Prague Leaders Magazine Issue 02/2012

PRAGUE

leaders 2/2012 195 CZK

now available in Brussels

MAGAZINE

STRONG Partnership H.E. Annika Jagander, Ambassador of Sweden to the Czech Republic Photo: Vladimír Weiss

www.leadersmagazine.cz incl. electronic version Brno I Ostrava I Plzeň I Liberec I Olomouc I Ústí nad Labem I Hradec Králové I České Budějovice I Pardubice I Zlín I Jihlava I Turnov I Karlovy Vary I Mladá Boleslav

A masterpiece only gains in value over time: like Mozart ´s music - and his stamps.

The Czech Post is introducing a new edition of art stamps with a M Mozart design.

These stamps can be used for sending letters or postcards to Europe or kept as a great souvenir that will grow in value.

politika • ekonomika • byznys

Máme vliv

Parlamentní magazín je seriózní politicko-ekonomick˘ mûsíãník s aktuálním a ucelen˘m zpravodajstvím z oblasti celé státní správy a podnikatelského sektoru.

Elektronickou podobu ãasopisu najdete na www.parlamentnimagazin.cz

publishers note & contents

Dear Readers, While I am writing this column in the middle of March, outside it is a beautiful warm Saturday spring day of 20 degrees. You should know Dear readers that the temptation to get away from the office and practice some golf is very strong. However some back problems, and the deadline to finish this article, are stopping me from doing so.

I am very happy that the response has been so overwhelmingly positive in favour of our new layout and design of the front page. Words like “it looks more modern now’’ and “it looks clean and attractive’’ are some of the remarks we have received. Thank You. Sadly, my own personal news is that my dear dog Rhea has now left this world, after having been with me for more than 14 years. No words can describe how much I miss her, but I believe that wherever her soul is now, that during her years on Earth she had a good life, and this is a consoling thought for me.

It is a great pleasure and honour to have the rather new Swedish Ambassador on our front page, H.E. Annika Jagander, accompanied with an interview. I am convinced that she is a great representative for my home country Sweden, and I wish her many happy moments and successes in her work here in the Czech Republic.

Other prominent interviews are with Mr. Sten Tolgfors, Swedish Minister of Defence; General Jíří Verner, Air Forces Commander; Mrs. Alena Hanáková, Minister of Culture; JUDr. Martin Vychopeň, Chairman of the Czech Bar Association; Mrs. Lenka Bradáčová, President of the Union of State Prosecutions; Mr. Miroslav Křížek, General Director of Czech Invest; the very well-known Moderator of Czech TV, Mr. Václav Moravec; and PhDr Vojtěch Belling, Secretary of State for the EU. In this March issue of the magazine you can also see our photo reportages from some of the biggest and most famous events from the beginning of 2012. You will see reports on the Round Table

by Comenius with the Minister of Industry and Trade Mr. Kuba, and Minister of Labour Mr. Drábek; Jazz at the Castle; the CFO Club Seminar; the Russian Ball; the Trebbia Award Gala Evening; the US-Czech Innovation Conference; the Afghan Chamber’s New Year celebration; the Four Seasons opening of their new restaurant CottoCrudo; the Exhibition Rembrandt & CO by the National Gallery in Sternberg Palace; and the Austrian Ball to mention a few.

I am also happy to announce and welcome Lenka Koenigsmark to our team. She will be responsible for Myy dog M dog do og R Rhhea ea all editorial work. The former Marketing and PR Manager CZ and SK for Lego Trading s.r.o., she is now ready for new challenges with us.

Dear readers – I wish you a great spring season, and that you let the energy and hopes which come from this wonderful time inspire you to help and care for others.

Benke Aikell benke.aikell@leadersmagazine.cz www.leadersmagazine.cz

6 Leaders Magazine II/2012

events 16 20 28 31 38 40 44 50 52 62 64 70 72 74 76 78 80 84 91 119

11th Leaders Magazine Advisory Board Dinner Important Meetings of Mr. Milan Štěch, Chairman of the Senate of the Czech Republic Round Table of Comenius with Dr. Martin Kuba, Minister of Industry and Trade Round Table of Comenius with Jaromír Drábek, Minister of Labour and Social Affairs Grand Opening of ABB’s New Head Office CottoCrudo Four Seasons New Restaurant, Bar and Lounge Opened!

