Mgr. Marta Gellová, Secretary General, AFIZ and Benke Aikell, your Publisher

networking/gourmet event

From left: JUDr. Petr Vyroubal, Partner, Law Firm Vyroubal Krajhanzl Školout with his partner Petra Zmeškalová and Joseph Drebitko, CEO, D&COMM

Ing. Lucie Pilipová, Partner, Via Perfecta, s.r.o. and Prof. Ing. Kamil Janáček, CSc., CNB Bank Board Member and Chief Executive Director

From left: Ing. Pavel Štefka, MSc, 4-star General (ret.), Chief of Defence and Special Programs, Tatra, JUDr. Dagmar Raupachová, Advocate and Ing. Josef Kreuter, CSc., former Czech Ambassador to the EU

From left: MUDr. Přemysl Sobotka, Chairman of the Senate, Parliament of the CR and Prof. Dr.h.c. JUDr. Jan Kříž, Csc., Advocate, Kříž a Bělina, s.r.o.

From left: PhDr. MgA. Miro Smolák, Owner, Miro Gallery and Ing. Pavel Štefka, MSc, 4-star General (ret.), Chief of Defence and Special Programs, Tatra

From left: Ing. Karel Muzikář CSc., President, Comenius, Ája Vrzáňová, legendary Czech World Champion in figure skating and a Sport Legend, Otto Jelínek, Member of the Board, OKD and Joseph Balaz, President, Bohemian National Hall in New York

networking/gourmet event

From left: Prof. Ing. Jiří Fárek, CSc., First Deputy Mayor, City of Prague 6, Ing. Peter Formánek, President, Canadian Chamber of Commerce in the CR, MUDr. Přemysl Sobotka, Chairman of the Senate, Parliament of the CR and Otto Jelínek, Member of the Board, OKD

From left: good friends Ing. Karel Muzikář CSc., President, Comenius and Benke Aikell, your Publisher

From left: Ing. Karel Muzikář CSc., President, Comenius, Ája Vrzáňová, legendary Czech World Champion in figure skating and a Sport Legend, Joseph Balaz, President, Bohemian National Hall and Ivo Brokeš, Director of the Secretariat of the Chairman of the Senat

Ing. Pavel Štefka, MSc, 4-star General (ret.), Chief of Defence and Special Programs, Tatra and Věra Rašková, Director, DISEMO Consulting s.r.o.

Mgr. Marta Gellová, Secretary General, AFIZ and Ing. Eduard Janota, former Minister of Finance, Member of the Supervisory Board, ČEZ and Member of NERV

From left: Ing. Jiří Maceška, Chairman of the Supervisory Board, Česká pošta a.s., Zoša Vyoralová, Executive Director, Keren Kayemeth le Israel, Jewish National Fund in Czech Republic, Ms. Adéla Syberová, President, Edith Stein Foundation and PhDr. Albín Sybera, CEO, Sybera Enterprises spol. s.r.o.

From left: Ája Vrzáňová, legendary Czech World Champion in figure skating and a Sport Legend and Ing. Lucie Pilipová, Partner, Via Perfecta, s.r.o.

Benke Aikell, your Publisher and Ája Vrzáňová, legendary Czech World Champion in figure skating and a Sport Legend

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH LEADERS MAGAZINE

CAN COMPUTERS COMMUNICATE WITHOUT US? According to some catastrophic or, if you want, optimistic prognoses, computers will catch up to or surpass human intelligence within the next twenty years. They have already reached this goal regarding speed and reliability. They count faster, they are not subject to emotions (such as a morning quarrel with a mother-in-law), and the after effects of yesterday‘s celebration will certainly not affect their efficiency.

Computations, processes and algorithms performed by the left hemisphere of the human brain do not have a chance against these machines. The previous chess masters’ declaration that there is no computer able to defeat him has now begun to fade, as today, any world champion hass to adm ha dmitit tha hatt it is al almo most st imp mpos ossi sibl blee to win at least one game against a chess computer.

Just one mistake and the game is finished – the computer will certainly not make the same mistake, and will cause a loss of concentration.

In today’s world, computers can communicate amongst themselves without any problems; they compare orders with stocks, send confirmations to the opposite “colleague”, organize logistics and issue invoices. Processes within an industry are managed by computers, and when a human does not have time to update them, they inform a boss via text message. The use of machines for these purposes is even cheaper than the cheapest Asian work force.

They can register and analyze the movement of eyes in front of a monitor, and they can promptly offer you your favorite products. Communication amongst computers is strictly purposebuilt; they do not send emotional e-mails amongst each other, and they do not stand behind their friends. Corruption in computers must be programmed by a human – computers respect the rules of the game and their preferences are set.

The main difference between humans and computers is the activities executed by our right brain hemisphere. This concerns synthesis, not only analysis that respects context, creativity, innovations or intuition. These are not sequential and linear processes, but non-linear, random and intuitive ones. The situation here is slightly different. To illustrate this, it is enough to see how even the best search engines may fail with contextual searching. Linguistics is managed by language, but the advantage is on our side when speaking of the context distinction. Today I am able to compare more finger-prints, but

to search somebody by a photo taken during sunset by the sea is an unsolvable task.

Machines can learn, and they do not repeat the same mistakes, but show me a computer that has invented something. Accidental incidents unhinge them, and lead them down a blind alley.

It is certainly not possible for a computer to improvise. It seems that humans are still “secure” in this sense, at least for some period of time.

Neither a virtual avatar’s fashion, nor a robot’s invitation to the official entourage of a Japanese

ambassador can surpass us for now. To convert from the informational age to the conceptual one is obviously a human activity, which must be executed by left the hemisphere. And so: “Let’s Go!”

By Ivan Pilný President of Tuesday Business Network Former Chairman of Czech Telecom český překlad naleznete v elektronické verzi magazínu na www.leadersmagazine.cz

Photo: Vladimír Weiss

Leaders Magazine V/ V/2010

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interview

Leoš Heger, Minister of Health of the Czech Republic Photo: Vladimír Weiss

A talk with Leoš Heger, Minister of Health of the Czech Republic

Health Care with Social Face From 1972, doc. MUDr. Leoš Heger, CSc. worked at the Radiology Department of the Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Hradec Králové. In 1991 he became Head of the Clinic of Radiology, University Hospital, Hradec Králové, and in 1993 he was also Deputy for Preventive Health Care. Between 1996 – 2009 he worked as Director of the University Hospital of Hradec Králové. He resigned from this post in 2009 upon his own request. Before 2009, when he joined TOP 09 Party, he had never been a member of a political party. From 2002 he was involved in regional politics as a member of the City Council of Hradec Králové. Leoš Heger was appointed the Minister of Health of the Czech Republic in 2010.

Can we say that the Czech Republic has already gone away from centrally planned health care, to a regulated market system?

We made the first step from centrally planned health care via the resolute transformation in 1992.

A system of general health insurance was founded at that time. It was followed by a great reform of the providers’ network in the form of privatization. The network of ambulatory fields is fully independent at present. The fact is that the real insurance system has never been entirely completed in the Czech Republic.

The insurance companies still have tied hands because of regulatory measures which restrict them in competition and behaviour in general. As long as this is not changed, the abovementioned regulation is still unstable Actually all reform efforts, unstable. efforts with the excepexcep tion of the reform of the then minister David Rath, tried to decentralize the competencies p of insurance companies. Nonetheless, good quality and working health care is not provided merely by system organization, but also by the ability to use set up mechanisms.

It was the main problem of our socialistic centrally planned health care system that the establishment did not know how to manage. The current governmental team will, however, rather loosen the centre control.

According to you, why do you think health care reform was not enforced during 2006–2008?

From what do we need to learn mostly?

I suppose it was pushed ahead too quickly. There is still a fairly central control, and with some of the popu po pulation sligh g tlyy left-central minded. A great part of population is reluctant to take over responsibility of their health. People simply expect that the state will help them. Any trend towards the privatization of health care and towards a greater emphasis on people’s responsibility for their health arouses a certain aversion. The then Ministry of Health underestimated this aversion while enforcing health care reform. Additionally, it took no steps to moderate it.

Sometimes, one needs to act quickly, but a certain level of consideration and social attitude have to be involved as well.

What was the biggest problem?

I am chiefly speaking of the privatization of big teaching hospitals, which were supposed to be transferred to university hospitals. Moreover, on that occasion, they were supposed to become joint stock companies. Discussion on the privatization of

hospitals had been running in the Czech Republic for years, nonetheless, the calling for their privatization at tha hatt titime me evoke okedd a greatt suspiiciion off bad intentions and bad property manipulation. I do not believe that the reform was directed this way, yet the public opinion unfortunately did so and we need to take this into account.

Talking about the social shape of reform, what steps are you going to enforce?

I would like to emphasize that the key measure of a quality health care system is not the implementation of regulatory payments. It is important to make the whole system more effective. There are necessary steps on the part of doctors, hospitals and providers in general, much like on the side of the patients. The latter ones must regard their health carefully, carefully and must regard the whole health care system economically as well. Theyy have to acknowledge g that health care is veryy expensive and they can not immediately visit the top specialist. On the other hand, the regulatory payment should be differentiated, and it should be based on logic. Thus, patients would understand it and accept what the health care system requires of them.

Do you take into account that pensioners, children and the socially underprivileged will be withdrawn from the regulatory payment?

Some social groups have already been mitigated.

Some groups, for instance newborns, can be easily withdrawn from the regulatory payment completely.

Nonetheless, once we start to change the given system, it must be very well calculated. Additionally, the system must be able to identify the sociialllly underd privileged as well. This is the most complicated thing.

About 50 percent of citizens receive some social benefit in the Czech Republic. Thus, it is necessary to divide it more simply so that everybody knows what ones category is and how much one has to pay a doctor.

Do you want to launch health care of standard and above standard quality?

We have to define the area of “basic medicine” and the area related to “marginal medicine”. The core medicine covers about ninety percent of all operations.

It actually regards those probl blems whi hichh can threate tenn the patient’s life or heavily threaten the patient’s health. One can not distinguish this only according to cheap or expensive i operatitionall costt s. Ever eryo yone ne nee eeds ds to pay some costs, yet we must set up a social ceiling

in a proper way so that anyone who needs this kind of care would really get it. Otherwise, the procedure would be immediately declared unconstitutional. Compared to nowadays, the new system could launch above standard financing in the area of materials as well. The classic standard would be covered by insurance companies. On top of that, it would consist of both the performed work and the standard material.

Thus, the patient could choose a high-quality material within the above standard category. It would typically concern e.g. the crystalline lenses or light plaster casts; a great discussion was always running over hip joints. There is one more area very suitable for additional payments or commercial insurance – the area of subsequent care and rehabilitation.

What cases does it concern most often?

It concerns situations after injuries or difficult operations. p The patient p is usuallyy rehabilitated and the rehabilitation itself might be provided, for instance, for up to four weeks. Yet, sometimes even shorter rehabilitation would be sufficient. Yet, if the patient insists on the rehabilitation procedures, or if he wants to go to a health resort with rehabilitation, he will be required to pay it by himself. Another area one might use the commercial insurance in could be hospices and various nursing homes, which could get additional payment from families. Thus, the families could get much better service there as well.

In conclusion, could you mention in what time frame you want to submit the health care reform?

I do not like talking about the health care reform as we would ld abo bout ut the ele lect ctio ionn pr prog ogra ramm mmee. I do no nott think we have steps A,B,C, laid out here, and that once these steps are completed, everything becomes “rosy idyll”. The majority of systemic changes must take place in thousands of tiny short steps. Some steps are solvable immediately; some are not solvable at all, and some after some time, once the opportunity arises. It is a patient and fiddling work.

I imagine the health care reform this way. In addition, once I leave the Ministry of Health, I would like to see some changes become visible, and especially that things smooth down.

By Pavlína Holancová český k př ekl kladd nalleznete t v ellekt ktroniické ké ver erzi zi magazínu na www.leadersmagazine.cz

Leaders Magazine V/2010

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interview

Jiří Besser, Minister of Culture of the Czech Republic Photo: Mr. Besser´s archive

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Lead Le adeerrs Ma Maggaazi Maga ziinnnee V//2200110

MUDr. Jiří Besser (1957) graduated from the Faculty of General Medicine at Charles University in Prague in the dentistry department in 1981. Afterwards, he successfully completed his postgraduate studies in the field of dentistry in 1985. He worked as a dentist and built a private dentistry practice in 1992. In November 1994 he was first elected mayor of his hometown of Beroun, and he was in this position until 2010.

From 2000 to 2008, together with former national hockey team member Leo Gudas, he owned a family company, AD PUK, s.r.o.

As a non-party candidate of the TOP 09, he was successfully elected the MP of the Parliament of the Czech Republic in June 2010. Jiří Besser was appointed the Minister of Culture of the Czech Republic in 2010.

A tallk with Jiří Besser, Minister of Cullture of the Czech Repubblic

Honesty and Authentic

LEADERSHIP How did the budgetary cuts manifest within your division? What areas is it going to be reflected in most?

Budgetary cuts expressed them mselves here as they did elsewhere. The framework, staated by the Minnistry of Finance for the year 2011, speeaks of lower exxpenditures by about 10 %. It meanns that in pracc tice, chiefly the staff of officials of thee Ministry of Cuulture (MK) itself needs to cut back, as does the allowance organization founded by the MK.. I do not thinkk it is a big problem, for I have a feeliing that moneyy has been rather wasted within these areas so far. Onn the other hand, it should not touch upon the so-called living culture and the care of historical monumentt s.

You have prepared a new organizational structure for the MK. What do you largely expect from it?

I expect anyone who would likke to have a loook at MK´s new structure to see who is responsible for what.

Each deputy is in charge of a partticular area which is visible at first sight. There are no longer any deputies of sections A,B,C, etc. As long ass you want to effectively manage any bigger structuree, you need to know who is responsible for a particular area. Otherr wise it is, using your reference, an unnmanageable mess.

However, it seems it was very suitt able for many of my predecessors, and perhaps for a variety of officials.

Why did you cancel the original selection procedure of the post of the Head of the National Gallery in Prague (NG)? What do you think the new selection procedure brings?

The selection procedure wass purely organnized since the very beginning. The cleaar submission of the NG founder, i.e. the MK, was miss sing, which shhould have clearly expressed what wass expected from m the new NG management. Furthermoore, the whole competition was doomed from the stt art, because of the process of the selection proceddure itself, because of secrets, because of the additional appointm ment of the selective commission mem mbers, and because of the closed ballot including thee declaration – nondeclaration of the results. By thee way, the selecc tion procedure was set up so that thhe new head of the NG accedes in the first half of thhe year 2011. T here has not been much written abouut that, yet it is written in the competition setting in black and white.

Therefore, the solution of the cuurrent managem ment, to announce a new competition and to appoint the new head of the NG by June, 6 2011, in no way

enddangers the terms stated by our predecessors.

Thee essential difference may lie in that the MK is goiing to cooperate with experts from all areas of culture with erudition towards the NG. They will prepare a clear competition setting. All steps will proceed com mpletely publicly, since the very beginning, includingg the selection commission voting procedure.

What reforms of your division do you find crucial? What legislative changes are you preparing in this context?

T hese reforms are definitely the new Act on the staate monument fund, and the new Authors Act. Thee latter one, by the way, has already drawn a very neggative reaction from the public, yet absolutely neeedlessly. A new draft proposal has come out, thoough it is one with which even the new division maanagement has nothing in common. Based on thiss, not even a semi-product launched a campaign thaat deals with issues that we played into every authoor organization’s hands. It is nonsense. Every law hass certain stages. Here we are talking about stage onee, yet the final stage might be stage fifteen, and it maay still be indistinguishable from the first stage.

Thuus, primary proposals are distributed to all parties in order to receive comments and subsequent revisions. Additionally, if we at the Ministry of Culture sennt the draft proposal to the Ministry of Education, it was not to show our colleagues what to expect, but in order to receive constructive criticism. This is one thinng. Under my management there will always be a real public discussion of all essential things. Therefoore, no one has to worry that anyone would “cook” anyy thing in secret, or that people would make payoffs for another so-called intellectual property.

Could you also mention what stage the already abovementioned Act on state monument care is in?

I have already talked about this. It is one of my prioritties. I am happy that I have appointed PhDr. Anna Maatoušková as my deputy, a great expert in this field.

Thee new Act has been worked out very hard, but I had bett ter not mention the exact terms. This is a little bit moore difficult, as it has been prepared in cooperation witth the Ministry of Regional Development, which is working on the new Building Act as well. These things aree to a certain extent interconnected and require speecific coordination. Obviously, it requires a timeconnsuming, yet greater efficiency.

How do you want to deal with the reconciliation of the state and the Church and the church associations? What model of the state-church property settlement are you preparing?

It is evident that the state finally needs too take meassures regarding this very sensitive issue. It has beenn very bad for all interested parties that the settlement has not been completed yet. It is also evvident that we need to prepare a new agreement. In this sensse, new talks have already started with Father Archbishop Duka. I would also like to continuee with the t alks within the framework of the Ecumeenical Counncil of Churches in the Czech Republic. How wever, this is unambiguously the most complicated tassk the Minisstry of Culture is facing, and one of the most difficultt the whole Government is facing as well. Ass long as we manage to solve it during the followingg four yearss, we will be very satisfied.

In this context, the Czech Republic is one of the last post-communist countries which had not adjusted its relations with the Vatican by contract. Are you going to initiate any change in this affair?

Thhis is obviously closely linked with the preevious quesstion. Yet, how do you want to adjust relaations with the Vatican, if we have not settled relaations with the Church in our own country? In my oppinion, the agreement with the Vatican is relevant exacc tly at the moment when the ink of the agreement witth our Churrch representatives runs dry. Such an agreeement would thus significantly enlarge the active paarty in this affair, which is already such a big group. We can not afford it.

Also the Act on cinematography is waiting for approval. Is it possible to approve it in the same form as it was prepared by Mirek Topolánek´s Government?

I am afraid it is not quite possible. This is due to the pure fact that the Mirek Topolánek’s Government is not the same as the Government of Petr Nečas. We are an administration with a completely different support from the Chamber of Deputies. Therefore, wee must prepare the law much more carefully, so that we do not have to change it again after just a few monthhs.

By Pavlína Holancoová český překlad naleznete v elektronickéé verzi magazínu na www.leadersmagaziine.cz

Leaders Magazine V/2010

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A talk with Pavel Drobil, Minister of Environment of the Czech Republic

NUCLEAR ENERGY

is the Most Ecologic One Photo: Vladimír Weiss

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Leaders Magazine V/2010

Mgr. Pavel Drobil (1971) in 1995 successfully completed his studies at the Law Faculty of Masaryk University in Brno. From 1998, after finishing his law exams, he worked as a lawyer focusing on business law. In 2000 he joined ODS. Two years later he became a member of the city council of the city of Bohumín. From 2004 to 2008 he was a member of the representatives and council of the Moravian-Silesian region, where he served as a deputy to the regional governor for the area of economic development and European structures.

In 2008 he was re-elected to the regional council. Since 2004 he has been the chairman of the ODS organization in Karviná and from 2006 has also been a member of the ODS Executive Council. In 2009 he became the ODS election leader for elections to the Chamber of Deputies in the Moravian-Silesian region.

He was elected as an MP in 2010. Pavel Drobil was appointed the Minister of Environment in 2010.

Mr. Minister, what are your resort priorities?

My first priority is to improve the quality of air.

Thee mo Th most st cru ruci cial al iss ssue ue is th thee re regu gula latition on of ai airr po polllution sources and mainly in the most burdened areas. Thus, we will support the completion of regional and local regulatory systems so that one can select particular municipalities and particular sources. The second important priority is the protection of nature. I want to open the national parks more for people. National parks protect the most precious parts of local nature all over Europe. They have scientific and educational significance as well. Additionally, they should serve the public’s needs at the same time.

Can you clarify this?

The national parks are a welcomed opportunity for municipalities and regions to increase their attractiveness. This will be thanks to a tourism which is sparing to nature, as well as to the local history and regional specialities. If the national parks create an opportunity for local citizens and small entrepreneurs, they will have a good motivation to act tactfully toward their unique natural landscapes. The third priority is closely interconnected with another topic which the Ministry of Environment is intensively dealing with. It concerns a solution on how to improve the retentive ability of scenery. We have to build systems of flood control which are suitable for any particular region. Repeating floods show that we need to take this danger into account. Primarily, we have to find a solution on how to prevent it. it Apart from the improvement and/or preservation of prognosis services and the synergy of emergency systems, it is necessary to implement enduring measures in scenery. If water is not retained by the land itself, the fill slopes are not going to be very helpful either. The fourth priority concerns development of the so-called “green economy”.

What exactly does it regard?

The Ministry of Environment is going to pursue the simplification and reduction of excessive administration requirements of businesses. The analysis of the Ministry of Environment from 2008 shows that only 3 percent out of an adequate sample of almost 9 000 businesses produced 80 percent of the total pollution. Thus, a widespread regulation of smaller and middl dle sized businesses appears to be entirely ineffective. These actors play an insignificant role with regard to environmental pollution.

Can you specify the simplification tools which you want to promote?

We have the standard methodology, the Regulatory Impact Assessment (RIA) at our disposal. It is an evaluation of regulation impacts.

Thanks to Topolánek´s Government, the Czech Republic belongs among the European leaders concerning useless bureaucracy and regulations. I will carry on the same steps as did the Minister of Trade and Industry, Martin Říman (ODS), in the previous Government. On top of that th at, I ha have ve com ompl plet eted ed the ana naly lysi siss of mea easu sure ress

and the Ministry of Environment Agenda. First of all, I will cancel the double and triple obligations.

Then, I will Th ill chheckk the efficiency and relevance of the rest. Where it is possible, we will swap regulation for self-regulation. This concerns largely the small and middle sized businesses which, as I already mentioned, make up for an insignificant percentage of pollution. The bureaucracy needlessly applies a heavy load to both the businesses and to the state budget. Yet, it does not bring any effective results for the environment. We want to focus on big polluters, and it is highly possible that we will evaluate them in much stricter way.

Among your main priorities is to free the Ministry of Environment of excessive ideology.

In what ways were the activities of your predecessors subjected to ideology the most?

If a minisste terr is eng ngag aged ed pririma maririly ly in a st stru rugg ggle le for global climate protection, and fails to improve air quality breathed by the citizens at home, then he follows an ideology rather than common sense. The same applies for nuclear energetics.

I understand that for the Green Party, which was established as a movement to fight nuclear energy, it is difficult to accept rational arguments at the moment. Yet, until they accept that nuclear energy is the most ecological energy to cover our consumption, although it does not meet the needs with regard to climate protection, it is legitimate to talk about the danger of ideology.

Finally, but not least of all, the Ministry of Environment behaved unfriendly, unfriendly and uselessly, uselessly towards businesses under the direction of the Green Party Party. Many businessmen rightly took the bureaucracy and regulations as bullying. The rules and new requirements were really literally liquidating for many of them. One can feel the echo of a certain unfortunate ideology in this process.

Under Czech conditions, what is the future for renewable resources of energy?

We will not turn a blind eye to air pollution in any case, but we will not support any renewable resources either, only those which are efficient.

Unfortunately, the Czech potential for renewable resources is not very distinct. Regarding water power, we are basically on the margin of reasonabl ble opporttuniti ities. Al Also so, op oppo port rtun unititie iess fo forr wi wind ndpower installations are rather small. Moreover, our citizens are in danger of an ecological burden in our heavily populated territory. We have a higher number than we need of photovoltaic power plants, thanks to the very high redemption price set up by the ČSSD’s Government. The Energy Regulatory Office is preparing a rapid reduction of the redemption price of electric energy, which also decreases the attractiveness for potential investors. The others are biomass, biogas and geothermal energy, which we would like to support reasonably. In connection with renewable energy support, I find it very important to search for energy savings. I mean energy which thanks to modern technologgies, such as house

heat cladding or more economic cars, does not have to be produced at all. This is the most pure source of energy.

In this context, do you consider the EU plans aimed at emission’s reduction too ambitious?

Yes. It is true that the EU pledged to decrease the emission of greenhouse gas by 30 percent by 2020, under the condition that other industrial countries display a greater effort as well.

However, the EU has not done so yet because Italy, Denmark, Poland, Hungary and Austria spoke out against the commitment adoption.

According to these countries, the cut by 20 percent is just enough. We are afraid of the loss of competitiveness for Czech businesses, chiefly when compared with Asian competition. We are afraid that Czech companies, which almost meet thee de th decr crea ease se by 30 per erce cent nt at th thee mo mome ment, t would be hit by this rapid plan very painfully.

We belong to a group of countries with a great deal of industry, and therefore our businesses would have to meet reduction requirements even up to 40.5 percent. Representatives of the European and Czech industrialists radically opposed it. We want to lead serious talks on this issue with the EU. I am not disputing the need to adjust Czech industry to modern trends, or the need for structural changes and the implementation of saving technologies. On the contrary. We really need to stand the speed and depth of these changes.

What are the biggest risks interconnected with the main focus on nuclear energy?

I am an advocate of nuclear energy, energy and exactly because I am the Minister of the Environment. It is basically a zero-emission technology. We can not meet the ambitious European targets aimed for emission’s reduction requirements without nuclear energy, and even Brussels is realizing this. Therefore, nuclear energy is not a taboo within the EU any more. The biggest risk is obviously human error. It is, however, necessary to emphasize that there is a disordered totalitarian system lying behind the failure of Chernobyl, and not one but several unbelievable and fatal mistakes. Nothing like that happened elsewhere, and though it was a huge tragedy, nuclear energy is by fa farr th thee sa safe fest st way of ac acqu quiririn ingg en ener ergy gy.. Mu Much ch more people die in mines by accidents. You might want to hear that the biggest risk is made by nuclear waste. Yet, this is a technically solvable question. Moreover, we need to bear in mind that it concerns mere tonnes of waste, not million of tonnes of waste, as in the case of a coal-fired power station.

By Pavlína Holancová

český překlad naleznete v elektronické verzi magazínu na www.leadersmagazine.cz

Leaders Magazine V/2010

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diplomatic event IN COOPERATION WITH LEADERS MAGAZINE

RECEPTION FOR

PaedDr. Alena Gajdůšková, 1st Vice-Chairwoman of the Senate during her speech

All Czech Ambassadors at the Senate On the days of 30 August – 3 September 2010, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs held regular meetings of heads of diplomatic missions of the Czech Republic abroad. Representatives of the Czech diplomacy and invited guests discussed a wide range of issues connected to union, security and business-economic issues. The ambassadors were, as the tradition wants, welcomed by the President of the Czech Republic, Václav Klaus.

The ambassadors then had the opportunity to greet and discuss with the Senator and the Senators at a meeting in the Senate.

From left: H.E. Ing. Petr Kubernát, Director od PEKOS, s.r.o. and former Czech Ambassador to the Netherlands, Jarmila Krejčíková, Czech Consul General in Dresden and H.E. Pavol Šepelák, Czech Ambassador to Pakistan

Valérie Ciprová, Head, Senate Chancellery and H.E. Pavel Vošalík, Czech Ambassador to Vatican

H.E. Karel Žebrakovský, Czech Ambassador to Canada and Mrs. Eva Hellová

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H.E. Jan Koukal,m Czech more mo orree Ambassador photos ph hoottoos and aan nto d electronic eleeccttrr oon el niicc version v eerr si sion sion on Austria with Alena available aav vPalečková, aillaabblle on ai onSenator www.leadersmagazine.cz w ww w w.lleeaaddeerrssm maaggaazi zine ne.c .cz

From left: H.E. Karel Dyba, Czech Ambassador to OECD and H.E. Luboš Nový, Czech Ambassador to Norway

From left: MUDr. Gabriela Felková, Prof. MUDr. Rom Kostřica, CSc., Head of ENT University Clinic, President of Czech ENT Society and Ing. Jana Fischerová, CSc., Vysočina Region

From left: Juraj Chmiel, Deputy Minister, Ministry of Agriculture of the CR and H.E. Václav Jílek, Czech Ambassador to Mongolia From left: H.E. Stanislav Slavický, Czech Ambassador to Venezuela and Josef Rychtar, Director, Department of EMEA countries at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs

From left: H.E. Petr Pelz, Czech Ambassador to Afghanistan and Jaroslav Veselý, Czech Consul General in Donetsk

From left: Jiří Slavík, CDA a.i. in Cairo, Egypt and H.E. Vladimír Zavázal, Czech Ambassador to Italy

Jiří Schneider, First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs

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

From left: Docent JUDr. Petr Pithart, Vice-President of the Senate, H.E. Jakub Karfík, Czech Ambassador to Slovakia, Jaroslav Veis, Advisor to the Vice-President of the Senate and H.E. Karel Kühnl, Czech Ambassador to Croatia

From left: H.E. Stepan Zajac, Czech Ambassador to Argentina and Josef Havlas, CDA a.i. in Teheran, Iran

From left: H.E. Karel Beran, Czech Ambassador to Spain and H.E. Tomáš Kafka, Czech Ambassador to Ireland Mrs. PaedDr. Alena Gajdůšková, 1st ViceChairwoman of the Senate and H.E. Jan Bondy, Ambassador to Cyprus

From left: Vladimír Eisenbruck, Agent for Expatriate Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic, Jiří Liška, Vice-President PČR and Senator and H.E. Petr Dokládal, Czech Ambassador to Romania

From left: H.E. Bronislava Tomášková, Czech Ambassador to Iraq and Jiří Nedoma, Chairman of the Committee on Transport VZHD From left: H.E. Jiří Šitler, Director of Territorial Department, Asia and Pacific, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the ČR and H.E. Pavel Řezáč, Czech Ambassador to Indonesia

Reception for All Czech Ambassadors at the Senate 28

From left: H.E. Ivan Jančárek, Czech Ambassador to Brazil, Benke Aikell, your Publisher and H.E. Milan Sedláček, Czech Ambassador to Thailand

Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Mr. Štefan Füle, Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighborhood Policy

Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs

From left: Petr Nečas, Prime Minister and Karel Schwarzenberg, Minister of Foreign Affairs

Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Mr. Alexandr Vondra, Minister of Defence of the Czech Republic

Source: Archive of the Prague Castle

The President of the Czech Republic, Ing. Václav Klaus with Mr. Karel Schwarzenberg, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the CR and the Czech Ambassadors abroad

Count Dobrzensky and daughter Anna walking down the aisle

IN COOPERATION WITH LEADERS MAGAZINE

Spectacular aristocratic wedding took place at the Castle Chotěboř between Anna Countesse Dobrzensky de Dobrzenicz and Count Charles de Vergennes. The noble family Dobrzensky goes back to the 13th century and the French family goes back to the era of Louis XV. All the Czech noble families were represented along with many noble families from France, Austria and Germany.

at Chotěboř

Wedding of the Year

Marquise de Vergennes in the middle with friends from France

From left: Countesse Czernin and Countesse Kinsky

Mr. and Mrs. Castlot

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Count and Countesse Bedřich Strachwitz

Leopoldine, Anna, Jan, Sophie – Dobrzensky siblings

Their Royal Highnesses the Duke & Duchesse of Vendome

Baronesse von Harnier with Count Strachwitz

Baron and Baronesse de Langsdorff

Countesse Zdislava Dobrzensky with Count Hans Kottulinsky

Count Charles de Vergennes with sister Eleonor Lescure

Marquis and Marquise de Vergennes, parents of the groom In the middle H.E. Bishop František Lobkowicz

Count Michael Podstatzky with friend

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

Anna carried away by friends

Photos: Michal Šula, Lenka Pekárková, Ivan Hoza, Kateřina Šulová and Miroslav Hoza

Anna and Charles surrounded by best friends

Mr. Jean Francois Hoppenot with Countesse Dobrzensky z Lobkowicz, uncle and grandmother of the bride

From left: Countesse Diane Dobrzensky, Mme Veronique Hoppenot with grandson Louis

Countesse Marketa Dobrzensky with Count Stubenberg

Mr. George Parobek with Count Dobrzensky

Mr. and Mrs. Yves Fromion, aunt and uncle of the groom

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Wedding of the Year

The bride and the groom tying the knot

Count Jan Wenceslas Dobrzensky with son Jan Joseph

Count and Countesse de Roffignac, uncle and aunt of the groom

Count and Countesse de La Roche Foucauld

Marquise de Vergennes, mother of the groom

Count and Countesse Stubenberg

Father de Broglie, Counts Guy-Hubert and Olivier de La Rochethulon

Mirek Hoza with family pet Hercules

Count Lepic, Mrs. Isabelle Richbe, Countesse Kinsky, Mr. Marko Pařik

Count Dobrzensky with Baronesse Jana Germenis – Hildebrandt

Newlyweds Anna and Charles leaving the church

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Carriage for Bride and groom

Son in law of Mrs. and Mr. Vergennes, Antoine

Mrs. Jana Fischerovรก M.P. with Countesse Dobrzensky

Bride Anna Countesse Dobrzensky and groom Count Charles de Vergennes

Princesse Lobkowicz in the middle

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Wedding of the Year

Family Dobrzensky and Vergennes

IN COOPERATION WITH LEADERS MAGAZINE

BEWARE OF YOUR BAD BUSINESS MANNERS Karin Genton-L’Epée has 15 years of management experience in the United States, France and the Czech Republic.

For the last 12 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

Prior to the advent of the Internet and email, business followed a traditional hierarchical structure: a manager was in charge of a team who reported to him only, he was in charge of communicating to his boss, who then did the same to his own boss etc. Everyone had one direct supervisor who usually worked on the same premises.

Today, an IT programmer based in Prague more often than not reports to a manager who might be located in a different city or country. This manager may, in turn, be reporting up the line to someone in a third city or country.

And all three of these employees might be from different cultures and speak different native languages.

While this challenging work environment might be daunting for many people, most employees manage to adapt to new organizational structures and, with some communication and cross-cultural training, have learned to relate to each other in a positive and productive manner.

And as long as the IT programmer operates behind his computer screen and communicates via email, conference call and occasional face-to-face meeting with his manager, he is okay. The emphasis is more on his skill set and his ability to work within his assigned team than on his social manners and business etiquette.

But what happens when the board of directors based in the company headquarters in London (or Frankfurt, or Paris) asks him to attend one of their board meetings to present the new software program he has been developing for the company. Will the programmer be able to adapt his look and communication style to succeed in this situation?

Today, business etiquette and social manners have become critical elements required for employees in all global companies. As these companies continue to expand and bring diverse workforces together, some basic and common rules of what is appropriate are expected in a western professional environment.

ONE SIZE DOES NOT FIT ALL Etiquette has its roots in the practices of nobility during the reign of the French King Louis XIV and, over the years, those practices became what is perceived as the acceptable standard of behavior throughout much of Western society.

The word etiquette itself is French and its literal meaning is “ticket”, implying that proper application of etiquette and social manners were an individual’s ticket or entrance to higher social status. In today’s professional world, adherence to proper business etiquette can also be a ticket to elevated status, to recognition, a raise, or a promotion.

While some of the earlier rules are now perceived as old fashioned and too formal for our modern taste, appropriate business etiquette and social manners are the building blocks for social relations and interactions in our professional life as well as in our daily life.

But manners involve a wide range of interactions within cultural norms, and mistakes can be made right from the first meeting. How does one properly greet a person one has not previously met? That can depend on several factors, including the gender, the generation, the relative position to each other, and the cultural norms of the respective parties.

Germans usually shake hands at first introduction, and would never think of using first names, no matter if they had done so by phone or email. Americans also tend toward handshakes, but they often use first names.

Japanese are well known for bowing and extending their calling cards, with extreme deference paid to perceived superiors. The French, on the other hand, are likely to kiss, even at first meeting. Imagine the scene if all these people came together at once!

“NO SHOES, NO SHIRT, NO SERVICE” If you have been to a warm climate in Europe or North America, you have seen the signs. Though casual, there is still a code of dress that must be adhered to in order to conduct business in the store displaying the sign.

This is not much different than dress codes in schools, or the unwritten code of dress at finer restaurants or country clubs, which may require men to wear a jacket and tie to dinner, and women to wear dresses. Standards are set and the expectation is that they will be met.

At work, standards vary when it comes to dress codes. Some businesses have very high standards for their employees and set strict guidelines for office attire, while others maintain a more relaxed attitude.

No matter what the company attitude is regarding what you wear, though, when working in a business environment it is judicious to dress appropriately.

But in our modern world, it seems that to succeed one must attract as much attention as possible. The challenge is to learn how to attract attention in a positive way, not in a way that jeopardizes one’s reputation and credibility.

Attire should reflect both the environment and the position. An IT programmer who doesn’t interact with the customers has a different image to maintain than the sales director, or the concierge of a 4-star hotel. Like it or not, you are being evaluated by your personal appearance.

This is never more apparent than on the “casual Friday” or “dress-down days” when what people wear says more about who they are than any business attire ever could. As

a rule, make sure that your ph phys y ical appearance communicates what you want others too kn k ow about you, and at work, make sure it says that you mea eann business.

TREAT OTHERS AS THEY WOULD LIKE TO BE TREATED At the age of 16, George Washington coopi pied by hand a list of 110 rules on civility, rules which were co c mpiled by 16th century Jesuits priests. While the story bel elongs to the mythology surrounding the first President of th the United States, it proves insightful to illustrate that Washington was universally recognized by his contemporaries for his civility.

In Europe, the unprecedented array of cultural differences requires us to be clear and explicit about what we mean by civility. We are constantly reminded of the need to follow not the Golden Rule: “Do unto others as you would have done unto you,” but instead to follow the Platinum Rule: “Do unto others as they would have done unto them.”

To simplify, the rule is to treat people the way they would like to be treated. This rule presents us with the challenge of paying attention to others’ needs and expectations, suppressing our desire to impose our own view of the world.

For example, the French like to debate and expect participants involved in business meetings to speak their minds and even interrupt their counterparts when they disagree. But for most Czech, interrupting someone before they have a chance to finish expressing their thoughts is very rude and a sure sign of uncivilized manners.

The word manners, which derives from the Latin word “hand”, refers to how we handle relationships. Manners exist because they are instrumental in our interactions with others. They encourage us to cultivate mutual respect by paying attention to people’s needs, desires and hopes.