The Awakening of Primavera at the Alchymist Grand Hotel and Spa Lions Club Prague Bohemia Ambassador with Radek Špicar Austrian Ball CFO Club: A Prognosis of Economic Development in 2012 and a Review of 2011 11th Czech-Russian Ball Czech Energy Mix and the State Energy Concept Lions Club Prague Bohemia Ambassador with Jefim Fištejn Prague Hosted the Czech-American Innovation Conference Invelt Celebrates its 20th Birthday Canadian Chamber of Commerce in the Czech Republic, Business Breakfast with Pavel Kysilka Celebration of Nouwrus – New Day Arnošt Lustig Award ELAI Conference: Infrastructure as a Competitive Advantage of the Czech Republic Social Gathering of the Czechoslovak Foreign Institute in the Strahov Monastery

page 96 12th Annual of the Trebbia

culture events 60

Rembrandt & Co. Stories Told by a Prosperous Age

86

Song of the Night by Jitka Hosprová and Kateřina Englichová

88

World Famous Caricaturist Josef Blecha Celebrated his 60 Years with an Exhibition at Bílkova 13 and Gallery La Femme

96

12th Annual of the Trebbia, European Award and Benefit Cheques Trebbia on March 11th, 2012

120

Jazz at the Castle with Danish Radio Big Band

123

Jazz at the Castle with Piotr Baron Quintet

126

The Three Pintos, National Theatre

127

My Remote Homeland, Don Quijote, National Theatre

128

Enchantia, Enron, National Theatre

129

Mozart’s Birthday 2012, National Theatre

contents interviews

contributors

10

13 43

14

22

Strong Partnership A talk with H.E. Annika Jagander, Ambassador of Sweden to the Czech Republic

55 58

Smart Defence A talk with Sten Tolgfors, Minister for Defence of Sweden

92

Gripens Exactly Meet Security Requirements A talk with Jiří Verner, Brigadier General, the Deputy Commander of the Joint Forces – Air Force Commander

95 106 page 24 Interview with Alena Hanáková

24

Cooperation and Openness A talk with Alena Hanáková, Minister of Culture of the Czech Republic

34

I Get a Surge of Adrenalin in the Work of Public Prosecutor An Interview with Lenka Bradáčová, President of the Association of Prosecutors of the Czech Republic, and Deputy Regional Public Prosecutor in Ústí nad Labem

36

The Czech Business Environment Is Healthy and Competitive An Interview with Miroslav Křížek, General Director of CzechInvest

46

Searching for a Better Europe A talk with Vojtěch Belling, the State Secretary for European Affairs, Office of the Government of the Czech Republic

48

Advocacy Is a Mission A talk with Martin Vychopeň, Chairman of the Czech Bar Association

56

Heart Questions A talk with Václav Moravec, the foremost Czech Journalist and Presenter of Czech Television

112 113

I Know that I Know Nothing/Ivan Pilný Let Him who Would Move the World, First Move himself/ Karin Genton Good Ideas Can Live Forever/Emil Jimenez How Can we Make this World a Better Place to Live in?/ Sanjiv Suri The Future is Already Here – the Prophets of the Future Part 1/Iva Drebitko Abandon All Hope you Who Chase Quick PR/Cristina Muntean Cosmic Consciousness – A Journey To Well-being, Happiness, and Success, Part II: Where Do We Come From? A, B/James A. Cusumano The EU Should Not be Late With Digitalization/ Evžen Tošenovský The EU, or How to Live with Angels and Demons/ Emanuel Šíp

diplomatic events 21

State Visit of the President of the Lebanese Republic

page 126 National Theatre

EU matters 114 116 117 118

We Must Tap the Potential of EU Internal Market Alternative Dispute Resolutions Corporate Social Responsibility Business News

108–109

page 28 – Round Table of Comenius with Jaromír Drábek

110-111

7

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 goverment and mayor’s officials.

We cooperate with Prague City Hall, CzechInvest, Czech Centre, The Czech Medical Chamber, all Chambers of Commerce, Forum Francophone Affaires, Česká Manažerská Asociace, CMC Graduate School of Business, University of New York in Prague, Anglo American School, University of Pittsburgh, CEELI Institute, Lions Clubs, Rotary Clubs, The Prague Society for Int. Cooperation, CZECH TOP 100, Czech 100 Best, CEBRE, CESES, Eurotelegraph, The Senate, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Culture, Ano pro Evropu, VIP lounges at the Prague aiport, Zlatá koruna, CFO Club, BLF, Czechoslovak Foreign Institute, Národní divadlo, ÚOHS, Comenius, and many more.

For sale in Luxor Bookstore at Václavské náměstí.

Leaders Magazine is available in all rooms of these top star fine hotels and their restaurants: (telephone number for reservation)

Alchymist Rezidence Nosticova Alchymist Club Restaurant 257 011 670 Aria Hotel Coda restaurant 225 334 791 Augustine Hotel 266 112 233 Crowne Plaza Harvest Restaurant 224 393 692 Grand Hotel Bohemia U Prašné brány 234 608 111 Hilton Prague CzechHouse Grill & Rotisserie 224 842 700 Hilton Prague Old Town Restaurant 221 822 303 Holiday Inn Prague Congress Center Esprit 61 175 030 Hotel Hoffmeister Restaurant Ada 251 017 133 Hotel Intercontinental Praha Zlatá Praha 296 631 111 Hotel Palace Praha Gourmet Club 224 093 111 Hotel Residence Alchymist Grand Hotel & Spa 257 286 011 Hotel Savoy, Restaurace Hradčany 224 302 150 Kempinski – Hybernská Hybernská 12, 110 00, Praha 1 hotel & restaurant 226 226 111

Le Palais Hotel Prague Le Papillon 234 634 611 Prague Marriott Hotel Brasserie restaurant 222 888 888 Radisson SAS Alcron Hotel La Rotonde 222 820 000 Restaurant Alcron

222 820 000

Rezidence Lundborg Praha 257 011 911 Top Hotel Praha Restaurant Bohemiatop Recepce 267 284 111 Audience Decision makers in the fields of business, public relations, independent professions and diplomacy, government officials, local officials.

Leaders Magazine is member of

Kogo – Slovanský dům

221 451 259

La Perle de Prague 221 984 166 Lamborghini PastaCaffé (Vězeňská) 224 813 257 Lamborghini PastaCaffé (Vodičkova) 222 231 869 Lary Fary 222 320 154 La Truffe 608 308 574 Le Café Colonial 224 818 322 Les Moules 222 315 022 Luka Lu Restaurant 257 212 388 Lví Dvůr 224 372 361 mama lucy 222 327 207 Marco Polo IV 224 819 668 Metamorphis 221 771 068 Mirellie Mediterranean Restaurant Korunní 783/23 Praha 2 222 521 814 V.P. Čkalova 502/14, Praha 6 222 959 999 Nostresscafe gallery 222 317 004 Orange Moon Osteria Da Clara

222 325 119 271 726 548 776 418 559

Pálffy Palác Parnas Passepartout Pravda

257 530 522 224 216 244 222 513 340 222 326 203

Contributors: James A. Cusumano, Iva Drebitko, Joseph Drebitko, Karin Genton-L’Epée, EurActiv, European Leadership & Academic Institute, Pavlína Holancová, Martina Hošková, Filip Hubáček, Emil Jimenez, Zuzana Kasáková, Jan Mládek, Cristina Muntean, Jan Mühlfeit, Ivan Pilný, Věra Řiháčková, Sanjiv Suri Emanuel Šíp, Evžen Tošenovský Marketing/Advertising: Silvie Palaščáková, Max Salamatin Head of Editorial Lenka Helena Koenigsmark Marketing & Editorial Director Vladimíra Václavíková EU Matters: CEBRE Czech Business Representation, CESES, Europlatform

You can find the Magazine in these fine restaurants: (telephone number for reservation) Ambiente – Ristorante Pasta Fresca 224 230 244 Ambiente – The Living Restaurants 222 727 851 Aromi 222 713 222 Azteca 257 327 389 Bar Restaurace Bílkova 13 224 829 254 Barock Bar & Café 222 329 221 Bellevue 800 123 553 Bugsy’s Bar 222 329 943 Cafe La Veranda 224 814 733 Cafe Savoy 257 329 860 Cafe De Paris 603 160 718 Casanova 257 535 127 Clementinum 224 813 892 Casa Andina 224 815 996 Dům vína U závoje 226 006 120 Francouzská restaurace v Obecním domě 222 002 745 Giardino Enoteca con Cucina 222 513 427 Hergetova Cihelna 257 535 534 Ichnusa – Plaská 5 Praha 5 605 525 748 Kampa Park 257 532 685–6 Kavárna v Obecním domě 222 002 764 King Solomon 224 818 752 Kogo – Havelská 224 214 543