To a large extent, the quality of our lives depends on the quality of our relationships, and the quality of our relationships depends on our degree of civility toward each other. By exemplifying mutual respect and reinforcing polite behaviors in our lives we can also create and cultivate workplaces which express civility.

Though modern society has tried to dispose of formal conventions, certain forms of social manners really do make life easier. They help us navigate societal waters by providing guidelines for a variety of business and social interactions. And they help us get the job done.

Leaders Magazine V/ V/2010

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interview

Kateřina Klasnová Chamber Deputy Head and the Vice-Chairwoman of the VV Photo: Mrs. Klasnová´s archive

An interview with Kateřina Klasnová, Chamber Deputy Head and the Vice-Chairwoman of the VV

POLITICS STILL REMAINS SORT OF A MEN’S WORLD ThDr. Kateřina Klasnová graduated from Charles University, in the field of religious studies. She has worked as the editor-in-chief of the magazines “Věci veřejné” and “Pražan”. She has been a member of the political party Věci veřejné (VV) since 2001. She was elected the Vice-Chairwoman of the VV in 2005. In 2006, Kateřina Klasnová was elected into the town council of Prague 1. She has been engaged in the Cultural Commission and the Commission of Parks, Tidiness and Greenness. She was awarded the prize “Promising Politician” – declared by the civic association “Fórum 50%”. She is currently studying politics and international studies at the CEVRO Institute. Kateřina Klasnová was elected the deputy of the Parliament of the Czech Republic and the Chamber Deputy Head in 2010.

How do you perceive the fact that there was not a woman appointed in the current Government? Don’t you mind it?

I feel sorry that there was not a single woman included with the executives, and that the situation from Zeman’s administration has been repeated. Yet, I am still against any implementation of a quota, as it would not bring the desired efficiency.

Do you think that there has been a carrying over of stereotypes concerning the status of women and men in Czech society?

A modern woman continues to have the traditional role of mother and guardian of domesticity.

At the same time, she has added her career on top of that. This is difficult on both women and society, as it is hard to reach a harmony with both roles. Moreover, I consider contemporary society rather schizophrenic in this respect. On the one hand, it turns a blind eye to some biological instinct, while on the other hand, it supports and nourishes some clichés.

What do you mean about the implementation of the “woman element” into present politics?

Could that be a way to make Czech politics more cultured? Moreover, is it possible at all?

Czech society wishes to have more women in politics. This proved to be true in the last Parliamentary elections, as more than one-fifth were women ellecttedd to th the Czec echh Pa Parlrlia iame ment nt, andd tw an twel elve ve of th them em tha hank nkss to the “sy syst stem e of encircling”. The women’s attitude can bring more empathy and less “cockfighting” to the political scene.

In this context, how do you perceive the discrimination of women in Czech politics?

I would not explicitly talk about discrimination, yet politics still remains sort of a men’s world, similar to the business world. It is a hard

game. Thus, fewer women in politics can say that political parties are not open to women; it is more that women simply do not have the guts and nerves for politics.

What “women” topics do you personally find important? Are you going to initiate some of them, in this respect? How does it look with your “dream path aimed at blondes” proposal?

I do not distinguish political topics strictly bbetween women andd men. I consider id my priority i i topics to be anti-corruption measures, among others, e.g. a change of the procurement law.

Regarding the dream path aimed at blondes, I would perhaps only mention that it was a joke, however many journalists took it very seriously.

On the other hand, walking on the Prague “cobblestones” brings more than a few difficulties :-). Additionally, I was really pleased that this topic was very successful with potential votresses, so much that the Prague Gallery DOX recently introduced the project aimed at “heel pavement”.

Do you regret that you were not appointed to any ministerial position, which is what you would be most interested in?

No, I do not. I have been engaged in municipal politics for several years and I would like to get some experience in the big league politics. I can imag im agin inee th that at I wililll ad admi mini nist ster er som omee mi mini nist ster eria iall p st in four years time, as well as fully return po to municipal politics. However, if I would have to decide right now which post would suit me best; it would be the Ministry of Culture.

Before the election you shot a calendar with a slightly sexual overtone, altogether with other women from the VV. It was a rather effective tool of political marketing. Do you consider a presentation like that to be

a standard way of approaching voters within the election campaign?

No, I definitely do not. And that is why it experienced such a big success. It is not standard to have such a large number of women at the top positions of a political party such as we do in the VV. What exactly has changed for you personally since you switched from the “opposition” party to the party of the government establishment?

Although being in the opposition is rather a kind of Sisyphus Work, it actually means freedom from accordance, e.g. not-closing on agreements, and not making compromises with political partners. Politics is, however, the mastery of how to come to an agreement, thus I consider it a valuable experience being on the other side of the barricade.

You are in charge of the autumn municipal elections. What is going to be a significant success of the VV in these elections?

I will consider it a success if we achieve the same (nationwide) percentage or higher than what we received in the May Parliamentary elections. Expressed in numbers – between 10 to 15 %.

According to you, why should Markéta Reedová become the new mayor of Prague?

Shee is an ho Sh hone nest st and fearless po p litician who is able to resist corruption, and we know that the Prague town hall has become inglori l iouslly well-known exactly for that.

By Pavlína Holancová

český překlad naleznete v elektronické verzi magazínu na www.leadersmagazine.cz

Leaders Magazine V/2010

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An interview with Dagmaar Zvěřinová, Senator and Deputy Mayor of Žďár nad Sázavou

You Cannot Look

BACK IN POLITICS Photo: Vladimír Weiss

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Leaders Magazine V/2010

Dagmar Zvěřinová studied horticullture at the Faculty of Agronomy, University of Agriculture in Brno (now Mendel University). Since 1976 she has been living in Žďár naad Sázavou, where she also entered local politics as an independent after the fall of the communist regime. In 1997 she became a meember of the Czech Social Democratic Party and Deputy Mayyor of Žďár nad Sázavou a year later.

In 2008 Dagmar Zvěřinová was eleected Senator. She also heads the Association of Ducts and Seewerage of the Žďár Region.

You started your political career as an independent. What brought you into the ranks of the ČSSD? It arose from the situation at the m municipal assembly. I was the only independent ppolitician there, and increasingly cooperated with thhe ČSSD club. We had similar views on solving issuues such as schools, nursery schools, and housingg, which I was dealing with at that time. You know, in a town with about 25 thousand inhabitants, hard bbusiness cannot be done. All of us are socially oriented, and it doesn’t matter what political party youu belong to. Ordinary life and social issues are discussed in towns every day. And if you work on it a bbit more, you are rather on the left or in the centre. TThere are businessmen at the assembly who are ccloser to right-wing politics. However, their views arre sometimes more social than mine. It is a queestion of personal contact. They know the case and sometimes I am surprised what solutions they suggest in some areas.

This could explain the fact that the coalition of the ČSSD and the Civic Democratic Party has been in power for twelve years. In what areas do you disagree most?

We are able to agree on many things. W We have the same views on education and social isssues. The differences appear in cases such as whenn we are deciding where to invest, on what projectts to use our financial resources. The more left-orieented representatives want to invest in educationn, sport, and they prefer other areas. If we argue, it is based upon a matter-of-fact approach, not ideologgy. In the last twelve years, the biggest issue has beeen whether to build an aqua park bigger or smaller. We have always managed to agree on the main subjeects.

You are running in the October local elections once again. What are your priorities?

I would like to focus on the reconstructioon of the town centre. A general reconstruction of a square is needed because of its dismal state. I knnow that the economic situation is not very good, but the town’s finances are relatively healthy. We ccan thus afford it. It is also necessary to rebuild about 70 kilometres of pavements. The pre-warr part of town is growing dated, and there is a lack off barrierfree access, which is of significant importtance to elderly people. We also want our young generation to stay in town. For that reason, we plan to bbuild and reconstruct sports fields. We realized their significance during this holiday. Many people stayed at home and the pressure for sports facilitties thus increased. These activities are necessary,, but nobody provides them commercially. Thereffore, the town has to do that. We also plan to recconstruct a cultural house, to build an aqua park,, and to

create parks which our town lacks. We also have to focus on creating new jobs. So there are many plans. But whether we manage to implement them will depend on finances.

You mentioned the creation of new jobs. In what part of your region is unemployment the highest and how do you want to solve it?

The biggest loss of jobs occurred in Žďárské vrchy, especially in forestry and agriculture. In the town itself the unemployment is not so high. I think tourism would help, but it will be difficult. It is necessary to ensure a good quality of roads in the region. No businessmen come to the area if there is no relevant infrastructure.

How do you want to attract more tourists?

First of all, by the reconstruction of the town, which I mentioned earlier. Moreover, we have to adapt our cycle tracks and nature trails. Because the Žďár region doesn’t have any castle, we have to rely on cycling, hiking, and nature in the summer, and cross-country skiing in the winter. However, if we want more tourists, we must have not only good cycle tracks, but also quality lodging facilities. We will see how it develops. We want to redirect our region toward domestic tourists for the second holiday. We would like to attract grandparents with grandsons and granddaughters. This is the generation that doesn’t depend on school holidays, and can also come in June or September. I think there is a great potential.

If elected, will you run for Mayor?

I am up for it. I of course know what this post is about. As a Deputy Mayor I am familiar with the functions of the authority. However, it is all about the voters´ choice, and negotiations after the elections.

Why did you decide to stand for a seat in the Senate in 2008?

My journey to the Senate is a bit more complicated. I considered my candidacy for the first time in the 1996 elections. I worked quite hard on it. I got signatures and talked to voters. Then the social democratic party came, and just before submitting my candidacy they had persuaded me not to do it, arguing that I was too big of a rival for them. In the end they convinced me, and I didn’t run for Senator.

Did you regret your withdrawal later?

You cannot regret your decisions in politics. You can do that only if you harm someone by your decision. I would mind that. But if it is about ambitions, I would not have any regrets. You cannot look back considering whether it was a good decision or not.

Why then did you run in 2008?

On the one hand I thought that it is necessary to represent a region, on the other it was a question of age. I was also asked to stand, and did not have

any rivvals within the party. Quite the opposite, I received big support. And that is a great commitment.

It moves you forward. I did not want to underestimate anything at all. I worked on my candidacy for a year and half. It was not easy, but I succeeded.

As a Senator you said that the coupling of Deputy Mayor and Senator functions would offer certain opportunities. In what way?

It is above all in the approach. A negotiation from the poosition of someone who is not only Deputy Mayor,, but also a Senator is more simple and faster.

As a Seenator you have to be accepted by the ministries, for example. From them I demand a decision.

It is alsso about the opportunity to share the experiencess with colleagues from local politics. Sometimes you come to know very valuable information. Because we didn’t compete with each other in locaal politics, the openness in communication was much higher.

You are also a Vice-Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs.

One of the currently discussed topics is the direct elections of the Czech president. What is your opinion on that?

I am m for the direct elections of the Czech president. I have to admit that during my Senate campaign people asked me about this, and they were in favoour of it. I was quite surprised that they are interessted in it. This was during my final part of the campaaign, shortly after the presidential elections in February 2008. People were full of everything that waas happening at the time. And because it is a very conservative region, they have remembered it for a loong time afterward. However, I think a direct democcracy would be better. I am personally convinced that if the direct elections were held in 2008, the ressult would have been the same, but it would not havve been such a humbug.

The other debated issue is the change of the electoral system for the Chamber of Deputies.

How far off is this possibility?

I thinnk it is not such a hot issue. It turned out in the last eleections that people found a way of expressing their oppinions. It is a complicated issue whose solution will be demanding. In comparison, the direct electioon of the president is more realistic.

Do you think this can be approved before the next presidential elections?

It will depend on the will of politicians. If they want itt, then it can be adopted. But I think it won’t be donne before 2013.

By Zuzana Kasáková ■ český překlad naleznete v elektronické verzi magazínu na www.leadersmagazine.cz

Leaders Magazine V/ V/2010

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gala event

IN COOPERATION WITH LEADERS MAGAZINE

Opening of the Exhibition on July 8, 2010 – Gala Night at Prague Castle On Thursday, July 8, a glamorous event took place in the Golden City on the occasion of the grand opening of the Cartier Collection exhibition “Cartier at Prague Castle – The Power of Style”.

Until October 17, 2010, over 360 selected iconic pieces will be on display in Prague Castle’s Riding School: exceptional high jewellery creations, mystery clocks and amazing masterpieces – an outstanding overview of Cartier’s 160 years of history. This exhibition is one of the largest exhibitions which have ever been shown worldwide. Among many other highlights are the Maharaja of Patiala’s necklace, Gloria Swanson’s crystal and platinum bracelets and the Duchess of Windsor’s Panthere jewellery.

For more information: www.cartierexhibition.com Tickets available at Ticketpro

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

Photos: Cartier archive © Cartier

Pierre Rainero, Cartier Image, Style and Heritage Director

From left: Patricia Gandji, Managing Director, Cartier Northern Europe and Mrs. Eliška Hašková Cooledge

From left: Pierre Rainero, Cartier Image, Style and Heritage Director, Rony Plesl, Architect of the exhibition, Livia Klausová, wife of the President of the Czech Republic, Bernard Fornas, President & CEO, Cartier International and Eva Eisler, Curator

Monica Bellucci and Bernard Fornas, President & CEO, Cartier International

From left: Mr. Parik with his partner and Serge Grimaux, CEO, Ticketpro with his partner Markéta Zdeňková

Prof. Václav Klaus, President of the Czech Republic with his wife Livia Klausová

Taťána le Moigne, Country Manager, Google CR and Serge Grimaux, CEO, Ticketpro

From left: David Šebek, Prague Castle Spokesperson, Ivo Velíšek, Prague Castle Administration Director, Mrs. Livia Klausová, wife of the President of the Czech Republic and Bernard Fornas, President & CEO, Cartier International

social event

IN COOPERATION WITH LEADERS MAGAZINE

An Evening in the Ledeburg Gardens From left: Lenka Dušková, General Invest Company, Mathilde Nostitz, Patron of blind persons and Founder of the Endowment Fund Mathilda, Šárka Táborská and Daniel Bilý, General Invest Company

The Evening Th E i Dedicated D di d to Bli Blindd P People, l Wh Where IInvestors andd D Developers l SSupportedd the h M Mathilda hild E Endowment d A social evening held at the Ledeburg Gardens was aimed at the introduction of a project by Šárka Táborská and Lenka Dušková, from the General Invest Company a.s. The project brings real estate and investment activity together with the Mathilda endowment fund, whose aim is to support blind and visually impaired people. This year, Lenka Dušková and Šárka Táborská attended the worldwide Cartier Women’s Initiative Award competition, where beneficial projects invented by women, which have an immediate impact on the social sphere, competed for the top prize, along with many projects from other continents.

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

From left: Žofie Vokálková, Flutist, Helena Krausová, Opera Singer and Zbyňka Šolcová, Harpist

From left: Benke Aikell, your Publisher, Blanka Matragi, Fashion Designer, Lenka Dušková, General Invest Company and Miloš Janů, Marketing Manager at Vyšehrad 2000 a.s.

Jaroslav Pilný and Beáta Pilná, Start Up, main sponsor of the evening From left: Lenka Dušková, General Invest Company, Přemysl Synek, DIC and Jana Synková, Diamond Foundation

Mathilde Nostitz, Patron of blind persons and Founder of the Endowment Fund Mathilda with her co-worker and guide dogs

From left: Laszlo Kovary, Senior Consultant and Radim Dušek, Blonde Films

RNDr. Jitka Seitlová, Deputy Ombudsman

Šárka Táborská, General Invest Company and Tomáš Kučera, Luxury Events

From left: Jaroslav Linhart, Construction Director CR and SR at Orco Property Group, Andrea Palánová, President of International Coach Federation, Šárka Táborská, Lenka Dušková, Daniel Bilý, General Invest Company and Marko Jovanovič, Owner of Six Real

An interview with Sandra Daay O´Connor, first female Assoociate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States

First Lady of the Supreme Court Sandra Day O’Connor (1930) was the first female member of the Supreme Coourt of the United States. She was appointed by President Ronald Reagan in 1981 and served until her retirement from the Couurt in 2006. She was born in El Paso, Texas. She attended Stanford University, where shhe received her B.A. in economics in 19 950 and continued at the Stanford Law School, serving on the Stanford Law Review undder Editor in Chief, future Supreme Court Chief Justice William Rehnquist. Since no law firm in California hired her due to her sex, shhe turned to public service, taking a posittion as Deputy County Attorney from 1952–1953 and as a civilian attorney for Quartermasster Market Center in Frankfurt am Main, Germany, from 1954–1957. From 1958–1960, she practiced law in Phoenix, Arizona, and seerved as Assistant Attorney General of Arizzona from 1965–1969. In 1969 she was appointed to the Arizona State Senate and was suubsequently re-elected as a Republican to two two-year terms. In 1975, she was elected judge of the Maricopa County Superiorr Court (Arizona) and served until 1979, when she was appointed to the Arizona Court of Appeals. On August 12, 2009, she was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedoom, the highest civilian honor of the United States,

by President Barack Obama. She is Channcellor of the College of William and Maryy in Williamsburg, Virginia, and serves on the board of trustees of the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia. She wrote two children’s books, one co-authored by her brother.

Justice O’Connor was in Prague at the innvitation of the CEELI Institute, of which shhe is on the Board of Directors and gave a keynote speech at its Annual Meeting Summer Program and Judicial Integrity Roundtable..

Photo: Michal Stichauer

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Leaders Magazine V/2010

There is going to be a recognition ceremony of the late Czech constitutional judge Vojtěch Cepl who was a great admirer of the US judicial system, and who always held it as an example of independence and the ability to resist political interference. It seems you have a bit of a different opinion, why?

Excuse me, what is my opinion? That’s new to me.

In some of your speeches you criticize the way the judges are appointed in the US and the possible political interference into this process.

Yes, every state in the US has its own constitution, and about half of them still elect some of their judges in popular elections.

That’s probably the wrong way to go about choosing the judges. All of the federal judges in the US, including the members of the Supreme Court, are appointed by the President with the advice and consent of the Senate; and that has worked very well throughout the years.

All of the states started out this way, too. It was President Andrew Jackson who tried to persuade states to elect their judges instead of having the appointing process. And a great many states went along and some of them still do. I think that is not the right way to select judges, and the reason I don’t is because to have popular elections of judges, which no other nation in the world does, allows for money coming in for the campaigns. People who give money are people who want something from the judge, people with cases or with other reasons to donate money. I think it is a poor part of the selection process and the states that elect them should go to the appointment system. I worked hard on that.

If I understood your speeches correctly you also criticize the increasing tension between politics and judiciary.

I have noticed lately that at the national level in Congress and in many of the states as well – for example in my home state Arizona, there is currently a tendency to argue with each other and not talk about issues in a friendly way in order to resolve them, but instead to be very critical of the opposite party. We seem to be in a time of conflict rather than a time of ability to discuss things on a friendly basis.

The judicial systems of post-communist countries have been going through transition, but it still seems they display quite a low resistance to political interference. Why is it so?

I am not close now to the system of any of the countries here in the region. My husband and I lived in Germany in the 1950´s and then I watched the things more closely. I have made only occasional trips during those years of transformation, so I don’t really know what is going on in the countries of this region other

than what I hear in the meettings like the one I am having now.

But it is an issue here. What would you see as a basic remedy to it?

In most of your countries youu have your judges appointed by someone. We do the same in some of our states and it is a good way to go. Our judges tend to be appointed for a term of years at the state level. Most counttries in this region do that, too. Once you are appoointed in an office as a judge, it works well; thee judges function quite independently of the govvernor or whoever appointed them. The appointting person does not have power over the judge.. I don’t know how it works here. You may have a situation here in the region when an appointting body may try to exert an influence over judges, but I don’t know if that happens. Conceeivably, there are countries where the judge hass a shorter term in office and then is eligible forr re-appointment, and under those circumstancces the judge can be up to a little pressure to actt in certain way.

Within the continental system the judges tend to stick to a rather narrow interpretation of the law. Case law and wider interpretation is rather rare. Why is that?

All European countries havve a civil law system, not a common law systeem. Great Britain, the US, Canada and some otther nations have common law systems where thhe decision of the court will govern and be appplicable in future cases as well. The court decision becomes part of the body of law. It is not truue of the civil law countries. But at the end of the day you don’t see much difference, becausse civil law judges are not going to change theirr minds tomorrow if they have decided some issue; they are not very likely to render an oppoosite judgment in the next case.

Still, it is quite rare that the Czech judges would be interpreting the spirit of the law…

Most judges in my country tend, at least, not to overreach and decide more than they need to for the case. I think that might be a general approach of most judges in anny system. Once in a while you have some issue that has broader implications, and a decision can be made that affects more cases; that’s poss sible, but I don’t think there is some major division between judges in this region and my coountry for deciding something more broadly or narrrowly.

You were the first appointed female Supreme Court Justice in history…

Yes, I was. It took us 191 years to get one, which was a long time to wait.

How difficult was it for you to establish yourself within this male body?

I don’t think it was difficult at all. The Court, when I joined it, had divided four to four and they were just deadlocked on a number of cases, so they were happy to get a ninnth member of any persuasion.

Do you know why Ronald Regan chose you as his nominee for the Supreme Court?

No, I don’t, but I have a suspicion – I grew up on a cattle ranch and he loved riding horses and ranches. I think he liked the fact that I was a cowgirl.

You also wrote two children books. How did you find time for it?

It didn’t take any time at all. I wrote a book about my favorite horse when I was young on our ranch. It was a wonderful little horse; he came from the wild horse herd and he was small. His name was Chico. He was just lovely and when I fell off, he would stop and wait for me. None of the other horses would do that.

So I liked Chico very much and he lived to be almost thirty which for a horse is very unusual.

We stopped riding him when he was about twenty five because we thought he was old, and we turned him loose on a big horse pasturage. And I think he was lonely because he made friends with a deer. The two of them were inseparable; that was very special. One day the horse came in alone, the deer disappeared and we were very worried because he lost his best friend. Chico was very lonely so he made friends with an old boxer dog we had. And I wrote about that for children. Also when I was a youngster on the ranch, there were no other children, and I had a series of pets as a child that tended to be wild animals. One of my pets that I had for quite a long time was a bobcat; he turned out to be a pretty good pet, purring sometimes like a cat would. We had him for quite a long time until he finally disappeared.

I also had desert turtles that are very unusual animals, and are now becoming almost extinct.

They are amazing creatures but not very cuddly. For some months I kept a little wild rabbit, too, but they never learn to recognize you. For a while, I had a couple of havelinas, they look ily. They were very smart but not very attractive.

I had all kinds of wild animals as pets when I was a child and I wrote books about them.

What was the feedback from the readers?

They loved it. It also got a book award and was generally well received. My brother and I wrote a book you could perhaps find in your library here. It is called “Lazy B” – that was the name of our ranch. And the two of us wrote about our life there. It was fun to do it and it has been a good story for people.

By Věra Řiháčková

český překlad naleznete v elektronické verzi magazínu na www.leadersmagazine.cz

Leaders Magazine V/2010

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An interview with Prof. Eva Syková, MD, DSc, Director of the Institute of Experimental Medicine (IEM) at the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic

Regenerative Medicine Is Our Future Prof. Eva Syková, MD, DSc, graduated from the 1st Medical Faculty, Charles University in Prague. During her studies she was already involved in research and started working at the Physiological Institute of the Academy of Sciences right after her graduation. She has worked in a number of research institutions in the Czech Republic and abroad. In 1991 she joined the IEM and became its director in 2002. Since 1996 she has been head of the Neuroscience Institute at Charles University’s 2nd Medical Faculty , which she founded, and since 2002 she has been head of the Centre for Cell Therapy and Tissue Repair at Charles University. In 2002 she was named professor of physiology and pathophysiology. She has lectured about her neuroscience and stem cell research at more than 100 foreign universities and conferences. She is an elected member of Academia Europaea, an assembly of the world’s best scientists, and a member of the steering committee of IBRO (International Brain Research Organization). She is a member of the editorial boards of prominent scientific journals (The Neuroscientist, Journal of Neuroscience Research, Neuron-Glia Biology, International Journal of Developmental Neuroscience, etc.). Since 2005 she has been president of the Czech Neuroscience Society. Prof. Eva Syková is an author of five patents and the recipient of several Czech and international scientific prizes. She has published extensively and her publications have been cited more than 5,500 times (her H-Index is 41). She is one of the most distinguished personalities within the Czech scientific community. She is married and has two sons.

You are a very successful woman who has achieved a lot in her career. What is your perception of our all-male government?

I am asked quite often about that. It has been a recurring question in my life, and I have been following this issue at the international level as well. As a successful woman I am often asked to talk about gender issues at various forums. Ten years ago, a summit of the world’s most prominent female politicians, scientists, and entrepreneurs was held in Stockholm, which focused on the problems women face in their profesprofes sional life. It is quite symptomatic that I was not nominated by anyone from my country, but I represented Yale University there. I feel bad about the fact that our country has one of the worst records of female representation in high positions, and this issue is not seen as a challenge here. There are a lot of highly qualified women in all areas of life here, but one can see that women rarely achieve more important posts. It is less striking in science than in politics, where there are no tools to help women succeed. When there is a need for a woman in a higher political function, a “harmless” woman is usually chosen – one who will not be active in pushing through her own ideas. The only way forward is to make fair representation of women a binding principle and a precondition for the creation of any new functions. In our country, people are reluctant to support measures for better female representation, and any discussion of possible enablers automatically elicits a negative response. Progress will be very slow without pressure. It is a major failure that there is not a single woman in the current government.

Have you ever encountered a situation when being a woman was an obstacle to your career progress?

Women usually have problems when they are young.

This was also quite apparent when the new Czech cabinet was being set-up. They face the prejudice that when young, pretty and intelligent women long for marriage, family or so-called “womanly things”, then they do not take other issues as seriously as men do. Once a woman gets older, her situation and chances improve. Another problem is the media – they are mostly interested in actresses or singers, and neglect many talented women

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Leaders Magazine V/2010

Photo: Vladimír Weiss

in other societal sectors. The result is that celebrities are taken as a model. On the other hand, many families of young educated people function today in a more equal manner.

What impact can the upcoming cuts in science financing have on the Academy of Sciences’ institutes?

The proposed cuts seem quite bizarre, as much will be lost and not much saved. We have just received the 2010 budget cut of 2.5%. We will have to save a lot of money during the last four months of the year, so we decided to lower some salaries. I think we can handle it, but if there are more cuts next year, as suggested, we will face much trouble. Our institute is one of the best within the Academy of Sciences, and more significant overall budget cuts would be very complicated for us, but almost fatal for other institutes. On the basis of an assessment we are currently making, many institutes of the Academy of Sciences are likely to appear among the best institutions within Czech science. Certainly, there are some tools that would allow for offsetting the direct budget cuts, but they can’t be mobilized so quickly. One of them is to increase grant resources, in other words replacing institutional funding by ad hoc project funding. Another option is to allocate funding according to scientific results, but that can be done only to a limited extent. Science and research need continuity, and it is not wise to take something away and then return it, because competent people will leave in the meantime, and the overall quality of research will drop.

Czech research has been improving and slowly reaching the level of Western countries, and rushing into illconsidered measures could dampen the positive trend trend.

Basic research may seem uneconomic and nonprofitable…

It seems so from a purely economic point of view, but it is not true. Basic research is the necessary basis for all future innovations. We represent one of those institutes that have embraced innovative principles together with so-called translational research. We know our research cannot be limited to basic research only. Of course there are scientists who focus purely on basic research, but my task as director is to support the transfer of research outcomes into practice. This is much desired, especially in medicine. We have created a number of tools for this transfer, funded from EU money – for example the Innovation Centre and Business Incubator. Scientists won’t leave research in order to devote themselves to business applications; nevertheless, you can motivate them to do both. Unfortunately, there are no conditions being created by the state for that purpose. Although the new government is supposed to adopt this very approach, concrete tools and resources still remain unknown. Establishing the Technological Agency that aims at financing joint projects of scientists and business is, however, a major step forward.

Is the co-financing of EU projects threatened?

Co-financing is not a major problem. EU funded projects are very welcome, but they finance only a minor part of our research; they are more important with regards to international cooperation, prestige and contacts with scientists in Europe than the actual financing. Most of our financial resources come from the Czech budget and Czech grants.

What is the current state of Czech neurosciences?

Czech neuroscience has a long tradition since the era of J. E. Purkyně, and it enjoys a good reputation at the international level. It includes all fields that somehow relate to the brain. As in other European countries, there is a Society for Neuroscience in the Czech Republic and a number of prestigious neuroscience sites. Today, we encounter more and more diseases affecting the brain and nervous system that we cannot cure – we are only able to deal with their symptoms. These include degenerative diseases, which can also occur at a young age, inborn defects and genetically inherited diseases. During one’s midlife, diseases such as Disseminated Sclerosis, Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease can start to appear. They are demanding and costly both for the health system and the patients’ relatives. There are also more and more frequent brain and spinal cord injuries that patients are able to survive, but their quality of life is lowered considerably. We have been witnessing an increase in psychiatric disorders, e.g. depression, which represent a complicated factor for both personal and professional life. Therefore, research is extremely important in this area as it is intimately connected with new therapeutic methods that require deeper scientific knowledge. Regenerative medicine, as a new field of research, does not include solely brain diseases, but also other diseases of organs affected by ageing – the heart, liver, kidneys and the musculoskeletal system. The process is not just about regeneration. Modern methods such as stem cell therapy, tissue replacement, or genetic interference are utilized in order to treat the origin of diseases. Here lies the hope for the future treatment of diseases that can’t can t be cured pharmacologically or through transplantation.

How long will it take to make all those modern technologies part of usual medical care?

Some of them are already being applied in practice, and more and more have been introduced. Research needs time, but this is not a major problem. The introduction of new methods into clinical practice is highly regulated and contingent on thorough clinical testing.

It takes five years or more before one gets results. It is a slow process, as everything has to be tested separately, and the new methods do not really help the patients at the beginning, because first of all they must not harm them. Testing is extremely difficult in the case of the brain. It is much easier with joints, where we cooperate on clinical testing with positive results. We have had very good results in the treatment of diabetic footthrough transplantation, where a patient’s own cells save their foot and no amputation has to be carried out.

How does the cell therapy application look?

Stem cells are like small factories, they can rescue demaged cells or replace them and replace the function of another cell; they can even regenerate and build an organ – this is the so-called rescue and replacement effect. As long as the patient’s own cells are used, there is no risk. Only those cells made of embryonic or fetal cells or quasi-embryonic cells created by genetic modification of the patient’s adult cells are capable of replacing an organ or even neurons. Another complication is that the cells often cannot be applied just by themselves, as they are not able to remain and survive in the

tissue; it is necessary to employ a combination of carriers and cells. We have had good outcomes in animal testing as far as spinal cord injuries are concerned. The lesion in the spinal cord is bridged by a biomaterial containing cells. For humans, those processes would have to be supplemented by at least five other agents in order to achieve a successful cure. It is a long-term project, and the way forward leads through a combination of artificial materials and one’s own tissues – matrix and proper cells. This is how it partly is and will be; in any case here lies the future of medicine, it is just a matter of further tests and work.

What are you currently working on?

I am deeply interested in the fundamental functions of the brain, and the so-called non-synaptic transmission has been my life’s project. There is synaptic transmission in the brain, which means everything is connected by fibers and synapses. It turns out that there is also wireless transmission, as in telecommunications, based on the physical diffusion principle. We participated in elaborating this theory and its verification, and we have been continuing with this research because a number of diseases affect the quality of this nonsynaptic transmission. Besides that, I have been working on stem cell research, nanomaterials and other biomaterials for various uses, for example spinal cord injuries, post-stroke symptoms, and brain tumors – but also for cartilage, bones, tendons and diabetic foot.

Furthermore, our institute is the only one in the Czech Republic authorized to carry out experiments on animals with human embryonic stem cells.

What is the most fascinating thing about the brain to you?

Since my second grand-daughter was born three months ago, g I have been watchingg how fast the evolution of the brain is. A human being is born relatively immature. I am familiar with the course of events happening in the brain, and I can imagine how the neurons are migrating in my grand-daughter’s brain, how connections are being set-up, how dendrites are growing and the hemispheres are being linked together. It is really exciting to observe the progress she has made in three months.

Human evolution over time is very interesting, too. It is impossible to catch it during a single lifetime, but if you do a time projection of the progress that the human race has made, one can ask about its remaining capacity, and whether human brain characteristics will be absolutely different in a thousand or million years. As a scientist, I care about our possible influence on the ageing of the brain. All cells get older, each of them has its own ageing model but none live forever. At present we think a human being can live up to 130–135 years at maximum, unless we are able to change every cell’s cycle.

Brain cells get older, too, and regardless of diseases that we could cure, it is also important that 130-year-old people maintain good brain functions. Thanks to memory tests carried out on old animals and people, we see huge differences between individuals; some are able to maintain their learning capacity and their memory almost as well as in their youth. We have been focusing a little bit on those differences in the speed of ageing as well.

By Věra Řiháčková český překlad naleznete v elektronické verzi magazínu na www.leadersmagazine.cz

Leaders Magazine V/2010

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networking/ charity

Guest of Honor: Jaroslav Míl, President of the Confederation of Industry of the Czech Republic Evening topic: “Ten priorities of the Confederation of Industry of the Czech Republic for the future”

IN COOPERATION WITH LEADERS MAGAZINE

Lions Club

From left: Ing. Jaroslav Míl, President, Confederation of Industry of the Czech Republic and Ing. Jiří Málek, President of LC Praha Bohemia Ambassador

Prague Bohemia Ambassador

From left: Mgr. Kamil Košina, Executor, PhDr. Karel Vondrášek, PhDr. Ladislav Říha, Owner, CK RI-Tours and former President of LC Praha Bohemia Ambassador and Ing. Ladislav Bouček, CSc., Enterpreneur, former Governor LCI Czech Republic and Slovak Republic

From left: Petr Laštovka, Enterpreneur and Oldřich Hořák, Owner of Hotel Bílá Růže in Poděbrady From left: Mgr. Jaroslav Drápal, Analyst, ČSOB and Ing. František Chaloupecký, Enterpreneur

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JUDr. Vojtěch Trapl, Lawyer, former Governor LCI Czech Republic and Slovak Republic and MUDr. Blanka Seifertová, General Practitioner

From left: MVDr. Pavel Hradecký, Health Councel, RNDr. Pavel Kalášek, Consultant, former CEO of Hewlett Packard and Ing. arch. Petr Bílek, Architect´s Studio Bílek Associates, spol. s r.o.

From left: Ing. Jiří Novotný, CSc. MBA, Financial Director, Ratiopharm, Ing. Jaromír Kaulfus, Enterpreneur, Ing. František Chaloupecký, Enterpreneur and Ing. Antonín Novotný, CEO, CSI

From left: Ing. Jaromír Kaulfus, Enterpreneur, Ing. Ladislav Bouček, CSc., Enterpreneur, former Governor LCI Czech Republic and Slovak Republic Ing. Ladislav Vaško, Commercial Director

From left: Ing. Ladislav Bouček, CSc., Enterpreneur, former Governor LCI Czech Republic and Slovak Republic and JUDr. PhDr. Oldřich Choděra, Lawyer, Governor of LCI D122 Czech Republic and Slovak Republic and Charterpresident of LC Praha Bohemia Ambassador

From left: Prof. MUDr. Aleksi Šedo, Vice Dean, 1st Medical Faculty of Charles University and MUDr. René Vlasák, Medical Doctor

MUDr. Blanka Seifertová, General Practitioner and JUDr. Jaroslav Novotný, Lawyer, Membership Chairperson of LC Praha Bohemia Ambassador

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

From left at the back: JUDr. PhDr. Oldřich Choděra, Lawyer, Governor of LCI D122 Czech Republic and Slovak Republic and Charterpresident of LC Praha Bohemia Ambassador, Ing. Jaroslav Míl, President, Confederation of Industry of the Czech Republic and Ing. Jiří Málek, President of LC Praha Bohemia Ambassador

AFIZ event

From left: Tomáš Prouza, Vice-Chairman of Partners and Josep Soler-Albertí, ViceChairman of EFPA EUROPE

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH LEADERS MAGAZINE

A first preparatory course for the European certificate EFA (European Financial Advisor) was officially kicked off on Saturday 11th of September on the grounds of the University of Economics in Prague.

Among the speakers were Oldřich Šoba – academic and manager of the course, Tomáš Prouza – co-founder of the financial advisory firm Partners, Michal Oppl – director of Partners, Josep Soler-Albertí – vice-chairman of EFPA Europe, Marta Gellová – secretary of AFIZ and head of EFPA ČR and Petr Borkovec – CEO for distribution of Partners.

Biig ssttep B Big e s toowa w rrdddss Eu Euro urroope peann sttaannda dard rds rd ds in in Fiinnan anci cial cial ci al Serr viice cs AFIZ, AF IZ, aass the IZ h mai ainn fo foun foun unde d r, de r, is prooud ud to in intr trod oduc od ucce E EFFP PAA Czzec C ech Re Reepu publ pu b iicc. c

European Certificate EFA Course 50 financial advisors will follow twelve classes of the one-year course and are expected to pass exams and receive the EU-wide EFA certificate in the autumn of 2011. They will be the first holders of the prestigious European certificate in the Czech Republic. The aim of the course, which is organized by the financial advisory firm Partners, is to support excellent financial advisors and provide them with deep knowledge of all aspects of the financial market. EFPA Europe is a top professional association of financial advisors active in most European states that educates advisors and issues certificates EFA (European Financial Advisor) and EFP (European Financial Planner).

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

The speakers with their students. Standing: Marta Gellová, Secretary of AFIZ and Head of EFPA ČR, Josep Soler-Albertí, Vice-Chairman of EFPA Europe

Don’t Miss Your Chance, FÜLE TELLS BELGRADE During a visit to Belgrade on 17 September, Enlargement Commissioner Štefan Füle delivered the message that Serbia has an historic opportunity to launch accession talks with the EU soon, provided that it keeps up a constructive momentum in its relations with Pristina. EurActiv Serbia, launched 19 September, reports.