Publisher: Benke Aikell

Restaurace Hanil 222 715 867 Restaurant bar Pod křídlem 224 951 741–2 Restaurant Michal 222 222 630 Restaurant Rybí trh 224 895 447 Restaurant U maltézských rytířů 257 533 666 Rio’s Vyšehrad 224 922 156 Ristorante Amici Miei 224 816 688 Ristorante Da Emanuel 224 312 934 Rusalka 224 934 109 Sahara Café/ Restaurant 774 557 763 Restaurant Kamenný most 224 097 100 U malířů U modré kachničky U Modrého Hroznu U zlaté hrušky U Závoje

257 530 000 257 320 308 222 221 185 220 514 778 226 006 122

Zátiší Restaurant Zahrada v Opeře Zelená zahrada – Šmilovského 12, Praha 2

222 221 155 224 239 685

222 518 159

Photographers: Miguel Alonso, Ondřej Cundr, Martin Divíšek, Michal Dočekal, Barbora Ficalová, Brian Fleming, Jiří Herman, Stanislav Hladík, Radek Honzák, Michal Hrobský, Zdeněk Hrobský, Martin Janas, Zuzana Jirásková, Jakub Joachim, Martin Kámen, Martin Kubica, Kateřina Kynclová, Dima Loshagin, Johan Ödmann, Paul Pacey, Oto Palan, Filip Pokorný, Jiří Rudolf, Marie Schmerková, Zdenek Sluka, Hana Smejkalová, Jadran Šetlík, Jan Tilinger, Irena Vodáková, Vladimír Weiss, Josef Žák Subscription service: Leaders Magazine, CEPONA, s.r.o.

Lužická 32, 120 00 Praha 2 We appreciate your opinions of Leaders Magazine.

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.

Licence: MK ČR E 13147 No reproduction is permitted in whole or part without the express consent of Leaders Magazine.

The advertiser is responsible for the advertising contents.

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.

Graphic design and printing: D&S Design Prague, s.r.o. tel.: 274 774 131 prague@bigformat.cz www.bigformat.cz

Leaders Magazine Advisory Board The ppositive sitive tive iv reput reputat reputation of Leaders Magazine continues to grow, however we realize that we must mu maintain maintain in to improve and learn, particularly during these times of dynamic change.

That hat iss w why we hav have ve decided to set up an Advisory Board for the magazine. I am convinced that creating cre ting ngg a ppl platform atfo of high profile individuals will be an excellent opportunity for the magazine too ac acquire cquire cqu ui new ide ideas and define new directions of future development.

Ben Benke e ke Aikell Ai YYour our P Pu Publisher blisheer Th e aare There re only few w projects started in the Czech Republic by foreigners which I consider as useful s fu to this country as Leaders Magazine. The magazine has brought to the Czech Republic epublic the ccompletely new concept of making important people – the decision makers be they he Czech or foreigners – visible and worthy of positive admiration.

As you o 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 su 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 oof different backgrounds to create a consulting body which would bring this project to an even higher level.

I Karel Muzikář, CSc. Ing. President of Comenius I was ppleased to be invited by Benke Aikell to cooperate on the preparation of the Advisory Boardd project. proj I personally see one of the main goals of the project in creation of a positive environment for networking, exchange of views, presentation of new ideas, experiences, envir environme proposals propos propo osa salls or suggestions.

I am am convin con convinced onnvin vinc that the formation of a platform of highly profiled personalities and potential discussion discus scuss onn of different topics in very informal setting will be useful for both sides – for the magazine ma aga ine as a well as for the members of the Advisory Board.

Inng. Petr Ing. Pe Kub K Kubernát Director irector of o Pekos s.r.o.

Consulting Co Consul ulti and Training Company ADVISORY BOARD COMITTEE B nk A Benke Aikell, Publisher, Leaders Magazine Ing. In ng. g P Petr Kubernát, Director, PEKOS s.r.o. and former Czech Ambassador to the Netherlands Ing. Kare In Karel Muzikář, ář CSc., President, COMENIUS HONORARY MEMBERS ABROAD AND GOODWILL AMBASSADORS H.E. W William J. Cabaniss, former United States Ambassador to the Czech Republic Vincent Vinc en J. Derudder, Secretary General, The European Federation of Financial Advisers aandd Financial F Intermediaries Frank J. Devlyn, Rotary International President 2000–2001 and Rotary Foundation Chairman Fra 2005–2006 H.E. Alexey L. Fedotov, former Ambassador of the Russian Federation tto the Czech Republic H.E. Richard Graber, former United States Ambassador to the Czech Republic H. H.E. Jan Cornelis Henneman, Ambassador of the Netherlands to the Czech Republic H H.E. Athar Mahmood, former Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan to the Czech Republic H.E. 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., Professor, Technická Univerzita Liberec and former First Deputy Mayor, City of Prague 6 Ing. Peter P. Formánek, President, Canadian Chamber of Commerce in the Czech Republic Mgr. Marta Gellová, Director, Česká pojišťovna and Member er of the Board, AFIZ Michal Heřman, General Manager, Star Communications Václav Hudeček, Violinist Plk. Mgr. Vladislav Husák, Deputy Police President, Policejní jní prezidium ČR JUDr. PhDr. Oldřich Choděra, Lawyer, Law Firm JUDr. PhDr. Oldřich Choděra & spol.