After meeting with Serbian officials, Füle said he hoped a consensus would be reached soon within the EU regarding Belgrade’s application for EU membership, adding that the Belgian EU Presidency, as well as other countries and EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Catherine Ashton, were “working hard” in that direction.

“The “T he Eur urop opea eann Co Comm mmis issi sion on is of the opi pini nion on tha hatt the time has come for the EU to take Serbia’s application for joining the EU seriously,” Füle said after a meeting with Serbian President Boris Tadić.

The enlargement commissioner said that after the compromise reached between Serbia and the EU on the UN resolution on Kosovo, a new impetus had been created in relations between Serbia and the EU. “There is a general feeling that this opportunity must not be missed,” he said.

Füle said that he came to Belgrade to keep this positive momentum and discuss further steps in the European integration of Serbia.

The new phase of relations between Belgrade and Brussels, Füle stated, means a new level of engagement me nt and aid to Se Serb rbia ia in th thee re refo form rm pro roce cess ss. He added, however, that there would be no shortcuts on Serbia’s road to the European Union and that any advances would depend on the country’s performance.

Tadić told the press that his country wants EU membership negotiations to begin as soon as possible. EU membership is about fundamental structural improvements in Serbian society, institution building, assuming responsibility and fighting against corruption and organised crime, the Serbian president said.

Tadić also said that completing its cooperation with the Hague Tribunal was “a moral obligation of Serbia” and “the material condition for reconciliation” in the region.

Thee Eu Th Euro rope pean an com ommi miss ssio ione nerr sa said id tha hatt hi hiss me meet etin ings gs in Belgrade were an opportunity for him to focus on Serbia’s role in regional cooperation.

“After all my talks today I may say that I am encouraged by the dedication here. And I am convinced that we will see pragmatic regional cooperation in which all neighbouring countries will participate, but also Pristina,” Füle said.

During the visit to Belgrade, Füle also met with Prime Minister Mirko Cvetković, Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremić, Interior Minister Ivica Dačić, Defence Minister Dragan Šutanovac and Justice Minister Snežana Malović.

Cvetković told Füle that the Serbian government will continue to work on the strengthening of regional cooperation, the fight against organised crime and cooperation with the Hague Tribunal.

Serbian Defence Minister Dragan Šutanovac informed Füle about the reforms carried out of the defence system, as well as about plans to include

the Army of Serbia in the joint security and defence policy of the EU.

By EurActiv.com ■ český překlad naleznete v elektronické verzi magazínu na www.leadersmagazine.cz

Leaders Magazine V/ V/2010

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An interview with Senator Jiří Žák

MAGIC STEMS from the Steadiness of the Constitution Jiří Žák (ODS) was elected to the Senate in 2004 to represent the Czech Republic Bruntál district. In the upper parliamentary chamber Mr. Žák acts as the vice chairman of the Constitutional and Judicial Committee, among other duties. Finishing the secondary education in Bruntál, he enrolled in the College of Mining in Ostrava. Before finishing he left to work at the nationally owned ČSAO company, pursued private business interests, and joined LIAZ firm in 1997. At the end of the 1980s and into the 90s he participated as the driver and the navigator in the Paris-Dakar races. He first entered politics in 1989 through the Občanské Forum party, the predecessor to ODS. Since 1998 he has also been a member of the board of the town of Bruntál. Jiří Žák has announced his Senate candidacy for the upcoming fall elections.

How do you see the development accompanying the upcoming Senate elections – that is, having a large number of candidates along with a large participation of candidate-celebrities?

First, it needs to be said that the Senate – which many say is an unnecessary, expensive, and superfluous institution – is an integral part of our constitutional functioning. That is why there is so much interest in the senate seats. Moreover, the methods of candidacy differ from those used for the Chamber of Deputies in that each man fights for himself. I witnessed manyy candidates that were media savvyy but did not

succeed. It is interesting, for it might appear that such a candidate has a great chance. The voter, though, clearly understands that every trade requires experience, and politics requires other experience besides that of show business. In the upcoming elections there are around 220 candidates from 27 voting districts, so in terms of the count they are not that extraordinary.

What is interesting is the phenomenon of new political entities such as TOP 09 and VV, so in the fall elections we will meet candidates from these parties as well.

Who will be your greatest opponent?

That is a difficult question q because it is about a veryy

specific district – area-wise it is one of the largest, it has one of the lowest population densities, it is remote, and has a large unemployment – one of the highest in the country. A whole bunch of candidates have a chance here. The way I see it is certainly the Moravia-Silesia county commissioner Jaroslav Palas – in some of the past elections ČSSD chose a strategy of repeat nominations which, to put it bluntly, recycles successful candidates while seeking additional offices. In this district there is also a significant support for KSČM. I would not like to underestimate other candidates,, but I think the contest will be Photo: Vladimír Weiss

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in the ODS-ČSSD-KSČM triangle. Personally I will do everything to be elected.

Why should people vote for you?

I like doing what I do, and without modesty I say I do it quite well. The majority of people see their Senator as their deputy in the Parliament, because the Senator acts locally. That is a part of it, but in a larger part this work is foremost about the supervision of constitutional enforcement, and the meaningfulness of the legislative outp ou tput ut. We are successffulllly correctiting many mistakes i and we also have legislative initiative. As it happened, during the last session I initiated changes to three laws that were accepted. A senator can be truly valuable provided he does this work as I do full time. For many colleagues it is apparent they have this work as “something to go with” – a mayor’s office, a commissioner post, or a physician’s practice. It is also important that a senator, should he really want to accomplish something, create contacts with the government administration, among the experts or in the media, and it takes a rather long time before one can create them. When a complete freshman comes to the Senate without political experience, it will take him three years minimum before he figures out how everything works.

As a current member of the Constitutional and Judicial Committee in the Senate, how do you see the current main proposals to change the Czech Republic Constitution, such as the direct election of the president, etc.?

What makes the Constitution magical is that it should not change. The oldest democracies do such changes only rarely. When we changed it not long ago, it amounted to a minor yet a very practical thing, thing which dealt with just the dissolution of the Chamber of Deputies. The Czech system Deputies system’ss bad habit is that we react to every problem by trying to pass a law. That’s not a good way. I think that, considering the times and the speed of its creation, the Czech Constitution is of high quality and without major defects. Regarding the direct election of the president and the mayors, this has been discussed for a long time already. This question is not as trivial as it is presented in the media. It is not just about rewriting three lines of text – it is about rebalancing the whole system. Before we agree to this change, we should reach certain conclusions in the expert discussions framework, which is ongoing for many years now. A political decision to have a direct election of the president without changes to the president’s role is of course possible, but I don’t know if it is the right one.

The political will of the ruling coalition is in this respect more than apparent, and the status of this issue seems to be not if, but when and how. What is the feeling inside the Constitution and Judiciary Committee regarding this?

In the Senate such a proposal from the ruling coalition can bring complications. I respect party discipline, provided that the party has quite a clear vision of what it want wa ntss to pur ursue. The question is, though g , if it is really the will of all members of the party, and if every one must be one-hundred percent obedient. So far I did not have to vote on this thing and cannot say at this moment how I would vote. This government was formed at the time of the ascent of new political entities, and people are expecting a shift in the political culture. Still, I would venture a bold claim that much of the rhetoric, which

was coming from all political parties before the elections, was very populist. Should the change to the Constitution be embedded in the government program’s platform, it will very likely have the support of the Deputies. But it is not yet clear what the Senate makeup will be when this proposal arrives there.

What then is the ideal scenario, in your view?

I can imagine that the representatives of the political parties will stand united for legislative changes in areas of necessary budgetary reductions and retirement reforms, but I am not one-hundred percent sure this will happen with the changes to the Constitution.

I am watchful when I hear the Constitution deserves a basic revision. I expect that the change to the Constitution contained in the programs platform will not be top priority, and would not come up for a vote this year.

You were involved in the area of transportation policies and adjustment to the point system. Is your interest in this area related to your past as an active automobile racer?

Definitely yes – I have been drawn in to problems of street automobile transportation ever since my eighteenth year. Following my secondary education, I worked at the largest auto repair shops and began to race – I drove classic rally, hill competition, and topped it all with the European truck trials in the Paris-Dakar rally. In those days it was a legendary slogan. I have been linked to cars throughout my life, [I] visited a majority of the continents and drove in tens of countries.

I have a broad knowledge about motoring and for that reason, and in addition to other things, I was involved with road traffic laws. Five years ago I was named a member of an expert commission in the Ministry of Transportation, which was preparing an update to this law, and only now we have it paragraph by paragraph law and approved by the government. As I said, the opportunity to influence the legislature is a long distance run.

Other than that I am also involved with the issues of rural areas and agriculture. I am in a way a sort of a “lobbyist,” issuing from my position as the vice chairman of the Spolek pro Obnovu Venkova (Group for Reconstruction of Rural Areas), and here is where my presence in the Senate helps my position. I am also involved with foreign policies and I am engaged in discussions regarding security and European relations. The position of the Czech Republic continues to be somewhat problematic because we are a relatively small country in the middle of Europe. It is then necessary to continuously carry on extra-parliamentary diplomacy reminding everyone we are here.

The Senate has always been an active player in the field of acceptance of the European laws. How are your work responsibilities affected by the Lisbon Agreement? Will your cooperation with the Chamber of Deputies be closer?

The Senate plays a really strong role in European politics. One of the big long running problems is the hardto-believe rivalry between the two chambers of the Parliament. We are doing everything we can to communicate better. The Constitution presupposes there is a so-called contact law, which would tune the relations between the two chambers. This law exists in se-veral versions and for two years we have been trying, for example, to have joint sessions of the Constitution and Judiciary Committees of the two chambers. Despite

all agreements the Chamber of Deputies has never scheduled this item for floor discussions. Chairmen of both chambers are able to personally communicate much better now than in the past, nevertheless it is not only about them but also about their working communication. In regards to European affairs, the Czech Senate was the last of the all parliamentary chambers in EU having problems accepting the Lisbon Agreement.

There were no other choi o ce cess ot othe herr th than an to ag agre reee wi with th the ratification, but this agreement still raises certain doubts. During my recent visit to France, in a conversation with my French colleagues it was said the document is outdated and we must prepare something else, newer... ...but you would like that even less...

Yes, that’s exactly the problem. From my French colleagues and acquaintances, and before the agreement acceptance, I often heard a question as to why we the Czechs are so anti-European. But we are not, we are fearful that all steps the likes of the Lisbon Agreement will consequently lead to a breakup of the EU. Two years ago many politicians did not hide the notion that the EU is becoming a federation or a confederation. Historically, let’s remember what happened with various federations in Europe – Yugoslavia, USSR, Czechoslovakia. Any federation needs strong centralized steering with lots of regulation, along with all economic consequences, which today we have a chance to see – the rushed acceptance of the Euro, for example.

What was so fascinating in the original ParisDakar rally, and why is it losing its prestigious image today?

At the time of the creation of the original amateur rally Paris-Dakar – that is, 33 years ago, it was a simple and absolute adventure adventure. One of the last ones that was possible to experience on this planet. Then satellite communications expanded and this sport was professionalized. After that the security in Africa worsened. We felt the effects of local fighting already in the eighties – several times even the convoys were attacked – but an assassination threat and deep financial losses led the sponsors to move the competition to South America where it is a completely different race. In the old days you entered Africa, didn’t know where you were, where you’re going, what might happen, and the success was that after three weeks you showed up somewhere. Today there are 15 one day stages between large cities in civilized countries, though going through beautiful deserts, but in the evening you return to the city having Internet and blacktop roads, supermarkets and a shower.

You learned French because of the rally?

No. My father was an old school physician. When things loosened up politically around 1968, Czech physicians left to work in North Africa under international help. I spent four years with my parents in Algeria and attended a French secondary school. My knowledge – which has a foundation in Arabic as well – along with ith the experiiencee frfrom om aut utoo ra raci cing ng had led me to a company team LIAZ, for which I later raced in Africa.

By Věra Řiháčková český překlad naleznete v elektronické verzi magazínu na www.leadersmagazine.cz

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interview An interview with Josef Fiřt, Chairman of the Energy Regulatory Office

NUCLEAR ENERGY INDUSTRIES OFFER PROMISING PERSPECTIVE Josef Fiřt graduated in technical cybernetics from the Faculty of Electrical Engineering, ČVUT in Prague. He also studied a postgraduate course at the Faculty of Law, Charles University. He worked as Chief Investment Officer in Elektrárny Holešovice (1984-1992) and in Pražská teplárenská (1992-1993). In 1993-2001 he was Chairman of the Board and CEO of Energotrans Company. He left business in 2001 and took up position of Senior Director of the Energy Section at the Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Czech Republic. He was appointed Chairman of the Energy Regulatory Office (ERO) by the Czech government in 2004.

Is it true you are going to return to the Ministry of Industry and Trade?

Some negotiations were going on but have not been concluded yet. All should be decided approximately in one month’s time.

Would you welcome such a return?

The Energy Regulatory Office is currently facing many important tasks. There are new price decisions being prepared, as well as new legislative proposals – the amendment of the energy act and of the act on renewable resources are in the pipeline, as well as many other issues that would influence the energy market in the Czech Republic and set certain future parameters for the players in the field. For this reason I am not prone to leave. One of my conditions is that the continuity in the work of ERO will be maintained, and the burning issues would be finished without hampering the functioning of the market. The post of Deputy Minister is definitely a very interesting offer. I have been managing the Energy Section at the Ministry for four years, and today many new issues emerge that would be a challenge for me.

What is the most important thing that is going to change within the energy concept?

If we look at the current government´s programme declaration, one of the priorities in the energy field is the actualization of the existing proposal of the energy policy. In the original policy draft, a breaking of the coal mining limits is mentioned, but according to the government politicians’ statements, it should not happen during their term. It will be necessary to talk about this issue as well as about consequent problems, like securing enough coal for heating plant industry and other sectors of the economy. At the moment, there is no other assignment for actualization. I think the current energy concept is well prepared, stemming not only from the report of the so called Pačes Commission but also from its peer reviews.

What are the alternative resources for heating plant industry and how far is the Czech Republic from substituting coal?

This is an important question because the Czech Republic is on the top of this industry in the EU, together with Denmark and Finland. It would be a pity

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Leaders Magazine V/2010

Photo: Vladimír Weiss

interview if the existing Czech heating industry stopped their business, because central heating systems have lot of advantages, including fossil fuel savings.

If the current deformed prices on the market are correctly reviewed and straightened out, the heat supply from this source would also bring profits.

Unfortunately, many customers are disconnecting from remote central heating systems these days.

But a more serious problem is that many heating plants use coal. The investors who are nowadays deciding about the renewal of these plants do not have certainty of coal supplies, and hesitate with their investments. If there is not enough coal and the investors decide to set up gas plants, it is a solution. By all means there is a question of how to secure stable supplies of this commodity, too.

Also coal can be storable for a long time; gas storage is limited by the capacity of the underground gas tanks. Naturally, all this is not only an environmental and economic issue but also an issue of security.

You mentioned Finland and Denmark as heating plant industry leaders. How does it work in these countries that stress the environmental angle? Do they have a larger proportion of alternative resources than Czech Republic does?

It is necessary to distinguish between these countries because Denmark has relatively small local heating resources. Heating plant industry is being built there on a principle that even small villages have their own heating plant to burn biomass.

We can be compared with Finland because most of the plants burn coal there, too. Finns managed to substantially pre-supply themselves in the past when coal was cheaper. I had the opportunity to see it with my own eyes in their power and heating plants.

In relation to the draft energy conception, the completion of the Temelín nuclear power plant is often mentioned. Many question that, arguing that ČEZ is currently exporting energy. What is the position of ERO? The power electricity produced in plants like that is not falling under our competences, because the EU energy market has been established as of 2007.

As far as the argument about energy export is concerned, I don´t think it is correct. The market today is interconnected, there are international stock exchanges where contracts are being concluded and it is all the same if you conclude them in Prague, Leipzig, London or elsewhere. The only limitations are the cross border transmission capacities. ČEZ produces more electricity thanks to an inherited structure of sources. It is necessary to look a bit differently on the question “Why Temelín”. Heat power plants are reaching their end. ČEZ and other investors made their analyses and decided that not all plants will be renewed or substituted. As far as the fuel supplies are concerned (uranium fuel blocks), it is possible to stock up well in advance.

If we want to have enough energy in the future, it is necessary to develop an nuclear energy industry further on.

There are still some obstacles to fully liberalize the energy market in the EU. What is currently the major hurdle?

The idea to create a common market in Europe is nice, but not fully realizable at least in the next ten years. There are many obstacles but one of the major ones is the lack of cross border capacities.

The Czech Republic has one of the most open systems, but despite this fact we are able to export or import only about one third of our energy consumption. The next issue is legislation. There are different conditions and mechanisms for setting up levels of payment for the use of the transmission and distribution systems in every EU member state. Further on, it turned out during the period of economic growth that some of the EU member states are significantly deficient in their energy production, and some like the Czech Republic and France produce significant surpluses. But this all cannot be traded at once because the physical barriers are preventing it.

Which EU countries have the greatest deficits?

Italy faces the greatest deficit and, therefore, it considers nuclear energy resources an option.

There are few other countries with balanced production and consumption, but the situation has been worsening as resources have been diminishing. Due to the ambiguity of European and national energy strategies, the investors do not make haste in resources recovery. Investments of billion of crowns are needed, and the life of a plant is around thirty years, of nuclear plant around fifty years, and if you count on recovery of the investment in such a long-term horizon, it is quite risky when you don’t know what the rules and conditions will be in five or ten years. A lack of capacities will soon become evident in Europe, including the Czech Republic. If the economy grows faster and some resources will be ending electricity production as scheduled, by 2015 we can expect an alignment of supply with demand, and during the following period the Czech Republic may face a deficit.

You referred to the state of distribution networks. How long will it take to improve them in order to make the European market really functional?

This problem has to be dealt with immediately. If it is not so then the European electricity market will become utopia. The necessary investments to networks, including gas networks, are extremely high and nobody can afford them today. Seven years ago we had a list of critical spots for cross-border connection that were assessed as investment priorities by the European Commission. There were dozens or even hundreds of such projects on paper. However, only very few of them have been implemented and the rest have faded away. Nonetheless, some regions are quite active. The Czech Republic has been negotiating with Slovakia and Austria about throughput maximization of some lines, because it is not worth building distribution networks without a functioning linkup in a neighbouring country.

Cooperation is needed, and the way forward leads through the cooperation of regions that are of paramount importance with regard to geography and physical flows. If those countries come to an agreement and interconnect themselves, it could bring about positive development in this area.

What is the role of the recently launched EU Agency for Cooperation of the Energy Regulators, and what is the relation between your body and this institution?

Many stakeholders think this is a huge European regulator but it is not true. It is just an EU agency, empowered as a coordinator of national regulators. There are major differences between member states as far as regulators’ status, national legislations or EU legislation compliance is concerned. It should start working next year. Its seat is in Ljubljana and its supreme body is a Council where all national regulators are represented. Every national representative has one vote so this is relevant for smaller countries like ours. The authority has one very import prerogative which consists of making decisions aimed at preventing dangerous situations, for example blackouts.

You left a career in energy business and joined the public administration. What was your main motivation for such a career change?

I have been working in the energy sector all my professional life. I went through the socialist planning and building as well as through the following reorganization and new processes set up within several different companies. It was all very interesting and brought about lot of experience, including the most important one – how to manage people.

My walk-out from business was not fully optional.

As a chairman of the board I didn´t want to allow for “plundering out” the company. I wanted part of our profits to be invested into networks and other equipment, which didn´t happen. Because I felt I was fully responsible for that and our discussions led nowhere, I decided to leave the business. I was unemployed for some time and then got an offer – at that time, the opening of the electricity market in the country was being prepared and the market operator was to be established. It was a responsibility of the state. I got an offer to build up the operator in May and it should be working as of January next year. In addition, no budget was available so it was truly a lesson of crisis management.

Finally, we managed it and this project didn´t cost the state a penny – the preparative documentation and the start-up were financed from a loan of the distribution companies. The very tender for supplier included a condition that a supply credit must be involved, and would be paid back from the following profits of the operator. Without any costs the state became 100% shareholder of the electricity market operator. It is interesting this project was followed up at the end of last year by another project that connected business in Czech Republic and Slovakia. A larger commercial zone was created, and since the beginning of the New Year also the gas market operator was included under the roof of this institution. When implementing these projects, I learned there is also interesting work in the public administration with many challenges and opportunities.

By Věra Řiháčková český překlad naleznete v elektronické verzi magazínu na www.leadersmagazine.cz

Leaders Magazine V/2010

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diplomatic event

IN COOPERATION WITH LEADERS MAGAZINE

A special thanks to OMNIPOL a.s. for making this reportage possible

H.E. Peter Brňo, Ambassador of Slovakia during his welcoming speech

National Day of Slovakia

From left: Mr. Minh, Vietnamese Embassy, H.E. Zainal Abidin Bakar, Ambassador of Malaysia and H.E. Chikahito Harada, Ambassador of Japan

From left: Ing. František Jakub, Secretary General, Senate Chancellery and Jiří Weigl, Chancellor, Office of the President H.E. Kamel Haj Sassi, Ambassador of Tunisia and H.E. Diana Espino de Papantonakis, Ambassador of Uruguay

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From left: Prof. Jiří Drahoš, President, Academy of Science ČR, Prof. Ing. Kamil Janáček, CSc., CNB Bank Board Member and Chief Executive Director

From left: H.E. Ivan Grytsak, Ambassador of Ukraine, Ing. Karel Muzikář, CSc., President, Comenius and Ing. Miroslav Šlouf, Managing Director, Slávia Consulting, s.r.o.

From left: Ing. Radek Dohnal, Director Top Hotels Group, Ing. Arch.

Vladimír Dohnal, Chairman Top Hotels Group, Zdeněk Pšenica, President, The Folk Association of the Czech Republic and Dr. Jaromír Kainc, President, Exportní klub Ligy pro cestovní ruch

From left: H.E. Alexej L. Fedotov, Ambassador of the Russian Federation, Ms. Michaela Dvořáková and Ladislav Moravec, Director of the Political Department, Office of the President

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

Petr Nečas, Chairman of ODS and Prime Minister of the CR during his speech

From left: JUDr. Vladimír Galuška, Deputy Minister, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Jiri Kulis, CEO, Veletrhy Brno, a.s. and Radoslav Klepáč, Director of External Relations and International Business Development, Veletrhy Brno, a.s.

Milan Štěch, Vice-President, Senate and Alena Gajdůšková, 1st Vice President, Senate

H.E. Yaakov Levy, Ambassador of Israel with his lovely wife

From left: Snr. Col. Du Weisheng, Military and Air Attaché, Embassy of China and Miloš Balabán, Ph.D., Head of the Center, CESES

From left: Colonel Sergey Molodkov, Military and Air Attaché, Russian Embassy and Walter E. Scales, Colonel, US Air Force, Embassy of the USA

From left: Ing. Libor Hájek, President, Eltodo and Prof. Dr. H.C. JUDr. Jan Kříž, Partner, Law Firm Kříž a Bělina s.r.o.

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National Day of Slovakia

From left: LtCol. Robert Björklund, Defence Attaché, Embassy of Sweden and Věra Rašková, Director, Disemo consulting s.r.o.

From left: Radek John, Chairman of VV and Minister of Interior of the CR and H.E. Peter Brňo, Ambassador of Slovakia

PhDr. Ivana Pálková and Eduard Pálka From left: JUDr. Čestmír Sajda, MBA, Managing Director, Mons Antiques, s.r.o. and H.E. Kaspars Ozolinš, Ambassador of Latvia

From left: Ing. Milan Hovorka, Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade of the ČR and Jiří Weigl, Chancellor, Office of the President

From left: Ing. Eva Hellová and Alena Gajdůšková, 1st Vice President, Senate Jiří Brodský, Political Department, Deputy Director, Office of the President

From left: Juraj Jakubisko, Film Director, František Dohnal, President, Supreme Audit Office, H.E. Peter Brňo, Ambassador of Slovakia and Vladimír Valovič, Director, Slovak Institute in Prague

Z eněk Zd Zde něk ěěkk Tů Tů m maaa,, TOP ma, TO OP 09 part ry froontr ntrun t uun unn nnnner er forr Lo Lord rdd M May ayyoorr of of Pra Prague rague g Phooto: too: Vl V adi adi dimí mírí We Weis Weiss issss iss

Responsibility and Credibility

ARE KEY FOR A POLITICIAN

A talk with Zdeněk Tůma, TOP 09 Party Frontrunner for Lord Mayor of Prague Zdeněk Tůma was at the helm of the Czech National Bank (ČNB) for almost ten years. He decided to resign from his Governor post at the end of June 2010, seven months before his second term in office was to expire. In July 2010, he joined TOP 09 and is running as the party´s candidate for the post of Prague´s Lord Mayor in the upcoming autumn local elections. Zdeněk Tůma is also a lecturer at the Institute of Economic Studies of the Faculty of Social Sciences (Charles University).

At the time you were leaving the Czech Central Bank, the TOP 09 proposed your candidacy for the post of Lord Mayor; but there must have been other competing proposals, too…

Indeed there were different offers, but I was not certain whic hichh to acceptt. My lastt few weekks at the bank were very hectic because I wanted to conclude all of the important issues before I left. This was a time when I did not have the capacity to ponder how to continue; there were only some random general thoughts going through my mind. I could have gone in two different directions. First, there was the combination of engaging in the private sector and the continuation of my work in the academic sphere. Second, I could have gone directly into business. I wanted to decide my future only when I had enough time. I planned to go for holidays and start this decision process over the course of the summer.

You were not tempted to work in an international banking or financial institution?

I have never desired to work in an international organisation. Moreover, my wife and I have realized for some time that we do not want to move and live abroad any more. We do not feel it would significantly improve the quality of our life.

So your summer plans were changed by TOP 09. How long have you been planning to run in the elections?

In fact, there was not much time for that. The TOP 09 candidate lists were ready; the only missing piece was the leader. It was clear that if I were to go for it, I must act quickly, because there were only three months remaining until the election. There was no time for long considerations.

In an interview with a major Czech daily you stated that the main motivation behind your candidacy was an opportunity to change things in Prague. What other “pros” have you considered?

For sure there was also the fact that it would be interesting work. At the moment, I do not belong to any elected body of the capital, but as I regard the municipal issues, and get more involved in the daily city management and policies, I find it even more interesting than I expected. If I was not convinced that I would enjoy this job, I wouldn´t be running.

What is the most interesting part of the job to you?

It is totally different to what I was doing before. On the other hand, there is only one central bank in a country, so it was clear that I would be doing something else in my life, too. Besides that, it is also a major piece of work. I managed to gain insight into some of the municipal policy areas quite quic qu ickl klyy, suc uchh as int ntoo ec econ onom omic ic and gen ener eral al man anag agem emen entt issues. I look at how this works and I form my opinions on how it should work in the future. This is a question of setting up certain processes. Furthermore, there are areas like transport, city planning and culture that I haven’t been involved in before, but which are fascinating.

When analyzing the city’s management, have there been surprises?

It depends on one´s expectations. I do not have time for surprises. I am looking straight to the point. But I rather regret that the City Council makes very important decisions, now, at the very last moment. I consider it proper behaviour

that whe that henn le leav avin ingg an anyy in inst stititut utio ionn, no strat t tegi gic deciisions i should be made, so as not to bind the hands of the incoming management. I am talking about projects in the IT area, and about the reconstruction of the Prague Congress Centre; these issues should be solved, but the question is whether it should be done one or two months before the current political representation´s mandate expires. And to vote now on the ethical code seems completely absurd to me.

The ethical code should have been passed at the beginning of their mandate, not at its end; this goes beyond my comprehension.

You have been travelling a lot. Which city captured you most and where would you look for inspiration for the further development of Prague?

If I should mention a city that is for some reason close to me, it would be London. But this is the opinion of a person who looks at this city from the outside. This is about personal preferences and feelings that cannot easily be explained. Perhaps I will reconsider this when looking at it through the eyes of someone who might be responsible for big city management.

As far as inspiration is concerned, there are more models.

From a regional competitive point of view, I would mention Berlin; Berlin is a frontrunner of city development, and it is a city which is attractive not only to visitors, visitors but also to its citizens. And there are numerous projects in different areas that I am inspired by – the automatic bike rentals that are for example in London, Paris, and Vienna, as well as different parks – lately, many parks for children have been mushrooming in cities around the world, and now there are parks for seniors, too. Society is ageing, and older people enjoy good health, so there is room for the older generation in the areas of free time and leisure activities. And there are many other ideas.

Where do you see Prague in the long-term?

Our election programme talks about what to do in the near future – be it in the area of transport infrastructure or public transport. If we are to talk about any unifying vision, it is a question of debate. At the moment, there is a strategy for Prague that needs actualization. But when looking at it, I didn´t find any strong vision there; it is rather a long-term perspective in various policy areas. Personally, I would like to see the city become competitive in the field of culture within the region. Prague was a cultural crossroads several times in the past, and we should return to this. Prague was also once a city that took pride in education. One of the old ldestt universit i itiies in thhe world is here, and our efforts should be put into this direction; this is something that I have in mind.

How do you perceive the role of municipal politics?

Politics in ge g neral is alwayys a se serv rvic ice. e. It is not the bes est-t paid job. Municipal politics is about finding the best solutions to a city’s problems. For the citizens of Prague, one example is the heavy traffic in the city centre, or the issue of public transport. Compared to other levels of governance, everyone feels that he or she understands communal politics. So it is highly probable that many will express their opinions, sometimes positive, but I am afraid also negative.

You are a very respectful person, but despite your reputation there are some opinions that you have nothing in common with municipal politics, that you do not understand it. How would you respond to this criticism?

It iss trtrue ue tha hatt I ha have ven’ n t be been en inv nvol olve vedd cl clos osel elyy in mun unic icip ipal al politics until now, but this is not necessarily bad. I believe Prague needs good management. Lord Mayor should be first and foremost a good manager, and should strive to build a strong professional team at City Hall, with efficient people in the right places. During the decision-making process at the level of City Council, no one can be an expert on everything; and no one is born a politician either. We all must learn something, and each and every one of us has certain comparative advantages to another. My advantage is that I have managed a public sector institution of a comparable size. Moreover, it was an institution that was – like the municipality – based on a collective decision-making process. Definitely, the job is a lot about budget, and priorities must be set in cooperation with others, based on collective decision-making. And besides this, there is already one precedent in my case – the Lady Mayor of Warsaw is the former Governor of the Polish Central Bank.

What do you consider a major commitment when becoming a politician?

It is about responsibility; politics is not a very rewarding job. If you want to make good and proper politics, it is not about making big money. It is often about facing criticism, because you make decisions that many times cannot please every voter. I´d like to keep my credibility. Politics can be done in a good way, and in a way that one will not lose a good reputation.

You are running in district 1 which consists of Prague 1 and 6. What is your relationship to these neighbourhoods?

I spent most of my professional life in Prague 1; I live a lot in the city centre. With my family I lived in Prague 1 for a long time, and we used to spend our free time in Prague 6 – namely in the Star Summer Palace (Letohrádek Hvězda); in this park our children learned to ride a bike, and I go there for jogging in the evening, or cross country skiing in winter.

Are you going to keep working in academia if elected Lord Mayor?

Yes, I would like to remain in academia, but I cannot tell now how demanding the job will be. When I came to the bank, I must have learned a lot of things. At the beginning, I also didn´t have any spare capacity to continue teaching, but I always kept myself involved via the academic journal where I used to be an editor-in-chief, and where I currently sit on the editorial board. So if I became Lord Mayor, it would be the same.

What are your hobbies?

I en enjo joyy bi biki king ng. So Some metitime mess I jo jogg or rol olle lerr-sk skat atee, altltho houg ughh not as regularly as I wish. I usually take part in the Běchovice run and regularly in the Prague Half Marathon. Also, I used to play squash a lot, now I prefer tennis.

Zuzana Kasáková ■ český překlad naleznete v elektronické verzi magazínu na www.leadersmagazine.cz

Leaders Magazine V/ V 2010

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In addition to representing a leading spa hotel in Prague, where it is possible to obtain one of the best massages in Prague, Alchymist Grand Hotel and Spa also offers a fully equipped gym situated in a unique gothic cellar. The health club is complimentary for hotel guests; is air-conditioned and features Technogym cardio and weight fitness equipment.

The health club includes a private pool and relaxation area, separate locker rooms and dry and steam saunas. Monthly or annual membership for non-hotel guests includes member discounts on Ecsotica Spa treatments.

Ecsotica Spa and Health Club At Alchymist Grand Hotel and Spa Tržiště 19, Prague 1 www.alchymisthotel.com tel: +420 257 286 011 Opening hours: Ecsotica Spa: Daily 9:00–21:00 Health Club: Mon–Fri 7:00–21:00 Sat–Sun 8:00–21:00

Technogym cardio and weight fitness facilities ilities Separate locker areas with saunas Steam bath Swimming pool Relaxation area

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networking/charity

From left: MUDr. Michael Vít, Deputy Minister of Health and Chief Public Health Officer, Ministry of Health of the CR, RNDr. Klára Říhová, Senior Executive, County Hygienic Station Olomouc, Karol Dobiáš, former Slovak Football Player and Coach, and Petr Svoboda General Director, BAXTER CZECH s.r.o

Lions Club Prague Eagle Lions Club Prague Eagle has promptly reacted to the situation caused by floods which occurred this summer.

The members have generated 100 000 CZK which are going to be donated to one of the most destroyed schools in Chrastava. The money will be handed over personally by president of the club gen. Andor Šándor.

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Members of the Lions more m mo ore r e photos pClub hoto ho hot tos and and electronic an electr el ectr ec tr oon tron nic ic version v err siion on Prague Eagle av aavailable vai ail ila lable ble onn www.leadersmagazine.cz bl w ww w w.lleeaade ders r sm maaggaazi zine ne.c ne .ccz

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH LEADERS MAGAZINE

From left: JUDr. Luboš Richter, Director of Alfavita, MUDr. Štefan Vítko, CSc. IKEM Director, Pharm Dr. Petr Svoboda, General Director, BAXTER CZECH s.r.o. and MUDr. Michael Vít, Deputy Minister of Health and Chief Public Health Officer, Ministry of Health of the Czech Republic

From left: Pharm. Dr. Ingrid Šmerdová, General Manager, Valeant Pharmaceutical International and Karol Dobiáš, former Slovak Football Player and Coach From left: MUDr. Jan Bříza, CSc., MBA, Deputy Director for Science, Education and Research at the VFN – General Faculty Hospital in Prague, Ing. Zbyněk Štáf, Quality Season Product s.r.o.

From left: George Parobek, General Director, Ifield Computer Consultancy Ltd., Ing. Arch. Iva Drebitko, President of Triga, Patrons Club of the National Theatre, Ing. MBA Luboš Hlinovský, Director, Finance Division of the Air Navigation Services of the Czech Republic, Šárka Parobek, Ifield Computer Consultancy Ltd and Joseph Drebitko, CEO Activa a.s.

From left: Ing. Petr Materna, former Managing Director of Air Navigation Service, Šárka Parobek, Ifield Computer Consultancy Ltd. and Ing. Stanislav Slavík, Marketing Senior Adviser

Jiří Bílý, Advisor to the Ministry of Interior

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

From left: Brigadier General Andor Šándor (ret.), President of the Lions Club Prague Eagle, Ms. Sandra Šándorová, BA, Ing. Zbyněk Štáf, Quality Season Product s.r.o.

Jan a Kaalo an lousek lou s , inde sek n pen nd pe den d t candid can didate did ate (O (ODS) DS) S) fo f r the the Pra Prague gue munici mun ici c pal a el e ect ection ion Phooto: t Ja Jakub k LudvĂ­kk

POLITICAL GREENHORN TO CHANGE PRAGUE TOWNHALL?

An interview with Jan Kalousek, Prague ODS Independent Candidate in Municipal Elections Jan Kalousek (1961) is a singer, composer, text writer and producer. He grew up in Hanspaulka, Prague 6 which he calls Prague’s Greenwich Village of that time. He emigrated to Canada in 1983 when he was already studying architecture at Czech Technical University.

In Montreal he attended the School of Music at McGill University. He returned to the Czech Republic in 1989 and successfully built up his career as a musician, first as a member of the ZOO, and from 1991 as a solo artist. This summer the Civic Democrats (ODS) offered Jan Kalousek a place on their ballot list for the Prague municipal election, which he accepted and began his career as a politician.

At what stage was your music career when the offer from the Civic Democrats arrived?

I was just in the middle of a number of projects and activities when they approached me. I was working on the release of my first The Best of album, which is due to be out at the beginning of October. I had concerts with the band as well as being a solo musician. With the ZOO, with whom I recorded probably my greatest hit Čas sluhů after the Velvet Revolution, we started to compose and prepare a comeback project. I have a big concert announced in Hybernia Theater where I will have the honour of welcoming as my guest the famous composer Mr. Barry Mason from London. The concertt will ill be b broadcast b d t by b Czech C h Television.

T l i i Indeed, I d d I went to the studio every day with a smile on my face.

Does the fact that you accepted the challenge to enter public political life means that you are leaving the world of show business for good? Or are you taking a break? Do you plan to work on your music projects as well as your political engagement?

The day I accepted the ODS offer to run as an independent on their list, my life changed completely. All of a sudden I was balancing on a surfboard, riding a big wave with the goal far away in the distance.

The change, as well as the challenge, was huge.

I accepted this after careful consideration, when I realized that I could either lead my life in the same way as I had done, or I could jump into an abyss and try to survive the initial dive, just as a bird must learn to flyy at first-try. y Anyway, y y, to answer yyour qquestion,, I still play music for living. I have to say that the first week after we announced the nomination was like a shot from an action movie. You wake up at 6am and start with e-mails and sms, then a quick bread, tram, metro; everyday a strategic meeting with the campaign team, meetings, interviews, having coffee for lunch as well as for dinner,, and a concert in th thee ev even ening. It was one of the moments when I learned how thi hings are connected. When I grasp the guitar I leave everything behind and I lose myself in another world. Only then did I realize how much this “other” world matters to me, and I dare say that this kind of awakening had a positive effect on my performance on stage. And I expect this to work the other way too.

When you play music or sing, you let the good out of you and you clean your soul absolutely. It is too early for me to say now how much politics will connect with my music, but as a smoker who looks for an escape with each cigarette, I know for sure that I will find some time to play the music.

What is the reincarnation of a musician into a politician like? Is it a matter of that morning when you get up and say to yourself: “Enough, let’s do something else.” Or is it rather a process?

People who know me were not that surprised by the nomination. I was even surprised how so few people said “...you must’ve gone crazy...”. It has been a long process. I have always been political.

I have followed politics with interest even though I have never been actively involved. I am not indifferent to what’s going on in this country, nor in governing public affairs. I understand the nomination as a rebirth, from a criticizing citizen to someone who wants to offer something to society.

Every level of politics – municipal, regional and national – plays a different role in governing and in the life of society. How do you perceive the role of a municipal politician?

I view municipal politics as the one that is most closely linked to the lives of people in the everyday sense. Everyone is concerned with the price and quality of public transport, whether the pavements are safe during winter, or whether their children can play in a clean sandpit with no dog excrement. Thus, municipal politics is the level that affects the everyday life of every one of us.

Twenty years after the Velvet Revolution, political culture in this country is much talked about.

You spent a part of your life overseas. Do you perceive any difference in how municipal politics developed here and how it works elsewhere?

Foremost, I have to say that the tremendous gap that existed between the East and the West before ‘89 has narrowed significantly. Over the twenty years since the collapse p of communist rule,, which not onlyy ruined the economy, but also the morals of our society, this beautiful country has been changed for the better. Today, people needn’t be afraid to take part in governing their local affairs, and to express their opinions on the things that touch their everyday lives.

People do get involved, and they know that they can cont co ntriribu bute te to a ch chan ange ge. In cou ount ntriries es witithh an uni nint nter errupted democratic tradition, such an app pproach iss certainly much more commonplace.

You left the country when you were young. Was it a result of your political thinking, or was there other motivation that played a role in your decision to emigrate?

To be honest, I was interested most of all in music.

But as we had to live in the stupid system, which oppressed people, a confrontation with politics was unavoidable. You had to attend Marxist classes in school. One could not publicly perform wherever they wanted, and sometimes you were brought in for questioning by the communist police. In my case, it was the police station on Čkalova Street in Prague 6 where I had to confess my participation in unannounced folk concerts. This, together with the thirst for freedom, led me to the decision to leave. I just

wanted to spread my wings and not be part of the system any longer. After I left, I was sentenced to 5 years imprisonment for leaving the country, and I was given amnesty only after the Velvet Revolution in 1990.

You enter politics on a major party ballot, a party with firm political structures. Will you hold any authority in the party debates? Is there no threat that your ideas and proposals will always be those of Jan Kalousek, a man with no political weight?

I am a conservative and liberal thinking man that does not change his opinions in a day. The Civic Democratic Party represents those ideals for more th twenty than t t years. It is i a party t that th t I share h a lot l t off my political views with. The simple fact that individuals within the party do make mistakes cannot change my position and relationship with the party. I am positive that if my opinions and ideas are reasonable, they will be adequately accepted by the party members.

How many new friends did you make after the nomination was announced, and was it clear that you might soon be a man of power and influence, at least within Prague politics?

I had friends in my private life before the nomination, and I think they will remain friends afterwards as well. I have seen an increased interest in me over the last few weeks, however, I am not the sort of man that is easy to manipulate. The so called “new friends”, as you called them, are nervously camping around and they are waiting to see what will happen.

How is your life actually connected to Prague?

Especially to Prague 1 and Prague 6, which form your constituency.

I was brought up in Prague 6. I went to school there and I fell in love there for the first time. Prague 6 is the place of my youth and education. I wrote my first song there, and I got drunk with friends there. I attended thee Sc th Scho hool ol of Ar Arch chititec ectu ture re, as wel elll as gott questitionedd by the com ommu muni nist st pol olic icee.

Prague 1 is the part of Prague where I used to go to play music most often, in the theaters and clubs.

Both quarters are very close to my life and my heart.

What do you consider the greatest obligation when entering public political life?

I see it as a contract between me and Prague. I do my best to succeed against the competitors, and as I am not a professional politician, I may be under less pressure with lesser buck fever. Otherwise, it is the same as with any other business – if you want to succeed you have to give it all that you can.

By Filip Hubáček ■ český překlad naleznete v elektronické verzi magazínu na www.leadersmagazine.cz

Leaders Magazine V/ V/2010

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legal matters

CEELI Institute recognized Judge Vojtěch Cepl for his contributions to the rule of law at the US Residence. During its Annual Meeting, the CEELI Institute held a special recognition ceremony on Tuesday, July 20th at the residence of the U.S. Ambassador in Prague to pay tribute to Judge Vojtěch Cepl for his long-standing contributions to legal reform and the rule of law in the Czech Republic and through-out the region. Judge Vojtěch Cepl was deeply committed to the rule of law and an outspoken critic of its absence.

During his life, Judge Cepl was instrumental in the restitution and lustration processes in the Czech Republic and was, perhaps, best known for being one of the principal drafters of the Czech Republic Constitution in 1992, as well as the Civil Code and numerous other laws. In 1993, President Václav Havel appointed him as a Justice of the Constitutional Court, where he sat from 1993–2003. Upon completing his terms as Justice of the Constitutional Court, Judge Cepl returned to teaching at the Charles University Law Faculty.

Shelley Wieck, Acting Director, CEELI Institute

CEELI INSTITUTE ANNUAL MEETING

The public would most remember Judge Cepl for his commitment to reform of housing policy, as well as his regular radio programs on “People and Democracy”.

Judge Cepl was an instrumental contributor to the early development of the CEELI Institute and was an original member of the first Board of Directors at the Institute. He also served on its International Advisory Board until his death at age 71 in 2009. Judge Cepl took a keen interest early on in the goals and aims of the CEELI Institute and introduced the organization to the Villa Grébovka in Vinohrady, which became the current home of the CEELI Institute.

The CEELI Institute honored Judge Cepl with a life-time award for his work and contributions to the rule of law and advocacy of legal reforms. The award was presented in a private ceremony at the U.S. Ambassador’s residence to members of Judge Cepl’s family.

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IN COOPERATION WITH LEADERS MAGAZINE

From left: Clifford Wallace, former Chief Justice, US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, Sandra O’Connor, former US Supreme Court Justice, Member, Friends of CEELI Institute Board John Walker, Jr., former Chief Judge, US Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, Member, Friends of CEELI Institute Board and Robert Utter, former Chief Judge, Washington State Supreme Court, Member, International Advisory Board of the CEELI Institute

From left: Leanne Geale, Legal Services Coordinator, Royal Dutch Shell International B.V., William Meyer, former ABA CEELI liaison, former Executive Director, CEELI Institute, Member, International Advisory Board of the CEELI Institute and Thomas Griffith, Judge, US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, Member, Friends of the CEELI Institute Board

From left: Gwen Mullen, wife of CEELI Institute Board Member John Mullen, Thimjo Kondi, former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the Republic of Albania and former Minister of Justice of the Republic of Albania, Jane Meyer and her husband, William D. Meyer, former Executive Director of CEELI Institute and Member of International Advisory Board of the CEELI Institute

From left: Talbot D’Alemberte, Professor Emeritus, Professor of Law at Florida State University, Member, International Advisory Board of the CEELI Institute and Clifford Wallace, former Chief Justice, US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit

Juraj Babjak, Regional Judge, Slovakia and Diyana Tseneva, Judge at the Civil College of The Supreme Court of Cassation, Bulgaria

About the CEELI Institute: The CEELI Institute is a post-graduate continuing legal education institution, which provides international, regional and country-specific programming in a broad-range of rule of law areas, including graduate level substantive law and practical skills training for judges, lawyers, policy-makers, parliamentarians and government officials, regional conferences and roundtables on legal reform issues, and strategic planning and institutionbuilding services to judicial institutions.

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

From left: John Ordway, Charge’ d’Affaires, U.S. Embassy – Czech Republic, Matěj Cepl, son of the former Justice of the Constitutional Court of the Czech Republic Vojtěch Cepl and Homer E. Moyer, Founder and President of the Board, CEELI Institute

From left: Professor of Law, Robert Stein, Member, CEELI Institute, Homer Moyer, Founder and President of the Board, CEELI Institute and Mark Ellis, Executive Director, International Bar Association, first Executive Director, ABA CEELI, Member, Friends of the CEELI Institute Board

Konstantine Kublashvili, President of the Supreme Court of Georgia

From left: Ivana Hrdličková, District Court Judge – Pardubice, Czech Republic Board Member, CEELI Institute, o.p.s. and Vladimíra Dvořáková, Professor of Political Science, Prague School of Economics, CEELI Institute Board Member

Václav Bartuška, Special Ambassador on Energy Security Affairs for the Czech Republic, former Member, CEELI Institut, o.p.s. Board

From left: John Walker, Jr., former Chief Judge, US Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, Member, Friends of CEELI Institute Board, Vesna Medenica, President of the Supreme Court of Montenegro, Robert Utter, former Chief Judge, Washington State Supreme Court, Member, International Advisory Board of the CEELI Institute and Clifford Wallace, former Chief Justice, US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit

From left: Frank Richardson, Lead Director, Chairman of Nominating & Corporate Governance Committee and Member of Audit Committee, Sonic Corporation, USA with his wife Kimba Wood, U.S. Federal Judge for the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York and David Vaughn, Chief of Party at USAID-Rule of Law Project, Chemonics International, Ukraine

Irena Zikova, former employee of the Czech Embassy in Washington, D.C. and close friend of honoree Justice Vojtech Cepl and Shelley Wieck, Acting Director, CEELI Institute, Czech Republic

From left: John Mullen, Managing Director, AM Global Finance, LLC., CEELI Institute Board Member, Leanne Geale, Legal Services Coordinator, Royal Dutch Shell International B.V. and Benke Aikell, your Publisher

Mary Noel Pepys, former Justice Advisor for INL/US State Department in Afghanistan, former ABA CEELI liaison, Member, International Advisory Board of the CEELI Institute and Thimjo Kondi, former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Albania

Robert Fremr, President of the Senate of Criminal Collegia of the Supreme Court of the Czech Republic

Barry Lam, Pro bono Attorney, CEELI Institute, Czech Republic, Brian Pinchok, CEELI Institute International Volunteer Intern, University of Pittsburgh and Dorothy Mayhew, Head of Law Enforcement Section, U.S. Embassy – Kyiv U.S. State Department/INL

Ben Rockwell, Internal Political Affairs Unit Chief, U.S. Embassy and Livia Saplacan, National Anti-Corruption Directorate, Romania

Photos: Petr Nikl and Michal Stichauer

Mary Noel Pepys, former Senior Justice Advisor for INL/U.S. State Department in Afghanistan, Member of International Advisory Board of the CEELI Institute and Frank Richardson, Lead Director, Chairman of Nominating & Corporate Governance Committee and Member of Audit Committee, Sonic Corporation U.S.A.

Karen Staff, Senior Corporate Counsel, Intellectual Property Department, Legal Division, Pfizer, Inc., Member of International Advisory Board of CEELI Institute and Joni Waterman, U.S. Attorney

Matěj Cepl, son of the former Justice of the Constitutional Court of the Czech Republic Vojtěch Cepl and Sandra O’Connor, former U.S. Supreme Court Justice

diplomatic event

IN COOPERATION WITH LEADERS MAGAZINE

FAREWELL to the Chinese Ambassador H.E. Huo Yuzhen From left: Přemysl Sobotka, Chairman of the Senate, Parliament of the CR, H.E. Huo Yuzhen, departing Ambassador of China in her farewell speech and Miroslava Němcová, Chairwoman, Chamber of Deputies, Parliament of the CR

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

From left: Zdeněk Pšenica, President, The Folk Association of the CR, František Dohnal, President, Supreme Audit Office, CR, Ing. Eva Bartoňová, State Secretary, First Deputy Minister, Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports, Marie Kousalíková, Deputy Mayor, City Hall of Prague, PhDr. Jindřich Fryč, Director General, Section for International Relations and EU Affairs, Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports CR and František Mikeš, First Deputy Minister of Culture of the CR

From left: Vojtěch Filip, Chairman, KSČM and Mgr. Oldřich Kříž

Most Reverend Diego Causero Titular Archbishop of Grado Apostolic Nuncio in his speech, behind: Přemysl Sobotka, Chairman of the Senate, Parliament of the CR

From left: Jan Struž, President, Czech TOP 100, Jan Mühlfeit, Chairman, Europe Microsoft Corporation and Mrs. Ivana Koucká, ČSA

From left: H.E. Huo Yuzhen, departing Ambassador of China and H.E. Celia-Sanra Botha, Ambassador of South Africa

From left: RNDr. Karla Říhová, MUDr. Michael Vít, Deputy Minister of Health and Chief Public Health Officer, Ministry of Health of the Czech Republic and Vlasta Jelínková From left: H.E. John M. Ordway, Chargé d’Affairs, Embassy of the United States and H.E. Pierre Levy, Ambassador of France

From left: Prof. Dr. h.c. JUDr. Jan Kříž, CSc., Partner, Law firm Kříž a Bělina s.r.o., Radek John, Chairman, Věci Veřejné and Minister of Interior of the CR and H.E. Huo Yuzhen, departing Ambassador of China

From left: H.E. Celia-Sanra Botha, Ambassador of South Africa, H.E. Regina Irene Sarmiento, Ambassador of the Philippines, H.E. Victor Emmanuel Smith, Ambassador of Ghana and H.E. Peter Brňo, Ambassador of Slovakia

From left: Ing. Vladimír Laštůvka and H.E. Alexey L. Fedotov, Ambassador of the Russian Federation From left: H.E. Diana Espino de Papantonakis, Ambassador of Uruguay and H. E. Huo Yuzhen, departing Ambassador of China

From left: Zdeněk Med, Head of Government Agenda Department, Office of the Government of the CR, Petra Tikalová, Secretary, Ministry for European Affairs and Juraj Chmiel, Deputy Minister of Agriculture of the CR

From left: Benke Aikell, your Publisher and H.E. Jose Julio Pereira Gomes, Ambassador of Portugal

From left: Ing. Petr Talafús, Deputy Director, Chamber of Commerce of the CR and Mgr. Eva Rybková, PhD., MBA, Chief Executive Officer, BuildingBridges

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Farewell to the Chinese Ambassador...

From left: H.E. Huo Yuzhen, departing Ambassador of China with her husband (far left), Ing. Martin Kocourek, Minister of Industry and Trade of the CR and Milan Hovorka, Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade

From left: H.E. Vicente Espeche Gil, Ambassador of Argentina, H.E. Frane Krnić, Ambassador of Croatia and Prof. Ing. Jiří Fárek, CSc., First Deputy Mayor, City of Prague 6

From left: Jaromír Šlápota, President, ČSÚZ and Du Weisheng, Military and Air Attaché, Embassy of China From left: Petr Kynšter, Secretary General, Chamber of Deputies, Parliament of CR and Ing. Zdeněk Pelc, CSc., President and CEO, Digital Media

From left: H.E. Jan Kohout, former Minister of Foreign Affairs of CR and H.E. Yaakov Levy, Ambassador of Israel

From left: JUDr. Karel Muzikář, LL.M. (C.J.), Attorney at Law, Weil Gotshal and Manges s.r.o., Mr. Pavel Kováček and Ing. Lubomír Lampíř, Ph.D., Vinařství Sádek s.r.o.

Milan Adámek, Head of Department, Mining Department, Ministry of Industry and Trade and H.E. Huo Yuzhen, departing Ambassador of China

Mgr. Romana Bochníčková, Spektrum Berlin Praha Wien and Jaroslav Nešetřil, Professor and Director, Charles University, Faculty of Mathematics and Physics

From left: H.E. Dr. Miloš Pojar, former Czech Ambassador to Israel and Jiří Dienstbier, Senator with his wife From left: Martin Tlapa, MBA, Deputy Minister, Ministry of Industry and Trade and Ing. Miloš Janů

From left: Maj. Gen. Miroslav Štěpán, General Director, Ministry of Interior, Fire Rescue Service of the Czech Republic and Jiří Weigl, Chancellor, Office of the President of the CR

From left: H.E. Zainal Abidin Bakar, Ambassador of Malaysia with his wife, Iva Drebitko, President, TRIGA, Patrons of Art and Petr J. Kalaš, former Minister of the Environment with his wife Dagmar

interview An interview with new President of Czech Statistical Office, Ms. Iva Ritschelová

Eating and Not Breathing Photo: Petr Berounský

IS IMPOSSIBLE 76

Leaders Magazine V/2010

Doc. Ing. Iva Ritschelová, CSc. is still engaged as the Rector of J.E. Purkyně University in Ústí nad Labem.

Her field of research is environmental economics and environmental politics with a focus on macroeconomic aspects of creating and forming environmental protection. Before her academic career, she worked in the Czech Statistical Office. She also participated in the United Nation’s missions in Kosovo, Armenia, Georgia, Azerbaijan and Kyrgistan. In July 2010 she was appointed as the president of the Czech Statistical Office by the President of the Czech Republic Václav Klaus. She started her new role on September 1st.

For academic staff and professors, the summer break is usually a time to write and work on their own research, for which they often lack the time and concentration during the academic year. I guess this was not your case this summer, was it?

This summer break was anything but a quiet time. The whole year has been somewhat exceptional for me, since so many things came along at the same time. But I do still pursue research and writing. Currently, I supervise two research projects, which I work on continuously with a team of my colleagues. We have published two books this year, concerned with the question of international trade with environmental goods, and the macroeconomic consequences of environment protection.

I enjoy a nimble working pace, and one-hundred percent assignment throughout the day.

And since I had known this situation was coming, I have not felt much stress. On the contrary, I organize my time and duties better, and then the moments of relaxation and free time are more effective. Generally speaking – and this applies for any activity – if you want to meet your goals you need a rational work schedule, and a responsible approach to duly fulfilling it at the same time.

interview In what state of mind are you leaving Ústí?

In what stage was your work of the Rector of J.E. Purkyně University in Ústí nad Labem when you learnt about the nomination of the new President of the Czech Statistical Office?

I am proud to say that as the Rector, certainly in cooperation and with the support of my team, I managed to accomplish almost all of the key ideas and promises from my election manifesto. We have accomplished very good results in teaching. Last year, the university opened its lecture theaters to the highest number of students ever, and we had the highest number of graduates as well. Thus we reaffirm our unique position in the region, which we cater with so much needed human capital. We successfully accredited new doctoral programs.

As far as the technical facilities of the university are concerned, we started a number of investments, and some of them are already coming to life. The university has made a giant leap ahead, mainly when talking about financing the core phase of building the new university campus in Ústí nad Labem.

Taking sides; what were the arguments you considered when deciding whether to leave the students, your colleagues and the relatively free academic world for a career of top civil servant and a bureaucrat?

The right people and concentration of human capital around you is the most valuable thing that any executive can have. However, this is very difficult to accomplish. I do attempt to have such a circle around me, and once you achieve that you just cannot afford to leave them for good. This is why I am going to stay in contact with the university. I will continue with research and some lecturing. So in no way am I leaving the academic world for good.

On the other hand, my personal creed is that one shall not stay too long at a position. Deny it or not, you simply do burn out after time. I believe that in a man’s life it is important to go for new challenges, and changing jobs is just a part of it.

To what extent is the Czech Statistical Office an unknown world to you? Are you entering the institution as a true outsider?

Many of the Leaders Magazine readers know my professional career and so they know I worked in the Office between 1992 and 1997 as the head of environment statistics. In the following years I worked in the statistical division of one of the United Nations’ professional organizations in Rome. And due to my research interests this cooperation did not end, even when I was at the university. I cannot be considered an outsider in any way.

Has it crossed your mind that you accepted a nomination for a position that was previously held by two highly renowned and recognized figures – Marie Bohatá left the position of

President of ČSÚ as vice president of EUROSTAT, and became one of the highest Czechs in the EU institutions; Jan Fischer was the respected prime minister of the caretaker government, and now he starts his career of international banker. Is it bundling or does it motivate you?

I accepted the nomination for an executive position in an institution that is more and more linked to integrated Europe. The data it produces are being used as a basis for a number of crucial decisions, not only in the Czech Republic, but also in the institutions of the EU. That’s undisputedly a challenge for me. The reality that the position was held previously by two experts, whose expertise and professionalism were recognized so much that they were promoted to high positions in the EU structures, is a kind of motivation to show that the work of the Czech Statistical Office and its credibility can be continually pushed to higher standards.

Your field of research is environmental politics and environmental economics. What are some examples of practical applications of the scientific knowledge from your field?

During the past few years, the findings of environmental economics have become the basis for decision making processes and new legislation arrangements. As examples, I can give the emission allowances trade and green tax reforms. In those areas, the same as in any other economic discipline, the economical theory differs a lot from the everyday reality, where the political pressures play the leading role, as well as public opinion and many other factors. One example is the photovoltaics subsidies in the Czech Republic, which from the environmental economics point of view is being unreasonably preferred to all the other renewable energy resources.

In what stage of development is this scientific field in the Czech Republic?

The boom of environmental economics in the Czech Republic began in the early 90’s, and today there are several departments, predominantly at universities or the Academy of Sciences, which represent the research base.

Just the same as other economic disciplines in the Czech Republic, it has been rather of an application nature. Working and developing the theoretical base remains more in the hands of the western academic institutions. Thus we rather follow, apply or develop the mainstream areas of the problematics.

As a post-communist country and a country that is traditionally industrial, we suffer from a number of environmental scars. The question of balancing the needs of traditional mining and industrial production on one hand, and environmental protection on the other hand, is a rather sensitive issue for the country. Is a long lasting compromise reachable?

I was born in North Bohemia and people who come from this region do really know what the “environmental scars” are, and what it is to live with them. However, a lot has been improved and done in environmental protection over the past twenty years. There have always been battles between the economic activities of society and the environment, and there always will be. A compromise in this bipolar world seems to be the only logical solution, because we cannot simply just eat and not breathe, or breathe, but not eat. An environment suitable for our lives and the lives of our children is an inherent part of the wealth and prosperity of our society. A large part of the responsibility lies on the political representation to make sure those fights are as fair as possible with the proper outcomes.

What should the role of the Ministry of Environment be in this? In the past, it was under the influence of the Greens, and the green and environmental activists and organisation had a strong position within the institution. Now the pendulum has swung in the other direction, and the new minister calls himself a friend of industry...

I would say this is too strong of a statement.

The new minister has been accepted positively by many people. In fact we cannot say that the pendulum has swung the opposite way. The Ministry of Environment plays a crucial role in forming and realizing environmental politics.

Nonetheless, the proposals of new regulations and policies are more of a question of the collective decision making process. So let’s give the new minister, but also his colleagues in the government, some time to show us that their approach to environmental protection, as well as the protection of men and nature, is responsible.

A great challenge lies ahead of you. What frame of mind do you find yourself in? Are you looking forward to what the Autumn brings?

Or are respect and doubt the prevailing feelings?

I believe that it is a challenge for anybody to change their job and open a new chapter in life. It is natural in my case too. I am sincerely looking forward to the change, a new team, new projects, as well as new plans and intentions.

I carry a lot in my head about what to change in the Office, and how. However, it is natural that I have a certain respect for what has been done in the area of Czech statistics so far, and a respect for the issues that the future will bring us.

By Filip Hubáček

český překlad naleznete v elektronické verzi magazínu na www.leadersmagazine.cz

Leaders Magazine V/2010

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An interview with Peter Tluchoř, ODS Deputy Group Head of the Chamber of Deputies of the Parliament of the Czech Republic

ODS NEEDS TO BE a Standard Political Party and Not a Pack Bc. Petr Tluchoř (1968) left his studies at the Faculty of Mathematics and Physics of Charles University early, before completion, and started his own business in the field of sales and distribution of music carriers. In 1996, Peter Tluchoř joined the ODS. He was the councillor of the city of Brandýs nad Labem in 1999–2006. He was the co-owner of the Club “Biják” and worked as the dramatic adviser in the cultural centre in Brandýs nad Labem. Petr Tluchoř became the MP of the Parliament of the Czech Republic in 2004.

Photo: Mr. Tluchoř´s archive

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Leaders Magazine V/2010

He was engaged in the Committee for Social Policy and Health Care in 2004–2006.

He chaired the supervisory board of the Hospital in Kolín in 2005-2007. He has been a member of the VZP´s supervisory board since 2007. He successfully graduated from Masaryk University, Faculty of Law, with a bachelor degree in the field of public administration in 2008. Petr Tluchoř defended the MP’s seat and was re-appointed the ODS Deputy Group Head of the Chamber of Deputies of the Parliament of the Czech Republic in 2010.

You were re-elected by the overwhelming majority as the ODS Deputy Group Head. What does this mean for you?

I am obviously very pleased by the support of my colleagues, and I take it as an acknowledgement of my work from the previous electoral term. At thee sam amee titime me,, it mea eans ns I am go goin ingg to hav avee more space for furthering the ODS´ programme, and I will be able to use the experience I gathered as the ODS negotiator over the last years. I hope it will be a much calmer atmosphere than it was in the previous term, for we had to fight each voice of the right wing.

Has the ODS already been transformed? What should still be changed?

I already wrote before the election that the ODS needs to be a standard political party and not a pack. Moreover, the ODS should behave like a standard conservative party, both outside and inside. And conservative means, among other thin th ings gs,, th that at you wililll no nott ch chan ange ge you ourr pr prio ioriritities es and politics according to the momentary results of public surveys.

According to your Chairman, the ODS should primarily get rid of a party that is labelled as interconnected with corruption. What steps are necessary to do so?

We must consistently deal with any problem, and we should not ignore even tiny failures. We need to stand behind our people once they get into trouble, yet punish them if they fail. Anyway, we can only get rid of the label with consistent, long term work. long-term work In this context, do you suppose the era of godfathers has finally finished?

I do not like creating “pigeon-holes” that divide people into categories of godfathers and nongodfathers, new and old, or tidy and untidy. Any party needs to be managed by authentic politicians “carrying their skin at the political market” and who are not only tools in the hands of someone behind the scenes. It is obviously completely inadmissible that politics was mastered by regional entrepreneurs. Moreover, the ODS leadership makes it their highest goal to counterwork the interconnection of economics and politics. On the othe ot herr ha hand nd, I fifind nd it da dang nger erou ouss if soo-ca calllled ed “ce cele lebr brii ties” enter high politics, whose political views we have not heard anything of so far, and whose only presumption is the great frequency of their appearances on TV. How do you perceive the fact that the ODS actually compromised with smaller parties during the division of the government’s posts?

I do not agree with the criticism that we have compromised too much. The election results placed us in second place, only a small percentage ahead of the other right-wing party. Thus, the government’s composition only reflects the election results. Obviously, we could have had entrenched oursellves es in our pos osititio ionn an andd in insi sist sted ed upo ponn ou ourr views. Yet, would a coalition with TOP 09, and only a silent support of the VV have been a better solution? Or even the creation of a Great coalition with Jiří Paroubek? I do not think so. The ODS acted like

the constituent party whose goal was to make up a strong governmental team, whose members are happy to be responsible for the enforcement of the ambitious governmental plan. It is indisputable that the main leader and the reform bearer is the Prime Minister – Petr Nečas.

And what do you say to the protests that some ministers are not sufficiently competent?

I suppose that these protests can only be valid once it is possible to evaluate their work. I do not agree with the view that any ministry needs to be managed by professionals in the given field. Is it necessary that e.g. the Ministry of Transport is man anag agedd by perhaps h the most experienced enth gine-driver? There needs to be a capable manager, much like in a private company. It needs to be someone who can manage money, people, surround themselves with experts, and take care of the development of the area they are in charge of. I suppose our state does not need shiny celebrititie br iess, but har ardd-wo work rkin ingg of offificiials. l A miiniistter is nothing more than the highest state official of the given field.

How is the ODS preparing for the autumn election?

For these elections we are rather focusing on the candidates than on a megalomaniac campaign. There is definitely more focus on the politician’s real achievements on the municipal level than elsewhere. I do logically get around Middle Bohemia and thus, I know that our mayors and councillors did a really great job in the last years, which one can plainly see in particular municipali municipalities. Moreover, I hope I am able to continue doing my job well well. The ODS is the traditional and concon servative party that has been on the political map for many years, and people know what one can expect from it, and what programme it enforces.

Therefore, we will offer interesting and strong personalities in the Senate election. We will present personalities which are presenting consistent views in the long term.

You were a member of the post-election negotiation team. What questions were the most controversial? How difficult were these negotiations?

It mig ight ht per erha haps ps sur urpr prise yo y u,, despi p te the media optics, that there was neither any heavy quarrel nor any slamming of the door. The negotiations were quiet, factual, yet sometimes hard at the same time.

How will the reform and budget responsibility of the Government look like? When can we expect an introduction of adviced reform and its enforcement?

Managing the rather complicated situation of the state budget is a high priority. However, the team of Petr Nečas is not going to be a government of “book-keeping cuts”, but rather a reform government. Among other things, the Government has comm co mmititte tedd ititse selflf in ititss pr proc ocla lama matition on to reefoorm the pension system, adopt reform steps aimed at the modernization of the health care system, reforming the higher education system, and adopting necessary measures aimed at higher transparency

of public procurement. As long as the time schedule allows, a great part of law could be submitted to the Chamber of Deputies next year, so that it could come into force from January 1, 2012.

The time pressure, however, must not influence the quality of submitted norms.

Are there concerns that under the pressure of trade unions and other interest groups, the Government will back out of some of its reform plans?

I believe they will not. If the previous Government of Mirek Topolánek was able to enforce unpopular steps with only hundred of MPs, I believe the administration can manage it based on 118 voices.

Yet, on the other hand, it is obviously not only about support in the Chamber of Deputies, and that the public opinion is now very pro-reform.

Pressured ministers must not turn away from solving the difficult problems, and must not be drawn into narrow-minded steps which, although very wellll-sold in the media, practically serve only small groups. This will solve nothing, perhaps except for the personal popularity of a minister. The pragmatism of the left must not substitute for another kind of populism, i.e. the total pragmatism. After all, one needs to have nerves and be able to take healthy risks in politics. This, among other things, means that one can not only use well trodden paths, and take only those steps that are the most favourable for him at the given time. Yet, I am sure that this Government will be able to resist the pressure.

Let me ask you, finally, one rather personal question. You were engaged in the health care area; you also took part in the preparation of the electoral reform. What area would you like to focus on most during this term?

I will definitely continue taking part in the legislative work regarding health care and Constitutional changes. I would like to carry on my work in media issues and media legislation as well. A new topic that I think is very important, although not really in the media spotlight to such an extent, is a definition of the status of “public convenience”, which influences the operations of the non-profit sector, not only in a social area. This should bring clear rules for the division of subsidies and, at the same time, it should make it advantageous for organizations to acquire this status. The non-profit sector is actually much needed aid for the state. On top of that, the state has not prepared satisfactory conditions for the work and long-term development of this so far. I had called into action a non-profit project, the festival “Hopsa Hejsa do Brandejsa” co-operating with the foundation “Naddace rozvojje občanské společnosti (NROS)” years ago. Therefore, I would like to support all changes aiming for a transparent and effective operating of the non-profit sector.

By Pavlína Holancová

český překlad naleznete v elektronické verzi magazínu na www.leadersmagazine.cz

Leaders Magazine V/2010

79

EXPO 2010

From left: Doron Nadler, Managing Director, NS Medical, Tal Rahamim, Business Development Director, EBC Shanghai, Ronen Rahamim, Managing Director, EBC Shanghai, Guy Rahamim, Marketing Manager, EBC Shanghai and Ing. Václav Pavlas, Prague Expo Agent and Representative of the City of Prague

The program during the day was: Opera – Vratislav Kříž Don Giovanni – National Marionette Theatre

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

Fashion show – Eva Brzáková Jazz & Rock Performance – Zina Punx Caricatures – Martin Hron

IN COOPERATION WITH LEADERS MAGAZINE

Opening Ceremony of the Prague Day at the

EXPO 2010 in Shanghai

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A special thanks to Meshulam Zisso for photos and assistant to make the reportage possible

From left: Ivana Grollová, CDA a.i. at the Czech Embassy in China, Lenka Cirhanová, Marketing Manager at Freytag&Berndt, Ladislav Cirhan, Managing Director at Freytag&Berndt, Bohumil Mazánek, Consul General of the Czech Republic, Michaela Ševčíková, Head of the Multilateral Unit of the International Affair Department, Prague City Hall and Pavel Antonín Stehlík, Commissioner General of the Czech Pavilion

Photos: Meshulam Zisso, Shanghai

Prague Castle, poster on the wall

Gong Zheng, Assistant Director UBPA Expo

From left: Zhu Cheng, UBPA Supervisor, Sun Liansheng, Director of the UBPA Expo, MUDr. Jiří Besser, Minister of Culture and Ing. Václav Pavlas, Prague Expo Agent and Representative of the City of Prague

Model wearing a design dress by Eva Brzáková

Helena Zavázalová, Project Manager at the Prague Exposition and Martin Hron, Caricaturist Don Giovanni, National Marionette Theatre

MUDr. Jiří Besser, Minister of Culture and Vladana Rýdlová, Arbor Vitae Societas

From left: Vratislav Kříž, Baritone with his wife, Arnošt Lustig, Writer, Markéta Mališová, Director of the Franz Kafka Center Prague and Pavel Antonin Stehlík, Commissioner General of the Czech Pavilion

From left: Lenka Cirhanová, Marketing Manager at Freytag & Berndt, Michaela Ševčíková, Head of the Multilateral Unit of the International Affair Department, Prague City Hall and Eva Brzáková, Fashion Designer

EXPO 2010 in Shanghai

Miloslava Kumbárová, Czech Pavilion Director and Vice-Commissioner General, Dr. Xu Bo, Assistant Commissioner General of the EXPO 2010 Shanghai, Eva Metelková, Personal Assistant to Czech Commissioner General and Bonny Zhu, International Participation Department of EXPO 2010 Shanghai, Supervisor

IN COOPERATION WITH LEADERS MAGAZINE

Czech Fashion in Shanghai Alongside the “Archive of Miracles” exhibit of Czech design taking place in the multimedia hall of the Czech Republic’s EXPO 2010 pavilion in Shanghai is also a presentation of Czech fashion. Five leading Czech designers dealt with the topic of “Memory”, creating distinctive collections of ten models each. Although they did not consult each other, their work is bound not only by the theme, but also by its creative originality and the way it breaks down existing modes.

Photos: Meshulam Zisso

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more photos and electronic version more mo ore r e photos ph ho ottoowww.leadersmagazine.cz s and and electronic ellectr elec tron onic icc version v er er si sioon n available on aavailable av vai aillaablle on on www.leadersmagazine.cz w ww w w.l .lea leade eaade d rssma magazi gazine nee.ccz

From Left: Radek Kantor, Models Manager at ESEE and Jana Tomas, Manager of Drop Club Shanghai, Mimie Lau, Marketing Director Chongbang Group and Liběna Rochová, Designer with her husband

Bohumil Mazánek, Consul General of the Czech Republic, H.E. Libor Sečka, Czech Ambassador to China and Klára Nademlýnská, Designer

Liběna Rochová, Designer and Radek Kantor, Models Manager at ESEE

From left: H.E. Libor Sečka, Czech Ambassador to China, Jana Tomas, Manager of Drop Club Shanghai, Eva Metelková Personal Assistant to Czech Commissioner General and Dr. Xu Bo, Assistant Commissioner General

Models in dresses designed by Pavel Ivančic

Liběna Rochová combines components of regional folk costumes with contemporary trends in fashion. Materials and manufacturing methods over a hundred years old appear on her models. The base for Denisa Nová’s models is intimate undergarments from various periods, on top of which she layers iconic items of classic clothing – a turtleneck, men’s trousers, a white shirt, cocktail dresses… Pavel Ivančic focused on the influence of cultural and social background on a person’s identity and softened or hardened materials from the 1980s in untraditional ways. Klára Nademlýnská confronts the present with her “memories of the future”, i.e. how sci-fi designers in the seventies and eighties imagined the reality and fashion of the early 21st century. Monika Drápalová let herself be inspired by the river and its natural play, creating a similarly gentle and flowing collection.

A fashion show of these fifty original models took place in an exclusive building from the 1930s at the prestigious Shanghai address Bund 18, where selected pieces will remain installed as a gallery exhibition until 25 August.