Prof. Ing. Kamil Janáček, CSc., CNB Bankk Boardd Me Mem Member mber and Chief Executive Director Otto Jelinek, former Canadian Cabinet Minister nist and current cuurren member of numerous international boardss Ing. Peter Jusko, MBA, Partner, London Market Ing. Petr Kalaš, Advisor to the Minister, Ministry of Agriculture re of the CR and former Minister of Environment Ing. Josef Kreuter, CSc., former Czech Ambassador to thee EU E Prof. Dr.h.c. JUDr. Jan Kříž, CSc., Partner, Law Firm Křížž a Bělina s.r.o.

Ing. Jaroslav Kubišta, Secretary, Lions Club Prague Eagle agl Genmjr. JUDr. Lubomír Kvíčala, former Director of the Department of Protection of Constitutional Officials, cia Police of the Czech Republic Ing. Vladimír Laštůvka, former M.P. Ing. Jan Mühlfeit, Chairman Europe, Microsoft Corporation atio Ing. Jiří Maceška, Chairman of the Supervisory Board, Česká eská pošta a. s. and former Czech Ambassador to OECD George Parobek, Managing Director, Ifield Computer Consultancy Šárka Parobek, Director, Ifield Computer Consultancy Doc. Ing. Antonín Peltrám, CSc., Advisor Doc. Ing. Václav Petříček, CSc., Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Chamber SNS Ing. Jozef Piga, Member of the Supervisory Board, Omnipol a.ss.

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 MUDr. Richard Sequens, PhD., Head of Surgical Gast Ga stro roen ente tero rolo logy gy Cen ente terr, Nem emoc ocni nice ce Mililos osrd rdný ných ch ses este teer sv. Karla Boromejského v Praze and former Senator PhDr. MgA. Miroslav Smolák, Owner, Galerie MIRO Mgr. Albin E. Sybera, Managing Director, Sybera Enterprises spol. s r. o.

Brigadier General Ing. Andor Šándor (ret.), Consultant ant PhDr. Jaroslav Šedivý CSc., former Ambassador and Minister of Foreign Affairs JUDr. Josef Šesták, Assistant Professor, Vysoká škola kola obchodní obchoddn v Praze, o.p.s.

Ing. Radomír Šimek, President, German-Czech Chamber of Industry and Commerce Bc. Vladimír Šiška, MBA, 1stt Deputy Minister, Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs Jaromír Šlápota, President, Československý ústav zahraniční Ing. Pavel Štefka, MSc, 4-star General (ret.), Chief of Defence and Special Programs, Tatra Ing. Helena Švédová, HR Director, PSG International, a.s.

Ing. Josef Tauber, Advisor to the President, Czech Banking Association Ing. Jiří Vávra, Vice Chairman, STROJEXPORT, a.s.

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

interview

H . Ann H.E n kkaa Ja nni Jag aaggaand nder nder er Amb m ass mb as ad addoor of Swed Swed w den en to the he Cz Czech eeccchh Re Repub p licc pub PPhooto: to Vl Vlaadi addi dimír m We mí W iss sss

10

interview A talk with H.E. Annika Jagander, Ambassador of Sweden to the Czech Republic

Strong

Partnership

H.E. Annika Jagander (1957) holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Denison University, Granville, Ohio, and a Master of Science degree from the University of Göteborg, Sweden. Her academic area of expertise is political science and international relations. She joined the Swedish Foreign Service in 1985. Since then, she has worked in several of Sweden’s missions abroad, e.g. in Havana (1986–89), Washington D.C. (1989–1992), New York (1996–1998) and Madrid (1998–2003). During 2004–2007, she served as Sweden’s ambassador to Botswana as well as her country’s permanent representative to SADC, the main regional organization in Southern Africa. During the years 2007–2011, Ambassador Jagander served as Inspector General and Head of the Inspectorate of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs. She was appointed the Ambassador of Sweden to the Czech Republic in 2011.