From left: Marcela Vrchotová (sister & Assistant to Monika Drápalová), Simon Ma, Designer, Denisa Nová, Designer, H.E. Libor Sečka, Czech Ambassador to China, Miloslava Kumbárová, Czech Pavilion Director and Vice-Commissioner General, Pavel Ivančic, Designer, Martina Hončíková, Czech Events Manager, Klára Nademlýnská, Designer and Liběna Rochová, Designer

In the middle: Miloslava Kumbárová, Czech Pavilion Director and Vice-Commissioner General and Alistair Paton, Founder and Group CEO of M1NT

H.E. Libor Sečka and Liběna Rochová

Model in dress designed by Denisa Nová

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A special thanks to Meshulam Zisso for photos and assistant to make the reportage possible

From left: Radek Kantor, Models Manager at ESEE and Emmanuel Chavez Martinez, Vice Consul of Mexico in Shanghai

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

Mr. Simon Ma, CEO & Chief Designer of MA.DESIGN

From left: Marcela Vrchotová (sister & Assistant to Monika Drápalová) and Designers Pavel Ivančic, Denisa Nová and Liběna Rochová

Main Producer

JANÁÉEK BRNO 2010 I N T E R N A T I O N A L

F E S T I V A L

16 - 28, November, 2010 JANÁÇEK versus EXPRESSIONISM

KEN SHIFRIN AND POSAUNE VOICE TRIO WITH GUESTS

CHAMBER OPERA OF JAMU BRNO NATIONAL THEATRE

MOSCOW MUSICAL THEATRE OF DMITRYBERTMAN „HELIKON OPERA“

PÖNTINEN TRIO

ZUZANA LAPÇÍKOVÁ QUINTET

PRAGUE NATIONAL PHILHARMONIC THEATRE BRNO CHOIR

NATIONAL MORAVIAN-SILESIAN THEATRE KLICPERA THEATRE

BRNO THEATRE AND PHILHARMONIC PHILHARMONIC ESSEN

All access ticket only 115 EUR For more information contact: obchodni@ndbrno.cz

Patron

Co-P roducers

Main Partner

www.janacek-brno.cz Main Media Partner

Official Transport

Media P artners

lidovky.cz

IVA BITTOVÁ

HENSCHEL QUARTETT

Visit the city of JanáÌek Brno - Czech Republic

Financially supported by

The festival is held under the auspices of

The selected concerts are held under the auspices of

Přemysl Sobotka, president of the Senate of the Parliament of the Czech Republic Michal Hašek, governor of the South Moravian Region Roman Onderka, mayor of the City of Brno

Embassy of Sweden Prague Embassy of Germany Prague Consulate General of the Russian Federation in Brno

Vybrané akce festivalového programu se konají pod záštitou

Zpravodajský server Lidových novin

Ticket Office

National Theatre Brno, Reduta Theatre, online at www.ndbrno.cz/prodej, ClassicTic (just online), Student Agency House of Lipé Lords, Brno Philharmonic, TIC Boskovice, TIC Hustopeče, TIC Kroměříž, IC Kyjov, TIC Rosice, TIC Uherské Hradiště, TIC Veselý nad Moravou, TIC Vyškov (sale just on site), Wien-Ticket, sales network Ticketportal (also online).

A special thanks to Star Group Czech a.s. for making this reportage possible

Prague Intercup Senior Gold Female Champion 2010 – COL CORA coming from Dubai. Owner is Dubai Arabian Horse Stud – Sh. Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum the Ruler of Dubai.

From left: Ing. J. Starenko, Sponsor of the Class, Chairman and Managing Director Star Group Czech a.s., Mrs. I. Glaserová, Sponsor, Painter, Mr. R. Halama, Sponsor, Original Czech Art Glass, Mr. Abdelaziz Al Marazeeq, Stud Manager of Dubai Arabian Horse Stud and P. Capecci, Handler

Prague Intercup Arabian Horse Show Debut

On September 3, for the first time in Czech history, purebred Arabian horses from all over the world came together for the halter show “Prague Intercup”, which was organized under the rules of the European Conference of Arab Horse Organizations (ECAHO). This two-day event included an International Beauty Contest, in which 81 horses competed. Special guests included Princess Alia al Hussein Al Saleh, representatives from Embassies, the Senate and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The Czech National Championship was represented by 35 horses. The first day of the Championship continued into the evening, at the marvelous Troja Castle, where the Charity Evening ARABIAN NIGHT took place. The program included belly dancing, swordsmen, a falconer, a race of Arabian saluki dogs and other entertainment.

The proceeds from the midnight auction went to the Diamond Foundation for the oncological treatment of children.

Photos by Renata Kolářová & Miloš Janů Jr.

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

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Whole program was in the Arabic style and was finished after the midnight by outside Palitchi Fire Show

“Arabian horses are beautiful, smart, gracious and extremely elegant; and they deserve recognition for their looks, not only all over the world, but also in the Czech Republic,” said Jaroslav Lacina, Chairman of “Prague Intercup”, as well as President of the Arabian Horse Society and an International judge of purebred Arabian horses.

“We are happy and excited to premier this Arabian horse halter show in the Czech Republic. The Czech people have an incredible opportunity to experience the event, to see these magnificent animals with their own eyes, and to learn why this particular show is different from all other horse shows,” said Miloš Janů, partner of the event.

Prague Intercup Senior Gold Male Champion 2010 – MA SHADOW EL SHER coming from Dubai. Owner is Dubai Arabian Horse Stud – Sh. Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum the Ruler of Dubai.

From left: P. Capecci, Handler, Mr. Abdelaziz Al Marazeeq, Stud Manager of Dubai Arabian Horse Stud, Mr. R. Halama, Sponsor, Original Czech Art Glass, Mr. Mutlaq Bin Mushrif, Manager of Al Khalediah Stables, Sponsor and Mrs. I. Glaserová, Sponsor, Painter

Ms. N. Stříbrná and Mr. Mutlaq Bin Mushrif with SHAMAL AL KHALEDIAH

Class winner of three years old colts – JUMANCI OS from Germany.

Sponsor of this class was Prestige magazine, the price was given by fashion designer Blanka Matragi.

From left: P. Capecci, Handler, Blanka Matragi and G.P. Gubbiotti

Prague Intercup Junior Gold Male Champion – SHAMAL AL KHALEDIAH coming from Saudi Arabia. Owner is H.R.H. Prince Khaled Bin Sultan Bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud.

From left: Ing. M. Janů, Partner of the Prague InterCup, P. Hossay, Handler, Mr. Mutlaq Bin Mushrif, Manager of Al Khalediah Stables, Ms. N. Stříbrná and son of Mr. Mutlaq

Charity Evening Arabian Night – special thanks to the patron of the evening to H.R.H. Princess Alia Al Hussein Al Saleh from Jordan.

Gift to her was given by Ing. Synek, Director of the DIC company.

Charity evening was moderated by Ondřej Havelka (left), and official opening speech was made by the organizer Mr. Jaroslav Lacina (right) and Mr. Hynek Kmoníček (middle)

Evening ladies dress for auction – from Fashion Designer Paul Brun, Model is Mrs. Z. Rosáková

H.R.H.Princess Alia Al Hussein Al Saleh from Jordan (in the middle) and Mr. Jaroslav Lacina, Organizer of the Prague Intercup Competition and Charity Evening with his wife

Ing. J. Starenko (left), main sponsor of the Charity Evening and Chairman and Managing Director of Star Group Czech a.s. with his partner (right) and H.R.H. Princess Alia Al Hussein Al Saleh from Jordan

global perspectives

Jan M端hlfeit Chairman Europe Microsoft Corporation Photo: Paul Pacey

IN COOPERATION WITH LEADERS MAGAZINE

Is the Future Cloudy?

I am often invited to speak at various conferences and whenever I deliver my keynote I always stress that both public and private sector leaders across the European Union need to think about how to address the biggest two challenges ahead of us – the demographic challenge of aging Europe as well as the level of debt.

There clearly are various tools to deal with both of these issues such as smart immigration policies in case of demography as well as various saving packets in case of debt. Yet given the economical and subsequently political growth that we are witnessing for example in Asia, I personally think that should Europe continue to succeed in this global friendly, but still very tough, competitive contest using only the proven but conservative approaches would not be enough. Indeed we now have the Europe 2020 strategy and I very much appreciate the realistic view that the new European Commission has taken towards where we should be heading over the upcoming decade – now the key question will be how to successfully fulfill it?

I am a big believer that information technologies not only provide great empowerment to each individual user, but also as a whole can be of an incredible asset and help in addressing exactly the two challenges mentioned earlier as well as many other issues that both the national and local governments have to face and deal with. Now having spent my entire career in information systems industry, without hesitation I can tell you that we all are about to experience a total revolution in the way we use software and manage our data – we are about to enter the world of so called “cloud computing”. Please make no mistake, despite of the associations you may have with the word cloud, which are likely not very positive, in this particular case I guarantee you that after having read this articled you will agree that the benefits of cloud computing are in fact hugely positive.

By now, I could imagine, you may really wonder what this is all about. Let me try to explain the philosophy and as well how it will work. Cloud computing is a way of delivering standardized capability, such as software or infrastructure via Internet technologies in a payper-use and self-service way. In other words it means that each user gets their personalized experience, only the software and applications which he or she needs or wants and also only pays for what he or she used. Personally I like to describe this as receiving and paying your electricity bill – you too only pay for the volume of electricity your household or office has used

in a given period of time. Though in case of cloud computing the benefits are much broader.

While yourr electricity provider cannot use the networkk to upgrade your home appliannces like TV or washing machine, cloud computing will allow software providers to keep their customers’ softt ware up-to-date and secure includding managemennt of security patches for example.

Last but not the least; from corporate/innstitutional peerspective, cloud computing briings a huge bennefit in ability to cut costs and move the IT inveestments from capital expenditture (i.e. investing into a robust infrastructure that in some caases might not be fully utilized), into operating expenses, when the given enntity only pays for what has really been used and therefore maximizing the value received from the money spent.

As I thinkk about this revolution to come, I see five dimensions of cloud computing that I believe are most im mportant. First of all I am absolutely convinced that cloud will create new opportunities (for both consumers and institutioonal users) as well as new responsibilities (for the software seervices and information technologgies industry overall). Secondly, cloud will learn and help you leearn, decide and take action – the user’s increeased empowerment is at the very center of this entire model. Thirdly, I can see cloud enhaancing social and professional innteractions by giving people more possibilitiess to communicaate, collaborate, improve teamw work and ultimattely increase everyone’s productivvity.

I am also convinced that cloud computing will drive development of even smarter devicces, again puttiing more power into user’s hannds.

Finally, by providing the services from the server side, cloud computing will drive server advannces that in turn will drive cloud.

As you may know, in my articles published in this respecc table magazine and elsewhere just like in my conversations with European polittical leaders I often talk about the need for our continent’s educational, social and healthccare reforms ulttimately leading to more Europpe’s increased competitiveness. Well in this resppect let me use parallel or two in how this new reevolutionary appproach to information technologgies could be of a great help: as I think about eduucation and unnfortunately as much as this is not reflected inn European classrooms yet, not everyone can learn everything and definitely noot in a uniform way. Cloud computing will now allow a truly perssonalized learning experience, providing the student with the tools that are coomfortable andd most effective for him/her to leearn

from and digest. Equally, think about the European electronic patient records system: today 7 % of EU’s GDP go to cure of chrronic diseases.

If the cloud computing could heelp our governments provide us and more im mportantly our doctors with effective patient reecords system leading to more effective cure, im magine the savings and possibilities that we couuld be investing elsewhere such as in research, innovation or development…

As I mentioned, cloud computiing is a revolution. It will open a new world of poossibilities with solutions that will be cheaper while more accessible. For Europe and for the Czeech Republic it also broadens the horizons and creates completely new opportunities for smaall and medium start-ups. Recently I had a chancce to meet with and get to know founders of Irish company called HR Locker, who have built HR sollution for small and medium businesses on clooud computing and within two years have turn their company into a global business. We at Miccrosoft are very much committed to helping com mpanies like HR Locker to take their ideas globall and therefore already for many years we havee been driving a program called “BizSpark” foocused exactly on helping to bring together creattive visionaries with potential investors. I am tott ally convinced that cloud will accelerate this eveen further.

Naturally given the significance of its impact on information technologies industry and therefore subsequently basically on all other industries including the public sector at all levels, cloud computing also generates some key challenging questions and further claarity will indeed be needed in many areas like data sovereignty, privacy, security or interoperability. Public and private sector must therefore woork even closer together to make this work for all parties involved, most importantly for the end user.

Because with the introduction off these extraordinary new possibilities, of onne thing I am certain – future isn’t cloudy, futurre is bright and clear. Let us all together to get the best out of what it offers and brings.

Jan Mühlfeit Chairman Europe Microsoft Corporation

český překlad naleznete v eleektronické verzi magazínu na www.leaddersmagazine.cz

Leaders Magazine V/ V/2010

89

Deutsch-Tschechische Industrieund Handelskammer

IN COOPERATION WITH LEADERS MAGAZINE

Photos: Jan Kruml Radomír Šimek, President, German-Czech Chamber of Industry and Commerce in his speech

SUMMER BOAT TRIP of the German-Czech Chamber of Industry and Commerce O AAugustt 11th, On 11th the th German-Czech G C h Chamber Ch b off Industry I d t andd Commerce C organized i d one off its it regular l networking t ki events t ffor allll members b andd friends. f i d On O the th occasion i off the boat trip, the chamber members and friends, accompanied by their partners and children, got together on the boat restaurant with the befitting name Európé. After the boat set sail, about 150 guests enjoyed the spectacular views of Prague’s famous sights, as well as the maritime and balmy atmosphere of this summer event.

From left: Jan Böhme, NATIVEL k.s., Hans-Jürgen Bönsch, NATIVEL k.s., Gerd Pasedag, Siemens s.r.o. and Rudolf Fischer, Siemens s.r.o.

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Kateřina Stehlíková, more mo m ore rImport e photos photo hooVolkswagen tos and to an nd electronic eGroup el lec ectron ectr trr on os.r.o. niicc and version v eerrrsi sion si on Rudolf Javurek, CEO Group available av vaaiila iImport llaabl b e Volkswagen on on www.leadersmagazine.cz w ww w..lleade eea addeers r ss.r.o. maggaazi ma zinnee..ccz

Sebastian Holtgrewe, German-Czech Chamber of Industry and Commerce and Sonia Biller, IHK Regensburg

From left: Zdena Pojezná, Riessner-Gase s.r.o, Thilo Riessner, Riessner-Gase s.r.o. and Mirjam Schwan, German-Czech Chamber of Industry and Commerce

From left: Thomas Baumgart, Commerzbank AG, Anna Senczaková, IVENTA Czech Management Consulting s.r.o., Thomas Klatte, Commerzbank AG, Bronislava Slámová, IVENTA Czech Management Consulting s.r.o. and Juraj Voleský, HOCHTIEF Construction AG

From left: Sylva Schlosser, Landesbank Berlin, Udo Schlosser, Landesbank Berlin and Frank Guthan, Volksbank CZ, a.s.

From left: Paul Eschbach, Delta Advice and Magnus Alexander Brandau, E. ON Česká republika, s.r.o.

Miriam Kranz-Jansen and Charles Marchon, Swiss Embassy The Party Band

From left: Jana Doležálková and Eva Brušáková, CCB – Czech Credit Bureau, a.s.

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

From left: Michael Sprinzl, IHK Bayreuth, Anna Sprinzl, IHK Bayreuth, Stephan Heidenhain, bnt – pravda & partner, s.r.o. and Lars Klett, Ueltzhöffer Balada advokátní kancelář

Gernot Daumann, LBBW Bank CZ a.s. with his wife

John Bölts, a.hartrodt CZ s.r.o. with his wife and children

Horst Günter, Institute for Industrial and Financial Management (IPFM) with his wife

Hannes Streeck, Fiege s.r.o. and Markéta Vrbasová, PointPark Properties s.r.o.

From left: Bernard Bauer, Executive Director of the Board, GermanCzech Chamber of Industry and Commerce, Radomír Šimek, President, German-Czech Chamber of Industry and Commerce and in the middle Roberto, Magician and Clown

92 Boat Európé

Holding Synot has Opened a Super Modern SYNOT Holding has extended its portfolio of another novelty. New high-tech Data Centre Monaco was opened in June in Uherské Hradiště. Within the area of 400 square meters, it offers a background for 85 installed racks and comprehensive service.

“We haven´t built so large data centre solely for our company. We have expanded its capacity so that we can rent the necessary infrastructure to other operators. The Data Centre Monaco is actually a response to the growth of demand for a highly professional service in the area of hosting and housing,” said Katerina Luisa PaderaDanhelova, the SYNOT Holding CEO. The Data Centre Monaco has a superior technological base. Thanks to this, a customer does not have to build his own one for a considerable amount, but can only hire a part of necessary infrastructure.

All at once the data centre is a top of technological equipment for the central lottery system. The data centre has been built with Tier III parameters, which represents the accessibility of the data centre to the extent of 99,982%. Maximum annual drop-outs of the system are calculated up to 1 hour and 45 minutes. „Whole system of the data centre has been designed in accordance with recommendations based on two international standards in this area; so the Data Centre Monaco in Uherské Hradiště complies with the American standard TIA-942 and the European standard EN 50173-5“, adds Vratislav Rudicky, Managing Director of SYNOT ICT Services, a.s.

The new facility offers absolute comfort and security for its users. It disposes of electronic alarm system, camera monitoring system, safety door with electronic access verification and double floor. Supervisory centre operates 24/7, 365 days a year.

Data Centre Monaco – one of the biggest of its kind in Moravia, the Czech Republic

DATA CENTRE MONACO

From left: Tape has been cut by Managing Director of SYNOT ICT Services company, Mr. Vratislav Rudický, the founder of Synot Holding, Mr. Ivo Valenta and Deputy Chairman of the city of Uherské Hradiště and Mr. Květoslav Tichavský

Interier of Data Center Monaco

diplomatic event

From left: H.E. Renilde Loeckx, Ambassador of Belgium, Jos Chabert, State Minister of Belgium and Marie Kousalíková, Deputy Lord Mayor of Prague

The flowers were brought to Prague from Belgium and it took five hours to lay the begonia petals. The preparation of the Prague flower carpet took a whole year. It was designed by Marc Schauteet, included the Belgian EU presidency logo, the Prague coat of arms and an Art Nouveau motif.

Thousands of Belgian begonias were used to create a unique flower carpet with EU attributes in Prague’s Old Town Square that is to commemorate Belgium’s EU Council presidency in July-December. The tapestry made of 150,000 flowers was a smaller-scale replica of the colourful flower carpet that decorates Brussels’ Grand Place once in two years.

Photos: Martin Salajka

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH LEADERS MAGAZINE

FLOWER CARPET

From left: Patrick Van Overloop, Head European and Multinationals Desk at KBC Bank, Bartel Puelinckx, Chief Financial Officer at CSOB and H.E. Renilde Loeckx, Ambassador of Belgium

Alain Decraene, Flemish Investment & TradeCommissioner, Flanders Investment and Trade

Mr. Jos Chabert

Benke Aikell, your Publisher

Flower Carpet

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

From left: H.E. Renilde Loeckx, Ambassador of Belgium, Karel Schwarzenberg, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the ČR and Jos Chabert, Minister of Belgium

From left: H.E. Renilde Loeckx, Ambassador of Belgium, Marie Kousalíková, Deputy Lord Mayor of Prague and Juraj Chmiel, Deputy Minister of Agriculture

Flower Carpet

From left: H.E. Pierre Lévy, Ambassador of France, Dita Schautova, Deputy Minister, Czech Ministry of Transport, H.E. Frane Krnić, Ambassador of Croatia, H.E. Phaedon Anastasiou, Ambassador of Cyprus, H.E. Gabriel Oh, Ambassador of Korea, H.E. Amal Mustafa Kamel Murad, Ambassador of Egypt and Jana Valešová, Brussels Airlines

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interview

The Path to Film Paradise

Michal Surma Executive Director of the Summer Film School Photo: Mr. Surma´s archive

A talk with Michal Surma, Executive Director of the Summer Film School and the Head of Production of the Association of the Czech Film Clubs Michal Surma (1961) graduated from the Economic Faculty of the University in Žilina. He is the co-founder of the publisher and bookstore ARCHA in Zlín, which originated from the pre-November 89 independent initiative. He worked in several managerial posts in the nineties and returned to the field of culture after almost fifteen years. Since 1998, he has been working in the position of the Executive Director of the Summer Film School (LFŠ) and the Head of Production of the Association of the Czech Film Clubs (AČFK).

The Summer Film School in Uherské Hradiště has been the biggest non-competitive festival in the Czech Republic for a long time. Did it work out according to your ideas this year?

I think, in all modesty, that it exceeded my expectations. There are several reasons for this statement – the number of participants, the visit rate of particular projections, an increased interest of commercial partners and primarily the positive response of both the professional and nonprofessional public.

The word “school” is not used by coincidence in the title of this event. Thus, how would you evaluate the soul of the LFŠ´s spectators?

The soul of our spectator is sensitive and receptive at the same time. An outstanding feature of the spec sp ecta tato torr is his nob oble le qua ualility ty;; th thee sp spec ecta tato torr co conn stantly needs to be kindled by a film which is a moving reflection of the feelings and emotions of its creator. On top of that, the LFŠ has its added value because a majority of films are accompanied by the direct attendance of their authors. At the event event, they try to detect other concealed layers of their film art in discussions and private talks.

You selected a rather general topic for the LFŠ this year – “The Film Paradise”. And the programme of the festival’s particular sections was not subordinated to the topic. How did you like it?

This is without question one of the things that exceeded my expectations. We decided not to tamper with the mutual cohesion of the LFŠ’s visual and its programme, which used to be a tradition here for many years. Thus, by means of the visual, we tried to evoke a certain general illusory conception of film paradise, which could be visited by anyone for ten days.

A new section repeatedly appeared – the Panorama of Film Critics – at the LFŠ. Could you tell us what it contains?

This project appeared as part of the LFŠ programme for the third time. Its primary goal is to focus annuallyy on film per erio iodi dica cals ls fro rom m se sele lect cted ed countries, to present essential aspects of film culture of the Central European countries, and spread the interpretation of given topics, personalities and particular films. Thus, this year e.g., we had the honour to welcome and retrospectively introduce the Hungarian director, Béla Tarr who is a sort of enfant terrible of current European cinematography.

The LFŠ is one of the few places where one can talk about the issues concerning the future

of the film industry with experts. This year’s discussion involved the topic of digitalization as well. How is the digitalization of cinemas in the Czech Republic continuing? What projects can we look forward to within the AČFK distribution?

The digitalization of stone cinemas has been experiencing an unusual boom in the Czech Republic over the last two years. There are almost 50 cinemas fully digitalized in the Czech Republic at present. Additionally, this number will increase up to 70 by the end of this year. The majority of cinemas were able to carry out their reconstructions thanks to the support of cities and the Czech State Fund for the Support and Development of Czech Cinematography. The AČFK, which operates as a dis istr trib ibut utio ionn co comp mpan anyy at the sam a e time,, launched its first digitalization title – Mr. Nobody – at the LFŠ. Concerning the digitalization of the socalled Golden Fund of Czech Cinematography, about 200 titles were launched and they should be introduced on the DCP porters continuously at renewed film premiers premiers. Obviously Obviously, such a great project is interconnected with financial resources, yet the AČFK will apply for the distribution of these titles in the Czech cinemas.

According to the newest statistics, the interest in new Czech films has started to fall significantly. Is the crisis of Czech cinematography continuing?

The crisis of Czech cinematography is definitely not based upon the attendance of Czech titles abroad. The dropping attendance is rather related to the fact that Czech film does not offer any big topic that would reflect on the spectator abroad.

Yet, it can easily concern Czech film, which has its artistic value and artistic quality. As an example I would certainly show last year’s films 3 Seasons in Hell or the Protector. So, I personally would not talk about a crisis of Czech cinematography, I think it is rather about the successful and constant search for new topics.

Is the state support of Czech cinematography interconnected to the abovementioned reason?

What are next year’s prospects?

Our event definitely can not do without the support of the Ministry of Culture, or the Czech State Fund for the Support and Development of Czech Cinematography. In addition to that, in this context, it is necessary to distinguish between support for the production of Czech titles and the festival’s production. Both, however, have one thing in common, i.e. they have less financial

means at their disposal than the film art deserves in general. On the other hand, I have to appreciate that th at witithi hinn th thei eirr fifina nanc ncia iall me mean anss, the sta tate te ins nstititu tu-tions deal with us very correctly, and in doing so they think highly of the tradition of the LFŠ.

Did the financial crisis influence the LFŠ’s budget this year? Did you have to cut your economic requirements?

The economic crisis has obviously had a direct influence on cutting public finances, which are part of our financial resources. In this context, I can state that we managed to cover reduced state subsidies by new sources, primarily coming from commercial sectors, thus LFŠ’s total budget remained at the same level as last year.

What is your view on the film festival’s quality in the Czech Republic; are there not too many of them?

There are definitely many organized events during the year in the Czech Republic. Obviously, this question primarily concerns the final ambition of particular organizing bodies, what they want to achieve by means of this event event, and whom they want to approach. I basically think, however, that there are three big and, at the same time, original film events in the Czech Republic at present – the Film festival in Karlovy Vary, the Febiofest and the LFŠ Uherské Hradiště. Each of them has its unique nature and a specific programme conception. The uniqueness of the LFŠ lies in this comparison, just in its educational nature and in its direct interaction of the author and his spectator.

Do you cooperate with some Czech or foreign film festivals or events as well?

We cooperate with some festivals in the areas of promotion and public relation. Yet, I can not imagine any deeper programme cooperation because of organizational reasons, though such cooperation would be very interesting from a financial point of view.

Could you reveal your plans for the next LFŠ running in 2011?

I will definitely not reveal the programme plans because it is still under development and first considerations. I can only reveal that next year, we will take courage to slightly open the door to an imaginary film paradise for all spectators.

By Pavlína Holancová český překlad naleznete v elektronické verzi magazínu na www.leadersmagazine.cz

Leaders Magazine V/2010

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IN PARTNERSHIP WITH LEADERS MAGAZINE

Business May Be Your Life – But – Life Is Your Business Part VI: Creating A Successful Business

A,B

James A. Cusumano, PhD

”Your profession is not what brings home your paycheck. Your profession is what you were put on this earth to do – with such passion and such intensity that it becomes a spiritual calling.”

Vincent Van Gogh

KEY CONCEPTS: ■ Seven elements can lead to the long-term success of a business: 1. An inspirational leader.

2. Hiring the right people at the right time for the right job and graciously exiting mistakes.

3. Focus, focus, focus!

4. Targeting an early commercial success.

5. Addressing a growing market – better yet, creating one!

6. Supporting key constituents – customers, employees, shareholders, community.

7. Having a plan, but staying flexible.

The Journey There is nothing quite so rewarding as building something new, something that truly makes a positive difference in this world. In the late 1970s, during the last major recession in the U.S., a close friend and I left comfortable, well-paying jobs at Exxon and formed Catalytica Associates, Inc., a consulting company, focused in the area of catalytic technologies. Located in Palo Alto, California in the heart of Silicon Valley, “good vibrations” for innovation emanated from every direction – from bankers, lawyers, investors, venture capitalists, and many other sources. Using these assets, we built a leading global consulting and research company. Within a short time, we were a profitable privately-held enterprise with 100 employees and annual revenues of more than $20 million. Life was exciting and very comfortable.

We addressed a large, growing global market. Catalysis is critical to our modern industrial economy, with more than 25 percent of the developed world’s Gross Domestic Product requiring catalytic technologies. This includes the manufacture of fuels, pharmaceuticals, food products, plastics, polymers, and much more.

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Catalytic technologies are also responsible for eliminatechnologies. Our teams worked on over 200 projects ting or minimizing most environmental issues. Exampfor more than 100 companies in 25 countries, compales include automotive catalytic convertors, industrial nies such as Pfizer, Johnson & Johnson, General Electric, emissions abatement, and many other cleanup applicaMitsubishi, Elf Aquitaine, Norsk Hydro, Snamprogetti, tions. In fact, no organism on this planet – human beings and Exxon. We saved our clients time, money and enviincluded – could function without the precise power of ronmental costs. And at the same time we became enzymes, molecular catalysts, often called “the life knowledgeable of emerging critical industrial problems, force.” They orchestrate our every activity, whether it and where important business sectors were headed is playing piano, fighting disease, or making a baby. in the future. “However,” we wondered, “were we selling Catalysts are nanotechnology power at its best our knowledge and expertise too cheaply? Was there (Figure 1). a more effective way to use our technologies in the comThe definition of a catalyst tells a good part of the mercial sector?” story behind their power and potential. A catalyst is In the late 1980s, we changed our strategy. We opted a substance that speeds up a chemical reaction without to move into manufacturing to leverage our skills and itself undergoing change, and under ideal conditions, knowledge in catalytic science. We settled on two growa highly selective catalyst produces only the desired ing markets that we knew would benefit from our techproduct. This definition has important economic and nologies – pharmaceuticals and power generation. We environmental implications. If you produce only the formed two separate business units – Catalytica Energy product you want, there is no waste, no polluting bySystems, Inc. (CESI) and Catalytica Pharmaceuticals, products. Since a catalyst accelerates a chemical reacInc. (CPI). At CESI, we developed catalytic systems that tion at lower temperatures than when no catalyst is preenable the production of low-cost electrical power with sent, the energy requirements are always much less minimal or no pollution. Catalytica was one of the first than for the same process Figure 1: Catalytic technologies affect 25% of our global GDP and have the potential to significarried out without a cata- cantly cut costs and eliminate environmental challenges lyst. All of this saves maCATALYCA, Inc. nufacturing costs and preserves the environment.

For example, pharmaceutical companies often develop non-catalytic processes to manufacture the active ingredient for a drug, and such a process UNLEASH THE POVER OF TECHNOLOGY can require 10 organic chemical steps or more. Even companies to foster the concept of pollution prevention. if each of 10 steps in a production process provides CESI focused on diesel engines and natural-gas-fired a 90 percent yield to the desired product, the final yield turbines for clean electric power (Figure 2). In CPI, we after all 10 steps are completed is only 35 percent. This helped large pharmaceutical companies like Pfizer demeans that 65 percent of expensive raw materials are velop low-cost, environmentally-friendly processes, converted to undesirable byproducts, often toxic subA) EDITOR’S NOTE – This is Part VI in a series of articles based stances requiring expensive procedures to safely remoon the author’s experience as an entrepreneur, having ve and eliminate them. founded several successful businesses, including Catalytica With a properly designed catalyst, a process with Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a billion-dollar public company. His far fewer steps, e.g., three steps, can be designed. Even business experience base spans “5 lives” – A multimillion if the yield for each of these three steps were no grearecord sales recording artist; R&D Director for Exxon; ter than 90 percent, the final product yield would be Chairman & founder of 2 public companies; CEO, founder and Executive Producer for Chateau Wally films; Chairman & 73 percent, providing large cost savings and a much Owner of Chateau Mcely, an international award-winning more environmentally-friendly process. This is exactly luxury hotel & SPA. This article is extracted from his latest what Catalytica accomplished many times over. For book, presently in preparation and entitled, “My Little Book example, we developed for Pfizer part of the process of Business – Tales of Purpose, Passion & Enterprise.” Parts to manufacture Aricept, the drug of choice drug for treaI–V of this series dealt with “Creating A Fulfilling Life.” The ting Alzheimer’s disease. current series addresses “Building A Successful Business,” Over a decade, we built a financially-successful, soand the final series will focus on “Inspirational Leadership™— cially-conscious company – a leading global enterprise The Secret To Lasting Fulfillment In Life And Business.” ” B) The author may be reached at Jim@ChateauMcely.Com. for the development and commercialization of catalytic

TO BE CONTINUED... with higher valuations. A successful enterprise often must customers, employees, shareholders, raise money for growth. With greater credibility and higher community, and suppliers. valuations much less of the company is given away with 7. Have a plan, but stay flexible. each round of financing.

Seven Guiding Lights When it comes to markets, creating a new one far The number one critical challenge surpasses the opportunities in an existing market. is to have an inspirational CEO, not Being the first mover has incredible leverage. Consider necessarily a charismatic personalimarketing a product that is simply a modest improvement ty, but an inspiration to those around on the Sony Walkman® versus launching the Apple IPod®. him or her. One might ask, “What are Providing strong, consistent support to your custothe key characteristics of such a leamers, employees, shareholders, suppliers, and commuder?” There are several, and together nity is imperative to differentiate your company from they facilitate formation of the spirit, others. This always leads to significant benefits. integrity, and culture of a company, Having a committed strategy, yet being flexible the three most important elements played an important role in Catalytica’s growth. In our for long-term success. pharmaceutical business, our initial strategy was to proFirst, the CEO must actively lead the duce only the active ingredients for drugs, not the final company in the creation of, commitdosage form that you buy in the pharmacy, e.g., pills, ment to, and implementation of a compelling vision and lotions, and injectibles. However, when GlaxoWelcome’s realistic strategy. y This results in the “corporate dream.” world-class pharmaceutical manufacturing plant in North The company cannot succeed and cannot become a great Carolina went up for sale, we changed our strategy to lasting enterprise without one. The “corporate dream” include the final dosage product in our manufacturing galvanizes employees to do all they can to make the capabilities. We were successful in acquiring the plant, company vision and mission a reality. Second, the CEO which brought Catalytica instantly from 100 people to must be inspirational and consistently demonstrate his 2,000 people with nearly $400 million in annual sales. or her passion for following this vision. Nothing excites We became the world’s leading outsource manufacturer of people more, nothing sells a product better, and nothing pharmaceuticals. This led to successes and opportunities attracts more positive attention than pure unbridled for all of our constituencies – customers, employees, passion. Third, the CEO must be tenacious to a fault. share-holders, investors, and vendors. It was a marvelous Recall Winston Churchill’s caution to the Allied Armed success for all!

Forces, “Never, never, never give up!” Fourth, personal discipline is a key attribute in order Figure 3: Catalytica Pharmaceuticals acquires Glaxo’s 300-hectare modern pharmato generate excellent returns for all ceutical plant in Greenville, NC. stake-holders – employees, customers, GREENVILLE PLANT SITE suppliers and the community. And finally, great leaders are compassionate and see themselves as serving all of their stakeholders. They will “walk through fire for their people.” And believe me, there will be more than one time that you will be asked to do so.

The next critical criterion for a successful enterprise is hiring the right people for the right positions at the right time, and graciously exiting Yes, the coals in the entrepreneurial fire can be very those that are mistakes as soon as possible. In the early hot at times, but there really is nothing quite so rewarding stages of new companies, entrepreneurs may hire friends, as building something new, something that truly makes relatives or others who no longer fit the company as it a difference in this world. grows larger. The CEO and his team must face up to the challenging task of helping these employees find more-efJames A. Cusumano, PhD fective, personally-rewarding positions outside the company. If you wait until a crisis occurs, it becomes a greater About the Author: James A. Cusumano is Chairman and owner of Chateau Mcely (www.ChateauMcely.Com), problem to deal with. Everyone benefits, especially the chosen in 2007 by the European Union as the only employee, by taking care of these issues sooner rather “Green” 5-star luxury hotel in Central and Eastern Europe than later. and in 2008 by the World Travel Awards as the Leading Focus cannot be overstated. Along the way, numerous Green Hotel in the World. He is a former Research Director “opportunities” often present themselves. With limited refor Exxon, and subsequently founded two public compasources and stringent time constraints, the company cannies in Silicon Valley, one in clean power generation, the not follow them all and succeed. The management team other in pharmaceuticals manufacture via environmenmust pick its best opportunities and put all of the energy tally-benign, low-cost, catalytic technologies. While he of the company behind them. Minimize distractions! was Chairman and CEO, the latter – Catalytica Pharmaceuticals, Inc. – grew in less than 5 years, to a $1 billion Having an early commercial success brings incredienterprise with 2,000 employees. He is co-author of ble benefits to a new company. Using the baseball ana“Freedom from Mid-East Oil,” recently released by World logy, it is best to hit a few “singles” instead of trying for all Business Academy Press (www.WorldBusiness.Org) and “home runs”. Early successful commercialization provides can be reached at Jim@ChateauMcely.Com. management with greater credibility, and the company

Figure 2: Catalytica’s James A. Cusumano and Ricardo B. Levy announce their NONOX® system for elimination of pollution from gas-fired turbines for generating electric power

using safe raw materials, and often we were contracted to produce their drugs for them.

To launch CESI and CPI, we raised more than $80 million in venture capital, and went through an IPO and two subsequent public financings, raising more than $200 million. CPI was a huge success, and became one of Silicon Valley’s fastest growing companies. In less than five years, we built CPI from four people and no sales to more than 2,000 people and nearly $500 million in revenues. We acquired three state-of-the-art pharmaceutical plants in North America, and raised Catalytica’s market value to $1 billion. CPI manufactured more than 50 major drugs for the international pharmaceutical community (Figure 3). For example, for GlaxoSmithKline we produced the world’s supply of AZT (Zidovudine) for treating AIDS, Wellbutrin for depression, Lanoxin for heart disease, Zyban for smoking cessation and numerous other drugs for this industry.

In 2002, one of our competitors, DSM Pharmaceuticals from Holland “made us an offer we couldn’t refuse.” We sold Catalytica Pharmaceuticals, Inc. for $840 million and made our shareholders very happy.

Catalytica Energy Systems, Inc. remained a public company on the NASDAQ Exchange (CESI) until 2007, when it merged with Renergy, as a privately-held, sustainable-alternate-energy firm, producing clean electrical power from waste-wood biomass at its 24 megawatt plant in Snowflake, Arizona.

Our Way In building these companies, sure, we made mistakes, but fortunately none was critical. Most importantly, we learned how to create a successful enterprise.

Looking back, it is easy to summarize the prescription, but it certainly was challenging to implement. I believe that these criteria are culturally independent. It makes no difference whether you apply them to building a business in the U.S., the Czech Republic or China. In my view, the key requirements for a successful company are: 1. Have an inspirational – not necessarily charismaticleader at the helm.

2. Hire the right people for the right positions at the right time – and graciously exit your mistakes – we all make them – as soon as possible.

3. Focus, focus, focus!

4. Target an early commercial success – it need not be large.

5. Address a growing market – better yet create one!

6. Provide strong support to key constituencies –

Leaders Magazine V/ V/2010

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Summer in Moravian-Silesian Region Photo: Archive

Allth thou ough gh thi hiss yeear’ss sum umme mme mer seeasson has sur u pr pris i ed us is withh man w a y un u ex e pe pect cted ct ed ext xtre r mee weath re thherr con o ditititon ons, s with wi th a hea eatt waave sud udde deenl nlyy gi givi ving vi ngg way too he heav avyy ra av rain inn and n unnse seas asonnablyy low ow w tem empe pera pe ratu ra atu ture res, re s thi s, h s exx trtrem emee we em w at a he herr hasn ha sn’t preve sn vent nted e us frfrom ed om m hol oldi d ngg the eveentt s th di that a we ha at h d plan pl aannneed for thhiss sum umme merr an me andd we w ’v ’ve al a soo bee eenn ab able le to go thhroouggh wi with thh our u vac a attiioon pl plan a s. an Too nam me a fe few, w, let me st s ar artt by b men entitit on onin ingg thhe Go in Gold ldden S ikke at Sp athl hlet hl e ic et i com ompe petitititioon, whhic ich, h as us h, usua ual,l, att ua t ra ract cted ct ed topp atthl to hlet ettes from al etes alll ar a ou ound nd the wor orld ldd. Ev ld.