If I say “promoting Sweden”, what does it mean for you?

Promoting Sweden is at the heart of what Swedish Embassies are generally all about. Luckily, the image of Sweden abroad is generally very positive in many fields, for instance in health and child care, quality of life in general, corporate social responsibility, traffic safety and more. This is especially true here in the Czech Republic, because Czechs generally have a very good knowledge of Sweden. And, of course, this definitely helps the work we are doing here. As I see it, the task of the Embassy is to try to emphasize and develop this knowledge and – using the resources available, such as our business “wing”, the Swedish Trade Council, with its own office in Prague – help Swedish companies to establish themselves on the Czech market. The Trade Council provides market services which can be tailor made to each business’ specific needs, and together we can act as door-openers for Swedish companies and other actors on the Czech market.

What are your main priorities in your new job at the Swedish Embassy in Prague?

Like my predecessors, I intend to continue working closely with the Czech Republic on a range of issues, many of them EU related, but also outside of the European sphere. The Czech Republic and Sweden share many

interests and concerns which can form the basis of an even more closely-knit cooperation in the future. I also would like to extend our cooperation on other issues of global concern, such as that of climate change and the environment. Of course, I would like to see increased trade between our countries. Last but not least, my aim is to run a top-notch embassy that provides excellent services to its many customers.

So, could you name some EU issues of similar interest?

We have very similar views on trade policy and the internal market. One obvious and also very topical issue concerns how to tackle the current economic and financial challenges. We both want to see more forceful measures to secure growth and competitiveness in Europe as a whole.

Together with several other EU colleagues, the Czech and the Swedish Prime Ministers recently presented a plan for growth in Europe. Measures include a deeper internal market, a digital single market, an effective internal energy market, a European Research Area, open global markets, a reduction of the burden of EU regulation, maintaining well-functioning labour markets, and a robust financial services sector. Undoubtedly, we will continue working together on this agenda. Another issue is the on-going discussions about the new multi-annual financial framework

of the EU. Both of our countries emphasize the need to reform and modernise the utilization of common resources collected from the tax-payers. We need to invest more in research, development and innovation.

The Swedish Government’s recent Statement of Foreign Policy says, among other things, that your country has a clear interest in a strong and stable euro zone. Could you clarify this?

It is definitely in Sweden’s interest that the euro area recovers, and that countries that are facing serious economic and financial problems can resolve their situation, if necessary with the cooperation of other partners.

This interest is not only because a large part of Swedish trade is with euro zone countries. Maybe that is not even the primary reason – ultimately it is about keeping Europe together and avoiding serious social tensions.

The fact that Sweden will join the new fiscal pact is an expression of our political will and aspirations. I could also mention that Sweden in 2010 provided a bilateral loan to Ireland in times of financial turmoil – just as we did to Iceland and Latvia, even if these two countries are outside the euro zone. And this year Sweden is willing to provide a loan to the IMF in the order of 10 billion euro as part of a larger joint EU effort to constructively contain the current crisis and restore market confidence.

Leaders Magazine II/2012 11

interview In essence, this is an investment in a healthy and competitive Europe.

In this respect, what is the present governmental vision towards adopting the single European currency in your country?

It stems from Sweden’s accession treaty that we eventually will adopt the euro. The political reality is that the referendum we had in 2003 on the issue resulted in a “no”. Referendums in Sweden are of an advisory nature and are not legally binding as such. However, all political parties in our parliament respect this referendum’s outcome. Consecutive governments have made it clear that adopting the euro requires broad parliamentary support and that the Swedish people should once again be consulted.

The Czech Republic and Sweden are increasingly important trade partners. Has the current economic crisis made significant shifts in mutual trade exchange of both countries?

The short answer is no. At the end of 2008 and through 2009, trade between Sweden and the Czech Republic took a dip. This was, however, not an isolated problem but a natural consequence of the general trade reduction within Europe during the first years of the crisis. In 2010 the Swedish – Czech trade was already back to pre-crisis levels and has since continued to grow.

At the moment, the Czech Republic is considering the extension of a leasing agreement for 14 Swedish Gripen jet fighter airplanes including an offset agreement. In your view, how has the Czech Republic benefited from the Gripen offset programme so far?

To start with, an offset arrangement in a possible extension of the current leasing agreement of Gripen supersonic aircraft is something you have to consider very carefully

in light of new EU regulations following the Lisbon treaty.