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t e pe th p rf r ecct ve venu nuee fo forr thhiss t yppe of eveent and n thee fes estitiivaal w s a pe wa p rf rfec eecct waay too com o peens nsat atee fo for thhe fa fact c thhaat mo m st theatres th ess aree clo lose seed fo f r a su s mm mer e breeak a . Even Even thoug Ev houggh ho ther th e e we were ree som omee pr proble obleems ob m cau ause seed by rai ainy ny weath eath ea ther e, foorcin forc rccinng thhe or o ga gani n zeerss to iinnte ni t rrrrup u t peerf up rfoormancces due ue t o h av he avyy do down w po wn p ur u s, s, the h atm mossphher eree of sum ummeer ni nigh g tss at gh thhe caastle the sttlee was a stitillll woonnde derf r ul and mem rf emor orrab orab able l . le Whhen e itt al a mo m st seeme eeeme medd as tho houg uggh we w ’dd had ad a sum u merr suurffeiit of cul me ultu t ree and spo tu port rts, rt s, Aug ugus u t wa us wass he here ree and it was a tim imee foor th this iiss yea e r’ss go ea g lf tourn ouurn rnam a en e t inn Čel elad adná ad náá.

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a neew to tour u isst at attrtrtrac a titon for vacationers and families visi vi sitititing si ngg Sle lezs zská zs ká Har arta taa, th thee re regi gion gi o ’ss large on g stt man a -made laake k (CZ CZK ZK 1, 1 00 0 0, 0,00 000) 0).. Ot 0) Othe heer pr her proj o eccts, oj tss, wh whic icch ar aree lo loca cate teed ted inn the h Sleezská zsská k Harr taa mic icro ro-r ro -reg -r egio eg ionn an io a d ha h ve ve reccei e vedd fuund ndin inng th t iss yea ear,r,r inc nclu lude lu de an innteegr grat a edd proomo at motittiional onnal al syysttem m (CZZK 6111, 1,00 0000) andd the h dep eplo plo loym ymen ym ennt of a new e syst sy stem st eem m of to tour u is ur istt innffoorm rmat mattioon an a d di dire rect cttiona ioona n l si s gn gnag agee ag inn thi h s arrea e (CZ CZKK 88889,,00 000) 0.

0) Anot An othe h r pa he part rrtt of ou o r re regi g on o tha h t reece ceiv ived edd f in inan anci ciial suuppporr t thhiss yea earr waas thhe Os O ob obla laažs ž koo mic icro ro-r ro - eg e io ion, on, n thee home ho m of tthhe ol me o ddeestt naarrroow ga gaug u e ra ug r il lin inee in Cenntrt all Euroopee. This Eu Thhis is yeaar a toota tal of o f ivve mi m llio i n cr crow owns ow ns wass pro ns rooviide dedd to sup uppo p rt po r local cul u tuura rall ev e en e ts and to fu fund und muchh need ne eded ed inf nfraast stru r ct ru c ure improvem men ents ts in th t is att ttra raactive paart off Mo Mora ravi viiaa Si S lesia.

Ouur prrim imar aryy goal has a bee e n to t attract ct futturee vi visi s toorss too si our region on by effecttiv ivel ely di dist s ribuutitng inf nfor orma maation onn aboout loca cal tourist at a tractions annd acttiviitites tha hatt vi visi siito tors r migghtt rs find nd intere resting. This is alsoo why we havee su subm bmititte bmit bm t te tedd a ot an o her pr project fo forr fu funddingg un undeer th thee NU NUTTS TS II MoraviaS leesiaa Re Si Regi gion onal on al Opeera al ratittiion onal nal al Program. The name of the p ojec pr ectt iss “Mo Moravia-Silesia – A Region Full of Adventure” and it has already been approved for funding. The project, with a total budget of CZK 40 million, will runn frfom 2010 through 201 0 2 and its objective is to furt rther prroo mote mo te our ur reggio ionn as an at attrtrtrac actititive ac ve tou ouriririst st des estititina natitition na on for dome do meest mest stic icc vis isititor itor o s an andd toourris ists tss fro r m neeighb igghb hbou ouririrng cou ou ounntrtrie iees. s We al also so wan a t ou our re regi gionn’ss res essid i ents ents to be be proud to do theeir own part in promoting Morravia ia-S -Sililes eessia as an attrtrac at acctive desstinatiton when they travell aroundd our own coun co untrt y an and when travelling internattioonally; because, w kno we now ow th that hearingg directlyy from thhe sourcee is often thee be best st end ndor orseement forr coming too vissitt a new e plaace. ew Byy Ja J rosl s av Pal sl a as President of thee Morav a ian-Si Silesian Si an Reggio an ion Golf Course, Čeladná, Beskydy Photos: Štefan Špic

Léto v Moravskoslezském kraji Léto v Moravskoslezském kraji bylo letos plné extrémů. Velká vedra střídaly dny plné deště a chladného počasí. Určitě to mělo vliv na naše zdraví, ale na počet akcí a možnost absolvovat akk titvní do d voleeno nouu v našem kraji to vliv nemělo.

Začčn Za čnu at atle letitick leti le ckým ck ýým m záv á odem Zlatá tretra, který hoost s ill spo port rtov o níí šppiičky ov čk y z celého světa. I když čk v de deštiv ivém é poč ém o así ne nepaadl svě věto ěto tový rek e ordd v běhu, u ililii jjssme si te už t nt n o sppor orto tovnní sv svát áttek dos osyt yttos o tii. Da D lší význ vý znam zn amno am nouu akkcí no c , kt kter eráá má jižž dlo er louh u ol uh olet eettouu tra radi dici je di fest fe stiv st ivaal iv al Col o or orss off Ost s rava va,, kt k err ý př p ekon ekkon o al vše šech chny ch ny reko re k rddy v ná ko návš vště vš těvn tě vnnos ostitii. Bareevnná Os Ostr trav tr avaa se av s opprrav a dduu vyda vy daařiřila la a possunul unnul u a po p řá řáda dajíjící cím cí m la laťk ťkku za zase see o něc ě o v še vý še.. Uv U id i ím íme,, co př přin innes e e př příš íštítíí, jijižž de desá sátý sá t roč tý oční níí k feest s iv ival alu. u.

S ak Sh akes esspe p ar a ov ovsk ské sllav avnnost ostti na n ost stra ravs avvsské kém m hrad hrrad adu, j zas je a e trrad adič ičční svá váte tekk pr proo mi milo l vn lo vník í k y di ík íky diva vaadl d a. a K rásnáá kulilisa ku lilissaa nov ověě zrek e onst struov ovvanného ého hhrrad éh a u je j ide deál eál á ní ní proo tent pr tent te ntoo žáánr n . Vypl p ňu ňuje t akk mez ezer eru, u k te terá rá v zn znik i á o pr práz ázdn áz dnin dn inác in ách, ác h, kdy jso s u di diva vadl va d a uzzav avře řena na. At Atmo mosf sffér éa veče ve čern če rnníh íhoo hr hrad aduu jee nád ad ádhe hern he rnná, i kdy dy ž se něk ěkol olikkrá rát muse mu selo se lo pře ředs dsta ds tave ta vení ve ní,, dí ní díky ky v yd y attné nému mu deššti, titi, př přeerruš u itt.

A too už jsm sme se kul ultu turn tu rněě ob rn oboh ohat oh atilililii a pr at pros o poort os rtov oval ov alii al a doo sr až s pnna, kdy dy náss ček e al dal alší ší roč oční níkk me ní mezi ziná zi náro ná rodro dního ní h gollfoovéhoo tur u naje jee v Čel elad adnéé. Me ad M zi ziná n ro ná rodn d í úč dn účas astt as p ililák př ákáá do naš ák ašeh eho kraj eho eh krraj a e vž vždy dyy spooustu ustuu zah us ahra rani ra ničn ni čníc čn íchh íc milo ilo lovn vnníků í ků gol ík goolflfu, lfu, k te teříří zjist jistí,í, že v na naše šem m kr kra rajiji je několilik lik velice kvaalilitn tníích ích go golfových hř hř išť, která stojí tojíí za návštěvu i mim mo ten mo ento to turnaj.

Dovolil jsem sii jmenov ovv jen ty nejvýznam ovat mnější ší akce, které mají světový výý věhlas. V našem kraaji jee však mnohem vícee možžnost s í, jak si zpříjemnit dov ovooleeno n u ne nebo b jenn vík bo íken e d. Bes en esky k ydy kydy ky d a Jes esen eník íkyy na ík nabí bíze bí zejíjíjí ze velk lkké mn množ ožst ství st v r ůz ví ůznéého v yž yžititití, tí,í od ad adre rena re nalililino na nový no vých vý chh s ortů sp tů po rroodinn nnou tur nn uristititiku ku, vč ku včet e ně dop et opro rovo ro voodn dnýc nýc ýchh slluž u eb. Ne N sm mím í tak aké zaapo ak pomeeno noutt na naaše š kra rajs jské js ké Golf Course, Ostravice

město Ostrava, které bojuje v současné době o titul „Evropské město kultury 2015”. Během celého roku se pořádá v samotném městě a jeho okolí nespočet výstav a kulturních akcí.

Moravskoslezský kraj se, dle svých možností, snaží nemalou finanční podporou rozproudit aktivity v různých lokalitách. Jedna z finančních podpor putovala jako miliónový příspěvek na zhotovení přístaviště pro loď, která bude vozit návštěvníky po naaší š , v Mo M ra ravs v koslezském kraji, největší vodní nádrži Slez Sl e sk ez skáá Ha Hart rta. rt a Loď bud a. u e novou turistickou atrakcí proo ce pr celé léé rod odin i y. in y Dal a šíími f in i an a čnním í i pr pros o tř os třed e ky, které p to pu tova valy lyy v let etoš o níím ro oš roce cee do Mi Mikr krror kror oreg egio eg ionu io nu Slezská Hart Ha rtaa js jsou o nap ou a říř klad klad kl ad 611 11.0 .0000 Kč na poddpo poru ruu pro ro-jeekt ktuu Jeednnot o ná n proopa p ga g ce ce Mik ikro roore regi gion gion onuu Sl Slez ezz sk sk á ská Haartt a, a, 889 89.0 .0000 .000 00Kč K na poodp dpoor oru prrojjekk tu Oririen enta en taačnně navi na viga vi g čn ga č í syst syyssttém m v tom omto too reg egio ionu io nuu. nu.

Miimoo jinné, M é směř měěřova řovala laa f in inan annčn č í poodppor o a taakéé do obblaast s i Os Osob obla ob laažs ž ska k , kdde je ka j zd zdíí hi hist stor st o ický or iccký k vla lakk na nneejsta jssta tarš r í úzko rš úzzko koko kooleejné žeele l zn znič ičční ní tra ratittii ve ssttře tře ředn ddnní Evro Ev ropě pěě t vz v . „O Oso sobl blaž bl ažka ka“. Let etos o to by os bylo lo cel elke kem ke m 5 mi mlilión ónůů koru ón kooruun nnaa pod odpo dpo poru ru kul ultu turn tu r íc rn íchh aakkcí cí,, bu budo dová do v ní vá a ro r zv zvoj oj dop opro provo roovodn vodn vo d é innfr fras a tr as t uk uktu tury tu ryy, kt kter e á to er tomu muuto reegi gion onuu to on t lilikk chyb chhybbí.í Naši Na š m úk ši úkolem m je – a to pře řede devš de v ím vš m – přiř lá láka áka katt po po-tenc te n iá nc iáln lníí ná ln návš v těěvnník vš íkyy do naš ašeh ehho kr k aj ajee tít m, že je bude bu deme me inffor o mo m va v t o aattra r kt k tiv ktiv ivititt ác áchh a akk titivi v táách vi v našem kr kraj aji,, a pr p ot otoo jsm me pře ř dl d oožžilii do Reggio ioná nááln lníh íhho ího operačníí ho pro rogr grram mu NU N TS III Mo Mora raavs ravs vsko sko k sl s ez ezsk skoo sk další proj ojek oj ektt „M Mor oravvsk skos oossle l zskýý kra rajj – krraj a plnný zážitků“, kktterr ý byyl po p dp dpoř ořeen oř en. Do Doba ba rea ealiliza zace za cee tohot ohhot oo projjektu,, o ob obje jeemuu 40 mi mil.l. Kč, č je st stan anov an oven enaa na en n létt a 201100–201 2010 20 –2201 012. Cílí eem m proojekt jeekt k u je mas asiv ivně iv něějij pod odpo dpo pořiřiř t „ddom „dom omác ácí“ ác í“ a příř hr hran aanničční ceesstoovn vníí ru ruch ch v naš ašem em kra rajijiji..

Chce Ch ceeme probu roobudi ditt zá z je jem m ččeesk skýc ýchh tu ýc turiririst stůů a so st souč učas uč asně as ně turirir st tu stůů z př příh íhra íh raani rani ničn č íc čn íchh ze zemí m o nášš kra raj.j. Věř ěřím íme, ím e, Theatre of Marionettes

Golden Spike

žee i sam amot ottní n obč bčan anéé naaše an š hoo kraaje bud udou o mítt chuuť ou p oppag pr agov ovatt náš reg egio i n na svý io v ch ces está táách v tuzzem em-sskku i za zahr hran anič iččí. Naš a im m zám á ěěrrem em je coo nej ejví jví v ce c z viidite di t lnit te lnnit přeedn dnos ostiti našeh aššehoo kr kraj ajje. aje. e Pře řessto vš všecchn h o si všaak uv uvěd ědom ěd om mujjem me, e že ne nejljjllepší epší ep š rek e laamaa jso souu o ča ob čané n , kt né kteř eříí ma eř majíjíí svů vůjj kr k aj a rád áddi a na svý v ch cestá esstáách c o ně něm m hovo hovo ho voříříří..

Jaaro r sllav a Pallas hejt he jjttma m n Mo Mora raavsko vssko kosl slez sl ezsk skéh ého kr éh kraj aje aj je

Gene Ge nera ne rall Pa ra Part rtne rt nerr ne of Mor orav avia av iania n-Si nSile Si lesi le sian si ann Reg egio ion: io n:

moravian-silesian region

From left: Dalibor Madej, Deputy Chief Magistrate, Daneš Zátorský, CEO Geofin, a.s. and Pavol Lukša, Member of Parliament of the Czech Republic, Mayor of Čeladná

IN COOPERATION WITH LEADERS MAGAZINE

A Golf Festival in Čeladná

ČELADNÁ More than 30 thousand satisfied spectators observed the skills of professional golfers from the 19th to the 22nd of August 2010 in Čeladná at the foot of the Beskydy Mountains during the Czech Open 2010 tournament, which is part of the European PGA Tour. Stars such as Miguel Jimenéz, Thomas Levet or Peter Hanson were among 144 players who competed for a total grant of two million dollars. In the end, it was Hanson who claimed victory in the Prosper Golf Resort Čeladná. Together with a cheque for 333 thousand euros, the likeable Swede has also received the final nomination to the Europe team for the prestigious Ryder Cup. This year’s tournament was again accompanied by ideal golf weather and so for one week Čeladná became a meeting point for all the lovers of this sport. Individuals from the social and cultural scene, as well as politicians, important businessmen and top sportsmen were present. For example, the president of the Karlovy Vary Film Festival, Jiří Bartoška, and musician Ondřej Hejma both took part in the PRO-AM tournament. The prize was awarded by the Minister of Environment Pavel Drobil, who often discussed the tournament and other topics with his government colleague Alexandr Vondra, European Congressman Evžen Tošenovský, the Mayor of Čeladná, Pavel Lukša, and other distinguished guests who visited the Geofin stand in the silver VIP village.

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From left: Daneš Zátorský, CEO Geofin, a.s., Petr Niec, Sommelier, Jan Březina, Vice Chairman of the Board, Managing Director, Geofin corp., Evžen Tošenovský, Member of European Parliament with spouse and Pavel Drobil, Minister of Environment of the Czech Republic

Alexandr Vondra, Minister of Defence of the Czech Republic with stewardesses

From left: Mrs. Silvie Holková, Iva Drobilová and Šárka Froňková, Euro Public CZ

From left: Jan Březina, Vice Chairman of the Board, Managing Director, Geofin corp. with Felix Slováček, Artist, famous Saxophonist

Daneš Zátorský, CEO Geofin, a.s. with spouse, Mrs. Silvie Holková

Winner of the tournament Peter Hanson and Pavel Drobil, Minister of Environment of the Czech Republic

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

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An interview with Ing. Alena Vitásková, President of Klub plynárenských podnikatelů ČR, s.r.o. and Ing. Evžen Tošenovský, Euro Deputy and Vice-Chairman of the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy of the European Parliament (ITRE)

INTERNATIONAL

Energy Club (IEC) Ostrava 2010 Photos: Archive Pho

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Leaders Magazine V/2010

From the 15–16 September, representatives of major companies in the fields of energy and engineering, state administration and other guests visited Ostrava. The objective of this gathering was to participate in the pilot year of the “International Energy Club Ostrava 2010.” The meeting of the representatives of more than 40 companies and institutions from 7 European countries was held at a place that is more than symbolic – the former Rothschilds’, now the Vítkovice Chateau, seat of the most significant Czech engineering company. Leaders Magazine requested the organisers of the meeting for an interview – the President of Klub plynárenských podnikatelů ČR, s.r.o. Ing. Alena Vitásková and Euro Deputy and ViceChairman of the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy of the European Parliament (ITRE) Ing. Evžen Tošenovský.

Mr. Tošenovský, what was the reason for organising this event?

After election to the post of Euro Deputy and ViceChairman of the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy of the European Parliament (ITRE), I am making an effort to create opportunities for expansion of co-ope p ration and acqquisition of new knowledge in the area of the energy and gas industry, on the part of entrepreneurial subjects. Open discussions may lead to clarification of, not only, many issues, which are solved everyday on the premises of the European Parliament, but also the problems that lie behind the borders of the countries of the EU. This is, for instance, long-term assurance of the security of supplies in terms of reliability of the producers, but mainly the transport routes, adequate capacity of the transit gas pipelines and other gas infrastructure.

For this reason, I supported the activities of the KPP ČR, which is active in the gas and power industry for more than 17 years. The discussions at the conference were very broad and practically covered all the areas of energy, including nuclear power.

What were the personal benefits of the meeting to you? Did it meet your expectations?

I see the benefit in that at the club meeting of experts – in the cross-section from all of the co-operating branches, everyone may discuss complicated topics much more efficiently than they would at big forums… Knowledge of the opinions from practice, from the managers, owners of companies, and last but not least, the representatives of the state administration is also very important for further work in the European structures.

Is the name IEC Ostrava 2010 a signal that 2011 will follow?

I do not consider this as a signal, but a fact. In other words this year words, year’ss project is the start. start Nevertheless, Nevertheless I am very glad that the organizers chose just Ostrava as the venue for the organisation of this energy forum.

Certainly, not only, because it is my long-term place of work, which I am supporting intensively, but mainly because it is a significant industrial centre. Ostrava is a place with the highest concentration of energy consumption and production in the Czech Republic.

The professional debate on energy and industrial topics is thus at least symbolically taking place in the centre of the events. Already at this moment, I know that practically after the close of this year’s event, the preparations for the official 1st year of the International Energy Club in 2011 started, comprehensively in Ostrava again.

So, is the IEC becoming an integral part of the gas and energy industry?

Since there is an effort to create this platform for long-term co-operation (with parts of the European Parliament and co-operating subjects), we consider the IEC as an excellent component of the discussion of energy issues, with a possibility to apply the results of the meetings to further progress, not only at the leve le vell of the Eur urop opea eann st stru ruct ctur ures es.

Mrs Vitásková, as President of KPP ČR, you prepared the event. Is it strictly your Club’s event?

No. The event was organised with the substantial support and co-operation of Euro Deputy Evžen Tošenovský – Vice-Chairman of the Committee on

Industry, Research and Energy of the European Parliament (ITRE). We won the support of personalities from the gas industry, engineering industry, measuring and regulation techniques, IT technologies, and practically from all relevant and co-operating branches.

Can you specify this support to us?

The event was supported by partners. The major partners are RWE Transgas, Mr. Martin Herrmann, Vítkovice a.s. Mr. Jan Světlík. The conference partners are CzechInvest, Elgas, Lama Investments, ASPP, NWR, OHLOH L Že Žele lezn znič iční ní sta tavi vite tels lstv tví,í, T DS DE, Sta tand ndha hal,l, Vem emex ex..

What is your appraisal of this year’s event?

Since it was the first year and since my personal modesty does not permit me to make any other evaluation – in my opinion it was simply successful.

Concrete conclusions are now being prepared and

they will form the base for further activities, not only, of the IEC, but also the KPP and I assume that this will apply to all participating companies and organisations.

Does this not entail the emergence of a somewhat small energy Davos for us?

I was asked the same question already earlier, and it really took me my surprise, but I must repeat that I really like the idea. I will now reply to the question as to why it is somewhat small. Ostrava is really a large energy node of the Czech Republic with the largest cons co nsum umpt ptio ionn of gas and ene nerg rgy, y, but als lsoo wi with th ele lect ctriricc power production capacity.

Compiled by LM ■ český překlad naleznete v elektronické verzi magazínu na www.leadersmagazine.cz

Leaders Magazine V/ V/2010

105

Klub plynárenských podnikatelů ČR, s.r.o. in co-operation and with the support of the Vice-Chairman of the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy of the European Parliament

Event objective: To act as a platform for an informal business negotiation and exchange of opinions for representatives of energy, gas and related fields: Committee on Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE) of the European Parliament Representatives of the individual states‘ public administrations Representatives of energy and gas companies from within and outside of EU countries Companies working for the energy and gas industry Power engineering, electrical engineering, transit companies, science and research

Photo by: Jaroslav Kocián

HELD FROM 15–18 SEPTEMBER 2010

From left: Ing. Jan Světlík, Chairman of the Board, Vítkovice, a.s., Ing. Alena Vitásková, President, KPP ČR, s.r.o., Ing. Evžen Tošenovský, MEP, European Parliament, RNDr. PhD. Lukáš Ženatý, Deputy Mayor, City of Ostrava

INTERNATIONAL

Energy Club (IEC) Ostrava 2010

From left: Ing. Jan Světlík, Chairman of the Board, VÍTKOVICE, a.s., Ing. Alena Vitásková, President, KPP ČR, s.r.o., and Ing. Evžen Tošenovský, MEP, European Parliament

From left: Ing. Lenka Šmidáková, Director, ČEDOK Ostrava with her husband and Ing. Petr Krčil, Co-owner, ELGAS, s.r.o Martin Chalupský, Director of Communications, Energy Group RWE

106

In the middle: Ivana Krčilová, Co-owner, ELGAS, s.r.o.

In the middle: Petr Lamich, Chairman of the Board, LAMA INVESTMENTS a.s.

Ing. Alena Vitásková, President, KPP ČR, s.r.o. and Mgr. Pavel Drobil, Minister, Ministry of Environment of the CR

Ing. Blahoslav Němeček, DivisIon Director, ERÚ Darina Vozárová, Executive Head, STENDHAL, s.r.o. and Ing. Jiří Hejduk, Executive Head, IDS Scheer ČR, s.r.o

Benke Aikell, your Publisher and Mgr. Alexandra Rudyšarová, Statutory Deputy Director General, CZECHINVEST

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

From left: Ing. Břetislav Piprek, MBA, Executive Head, TELE DATA SYSTEM, spol. s r.o., Ivana Krčilová, Co-owner, ELGAS, s.r.o. and Ing. Rudolf Baďura, Director, M-PLAST, s.r.o.

From left: Ing. Tomáš Varcop, MBA, Member of the Board, RWE, Ing. Petr Crha, Deputy Chairman of the Board and CEO, ASPP, Dr. Filip Thon, Chairman of the Board, RWE Poland and prof. Dr. Arnošt Thon, Owner, A.T. Plyn

Press conference – from left: Ing. Blahoslav Němeček, Division Director, ERÚ, Mgr. Pavel Drobil, Minister, Ministry of Environment of the CR, Ing. Alena Vitásková, President, KPP ČR, s.r.o. and Ing. Evžen Tošenovský, MEP, European Parliament

Martin Herrmann, Chairman of the Board, RWE Transgas, a.s.

International Energy Club (IEC) Ostrava 2010

Roald F. Piskoppel, Main Representative, Gazprom Export in CR

From left: Igor Spartakovič Plaksin, Secretary, Embassy of the Russian Federation in the CR, Ing. Jan Světlík, Chairman of the Board, VÍTKOVICE, a.s., Ing. Evžen Tošenovský, MEP, European Parliament, Ing. Alena Vitásková, President, KPP ČR, s.r.o., Martin Herrmann, Chairman of the Board, RWE Transgas, a.s. and RNDR. Lukáš Ženatý, PhD., Deputy Mayor, City of Ostrava

From left: Mgr. Pavel Drobil, Minister, Ministry of Environment of the CR, Martin Herrmann, Chairman of the Board, RWE Transgas, a.s., Ing. Alena Vitásková, President, KPP ČR, s.r.o., Ing. Jan Světlík, Chairman of the Board, VÍTKOVICE, a.s., Ing. Blahoslav Němeček, DivisIon Director, ERÚ, RNDR. Lukáš Ženatý, PhD., Deputy Mayor, City of Ostrava and Prof. Dr. Ing. Miroslav Kyncl, Vice Chairman of the Board and CEO, SMVaK, a.s.

Ing. Jan Světlík, Chairman of the Board, VÍTKOVICE, a.s.

Mgr. Pavel Drobil, Minister, Ministry of Environment of the CR

RNDr. Lukáš Ženatý, PhD., Deputy Mayor, City of Ostrava

From left: Ing. Roman Budinský, Chairman of the Board, RWE Energie and Ing. Pavel Martínek, Sales Director, VEMEX, s.r.o.

Ing. Evžen Tošenovský, MEP, European Parliament

IEC OSTRAVA 2010 meeting, Art Nouveaur Hall, Vítkovice Chateau

From left: Roald F. Piskoppel, Main Representative, Gazprom Export in CR and Martin Chalupský, Director of Communications, Energy Group RWE

Press Conference – from left: Mgr. Pavel Drobil, Minister, Ministry of Environment of the CR, Ing. Alena Vitásková, President, KPP ČR, Ing. Evžen Tošenovský, MEP, European Parliament, Ing. Jan Světlík, Chairman of the Board, VÍTKOVICE, a.s., Roald. F. Piskoppel, Main Representative, Gazprom Export in CR and Martin Chalupský, Director of Communications, Energy Group RWE

Excursion in Vítkovice, a.s. – from left: Ing. Norbert Wagner, Executive Head, IDS GmbH, Ing. Břetislav Piprek, MBA, Director and Executive Head, TELE DATA SYSTEM, spol. s r.o., Ing. Jan Zaplatílek, Director of Department of Gas and Liquid Fuels, Ministry of Industry and Trade, Ing. Ladislav Hodinka, Branch Manager, RMG Regel + Messtechnik and Prof. Dr. Arnošt Thon, CSc., Owner, A.T.Plyn and Ing. Petr Suchoň, Product-Engineering, VÍTKOVICE CYLINDERS a.s.

In the middle: Petr Lamich, Chairman of the Board, LAMA INVESTMENTS a.s. with representatives of VEMEX, s.r.o.

Roald F. Piskoppel, Main Representative, Gazprom Export in CR and Darina Vozárová, Executive Head, STENDHAL, s.r.o.

Closing Party – Ing. Petr Crha, Deputy Chairman of the Board and CEO, ASPP and Ing. Alexandra Rudyšarová, Statutory Deputy Director General, Czechinvest

Closing Party – from left: Ing. Petr Krčil, Ivana Krčilová, Owners, ELGAS, s.r.o. and Ing. Alena Vitásková, President, KPP ČR

From left: Dirk Simons, Deputy Chairman of the Board, RWE Transgas, a.s., Ing. Tomáš Varcop, MBA, Member of the Board, RWE, Thomas Hejcman, CEO, RWE ZS and Igor Spartakovič Plaksin, Secretary, Embassy of the Russian Federation in the CR

GENERAL PARTNER: KLUB PLYNÁRENSKÝCH PODNIKATELŮ ČR, s.r.o., Czech Republic MAIN PARTNERS: RWE Transgas, a.s., Czech Republic VÍTKOVICE a.s.,Czech republic

PARTNERS: CZECHINVEST,Czech Republic EKR, European Parliament ASPP, Czech Republic ELGAS, s.r.o., Czech Republic LAMA INVESTMENTS, a.s., Czech Republic NWR, Netherlands

OHL ŽS, a.s, Czech Republic STENDHAL s.r.o., Slovakia TDS, Czech Republic IDS GmbH, Germany VEMEX, s.r.o., Czech Republic

The Influence of Women

Emil Jimenez started working in the communications industry in 1998 as a web designer in NYC. After graduating Rutgers University with a degree in Psychology he moved to Miami where he continued his education and received a Masters in Creative Communications from Florida International University and the renowned Miami Ad School. Mr. Jimenez has worked for United Bank of Switzerland, Citibank, MTV Latin America, Leo Burnett Budapest, Leo Burnett Prague, Lowe worldwide Prague and has recently opened Passion Communications. Passion Communications is a full service communications agency which specializes in bridging traditional media with the digital world. emil@passioncommunications.com For years women have been the brunt of jokes, disregarded, mistreated and disrespected. Men have controlled society for thousands of years because it required brute strength, risk taking and bravado. However, times have changed. In today’s society the pen is truly mightier than the sword. Autocracy has been replaced with democratic ideals that require higher interpersonal skills which women have been perfecting since the beginning of time. Women in the last century have gained numerous rights which were previously only held by men. The right to vote, work, divorce, control their own reproductive systems, and obtain a college degree, were just some of the rights gained relatively recently. The rights gained by women in the last hundred years have culminated to this very point in history. Today women are the most influential and powerful gender in society and marketers are beginning to listen and cater to their needs.

The recession of 2007–2008 is widely being referred to as a “Mancession”. The majority of jobs lost during this time were in manufacturing, construction and financial services which tend to be male dominant industries. U.S. labor records show that two thirds of the 11 million jobs lost since the recession began were previously held by men. Due to this massive job loss, women for the first time in American history became the majority in the work force. This is proof of the vast cultural shift which is occurring where intelligence is stronger than physical endurance and woman are the thoroughbreds of today. They have the education, training and comm co mmun unic icat atio ions ns ski killllss to thr hriv ivee in tod oday ay’ss wor orkk force. A workforce no longer dominated by men but by women of all ranks in society. According to a study conducted in 2006 by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development which measured the economic and political power of women in 162 countries, the greater the power of women, the greater the country’s economic success. It is no wonder that economists and media experts predict that the recovery will be spearheaded by women.

Women throughout the world are gaining precedence in the workforce. According the Newsweek writers Jessica Bennet and Jesse Ellison, “Educated BRIC women have already begun to gain workforce traction: they make up between 30 and 50 percent of BRIC workers as a whole and in three of the four BRIC nations, female labor force participation

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rose from 2007–2008.” Furthermore, according to the same article corporations with more women on the board do better financially. The female rise to prominence can be also seen in politics with the likes of Angela Merkel, Hilary Clinton, and Yordanka Fandakova, the first woman to be elected mayor of Sofia. If you even look through this very magazine I’m sure there will be a number of powerful women leading the Czech Republic and Central European businesses in various fields. However, what remains to be seen is how marketers will react in this new cultural shift.

Blue chip corporations are looking at innovation and design to seduce women into buying their products. Taking a lesson from fashion brands, companies like HP are designing products which are sleeker in design, charging a premium and increasing their margins. Other brands like Apple realize that people want to buy things that are well designed because our gadgets have also become our accessories. According to Martha Barletta, author of Marketing to Women, “Women influence 95 % of all purchases and control 80 % of all household spending. We’ve gone beyond responsibility for choosing food, clothing, and household goods. Now we not only influence men’s choices in everything from computers to motorcycles, to boats, to new cars, we’re buying a lot of them on our own.” Women controlling the decision making process is nothing new but what is new is the fact that they can buy everything on their own. The financial sector is catching on to this as Citibank recently launched it’s Women & Co division after realizing that th at 70 % of fem emal alee cl clie ient ntss sw swititch ched ed ban anks ks aft fter er their husbands died. These baby boomer women were from a time when men controlled the money and women controlled the home. However, now that these men are dying and these women are faced with modern independence, companies are adapting to help with this transition.

There are some companies which are adapting their marketing and communication efforts to address the modern female but the sad reality is that in the Central European region the vast majority are stuck with old paradigms. One look at any soup or soap commercial is proof enough. Their idea of a unique selling proposition to the modern woman is something that, “gives you more time to spend with your family.” The reality is that women are marrying later, making more money, becoming your boss and you should speak to them with more

Photo: Brian Fleming

respect and admiration. Celebrate the social undercurrent and create a marketing campaign that empowers the female population. Something that not only sells products but also builds relationships with the brand. The person most adept at speaking abou ab outt fe fema male le rel elat atio ions nshi hips ps wou ould ld be Ca Carriee froom Sex in the City. She says, “There are those relationships that open you up to something new and exotic, those that are old and familiar, those that bring up lots of questions, those that bring you somewhere unexpected, those that bring you far from where you started, and those that bring you back.

But the most exciting, challenging and significant relationship of all is the one you have with yourself.

And if you can find someone to love the you you love, well, that’s just fabulous.” In essence that is the promise of many brands. To connect with you in a way that makes you feel happier about yourself. You should feel sexier with those new shoes, more determined with that new laptop, and feel fabulous with the knowledge that you can still be a wife, mother and family anchor during these tough economic times.

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BRNO LIVES THE SUMMER TO THE FULL AND HAS A LOT TO OFFER TO TOURISTS There are manny opportunities how to spend your summer holiday. The City of Brno has the advantage that it offers many culturaal and historical sites and is suurrounded by nature, where youu can go for a walk, for leisure and knowledge as well as sports activities.

Photo: Archive

THE BRNO RESERVOIR INVITED PEOPLE TO SWIM AGAIN The unique scenery for recreation is offered att the Brno Dam. After a forced year break caused byy the water level decreased by ten meters, the boatt fleet sailed once again in early May, expanded byy the new boat named after our partner city – Leipzig.

The fight againstt cyanobacteria brought anticipatedd improvements. T his year, for the first time in the lastt twenty-five years, the water remained clean andd suitable for swim mming throughout the main season.

However, the citt y does not rely only on its natural

reservoirs and the former deficit of swimming facilities, felt by both recreational and racing lovers of swimming, is being gradually removed, so in April we were able to add a brand new location to the swimming map of Brno – the Kohoutovice Aquapark. Thanks to its facilities – a twenty-five-meter swimming pool, children’s pool, whirlpool, water slide or a spectrum of services, the Aquapark does not have any similar competitor in Brno and, regardless of weather, it was visited by thousands of people during the summer.

A NEW SERVICE FOR TOURISTS – LOW MINIBUSES The tour of historic halls and the Old Town Hall tower was extended and enriched by a visit to the renovated Mint Cellars in Dominikánské náměstí at the weekends. It will be fully opened next spring, along with an underground maze beneath the nearby Zelní trh. Those who want to get to know the city’s history as much as possible in a short time could make use of the Tourist Information Centre’s offer of two circular routes with a low-floor minibus during the holidays every Friday to Sunday. The shorter route focuses on the sights in the city centre and its vicinity, the longer one brings tourists to the lake and enables them to take a boat tour to Veveří castle.

Once again, evening performances under the summer sky have been held with great success of audience. The second half of July and early August belonged to Brno Shakespeare Days, which were then replaced by a large courtyard night of flaMoto GP once again attracted tens of thousands of passionate fans

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menco and the 11th International Music Festival, Špilberk 2010. Brno Cultural Suummer was completed in late August by the trraditional international folklore festival.

AUGUST IN TOKEN OF THE BRNO DAY AND THE GRAND PRIX In mid-August, Brno commem morated the 365th anniversary of a successful defence of the city against the Swedish troops. Arm my troops marched through the historical centre, a craft fair offered many fine handicrafts and the Day of Brno was completed by an interesting spectt acle – a dramatic battle scene at the Vegetable Maarket presented by 150 performers in period uniform ms and costumes.

The city also thinks of sports faans in the summer.

Although most clubs live by the preparation for the new season in this period, motorr sport has literally the time of harvest. Firstly, Brno racing welcomed the World Superbike riders, after that the FIA WTCC World Touring Car race and the culmination of fast machine races came in mid-Auggust in the form of the traditional Czech Republic Mottorcycle Grand Prix, attended by a quarter of a millionn fans. The overall impression of the experiences was heightened by the fact that Brno is commemoratting the 80th anniversary of the Masaryk Circuit, which has gained a foothold in the world of mootorsport calendar during its existence.

By Roman Onderka Mayor of the City of Brno The city of Brno commemorated successful defense against the Swedish troops

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BRNO PROŽÍVÁ LÉTO NAPLNO A MÁ TURISTŮM CO NABÍDNOUT Je mnoho příležitostí jak strávit letní dny dovolených a prázdnin. Brno má tu výhodu, že nabízí mnoho kuulturních a historických pam mětihodností a je také obklopeno přírodou, kaam je možné se vydat na procházku, za odpočinkem, za poznáním i za spoortovními aktivitami.

PŘEHRADA OPĚT ZVALA KE KOUPÁNÍ Jedinečnou přírodní scenérii k rrekreaci nabízí Brněnská přehrada. Po roční vynucené přestávce, způsobené upuštěním hladiny o deset metrů, začátkem května opět vyplula lodníí flotila, kterou rozšířila nová loď pojmenovaná po nnašem partnerském městě – Lipsko. Boj proti ssinicím přinesl očekávané zlepšení. Letos poprvéé za poslední čtvrtstoletí tak zůstala voda čistá a vhodná ke koupání po celou hlavní sezonu. Přeesto město nespoléhá jen na přírodní nádrže a letitý deficit koupališť, který pociťují všichni milovvníci plavání, ať již rekreačního, nebo závodního, postupně odstraňuje. A tak jsme již v dubnu mohli zakreeslit do plavecké mapy Brna zbrusu nový stánek – Aqquapark Kohoutovice. Svým vybavením – pětadvaaceti-metrovým a dětským bazénem, vířivkou, toboggánem, šíří poskytovaných služeb – nemá v Brně zaatím konkurenci a jeho nabídku využily i v průběhu létta a za každého počasí tisíce lidí.

NOVÁ SLUŽBA PRO TURISTY – NÍZKOPODLAŽNÍ MINIBUSY Prohlídku historických sálů a věžee Staré radnice jsme o víkendech rozšířili a obohatili o návštěvu zrekonstruovaného Mincmistrovského sklepa na Dominikánském náměstí. Ten budee naplno zpřístupněn na jaře příštího roku spoluu s podzemním labyrintem pod nedalekým Zelným m trhem. Těm, kteří chtějí z historie města během m krátké doby

poznat co nejvíce, nabídlo Turistické informační centrum v průběhu prázdnin vždy od pátku do neděle dvě okružní trasy nízkopodlažními minibusy.

Ta kratší je zaměřena na pamětihodnosti v samotném centru města a jeho nejbližším okolí, ta delší pak turisty zavede až na Brněnskou přehradu a umožní jim výlet lodí na hrad Veveří.

Velký úspěch u diváků opět měla večerní představení pod letní oblohou. I tentokrát patřila druhá polovina července a začátek srpna Brněnským shakespearovským dnům, které poté na velkém nádvoří vystřídala Noc flamenca a 11. mezinárodní hudební festival Špilberk 2010. Brněnské kulturní léto završil na konci srpna již tradiční mezinárodní folklorní festival.

SRPEN VE ZNAMENÍ DNE BRNA A VELKÉ CENY V polovině srpna si Brno připomnělo 365. výročí úspěšné obrany města proti švédským vojskům.

Historickým centrem pochodovaly šiky vojsk, řemeslný jarmark nabídl mnoho pěkných rukodělných výrobků a Den Brna završila atraktivní podívaná – dramatická bojová scéna na Zelném trhu v podání stopadesáti účinkujících v dobových uniformách a kostýmech.

Město v létě pamatuje i na sportovní fanoušky.

I když většina klubů žije v tomto období přípravami na novou sezonu, motoristický sport má doslova žně. Brněnský automotodrom nejprve přivítal světové jezdce superbiků, po nich závod mistrovství světa

This year, people were attracted by clean water in the Brno Lake Photos: Archive MMB

cestovvních vozů WTCC a vyvrcholením m zápolení rychlýchh strojů byla v polovině srpna tradiční Velká cena České republiky silničních motoocyklů, kterou navštíívilo na čtvrt milionu fanoušků. Celkový dojem z prožžitků umocnila i skutečností, že si v Brně připomínnáme 80. výročí založení Masaryykova okruhu, který si za dobu své existence vydobyyl pevné místo ve svěětovém kalendáři motoristického sportu.

Romaan Onderka primátor statutárního města Brna

Wreath laying at the memorial plaque of Raduit de Souches during the Day of Brno celebration

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INTERNATIONAL

Engineering Fair (MSV) 2010 Is a Promise for the Future Petr Nečas, Prime Minister of the Government of the Czech Republic said about the fairs: I consider MSV in Brno an enormous successful event for the development of business and industrial relations which our country undoubtedly needs. It is therefore good that this year more exhibitors came and that the Exhibition Centre was fully crowded. It is very positive that the fair has attracted as many foreign firms. The number of exhibitors at this fair is a proof that the economic revival is really coming.

The International Engineering Fair was again the largest presentation of industrial technologies in the area of Central Europe. Its scope, high number of business discussions and also lots of concluded contracts, directly at the fair, confirmed the starting revival of economy. Exhibitors’ stands occupied all halls of the Brno Exhibition Centre and also a large part of open spaces. On the first four days more than 70 000 visitors came to the Exhibition Centre and the total number of visitors reached 75 000 persons.

The presentation of machine tools and forming machines at the biennial IMT Fair was of the largest scope and a high professional standard, being attended by 52 % of foreign exhibitors.

Within MSV also the Foundry Fair FOND-EX, the Welding Engineering Fair WELDING and the Surface Finish Fair PROFINTECH were staged.

Altogether 1606 exhibiting firms, among them 540 foreign (34 %), offered technologies, products and services for various industrial branches, altogether 26 countries were represented as direct exhibitors. Tens of firms, both home and foreign, were for the first time at the fair, some came back after a break caused by economic crisis.

The partner country of MSV 2010 was Austria as one of the key partners of the foreign trade of the Czech Republic. Altogether 42 Austrian firms attended the fair, 12 of them on an enormous group stand, lots of bilateral discussions, conferences and social events were held. Both parties appraised the partnership as very successful.

Among the exhibits a high proportion of innovations were found. The most interesting novelties competed for prestigious awards, granted by two independent Juries. The awards Gold

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Medal MSV 2010 were presented to four exhibitors – the Institute of Nuclear Research Řež for its threefold hybrid hydrogen bus TriHyBus, the Swiss company Afleth Engineering for its turning and milling machine Fehlmann Picomax 825 Versa, firm Hexagon Metrology for its mobile measuring instrument Romer Absolute Arm and VUT in Brno for its experimental airplane VUT 001 Marabu. The fifth award was granted to Prof. Jaromír Houša, Head of the Research Center for Engineering Production Technology and Technique at ČVUT in Prague for his lifelong technical creative work and innovations. The Union of Engineering Technology as the coorganizer of the International Fair of Machine Tools and Forming Machines IMT appraised the best exhibit of this year’s run by the Gold Medal IMT 2010. The successful exhibitor was the company Tajmac-ZPS for its vertical machining center MCV 1800Multi.

On the specialist accompanying program MSV the hottest problems of Czech economy were solved: the traditional Session of the Union of Industry and Transport CZ dealt with the savings of public finance and anticorruption policy, the conference, devoted to the program of a finish building of JE Temelin had a very quality participation. Also the Show of Business Opportunities RHK Brno Contact-Contract 2010 belonged to the most successful accompanying events, at which almost 800 bilateral business meetings took place within two days.

The jubilee 10th Fair INTERPROTEC and its accompanying program, aimed at increasing safety and improving ergonomics at workplaces, dealt with the problems of safety and protection of health at work. In addition to stands with interesting novelties (e.g. unique working gloves for technical operations) it also offered a free information center in safety and protection of health at work.

The International Fair of Investment Opportunities, Business and Development in Regions URBIS INVEST offered lots of opportunities for investors and businessmen, interested in the development of activities in the whole Czech Republic and also in other regions of Central and Eastern Europe, in particular in the sphere of real estates, industrial zones and brownfields.

The two-day specialist ICT & Business Meeting INVEX Forum was focused on the safety of data, information technology for engineering and IT support of industrial innovations. Among its guests was also the top personality of the world IT industry Eng Lim Goh, holder of two US patents in computer graphics.

The proportion of foreign visitors attained 10 %. They came from 53 countries, in particular from Slovakia, Poland, Germany, Hungary, Austria, Russia and Italy. Missions of Foreign Businessmen arrived again from both the neighbouring countries and from the regions of the Russian Federation, not even the countries such as Iraq, Egypt, Syria and others were missing. Compared with the past year, also the interest of journalists increased. At the Press Center altogether 417 media representatives from ten countries were registered in the course of four days, more than in the whole past run.

From the preliminary results of a survey it follows that 83 % of the visitors were satisfied with the standard of the fair and 87 % of them have been decided to attend the fair also next year.

The 53rd International Engineering Fair will be staged from October 3– 7, 2011 jointly with the International Fair Transport and Logistics.

Assembly of the Association of Industry and Transport of the ČR

From left: Alexandr Vondra, Minister of Defense of the ČR and Jindřich Ploch, President of AOBP ČR

Photos: Anna Pecková, Šárka Kulíšková and Michaela Kulíšková, Jiří Zach

MSV 2010

From left: H.E. Ferdinand Trauttmansdorff, Ambassador of Austria, Petr Nečas, Prime Minister of the ČR, and Jiří Kuliš, CEO of Veletrhy Brno a.s. during the MSV 2010 opening

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

Milan Hovorka, Vice-Minister of Industry and Trade and Přemysl Sobotka, Chairman of the Senate of the ČR

Martin Kocourek, Minister of Industry and Trade of the ČR and Michal Hašek, Governor of the South Moravian Region

From left: Jaroslav Míl, President of the Confederation of Industry of the ČR and Petr Nečas, Prime Minister of the ČR at the MSV 2010 opening ceremony

From left: Martin Kocourek, Minister of Industry and Trade of the ČR and Juraj Miškov, Minister of Economy and the Construction of the SR during the meeting of the Interdepartmental Consulting Commission for the ČR and SR

From left: H.E. Alexey L. Fedotov, departing Ambassador of the Russian Federation during the Russian Business Day and Přemysl Sobotka, Chairman of the Senate of the ČR

From left: H.E. Peter Brňo, Ambassador of the Slovak Republic and Eva Szabó, Managing Director of the Trade and Consumer Protection sections at the Ministry of Economy of SR during the meeting of the Interdepartmental Consulting Commission for the ČR and SR

From left: Petr Nečas, Prime Minister of the ČR and Jiří Ciencala, CEO Třinecké Železárny a.s.

From left: Jiří Kuliš, CEO of Veletrhy Brno a.s. and Martin Kocourek, Minister of Industry and Trade of the ČR at the MSV 2010 opening ceremony

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MSV 2010

From left: Jaroslav Míl, President of the Confederation of Industry of the ČR, Thomas Alijew, Director of Alfleth Engineering AG, Martin Kocourek, Minister of Industry and Trade of the ČR, Karel Rais, Principal of University of Technology in Brno, Marcus Beck, Head of Sales at Fehlmann AG Maschinenfabrik and Jiří Kuliš, CEO of Veletrhy Brno, a.s

From left: H.E. Ferdinand Trauttmansdorff, Ambassador of Austria, Richard Schenz, Vice-President of WKÖ, Walter Koren, Director of AWO and Nikolaus Seiwald, Commercial Counselor of the Austrian Embassy

From left: Petr Nečas, Prime Minister of the ČR and Augustine Kochuparampil, CEO of ArcelorMittal Ostrava a.s.

Zdeněk Liška, CEO of the Confederation of Industry of the ČR

Eduard Palíšek, CEO of Siemens Ltd. and Petr Nečas, Prime Minister of the ČR during the exhibition tour

From left: Pavel Drobil, Minister of Environment of the ČR, Jaromir Drábek, Minister of Labour and Social Affairs of the ČR and Martin Kocourek, Minister of Industry and Trade of the ČR

ART/ARCHITECTURE Michael Palladino, Design Partner of Richard Meier with Iva Drebitko, architect HOK, Inauguration of Getty Center, December 16, 1997

“Arc rchi rc h te hi t ct ctur urre is the h mot o he herr of thee art r s. s It coonn nnects ectss the pr p es esen entt wiith the pas astt annd th thee ta tang ngib ng ible witth tthhe in ible i taangib nggib ible le.” ..”” Ric i hard hardd Mei ha e err THE GETTY CENTER Whhen e vissititingg LLoos Annge g le les, s one s, n of thhe pl plac aces e yoouu es shou sh ould ld not mis isss is i thee Gett tyy Cen ente ter.r.

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comp comp m re r hens hens he nsiv ivve an andd em mbl b em emaaticc archi rcchi h te t ct c ur ural a wor o k of the h faamo mous us Ameerir ccaan ar arch chitititec ch ectt Ri ec R ch char ardd Me ar M ie ierr ar a e re reflflec ecc teed agai ag ains n t th ns t e bl blue u skyy bacckggroounnd. Miccha ue hael el Pal a laadiino n , thhe deesign siignn par ar tn tner er of Ri Rich chhar ard Me Meie ier,r, is punc ie puunctu tual al,, fu fullll-h -hea eart ea rted ed a d pr an p of ofes e si es s on onal al. We al.

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Y u ca Yo cann al also so seee eveery r cor orne nerr of Los Anggel eles es fro rom thhis plac pl ace. e. Due to ititss lo loca catitiionn on th t e to t p off the hilll annd a re rela laatition o in wh on w icch th thee si sing ngle lee bui uild ldin ings gs are lin inke kedd to toge geth ther er,, th thee b ilildi bu ding ngg evvooke k s thhe Ac Acro roopooliliss of Ath then ens. s. T he who hole le com om-pllex whi h te t nss con ontrtrt as astitit ngg to th thee titire rele less ssly ss ly blu luee Ca C liifo f rn rnia iann skyy an sk a d duue too its ts wor o th thyy aannd el e eg egan antt ap a pe pear aran ance cee, it elic el iccits it s thhe fe f ellinng of o tim imel mel eles essn es snnes ess. s.

T he comp mpleex iss vissib ible le from room a loong ng dis ista tanc nce. e How e. owev e er ev er,, thhan than anks ks to sseens nsibblee con o st s ru r cttivve ap appr prroa proa o ch c and a red educ ucced e heig he igghtt of th t e coomp m leex, x, it do d es not o hav avee au a th thor oritititat ativ ativ i e ef effe fect ct. ct ItIt see e ms m as if a perip iphe hera he rall coohe ra h si sion onn of thhe bu buililidi d ng ngss ccrrea e t s a prrot te otec ecc titive ve rin ingg of o urb rban an wal a ls tha hatt do does es not ot allllow o to ow seee wh se what at hap appe pens nss ins nsid ide. e But whe henn ennte teriring ng inssiddee,, thi hs mass ma ssiv ivel e y oc el occu currrrin ingg co cons nstrtruc uctition on layys oppenn andd rev evea eaalss alll itt s shhapes al apes. Beecaaus usee of the hei eigh ghtt liimi m t, mor orre th than an a hal alff ooff the are rea is loc o attedd bel elow ow the h lan a ds d caape lev evel e. el

Youu caan eaasi Yo s ly rea e chh the h roott of the he hilll ei e th t err byy buus or o a taa xi or yo y u ca c n bo b ok o a pla lace ce in th t e pa park rkin rk ing ng fo forr 5 do dollar lllar ars, s thee eenntrtran th anncee is foor frreee. Af A teer a fif ve ve-m -min inut uttes rid idee by fun unic icculaar tthhatt cop o ie iess a cl clim imb cu curv rvee in a cle lear ar,, we wellllll-c -ccons onsi on sideere r d annd el and eleg eggannt st egan styl ylle, e, you willl find fiindd you ours rssel elff in sun unny nyy andd brirgh ght ht m in ma in area. reea. a. A wid idee raamp com omes es up an es andd leeadds yoou to towa ward wa r s thee se th seco cond co n cou nd ourt rtt ya yard rdd in frfron o t of the musseu on e m. On th thee leeftt side si de, yo youu caan addmi mire ree the Nor o thher e n Bu B illdi d ng of th t e Innfo for-rmatiton Cenntre, trre, thee run unni ning ng of th thee Ge G tt ttyy Fo F unda datition onn, HHaaro rold ldd M Williiaam M. ms Au Audi d to toririum um and the h Get e ty Eduuca catition onn Ins n tititu ns tute tu te for th fo thee Ar A ts whi hile le on th the ririgh g t si gh s dee, yo y u wi w lll f innd a co comp mpple le x withh a res wi esta esta taur uran antt an an andd a caafete feete teririaa. a. T hee Get etty tyy Res e earc eaarc r h Innsttititut utee ffoor tthhe Hi ut H st stor oryy of o Art r and thee Hum man a ititie iess is situa ittuauaatedd st te s ra raig ight ig htt behhinnd. d. Alll the h forrma m llyy di difffff er eren entt bu builildi ding di nggs ar ngs aree as iff raanddom as omly ly depplooye y d al alll arroouund and the heyy wi willll imp mpre r sss re yoou inn perfe er feect c mut u uaal co c mb mbin inat atioon. at n Eac achh of the hem m ke keep epss ititss uniq un ique ue ide ue d nt ntitt y with thhou outt do d mi mina natition on tow owar ards ds the other thher e s. s.

When Wh en ent nter erin ingg thhe Mu M se seum um‘s cen entrtrtal a hal all,l, thr h ou ough ghh a gl glas asse sedd-inn wal all yoou cann se seee a pa patititioo su surr rrou rr ouund nded e by fif ve ed v pavi pa v lio vi liions. ons Lonng wa wate terr su surf rfac acee iss briigh ghte tene te nedd upp by a ch ne c ai ainn of fou ount n ai nt ains nss and n fro rom m on onee si s de alsso sh shad aded ad ed by a lo long ng liline ne of trree ne eess. s. T he he emb mble lema le m titicc el ma elem emen em entt of a r ic ichl h y gl hl glas a seedas inn rou o nd hal alll wi with th a spi pira rall ra ra ramp mp tha hatt Me Meie ieer ha hass ap a pl p ieed at the Atltlan antta an t a Mus useu eum eu m in hon onou o r of ou o Fraank n Loy oydd Wrig Wr ig ight ht cann also ca alsoo be fo al foun undd hheere un r – in th thee fo form rm of st stai airrc ai rcas asee. e.

TRIBUTE TO SPACE AND TRANSPARENCY Whhat wili l im mpr pres esss yo es youu im imme meediiat atel ely iss a uni el ely n qu quen enes e s of es thee pl th plac a e hung ac huungg abo bove ve thee sur urro roun unndi ding ngg wor orld ld,, wh ld whos osee ef os e fe fect ct is dou oubl b ed bl ed by thhe Me M ie ier’r’ss co conc ncceppt off spa pace whi hich chh would ouuld nott ha no have vee the sam amee im impr pres essi s ve effffec si e t in a chaaotic ec ot c lab abyr ab yrin innth inth

o gre of reey re eyyish eyis issh “d “dow ow wnt ntow own“ ow n of Lo n“ Los An Ange geele l s. Fro rom m th thee ce cent nnttra rall cour urty t arrd onne ccaan seet fo ty fort r th wh wher her erev e er he wa w nt ntss too, wh w ic ichh allo al loowss the h imm mmed eddia iate te sca catt att tter er of pe peop o le op le.. Th T han annkss to th t e harm ha r monny be b ttw weeen th t e innneer and annd ouute terr sppacce an and pe and p rf rfec e t ec trtran anssppar an a ency encyy of buuilild en ldi ding ding ngss, vis isit siittorr s al alwa ways y know ys now thhei no eirr lo lo-caatit on on andd hav avee ma mannyy opt ptio ions ns for o thee dirirec recti c tion on of thheir on e ir tour to ur.r. “IIt wor ur woork r ks pe rks p rf r ec ectlttlly” y”,, Pa P lll ad adin inno sa says y , re ys relish s in sh ingg th thee si situ tuutuattion, ioon, n, “ Yo You seeee,, the here eree aree sup uppo pose po s d to se t be te tenn th thouusaandd off peo eopl plee and pl and wee do no an nott ev even e knoow, en w whheere the heey ar hey a e””.

Yo waalkk thr You Yo hrou hrou ough ghh the pav aviliioons andd the h fee e lilngg of fa fatiigguue fati caussedd by th ca caus the enndl dless sn s es e s off fol o loow-up up roo ooms ms is el e im i i-i n teed th na thanks to cu than c nnin i glyy cr c eeaateed oppenn gaallle lle leririries r ies es andd g as gl asse seess-in i thr in h ou ough g vie iews ws tha hatt of ha o fe ferr uunnex e ppeect c teddly freesh s panoora pa rami m c view w on Loos An Ange g lees, s, sur urrro ur roun roun undi ding di ng lanndssca cape pe andd the an thhe oc o eaan. n “We We havve feltt ”,” Pallla l ddiio ccoonttinnuees, s, “ th that a at w at wh a is mi miss ssingg inn a traadi ss d titonnal a musseu e m, m suc uchh ass Loouuvr vre, e, iss the he feeeliling ng of comm coom mm mon on vissuaal re rela laa xa xatiion on thaat is is sug u gestted ge e herre by its tsel elff an andd iss neeccces essa s sary ry for o thee con once c nt ce ntra raation tion on rec ecov o er e y”. Th T e wh whol ole teerr r ittor o y iss des esig igne ig need w wiith th a vie iew w to pro rovi vide vi d as maanyy cor de o ners rss forr rel e axat a xa ioon an ax andd co cont ntem nt empl em p apl tit onn as po poss s sib ss ssib ible l . Th Theere are arre no no t wo wo sim milar illar ar spo p ts, tss, tw twoo si s mi m laar v eew vi ws – thheirr ddiive v rsityy is cou ount nttless ntle leess ss.. “W We kn know ow w thaat so some m o the vis of isititiorr s will com o e he heree only beeca cause of thee vieew andd rela re l x””, Pa Pallllad addin inoo ex expresse s s hiis thhou o gh ghtss.

CALIFORNIAN LIGHT AND ITALIAN TRAVERTINE If you o raaiisee you ourr he h ad ad,, yyoou willl see a bea eaut uttififiul blu luee of o t e Caaliifoornnia th iann sk s y. y Johhn Wa Walssh, h the Mus useu euum’ m s di dire rect ctor ct o, or diid noot waant to ha have vee anyy win i do d ws ws inn thhe gaallller erie ies. es T hee onnlly opptition opti onn was a to br b in ingg th thee liligh ghtt frrom m abo bove v . Me ve Meie ier ha hass crea crreeaateed taallll sky k y hou o se s s wi w th th whiite te bevvellle ledd waalllls ls thhat a disspe p rsse th thee liigh ghtt ev even enlyy whe en henn ppaass s singg annd in dayy ligghtt, th ssin they eyy offfer a pe perf rfec rf ecc t peerccep e ttiion on of th the workks. Aut utom ut om mat a ic sen e ssoors rs m as me asur u e th ur t e lilight ghht innte t nssitt y an a d du durirngg thhee sun unseet, the hee col oldd circ irccui u t iiss swi wittcchheed on o whi h le durin inng the daawn ing wn, it wor orks or r ks ks in thhe sa s me way a with itth th the ho hott ci c rccuit – al alll wiith thou outt anny no notitiice c o visittors of orr s. Nat a urral perce c pttio ce ionn of o thee dayy light h is gu g arran a teeed and nd the he wor he orks ks rem main un u to touccheed byy the sun.

On the hee fac a adde, e the h Mei eier e ’ss usu s al a enaameel whhiitte fa faci cing ngss wer repplace we were laace c d by

by Ita tallian an traave v rttin ine. e. Itss rou ough ghh sur u fa f ce abso ab sorbbs th thee shhar arpp da d y liighht annd crrea e te tess an a int nter e es e titing n ng struuct c ur ure. e. F irir st stly lyy it wa wass innteendded to us u e sa sand nddst ston o e;; h we ho w ve ver,r,r it iss les e s duura r ble an a d al also soo mor oree ex expe p ns pe nsiv ivve.

T h oug Thro ugho hoouutt a dayy, th t e faaca c dees ch c ange gee the heirr col olor orr s frrom ors m b ig br ight hhtt bei e gee to da dark rkk hon oney bef e oree th t e su suns nset e . Almo et most s st thre th r e th re thou ouusaand n of bllocckss haavve be b eenn use s d fo se forr booth th thee faci fa cing ngs an a d a pa pavi ving vi ngg. Itt wouuldd be disa diis dv dvan anta t ge to cu ta cutt s me of thhe bl so bloc ockk st ston ones ess soo the es, hey haad be been en hid idde denn an de a d laate terr ussed for seaatiting ngg on tthhe teerr r acces es.

GETTY AS AN OIL TYCOON AND A PASSIONATE ART COLLECTOR J aann Pau Je aull Ge Gett ttyy wa wass bo b rn in 18 1892 9 in Mi 92 Minn nnnes esot ota. a. One day hee hadd bou o gh ght a la land nd and bec ecam amee on onee of o thoosee luc ucky ky men whho ha h ve dis isco c ve vere r d th re thee na n tu tura raal oi oill ssoour urce c on th ce thei eir plot lott. He h s gr ha grad addua u lllllyy bu buililtt on onee of the h worrld ld’s ’s bigg ge ’s gest st oili ind ndus u try us trr y em mpi p re re.. He He was als lsoo a pa p sssio i naate t art colleect ctor or and in 19 1953 53,, 53 hee fou ouunddedd the Get etty ty Fou ound n at nd atioon. Twe wentyy ye y ar a s la late ter,r, he te c nccen co e trrat a ed his collle lect ctio ions nss at th the Ma M libu b Musseu bu e m,, whi h chh is a tru ruee co copy py of noo mor oree ex exis isti s ing n ant ntiqquee bui u lddin ingg Vi V lllla de deii Papi Pa piririi in He Herc rcul ulan anneuum. m. Whe h n Ge G tt ttyy di d ed in 19 1976 766, he h donate na teed 70 7 0 mi millllio ionn do dolllllarr s too his fou ound nddat atio ion, n, whi hich ch rep e re-s nt se ntss th t e bi bigg gges esst he heririta tage g tha ge hatt an anyy cuulttur ural a ins al n titu titutition on has ever ev er obt btai a ne ai n d. T he who hole le sum was dep epos ositited edd in th thee Ge Gett ttyy O l Coomp Oi mpan any’ y s sh shar ares es.. In 1981, 1, the Get e ty Fou ound ndat a io at ionn hi hire r d re Haro Ha rold ldd Wililliliam ams, s,, for orm mer De Dean a of th thee Gr Grad adua uate te Sch choo ooll of M na Ma n geme geme ge m nt at UC UCLA LAA and the Direc ecc to t r in one n of th thee se secu curiririty ty sect se ctio ioonss of Ca C rt rter er Adm dmin innis istrtatioon, n to ad admi m ni mi nist ster e the ober t in ta ined ed caappitt al a and leaad a pr prog ogra ram ra m foor ititss uttili izizat atio i n in acio cord co rddan ance ce witithh Ge G tt tty’ y s te y’ t stt am amen e t. In 19 en 1984 8 , Wi 84 Willlllia iams ms solld thhe Ge Gettt y Oi O l Co C mp m an anyy’ y’s shhar ares es to thhe Te es Texa xaco c com co ompa paany for

View of the museum and of the Research Institute Photos: Archive of Ing. arch. Iva Drebitko

tenn bi te b llllio ioon do d llllar a s an ar a d he att ttai aine n d 2. ne 2 3 bi b llllio ionn do io dolllllar a s th t at have ha vee been ee us ee used ed for the h rea e liliza zaatit on o of thhe Ge Gett ttyy Ce tt Cent ntter e.

“Thhe “T he pre ress ss hass oftften en men entiion oned ed siggni n fifica cant ca ntt exp xpen ense en sees fo forr thee mo th most s exp st x en e si sive v bui ve uild lddinng inn the Ame meririr ca can hiist can s or o y ac ac-cord co rddin rdin i g to som o e st s attis istittiics cs,, hoowe weve veer,r, onl n y fe few w peeopple knoow that th a Willliliam at amss haas in am incr crea cr e se ea s d thhe re regi egist s ered st erred cap a itt al a up too 4.33 bi 4. billllio i n do io dollllar a s thhro ar r ug u h sm smar a t innve ar vest stinng an andd thhatt Get et tyy Foun Fo unda un dattion da tion currre r nt ntly ly dis i po pose sees off 2255 milllilion dol olla lars for or itt s ye its year arly ar ly run unni ning ni ng, g pr prog oggra ogra rams ms andd acttivvititiees, s which c mea ch eans n appr ap prox pr oxim ox im mat atel elyy 40 el 4 milllilion onn dol olla lars la rs for o the he purchas a e of artt works. work wo ks. s “ To be in ourr pos ositiittioon, n eve very mus u eum m in i thee wor o ld w ul wo uldd tu turn rn gre reen with reen itth en envvy v y”,”, Pal a la ladi dino no smi m le les.

G tt Ge t y’ y s co c llllec ectititon onss ar aree noot ex exte tens te nsiv ns ive annd so so itt wa w s nott tthhe am a bi bititition onn of th thee muse muuse seum um m to bbeeco come mee an ency c cllopeddia off thee wo th worlrld’ d’ss art. ar t. Get etty tyy has bee e n so sole leely ly aim med e at th t e Gr Greeek andd Ro an R ma mann an antititiqqu que ar art,t, as we welllll as th thee Euuro rope pean an art froom thee la th late t 19t te 9thh ce cent ntur nt u y. ur y He sp spen ennt mo most st of hiis lilife fe in Eu Euro r pee ro a d hee hass gat an athe here redd mo re more re tha re hann a tthhou ousa s nd sa n of stton onee ssccul cul u pt ptur uurres es,, pi pillllllar a s, rel ar elie ieefs f s,, am mph phor oras or ass andd vas ases es. Thhis lisstiting es ng alsoo inc nclude nclu dees th des thee un uniq ique que pai a nttin ings gss of Reembbraanddt,t Rub uben ens, en s, Mant Ma n eg nt e na na, Cé Céza zann za nnne, e Tur u ne ner, Van Gog ogh’ h’ss Irrisses es, Ra Rafa faael el and M ch Mi chel elan annge g lo lo’s ’s dra rawings andd thee Mazarirn Ve V nuus. s. Hoow wev ever er,, er thee moostt imp th m re ressive collectionss aree repr p esen ente tedd by morre te tha th haann 12000 unique dagerotyppes orr ap apprrox oximat atel elyy 69 el 6 thoouus nd hisstooririca sa c l photos.

THE RESEARCH INSTITUTE “IIt is thee mos ostt pr p ivvat atee part part of th pa thee wh whol olee co c m mpplex and my faavori vooriitee part, r t, too oo”,”, Pal alla ladi la dino di no say ays. s. Itss accces esss iss lim mitedd to thee pu th publ blic bl icc, it is in inte tend te nded nd ed for or the sci cien enntitifififc wo w rk rker eerr s’ s ressea earc r h.

Thhe bu buililildi ding di ng has a sim impl p e sh pl shap apee of the ap h unc nclo l seed ci lo c rccle, it is as ele lega eggaant as otthe herr bu b ilildi ding di ngss annd thhe op ng open en spa pace ce indicatess how ho w the thhe in inte t riior is co te connc ncei e ve v d. d A libbraaryy and stu t dy roo o ms are re inte in teggr gratted int grat n o a ceenttra rall spac spp ce an a d thheyy aree mut u ua u llly conneect c edd inn th the di dire rect re c t lin inee to a gar a ddeen. en Fro rom m th the soout uthe hern teerrrac a e of thhee Insstititu tute tee viisi te, s toors r cann enj n oy the he mosst be b autifuul vi view e onn the wh w ole olle muse muuseum um m com ompl p ex andd the pl he gar arde deen.

Duriing n thee ina n ug u ur urat attio ion, n, Ric icha haard r Mei eier er sai a d: d “Fo Foor a fo For f urteen te e -y -yea earr pe peririrod of th thee bu builildi d ngg’ss con o st s ru ruct c ioon my chi ct h lddre renn have ha ve gro r wn w up, p, my ha hairiri hav avee gr grow ownn wh ow w ititee an andd my fririen ends en ds have ha ve dis isap appe ap peear pear ared edd. But, Buut, on th thee co cont n ra nt rary ry,, te telllll me – wh w enn wililll anny ar arch c ititec ch ec t ha ect have ve a chaancce to crreeatte such suuchh a wor o k? k?””

Thhirirte teeen e yea e rs aftterr the h opeeni n ng ng,, we w pass s an andd re redi diisscove co v r th ve thee ar area eaa aga gain iinn andd we ge g t caarr rrie i d aw ie away ay by tthhe uniq un ique iq ue atm t os osph pher ph ere of of thee gen e iuus loocii. We wililll st s ay her ee untitl la un late te nig ight ight h andd the henn visi visi vi sitt th t e peerf rfor o ma or manc nces es dirirec e tedd ec b thee Callififor by for orni nian ni an suunnse s t.t

By Ing ng.. Ar A ch ch.. Iv Iva Dr D ebbit i ko ■ česk če skýý př přek ekla ek ladd naale la lezn znet zn etee v el et e ek ektr tron o iccké verr zi on maga ma gaa zí zínu nu na ww www. w.le l ad le ader err sm mag a az azin ine. e cz

Lead Le adder ader erss Ma Maga g ziine ga n V/ V 20 2 10 10

119

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH LEADERS MAGAZINE

An interview with H. E. Štefan FÜLE, EU Commissioner for or Enlargement and Neighbourhood rho Policy

EASTERN PARTNERSHIP HELPS TO DEVELOP COOPERATION BETWEEN GOVERNMENTS, NGOS AND BUSINESSES Štefan Štef an Fül ülee wa wass bo born rn in So Soko kolo lovv (C (CZ) Z) in 19 1962 62. Af Afte terr st star artiting ng his stu tudi dies es at th thee Fa Facu cultltyy of Phi hilo loso soph phyy of Cha harlrles es Uni nive vers rsitityy in Pra ragu guee, he graduated at the Moscow State Institute of International Relations and the United Nations disarmament study program.

Mr. Füle started his long diplomatic ccareer as a Member of the Czechoslovakian (later Czech) Permanent Delegation at the UN, served as a Director of UN Depart Department and later Security Policy Department at the Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs, later as a Czech Ambassador to Lithuania Lithuan and to the United Kingdom and Czech Permanent Representative to NATO. Before joining the College of Commissioners, mmissioners, Mr. FFüle worked as a Czech European Affairs Minister (May 2009 – November 2009).

Pho h to: o:: Ar Ar chi Archi chive ve of of Mr. M FFüülee Mr

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Amsterdam Athinai Berlin Bratislava Bruxelles Bucureşti Budapest Dublin Helsingfors Kobenhavn Lefkosia Lisboa Ljubljana London Luxembourg Madrid Paris Praha Rïga Roma Sofia Stockholm Tallinn Valletta Vilnius Warszawa Wien

Having gone through a very long and interesting diplomatic career, how do you find the new challenge to serve European citizens as the Commissioner responsible for Enlargement and Neighbourhood Policy?

Yes, it is a great challenge, especially in relation to the portfolio I was entrusted with because European enlargement and Neighbourhood policy are amongst the priorities of the Czech foreign policy. At the same time it enables me to put together bits and pieces that I have gleaned during my diplomatic career and my short engagement as a Minister for European affairs in the Czech caretaker government in 2009. Last but not least, it’s a personal challenge. It requires maximum of personal assignment.

Do the Czech experience of joining the EU in 2004 and the general positive Czech attitude towards enlargement, neighbourhood policy and Eastern Partnership anyhow influence your work?

Yes, I do use my experience with enlarg enlargement very much. I have gained such ch experience ex during the accession of the Czech Republic Rep to the North Atlantic Treaty Organisationn and also after that when I was a Permanent Representative to NATO. In NATO, we used to lead dialogue with the candidate countries and this experience is very useful for me today. It was also a pleasure to work together with Karel Kovanda (Deputy Director General for External Relations in the Europe European Commission) and meet him again in here in Brussels.

Bru This experience helps and because ecause of that, t I have a holistic approach to the he enlargement enlargem policy I think all stakeholders, ers, not only politicians politic but also the opposition andd the civil society, should be engaged in this process. Their importance cannot be underestimated, namely me in a period of complex and challenging transformation.

At the end of May, the Commission proposed a visa-free travel for citizens of Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina. It proves that the relations with our Balkan neighbours are on a good track. Nonetheless the recent relation between Albanian government and their opposition is more than worrying. What will be your next steps?

The European Commission iss s io has recommended to the European Parliament men and the Council of the EU the introduction of visa-free travel for Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina with some reservaervations. The proposal is conditional on both countries untries fulfilling outstanding requirements. We have proceeded in the same way like we did in the case of three previous Balkan countries. The European Commission based its recommendations on a careful evaluation of the fulfilment of a roadmap related to a number of technical tasks that must be fulfilled for obtaining a visa-free travel for citizens.

In this way, there cannot be any direct link with the political situation in acceding countries. In the case of Bosnia and Herzegovina there is still a long way to go. However, this is an ordinary process. On the other hand, we cannot ignore the direct link between the political stalemate and the fulfilment of the Copenhagen criteria. In this respect, Albania was called on by the Commission several times. If

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Albania does not change its political situa tuation, the tu Commission will have to take it into account inn its opinion on Albania’s application for EU membermbee ship being a part of the Commission´s progress gr report too be released on o 10th November.

How fast will the accession of Croatia into the European Union go? And how do you see the process of Turkey’s accession to the EU? In the accession on process, the speed is not pivotal but the quality qualit of preparations. Iceland, for instance, nce, will not take so much time to join the EU and it will w be rather a fast track process although no short h cut towards accession. But this is because Iceland has been a member of the European Economic Area for sixteen years and a member of Schengen for ten years. It has therefore implemented a significant part of the European Union legislation which is a key condition for accession.

Croatia is very close to completing the accession negotiations, particularly because it has made out of the EU accession a top priority. However, other candidates, such as Turkey, face other challenges.

In general, the accession depends on the diligence and speed with which the country deals with all thirty-five chapters which are to be, under certain conditions, opened, negotiated and closed. It in first of all depends on the ability of the country to adopt and implement reforming measures.

Therefore, the speed of the accession process depends on the country itself.

What is in your opinion the biggest opportunity lying in the EU Eastern Partnership programme?

Is the feedback you receive from EU partners positive towards this initiative? Can Czech and European businesses expect some business opportunities or guarantee of their investments in this region?

The Eastern Partnership is part of the Neighbourhood Policy and enables Eastern partners to get closer to the EU. It brings a great opportunity for everyone, not just to the Eastern partnership countries, but also to the European Union, including in terms of business interests. It is both economic and political framework. Eastern Partnership focuses on real economic integration. g Via specific trade agreement it creates a room oom for free trade areas an and facilitates gradual approximation proximation off the Easte Eastern countries’s legislation on to the EU E legislation slation. This is the most important portant aspect ffor businessses as it regards primarily the Internal market. TThroughout the bilateral and nd multilateral mu relations, elations, the th Eastern Partnership helps elps to develop ccontacts and cooperation betweenn all interested parties – governments, NGOs and businesses. As the businesses are enabled to participate in many bilateral and multilateral forums, it gives them the opportunity to participate in the transformation process of Eastern countries.