If you look at the on-going contract and the industrial cooperation which is part of that, I think it must be considered a huge success. The lease of the Gripen is accompanied by the most extensive and most successful offset programme in the history of the armament procurement projects of the Czech Republic. The programme represents an extraordinary, long-term benefit and a stabilization factor both for the domestic defence industry, for other Czech industries, and for the Czech economy as a whole. It serves as an important instrument both for creating jobs and promoting economic growth in general in many Czech regions, aspects which are of course of particular importance at this time of global economic turmoil.

The Nordic Chamber in the Czech Republic is a very vital body helping the Swedish companies on the Czech market. What is the Chamber’s main task?

The Nordic Chamber of Commerce works very well to bring companies from all of the Nordic countries together, and to promote the interface with Czech partners and expertise. I also think the Chamber works in a very stimulating environment. The Czech Republic and Sweden have a lot of similarities – we both have very vibrant industrial traditions. Even though I am relatively new to my post here in the Czech Republic, I can sense a lot of interest in Sweden, our culture and our business experiences. Both Czechs and Swedes share a love of nature, sports and support for a fair society.

According to your experience, what is the response of the Czech business environment to typical “Nordic issues” like ecology, transparent businesses, and equal opportunities?

I would say that such issues as ecology, equality and transparency – or values if you like – are nowadays better

characterized as the values of any modern and forwardlooking business which wants to stay competitive. And I know that many Czech business partners share these values.

You are known as a great lover of music and art. In this respect, what beauties have you discovered in Prague?

So far, among many impressive sites, the Theological and Philosophical Halls of the Strahov Monastery really deserve the epithet “beauties”. Beyond Prague, I have also made some wonderful discoveries, especially worth mentioning is the magical exhibit of Czech-Swedish glass maker Milan Vobruba at the glass museum Jablonec nad Nisou. It is on display until April 1st, so hurry up and go see it!

Among the many concerts I’ve had a chance to attend already, I’ve especially appreciated a jazz concert at the Castle as well as a concert of classical music at Rudolfinum, in which the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra was conducted by Sweden’s now almost legendary conductor Herbert Blomstedt.

How do you like the Czech gastronomy?

I have had some wonderful culinary experiences in Prague already, especially in restaurants with the inventiveness to build on local traditions while at the same time embracing new ideas and flavours. I’m also exploring daily the full gastronomic repertoire of my own cook, Mrs. Riutta, a lady who has truly served (no pun intended!) the Embassy well for many years already and whose talents – I’m happy to discover each day that goes by – is a constant source of joy. Introducing more Czechs to the delights of Swedish gastronomy is, by the way, also part of my ambition as ambassador.

By Pavlína Holancová

Czechs have a very good knowledge of Sweden, which definitely helps the work we are doing here.

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analysis

ITThatKNOW I Know Nothing not just economists. The ball, however, is often left at home.

To illustrate where this type of attitude leads, let me use two examples...

A turkey is fed daily with nutritious food. Day by day it puts on weight. Shortly, it gets used to this treatment and expects it to continue; it is comfortable, it does not require thinking.

Everything changes with Thanksgiving Day – for the nescient ones, a well-known epidemic of turkey extermination, for the benefit of overflowing tables of the American households. Butchers can predict this event with a hundred percent certainty, yet for turkeys it comes unexpected and is, ultimately, fatal. Please do not look for a Greek parallel here; it happens at other times and places as well, and it occurs often.

Have you ever heard this quote (ascribed to the Greek philosopher Socrates) being pronounced by politicians or economists?

We may never be able to, since political debates tend to be substituted by teleological rambling, or, at best, by crystal ball divination.

Unfortunately, this applies to experts too, and

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Sometimes a politician, in his carelessness and intoxication on power, blows off and pronounces something which is surprisingly stupid even at his level. He has power and function, so he “throws” a snowball, which grows into a panic that affects banks, economies and citizens, and as it changes it grows into an avalanche. After the avalanche stops, we can only count the victims. And even at this point, at a time of uncertainty, the numbers keep rising.

Is there any recipe for minimising such costs?

Let´s forget the idea that we could predict them. Did anyone predict 9/11, historical wars, bank failures or the economic crises? Indeed, after a significant event, experts always retrace back to some explanation for its occurrence,

and especially an explanation why they were not, at that particular time, able to analyse these causes, and predict their outcomes and implications. We can surely find someone who “always said it”. Unfortunately, even these wise men are wise only accidentally, and next time they might be fatally wrong.