You have said the Eastern Partnership is more about the economic framework. However, we cannot ignore there is also a political and parliamentary dimension. The European Parliament and Eastern Partnership countries have established a Joint Parliamentary Assembly (EURONEST). As you know European Parliament failed to reach an agreement on 10 Belarus representatives in the Assembly. What is the future of the EURONEST?

Yes, you are right. The Eastern Ye ern PPartnership does not hhave only economic but also als political, parliamentary and civil society dimension. m Parliaments are actually very important as they decide about the legislation and reforms leading countries closerr to the EU. In the case of Belarus, the European Parliament has never recognized the legitimacy of its elections. Therefore, it cannot recognize its parliamentary representatives. Belarus wants 10 representatives of its Parliament in Euronest, but the European Parliament favours representatives of Belarus opposition and non-governmental organizations. However, EURONEST has its function and should serve additional platforms for dialogue between the European Union and Eastern Partnership countries. Functioning parliamentary dimension of the Eastern partnership would be very helpful.

Mediterranean Union project is perceived as Sarkozy´s child. Who is the father of the Eastern partnership? What is the difference between these two projects?

The European Neighbourhood policy is conceived for the East and South neighbourhood countries.

It has several pillars – political, human, economic and civil society. With time, we understood that country-oriented projects are efficient to promote cooperation between the EU and specific countries. Eastern Partnership does not replacee the th Neighbourhood Policy but is part of it, it is a policy towards our Eastern neighbours. It is a complex project for countries wishing to have a closer relationship with the EU, and thus the possibility of future entry into the EU. Besides the Eastern Partnership, the Union for the Mediterranean was indeed given a strong impetus by the French President Sarkozy. The Czech Presidency Presid of the Council has been negotiating iatin over the presidency of the Union for the Mediterranean, editerranean as it was not clear how this task will be carri carried out. Only two years after this project was launched, launche we are thinking of the role and tasks of its secretariat. secret A lot has to be done. There will be also a a second summit of the Union for the Mediterranean edit to be orga g nized.

I see this project rather th as a connection between Northern and Southern Mediterranean countries promoting economic development in this area. At the same time, the common point of both projects is that they create a framework for stability, security and prosperity.

You were a Czech Permanent Representative to NATO and Czech First Deputy Defence Minister, how do you perceive the Israeli assault on Gaza aid ship?

At the beginning you asked me how I see the new challenge of being a Commissioner. This position makes no distinction between personal and official views. The European Union official opinion is the one of Catherine Ashton who is the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy. My role is focused on the development of relations with Israel as an EU strategic ally, but also on the help provided to the Palestinian State to build up its own attributes.

By Alena Vlačihová CEBRE

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EU matters IN COOPERATION WITH LEADERS MAGAZINE

Despite the mid-summer timing, 50 representatives of European Commission, European Parliament, Member States, business associations, regions, research institutions and other stakeholders gathered on 14th July 2010 to discuss with numerous distinguished speakers the various aspects of innovation at a conference organised by CEBRE and Czech Permanent Representation, focusing on innovations in the field of energy and smart grids, innovative solutions in environment and transfer of knowledge.

David Harmon, Member of the Cabinet of Commissioner Máire Geoghegan-Quinn, stressed the strong political dedication of all parties involved to invest more in research and innovation and to create Single Innovation Market. Secretary General of EUROCHAMBRES Arnaldo Abruzzini voiced his disappointment: “Businesses are the innovation drivers! And not only those in research! Nonetheless businesses need to have motivation through some fiscal stimulus, to ensure better access to finance and to stabilise their human resources through better skills match.”

Member of ITRE Committee Paul Rübig MEP called for better implementation of common objectives: “There are several strategies and legislation in place already, including the 3rd energy package, but the crucial question now is the delivery – how do Member States implement them.”

Folker Franz, Senior Policy Advisor for Environment, BUSINESSEUROPE

EVERY BUSINESS CAN BE INNOVATIVE! BUT SUPPORT TO INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS IS NEEDED!

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

Participants of the event

Tomáš Hruda, Director of CEITEC – Central European Institute of Technology

From left: David Harmon, Member of Cabinet of Commissioner Máire Geoghegan-Quinn, European Commissioner for Research, Innovation and Science and Arnaldo Abruzzini, Secretary General of EUROCHAMBRES

Paul Rűbig, Member of European Parliament, ITRE Committee

Olivier Brunet, DG RTD, European Commission

Milan Špaténka, Director of Distribution Grids Development of ČEZ Group

Ladislav Miko, Director, DG ENVI, European Commission

Milan Špaténka, Director of Distribution Grids Development, ČEZ Group. “Czechs are at the forefront of many international projects, already implementing a Smart Region pilot project in Vrchlabí (CZ) and co-funding the European Electricity Grid Initiative (EEGI). In the field of environment many people still limit the scope of innovation – but it can go from green technologies and working with nature through ecosystem based approach to green infrastructure,” said Ladislav Miko, Director at DG ENVI. Several innovative environmental solutions were presented by Miroslav Šindlar, Managing Director of company ŠINDLAR EU.

From left: Michal Kadera, Director of CEBRE, Stefaan Vanderstraeten, Senior Executive, Daikin Europe N.V.

Miloslav Šindlar, CEO of ŠINDLAR s.r.o.

Tomáš Hruda, Director of CEITEC – Central European Institute of Technology, pointed out the role of regional innovation strategies and cooperation of business, education and public/regional authorities in this respect. Folker Franz from BUSINESSEUROPE concluded by a strong message stating that the environmental cost of a product should not only be measured during its production phase but during its lifecycle.

The event was organized on 14h July 2010, by CEBRE – Czech Business Representation to the EU in cooperation with the Czech Permanent Representation to the EU. The event took place thanks to CEZ Group, European Commission, CEITEC and South Moravia Region and PR support of EurActiv.com and Leaders Magazine.

For further details contact Michal Kadera, Director of CEBRE, at Michal.Kadera@cebre.cz or visit: http://www.cebre.cz/cz/docs/innovation

From left: Michal Kadera, Director of CEBRE, Jana Reinišová, Czech Deputy Permanent Representative, David Harmon, Member of Cabinet of Commissioner, Máire Geoghegan-Quinn, European Commissioner for Research, Innovation and Science, Arnaldo Abruzzini, Secretary General of EUROCHAMBRES

Photos: Zbyněk Prokop

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH LEADERS MAGAZINE

BUSINESS NEWS S

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DID YOU KNOW, THAT ...the Parliament calls for greater transparency in EU funding?

At the June plenary session, the MEPs supported the draft report for greater transparency in the allocation of money coming from regional and cohesion funds. The proposal made by Green Greek MEP Michail Tremopoulos suggests online maps on EC website providing links to the lilist stss of Reg egio iona nall De Deve velo lopm pmen entt an andd Co Cohe hesi sion on Fun undd beneficiaries in every EU region. Moreover, the report proposed to create a freely accessiblee list of persons, p ns, who have committed fraud when applying ying for funding. funding This should provide greater credibility to the process. ...proposal for a directive on seasonal workers was presented?

The European Parliament ment and the Council pre presented a proposal for a directive on thee con conditions of entry of seasonal workers from third countries ntri into the European labour market. The Directive is designed d to allow thirdcoun co untrtryy na natition onal alss to hav avee a fa fairir acc cces esss to the Eur urop opea eann labour market. However, it also contains the rules and tools to prevent the use of temporary stay becoming permanent.

The new system should achieve fair competition for EU citizens and citizens from third countries. ...the Commission presented a toolkit for data exchange?

On 20th July, thee European Europ an CCommission published a communication summarizing the EU instruments for collecting andd exchanging person personal data. At the same time it presented ted the main principles of ttheir applications, such as: common visa policy, migration control and protection against potential terrorist terr activities. Cecilia Malmström, EU Commissionerr for fo Home Affairs, stated “Citizens should have the right to know what personal data are kept and exchanged about them.” ... new e-Justice portal was launched?

On 16th July, the European Union launched a new web portal called e-Justice, in whichh EU citizens will w be able to find any information regardingg legal issues. issue Citizens will find any information about ut legal matters related to civil litigation, includingg divorces or inheritan inheritances. Lawyers, notaries and judges will have an access to lega legal databases.

For entrepreneurs, there is ann access acc to estate registries of allll Member b St attes. T he po portt all is availilabl ble in 22 EU languages. ...new system for emission trading from 2013 was agreed?

On 14th July, EU Member States supported Commission`s proposal concerning emissions trading within the ETS system. The third trading period starts in 2013 and the permits will be sold via auctioning. This will be provided by common platform, which helps to reduce the costs of trading, ensure transparency and easier participation of SMEs. Some Member States, however, may choose to trade in their national trading platform. Parliament and Coun Co unci cill ha have ve thr hree ee mon onth thss to rai aise se any obj bjec ectition onss. ...there are new transport guidelines for 2011–20?

The Commission adopted political guidelines for road safety in 2011–2020. The ambitious plan aims to reduce the number of road deaths in Europe in the next 10 years.

The program has seven strategic goals: 1. improvement of safety measures for vehicle, 2. building up of safer road infrastructure, 3. support of smart technologies, 4. impro-

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vement ent of education educatio and training for road users, 5. better enforcement enfo forc rcemen entt of o law, 6. setting up of reduction targets of road accidents andd 7.focus 7 fo on motorcyclists.

EU IN THE WORLD G20 promises to halve budget deficits by 2013 At the summit G20 in Toronto the representatives of the world´s biggest economies agreed to reduce budget deficits of their governments at least by half by 2013.

Ameriican Presid ident Barackk Ob Obama expressedd di disapprovall to the EU strategy coping with the impact of the crisis.

Especially, he criticised important cuts in government spending. He says it could threaten economic growth.

However, the EU, represented by José Manuel Barroso and Herman Van Rompuy, refused it. There was also disagreement regarding the proposal for special taxes on financial institutions. India, Japan and Canada have rejected this proposal, while the EU insists on its opinion.

Despite the opposition of some members of the G20, the EU is planning to go forward with its proposal.

Discussions with Iceland are open Negotiations on the accession of Iceland to the EU started at the Intergovernmental Conference in July.

Iceland will not have more preferential treatment than other candidate countries, but there is a chance that negotiations could run smoothly. As a Member of the European Free Trade Area (EFTA), of the European Economic Area (EEA) and the Schengen cooperation, Iceland has already adopted a significant amount of EU legislative. However in some fields (for example whaling or financial services) Iceland will have to make efforts.

Icel Ic elan andd su subm bmititte tedd ititss ap appl plic icat atio ionn to the EU on 17t 7thh Ju July ly 2009, during the Swedish Presidency.

Iceland can use IPA funding Since July, Iceland can officially use the instruments for pre-accession assistance (IPA). In the case of Iceland, the IPA funds will be primarily used to strengthen institutional and legislative performance and implementation of EU law. Moreover, Iceland will use the IPA funds for the future preparation of drawing from structural funds, for the information campaigns for Icelanders, an or for technical assistance through workshops, study udy visi visits aand n nd expert missions missions.

European Parliament called for the recognition of Kosovo’s independence On 8th th July, the European Parliament ament adopted resolution which called led for the recognition of Kosovo`s `s ind independence among mong the EU Member States, as soon ass po possible. So far it concerns five states; namely Cyprus, s, Greece, Spain, Romania and Slovakia. According to the MEPs it is important to recognize Kosovo in order to maintain security in the Western Balkans. This would also facilitate further cooperation between the EU and Kosovo, for instance in the field of visa free requirements between the two entities.

LET’S TALK NUMBERS Car prices fell only slightly in 2009 The European Commission published the results of a survey dealing with trends in prices of cars in the EU. The survey shows that during 2009 the prices of cars slightly decreased due to the incentives created to reduce the impact of the crisis in the automotive industry. The biggest price reduction was observed in Slovenia (minus 13.4 percent), Lithuania and Slovak Republic. Conversely

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unpleasant news is that decreasing prices of cars, slightly increased prices of spare parts and repair services.

Only few citizens exploit the opportunity to live abroad The European Commission has published eurobarometer results dealing with the willingness of EU citizens to work in another Member State. The results show that only less than three percent of EU citizens exploit the opportunity to reside in another Member State. By cont co ntra rast st, 17 per erce cent nt of re resp spon onde dent ntss re repl plie iedd th that at the heyy ar aree going to move to another state in the near future, because of the work. Job opportunities are also the biggest allurement to move abroad and the Commission confirmed that the mobility of citizens will be supported.

More than EUR 6 billion in research and innovation European Commissioner for Research, Science and Innovation Máire Geoghegan-Quinn announced the Commission has allocated EUR 6.4 billion to support research and innovation. The amount of money will be distributed among 16 000 projects. There is a great emph em phas asis is on SM SMEs Es, wh whic ichh sh shou ould ld rec ecei eive ve sup uppo port rt at th thee amount of EUR 800 million. The investment is planned in many different areas such as energy, food security, climate protection or healthcare. The Commission expectt th that thanks to this financial support up to 165 000 new jobs should be created.

EU foreign direct investment declined by a quarter European Statistical Office Eurostat published results of the foreign direct investment (FDI) survey. It shows that FDI in extra-EU27 countries (outflows) fell by 24%, from EUR 348 billion in 2008 to 263 bn in 2009, while FDI into the EU27 from the rest of the world (inflows) increased by 12%, from 199 bn to 222 bn.. The USA was the main source of investment in the EU. Investment nvestment fro from the EU went mostly to the USA, Russia, Canada or Hong Ho Kong, but in all cases their volume decreased. reased. d Th Thee most active investor outside the EU was Luxembourg with EUR 112 billion, followed by Greatt Britain and France France.

EUR 30 million to promote agriculture products The European Commission mis has decided to support European agriculture andd releases more than EUR 30 million to promote European products. The amount will be divided into several different projects in 14 Member States, including the Czech Republic. Money will be devoted to publ bliic promotitions thatt wililll accentuat t te the European foodd and other agricultural products, either in terms of quality, or in terms of sanitary and environmental standards. Some projects are also educational, for example campaigns promoting fruit consumption among children and campaigns highlighting the harm caused by frequent drinking.

Brought by CEBRE – Czech Business Representation to the EU (kindly supported by CzechTrade), www.cebre.cz

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IN PARTNERSHIP WITH LEADERS MAGAZINE

s ČSÚZ

GENERATIONS MEETING AT THE CZECHOSLOVAK FOREIGN INSTITUTE COURSE The Czechoslovak Foreign Institute organised another language and homeland-study course from 30 June to 20 July 2010 that offers students of Czech language a possibility to improve their Czech and to get to know closer a country in which Czech is at home. In addition to ten students from the Universities in St. Petersburg, Kiev and Lvov and from Czech schools in Vienna and Daruvar, some interesting persons from the USA took part in this year ye ar’ss cou ours rsee – th thee ol olde dest st, Jo Jose seph ph K ra rato tovi vill is 85 ye year arss ol oldd.

“Of course, we are Kratochvils but ‘ch’ was omitted while transcribing our name in America,” rica,” Mr. JJoseph sep eph explained. He came to the course together ether with his bbrother to “learn to write and to find out whhy they the say ssomething in Czech the way they do”. They hey came also to find the family tomb in Humpolecc and they succeeded in doing so almost without trouble, even though gh it was covered with ivy and the inscriptions could hardlyy be recognized. “I would like to be buried there,” Mr. Richard rd Kratovil confessed.

The parents of both brothers, who were born already in America, had left Czechoslovakia during the crisis after the First World War. “Dad left in 1920 and Mum had to wait two more years for the new quota for the immigrants from Europe,” Mr. Joseph said in his understandable Czech. He was remembering the difficult beginnings in the USA and the crisiss in in the 30s. His father f lost his job at that time and movedd with his hiss family fam to the countryside where they tried to survive urvive on a hired h farm.

“The field was as sto stony,” Joseph ph remembers, “I had to go to pick upp stones after the classe classes.” He was a good student and thanks too a state schol scholarship, he finished seconda on dary ry sch choo ooll an andd spe spec pecia ialilize zedd hi high gh sch choo ooll. Aftfter er tha hatt, at the end of 1944, as a member of the American army, he

came me to Europe for the first time. “We went through England Engl glan and to Belgium Bel e gium and then further,“ he said. “I was amongg the first who ho ccame to the concentration camp of Buchenwald. enwa What I saw first were three men who were digging ing in soil with empty hands. I could hear them speaking and could understand a little bit, but they were not Czechs. They were Serbs and they tried to find their friend who was shot dead and interred by a German keeper,“ Jose Jo seph ph sai aidd ab abou outt hi hiss ex expe peririen ence ce. Th Thee co cour urse se stu tude dent ntss, for whom the Second World War is history, as remote as antiquity or the Přemyslid kingdom, were attentive listeners.

Victor Kovar from Nebraska participated in the course for the sixteenth time. He was born on 7 July 1930 and therefore he always celebrates his birthday among students, this year the eightieth. It was another opportunity to speak about the past and the young learned that Victor served in the air force at the beginning of the fifties and fought in the Korean war.

Thadious Polasek was also present this year in Suchdol.

He teaches Czech in the USA and since 1989 he accompanied numerous groups of Americans for the courses who wanted to visit their old homeland after years and perhaps even to settle and start a business there. Some of them really succeeded. Nowadays though, the CzechAmericans are drawn to the Czech Republic mainly by a desire to see the places where their forefathers had lived. The Czechoslovak Foreign Institute offers them a helpful hand for such searches.

Ten bohemists commented favourably that at the cour co urse se the heirir exp xper erie ienc nced ed ped edag agog ogue uess sh show owed ed and hel elpe pedd them to get rid of their learned mistakes in Czech. It was

most important for them though to meet interesting people and to enter the secrets of their ways of life and thinking, at least partly. They had a pleasant experience also from visiting the Czechoslovak Foreign Institute, where they met the chairman Jaromír Šlápota.

“Czech means a door to a completely different world for me, where I hope to find my future career. I would like to create some international project that would be inte in tere rest stin ingg an andd us usef eful ul bot othh fo forr th thee Cz Czec echs hs and the Ukraine,“ Khristýna from Kiev expressed in her essay which the students were supposed to write. “I cannot imagine my life without Czech,“ Vlatka from Croatia stated in her essay. “We speak only Czech at home but it is not perfect Czech, it is mixed with some Croatian words,“ the eighteen-year grammar-school student, who works in the Czech club at home, performs amateur theatre and dances in the folklore ensemble, admitted.

After a three-week course, in which the participants learned about Czech history and present life in lectures, practical conversation classes and discussions, in which they had a chance to see a performance of Káťa Kabanová in the National Theatre, the Křižík’s fountain, to experieri-ence the atmosphere in Karlovy Vary during the film m festival, to visit the most beautiful Czech cultural monuments and to meet the diplomats from their countries at the final diploma award ceremony during the steamboat trip on the Vltava river, the students left for their homes with even greater enthusiasm to discover the secrets of the Czech language. We will meet with them again soon – as with diplomats, translators or pedagogues teaching Czech to othe ot hers rs.

HEBR The students of the Czechoslovak Foreign Institute course after the diploma award ceremony during the boat trip on the Vltava river.

Photo: CSUZ

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An interview with Věra Rašková, Interior Design Expert

VĚRA RAŠKOVÁ INTERIOR DESIGN EXPERT We would like to introduce: Věra Rašková founded her interior design company almost 20 years ago. Since then, she has participated in many hotel and private interior designs, together with many renowned Czech and international architects. Among her most interesting accomplishments are the hotels Felix Zawojski, Carlsbad Plaza, Ostende, Puškin – Romance and Mozart in Karlovy Vary, as well as residences for the director of the Chamber of Commerce in Spain’s Murcia region, and the ex-governor of ČNB. You studied art under the professor, and art academy graduate, B. Janovský. How did you end up doing furniture and interior design?

I have always leaned towards interior design.

Early on, I would dream up the practical concept of our flat, and then the flats of my friends.

Those were big dreams. Back then, the Czech furniture industry was limited to the production of uniform sector furniture, and even this was in short supply. After the borders opened,

I travelled to Italy, where they combine history and modern design. I was utterly fascinated by the creativity and production potential of the furniture producers there, whom I chose for their contemporary ideas about interior furniture. However, I also focused on the production of the best in classic design. Over several years, I chose from among hundreds of producers who were producing interior furniture in both modern and classic design.

I also actively take part in international trade fairs, where I always find inspiration and find out about new developments in materials and their combinations.

Over the years you must have learned a lot about turning a dream of an interior into a reality.

It’s fascinating how much experience and comparison is necessary. Without my knowledge of the furniture industry and market,

I would of course only draw beautiful pictures of interiors with myy colleaggues an a d ar arch chititec ects ts – the projects would however stay unrealized, or their realization would be too expensive and imperfect.

I’m sure a lot of creativity and professionalism are necessary to create an interior that fits the customer’s requirements. Is there any difference between furnishing hotel and private interiors? What does cooperation with a private customer look like in your company – I mean with someone who orders a private interior?

Meetings with a private customer must be carefully planned so that we negotiate in a peaceful and relaxed mood. Stark professionalism can’t be avoided in the beginning – we must talk about the interior concept, etc.

However, professionalism cannot replace an individual approach to the customer. In a pleasant atmosphere we identify the direction together, the general concept that an entirely individual interior will take. I often advise the clients to respect the genius loci. If the building where the client decides to place their interior (in which they want to live) is modern and the client doesn’t feel well among the cubes of austere shapes, we gladly complement the interior with

classic features, e.g. with hand-worked furniture made ma de of qu qual alitityy wo wood od witithh im impr pres essi sive ve sur urfa face cess.

It’s fascinating to meet these people and create their home together. I think that’s the right thing – the professionalism and long-term experience that enable us to make a creative environment with full respect for the client.

How does a hotel interior get furnished?

For the most part, work is based on professional experience, market knowledge and knowledge of specific producers (that’s why we represent fourteen of them – from the biggest and most well-known to a handmade workshop!). We have many meetings with architects, execute studies of the space, take many trips to Italy to meet the producers; sample rooms are produced, construction details studies are performed...

Afterwards, all that is needed is to produce the furniture, wrap it up neatly, transport it to the venue and co-ordinate its proper assembly.

Then the guests can come. It has happened to me several times that the client who had been a guest of such a hotel didn’t hesitate to find out who the interior supplier was. And then they turned to my company or looked directly for me and asked for co-operation on their private interior.

It must be very gratifying for you.

Yess, it’ Ye t’ss a gr greatt pleasure. l In my workk I meet people who I respect a lot because they have the will and energy in their lives to create and build – and that’s very positive.

So in other words, you’re a kind of guide through the jungle of the furniture market.

Can you also carry out projected interior designs?

Yes. We can give advice about the entire interior furnishing design, and at the same time deliver it key-ready.

Compiled by LM ■ Among the well-known brands used by Věra Rašková are: Angelo Cappellini, Scappini & C, Dall´ Agnese, Creazioni, Facondini, Styl Arte, Patrizia Volpato, Massiero, Duebi Italia, Mobilstella, Morasutti, Alberta Salotti, Inter-nisofa, Mobilegno Cucine etc.

You can schedule an appointment and see samples of their work in the showroom in Vinohrady. český překlad naleznete v elektronické verzi magazínu na www.leadersmagazine.cz

Photo: Archive of Věra Rašková

culture event

In spring 2010, the Patrons’ Club ofIIN the National N CCOOPERATION OOPERTheatre ATIONorganized WITH WITH a number of interesting meetings. In LLEADERS May, patrons of the National EADERS M AGAZINE MAGAZINE Theatre spent two days with the Swan Lake and so they had the unique opportunity to peep behind the scenes of Corps de Ballet.

Together with the rehearsal, they have also attended the performance by itself, which was connected with a backstage visitation during preparations.

The common photo of the patrons with the artists after the August: Osage County performance (in the middle, the actresses in leading roles Miluše Šplechtová, Kateřina Buriánová and Jaromíra Mílová)

Patrons’ Club of the National Theatre MEETING OF AMBASSADORS IN COOPERATION WITH LEADERS MAGAZINE

The patrons during the rehearsal of Swan Lake. „It was a big experience to be so close, to hear the dancers breathe“, Věra Výtvarová, the NT patroness said.

Diplomatic Corps Drank a Toast to the National Theatre

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Ondřej Černý, the General Director of the National Theatre, invited the Diplomatic Corps composed of Ambassadors to the Czech Republic to a ceremonial meeting held at the historical director‘s office. At this place they were also introduced with the Patron’s Club. All the participants drank a toast to the National Theatre and to the conclusion of the 127th theatre season.

Káťa Kabanová, the opera of Leoš Janáček, was the last premiere of the 2009/2010 theatre season at the National Theatre.

The world-famous director Robert Wilson has taken charge of direction. Janáček’s impressive music has sounded in the interpretation of the new musical director of the National Theatre Tomáš Netopil. As it has been expected, the opera has become the event of the season.

Photo from the Performance

culture event

KÁŤA KABANOVÁ

H.E. Pierre Lévy, French Ambassador and Ondřej Černý, General Director of the National Theatre

Director Robert Wilson, Opera Director of the National Theatre Jiří Heřman and patroness Dadja Altenburg-Kohl

Singers Gabriela Beňačková and Aleš Briscein

The leading role actress Christina Vasileva

Mrs. Eva Urbanová (Marfa Kabanová)

culture event

Daniel Ťok, General Director of the SKANSKA company with his partner, Karolína Peštová, the Manager of the NT Patrons’ Club and Ondřej Pecha, Prague Councillor for Cultural Policy

IN COOPERATION WITH LEADERS MAGAZINE

As every year, also this year a celebrational meeting on the occassion of the NT season’s end has has been held at the National Theatre. This time due to the support of Ursulines sisters, the employees, friends and partners of the National Theatre could meet in the beautiful area of the Ursulines Garden.

Celebrational End of the Theatre Season

AT THE NATIONAL THEATRE

Former NT Director Jindřich Černý, Ivo Mathé, Rector of the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague and Jan Burian, Director of J.K. Tyl Theatre in Plzeň

Barbora Rappaport, Head Sponsorhip Event Specialist at Komerční Banka and Peter Palečka, Member of the Board and Senior Executive Director of KB.

Mrs. Dominika Kolowrat-Krakovská with her colleagues

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Mrs. Marcela Hrdá, General more mo m ore r e photos pho hoto tos and aan nd electronic elec el ecttrr oon nic ic version v eerr ssiioon n Director of Česká a pošta available av vai aillaabl ble on on www.leadersmagazine.cz ww ww w.l .lea ead ade ders r smaga maaggaazziine m ne..ccczz

František Zborník, Department of Arts and Libraries Director, Ministry of Culture and Michaela Šojdrová, Member of the NT Council

THE NATIONAL THEATRE THANKS for the cooperation during the 2009/2010 season to the following partners:

Komerční banka a.s., the general partner, Škoda Auto a.s., the partner of the National Theatre, Česká pošta s.p., the partner of the National Theatre productions, AutoCont a.s., the partner of the National Theatre dramas.

The Kolowrat Krakovský family and Dr. Dadja Altenburg-Kohl, the National Theatre’s patrons, Synot Tip company, The Patrons’ Club of the National Theatre and the Forests of the Czech Republic, State Enterprise.

Also the Bohemia Sekt a.s., Coca-Cola HBC Česká republika, spol. s r.o., ČEZ Prodej s.r.o., Max Factor, Nowaco s.r.o., Office Depot s.r.o., OKI Systems s.r.o., Plzeňský prazdroj a.s., PROMOPRO spol. s r.o., Telefónica O2 Czech Republic, a.s., TOP HOTELS Group a.s. and Unipetrol a.s. companies.

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IN COOPERATION WITH LEADERS MAGAZINE

Ursula Dudziak – Singer Łukasz Poprawski – Saxophone Tomasz Krawczyk – Guitar Jan Smoczynski – Piano Daniel Biel – Contrabass Artur Lipiński – Drums Michał Urbaniak – Violin and Saxophone

Ursula Dudziak, Singer and Tomasz Krawczyk, Guitar

Jazz at the Castle with Ursula Dudziak Band & Michal Urbaniak From left: MUDr. Michael Vít, Deputy Minister of Health and Chief Public Health Officer, Ministry of Health of the Czech Republic, Ing. Arch. Petr Bílek, Architect, Atelier Bílek Associates, s.r.o. and Mirko Lachman, Senior Advisor, Leaders Magazine

From left: Jan Fischer, former Prime Minister with his wife, Prof. Václav Klaus, President of the CR and H.E. Jan Pastwa, Ambassador of Poland with his wife From left: Prim. MUDr. Kamila Maláčová, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, MediCentrum Praha, a.s. and Stanislava Havlová

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From left: Martin Saitz, General Manager, BMW Group CR and P.J. Ryba, Musician

From left: Ing. Josef Starenko, General Director, Star Group Czech a.s., Elena Livshits, Director, Star Group Czech a.s. and Jaromír Šlápota, Chairman, ČSÚZ

From left: Benoit Chatard, wife of H.E. Pierre Levy, French Ambassador, Prof. Václav Klaus, President of the CR, H.E. Marie Chatardová, Czech Ambassador to France and H.E. Pierre Levy, Ambassador of France

Martin Barták, new Deputy Minister of Finance, with his wife

From left: H.E. Fabio Pigliapoco, Ambassador of Italy and H.E. Vicente Espeche Gil, Ambassador of Argentina

From left: Ing. Břetislav Akrman with his wife, Vladimír Laštůvka with his wife and behind Ing. Anton Gerák, CSc., with his wife

Alena Veliká, Head of the Press Department, Office of the President and Prof. Václav Klaus, President of the Czech Republic

From left: Elena Suchánková Sonenshine, Jazz Singer, Vladimír Suchánek, Artist, Zita Zemanová and Arch. Karel Kryl

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

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From left: H.E. Ayman Al-Adsani, Ambassador of Kuwait, H.E. Hussain S. Mualla, Ambassador of Iraq with his wife and daughter in the middle

Otakar Čech with his wife Iveta

Markéta Kubálková, Managing Director, Confidence Media with her husband Tomáš

Lucie Hroznová, Hostess Service and Mgr. Michal Matzner, Program Adviser, Cultural Department, Prague Castle Administration

From left: Pavel Číčel, Sales Representative, ZFP Akademie, Mrs. Gabriela Šírová and Mr. Oleg Slepcoff

From left: Michaela Dvořáková, Petr Žalský and Petra Tužková

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Jazz at the Castle

Tomasz Krawczyk, Guitar and Łukasz Poprawski, Saxophon

legal affairs Produced in partnership with the PRO BONO association

ANTI-DISCRIMINATION ACT At the beginning of my essay, I would like to demonstrate the absurdity of some situations caused by the effort toward equal and nondiscriminatory treatment, by highlighting the joke below: Murphy Junior has applied for the position of a technician in an Irish company. Since one American has also applied for the position, and they both had the same qualifications, the department supervisor asked them to take a test.

After the completion of the test, they handed their papers in. In a little while the supervisor called on Murphy and said: “Mister Murphy, you will not get this job.”

“And how were the results of the test?”

“You both have nine right answers and one wrong answer.”

“So why will I not get the job? After all, we are in Ireland and I am an Irishman!”

“We have decided this on the grounds of your wrong answer.”

“And how can one wrong answer be better than another one?”

“Well, the American answered the fifth question ‘I do not know’ while you wrote ‘Me neither’”.

In the contemporary Western world, there is the opinion that people should have equal opportunities, and in order to enforce these it is necessary to abolish discrimination. This is the reason why the European Union enforces the fight against discrimination so vehemently, and within its legal regulations, it tries to formulate its own conception of the right solution on the matter of equality, embodied in equal opportunities for everyone.

The term discrimination originated from the Latin word “discriminare”, which could be translated as “to differentiate”. There is nothing wrong with differentiation itself, until it crosses the basis of legal reasons.

The Anti-discrimination Act No. 198/2009 Coll., whose adoption was accepted after the Presidential veto overriding on 17th June 2009, is the relevant law in this area. The Act is a compromise between the opinion of legislators and non-profit organizations, which have had the common goal to create the most effective protection for victims of discrimination. However, the question is whether this goal has been

accomplished and, if yes, to which extent this has been done.

The Anti-discrimination Act is the first comprehensive regulation of its kind within the Czech Republic. As mentioned above, the Act involves relevant European Community regulations in accordance with the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, as well as international treaties related to antidiscrimination. The Act more closely determines the right of equal treatment and the prohibition of discrimination within labour relations, social security and access to medical care and education.

The Act clearly defines the terms explicit (open) and implicit (hidden) discrimination, and within the term discrimination it also includes harassment, sexual harassment, pursuit, and solicitation of discrimination. Discrimination based on race, ethnic origin, nationality, sex (including pregnancy or maternity), sexual orientation, age, disability, religion or belief is prohibited. Political ideas and orientation are not the reasons for the Act’s enforcement.

The main objections to the Anti-discrimination Act can be summarized in a few points.

Critics mainly warn that the whole text of the Act is vague. Another thorn in the flesh is also the fact that under the threats of sanctions, the European Union did not offer to the Czech Republic any possibility except the acceptance of the Act, although many legislators declared that they consider the Act to be wrong. Another question is whether the matter of discrimination and its protection does not represent the extreme that will turn out to be rather difficult, and presents the Czech citizens as bigoted and intolerant individuals.

Of course, I do not want to make light of the issue of unequal working opportunities for women, or for individuals of another race, nor the other problems that issue from a stereotypical perception of society. But wouldn’t it be more beneficial for the state to dedicate more time to edification and campaigns, those that may remove these stereotypes, rather than adopting restrictive measurements which create other negative feelings towards certain society groups.

The clear benefit of the Anti-Discrimination Act is a simplification of discrimination protection, thanks to the possibility of a legal claim. In a court, one can put in a claim for

Photo: Archive

discrimination abandonment, discriminatory interventions abolition and appropriate satisfaction. The essential contribution is the fact that burden of proof lies on the accused who is obligated to prove that his act was not discriminatory.

To sum up, we will see in the future whether the Anti-discrimination Act meant a breakthrough in the area of equal treatment. We can only hope that we will not follow the example of the USA, where the claims for discrimination have often been the reason of small and medium enterprises winding-up. Therefore, let’s involve mother wit and normal human politeness!

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

český překlad naleznete v elektronické verzi magazínu na www.leadersmagazine.cz

Leaders Magazine V/2010

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A special thanks to Philip Morris ČR a.s. for making this reportage possible

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Eddie Severn Trumpet Michal Wroblewski Alto Saxophone Pius Baumgartner Tenor Saxophone Štěpán Janoušek Trombone Wolfgang Lackerschmid Vibes Adam Tvrdý Guitar Mark Anderud Piano František Uhlíř Contrabass Wolfgang Haffner Drums ●

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with František Uhlíř 60

From left: Alvise Gustiniani, Managing Director, Philip Morris Czech Republic, Slovakia & Hungary, Andrea Gontkovičová, Director Corporate Affairs, Philip Morris ČR a.s. and Prof.

Václav Klaus, President of the Czech Republic

Jazz at the Castle From left: Blanka Matragi, Fashion Designer, Prof. Václav Klaus, President of the Czech Republic, Nora Stříbrná, Ing. Miloš Janů and his son Andrew

Wolfgang Haffner, Drums

Pius Baumgartner, Tenor Saxophone

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From left: Arnošt Thon, Managing Director, A.T. Plyn s.r.o., Ing Alena Vitásková, President, Klub plynárenských podnikatelů ČR, s.r.o. and Benke Aikell, your Publisher

From left: Jaroslav Jurečka, Ing. Ivan Kočárník, former Minister of Finance, Mrs. Jurečková and Kamil Janáček, CNB Bank Board Member and Chief Executive Director

H.E. Jan Pastwa, Ambassador of Poland with his wife

František Uhlíř, Contrabass

Prof. Václav Klaus, President of the Czech Republic and Veronika Chotěborská, General Manager, Alchymist Grand Hotel and Spa

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH LEADERS MAGAZINE more photos and electronic version available on www.leadersmagazine.cz

From left: Karel Vágner, Music Publisher, Matej Benko, Musician, Alvise Gustiniani, Managing Director, Philip Morris Czech Republic, Slovakia & Hungary and Prof.

Václav Klaus, President of the Czech Republic

From left: Andrea Gontkovičková, Director Corporate Affairs, Philip Morris ČR a.s. with her husband, Prof.

Václav Klaus, President of the Czech Republic and Alvise Gustiniani, Managing Director, Philip Morris Czech Republic, Slovakia & Hungary with his wife Nina

From left: Prof. Václav Klaus, President of the Czech Republic and Benke Aikell, your Publisher From left: PhDr. Vít Fojtek, Ph.D., Živá Pamět and Tereza Rychnovská

From left: Alvise Gustiniani, Managing Director, Philip Morris Czech Republic, Slovakia & Hungary with his wife Nina, Weston Stacey, Executive Director, American Chamber of Commerce in the ČR and Nils Silfverschiöld, Quest Invest, s.r.o.

From left: Josef Dráb, Augustin Sobol with his wife and Mrs. Milada Karasová, President, Czechoslovak Models From left: Prof. Václav Klaus, President of the Czech Republic, Dita Skřivánková, Business Development Manager and MUDr. Michaela Bartáková, Committee of the Prague City Assembly

From left: Pavel Smetáček, Traditional Jazz Studio, Marie Kousalíková, Deputy Mayor of Prague City Hall, her husband and Ing. Jitka Vaculíková, Public Relations, Prague 1

From left: H.E. John M. Ordway, Chargé d’Affairs, Embassy of the USA and Joseph Pennington, Deputy Chief of Mission, Embassy of the USA

H.E. Stefan Gorda, Ambassador of Moldavia with his wife

From right: H.E. Alexej L. Fedotov, departing Ambassador of the Russian Federation, Prof. Václav Klaus, President of the Czech Republic and Mrs. Miroslava Němcová, Chairwoman of the House of Deputies

Předplatné

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