It is necessary to admit to ourselves that in the same manner as we are able to read only a fraction of published books, what we know is only a fraction of what we don’t. This is however only a sad statement, rather than a solution. The only thing that can help us is the strategy of our grandmothers – to think of the “rear wheels”. The truth of this statement has not changed even with the invention of the independent four-wheel drive. It is good to spread the risks, not to have all of one´s eggs in one basket, and not to spend our “expected” future earnings. Should a devastating event come, we might lose our pants but not everything. As history shows, this will not teach us a lesson, but we can at least keep using the right parts of our bodies for thinking, adopt this strategy, and repeat it.

Unfortunately, we cannot expect anything so reasonable from the politicians lulled by their self-confidence and belief in their infallibility, nor from the interpreters of past parallels and connections, nor from the experts flashing their mathematical models. A look to the past demonstrates that all of their tactics have failed thus far. It is possible to live with it – after all even Socrates managed to live with Xanthippe.

It suffices to think and doubt.

By Ivan Pilný Pres esid iden entt of Tuesd esdaay Busin sines esss Ne Nett woorkk Former Chairman of Czech Telecom český překlad naleznete v elektronické verzi magazínu na www.leadersmagazine.cz

Leaders Magazine II/2012 13

interview A talk with Sten Tolgfors, Minister for Defence of Sweden

Smart Defence Photo: Johan Ödmann

14 Leaders Magazine VI/2011

Sten Tolgfors (1966) obtained the B.Sc. in Political Science, Örebro University, Sweden and Diploma at Oakcrest High School, USA. He also studied the Social Science Programme at Karlberg Upper Secondary School, Åmål. From 2002–2003, Sten Tolgfors was a member of the Riksdag Committee on Social Insurance; from 2003–2006 the Party Spokesman on education and, at the same time, the Member of the Riksdag Committee on Education. He was a member of the Advisory Council on Foreign Affairs and a member of the Riksdag in 2006. He held the position of the Minister for Trade of Sweden in 2006–2007. Sten Tolgfors was appointed the Minister for Defence of Sweden in 2007.

interview What are the key defence priorities for your country at present?

Domestically, the key priority is implementing the defence reform and transforming the Swedish armed forces, making them more ready, useful and flexible. Internationally, we have two key priorities in the defence field: Firstly, maintaining our commitment to international operations, exercises and cooperation, such as in Afghanistan. Secondly, providing impetus to furthering ”smart defence”, which will enable us to get more output from the money we spend on defence.

At a time when many EU member states are looking at deep cuts in their defence budgets, the total military spending of Sweden should remain stable. How did you manage it?

First of all, sound Swedish finances in general have enabled us to maintain the defence budget at a stable level. The reform of the Swedish defence is in accordance with the approach approved by Parliament in 2009. The intention is that the reform should take place within an unchanged defence budget.

The Swedish Armed Forces are undertaking extensive defence reforms to achieve more flexible forces able to increasingly deploy internationally. What are these reforms aiming for?

The Swedish reform will transform the military into a professional and flexible force that can be used in our own territory, in our vicinity, or elsewhere. The reform includes both the voluntary recruitment of personnel after the abolishment of the conscription system, and a new procurement strategy. The Swedish Armed Forces are also implementing structural reforms of the army as a new professional force is streamlined and focused on modular battalion battlegroups that can be deployed both domestically and internationally.

Interoperability and increased cooperation with partners are other key elements of the reform.

Perhaps the greatest change affecting the Swedish military is its transformation from a conscript force to a professional volunteer force. What should be the basis of the most effective modern army, in your view?

Following a parliamentary decision in 2009, Sweden has left the remains of the anti-invasion force-structure of the cold war. The keywords of the Swedish reform are availability, usability, flexibility and modularity. To achieve this, our armed forces must be an all-volunteer force, which is well-trained and equipped. In the old system, conscripts couldn’t be used for operations outside Sweden. So, we had to organize special ad-hoc units, consisting of volunteer reservists, for operations overseas. After

their tour of duty, these units were disbanded. This system with dual force-structures was clearly dysfunctional and wasteful. When the new system is in place, we will have a single set of forces for all tasks, and for operations in our own territory, in our vicinity, or elsewhere, in different conflict scenarios. This is both more effective and efficient.

In what way will technology continue to play a significant role within the military transformation of your country?

Technology continues to play a key role in our defence policy and in our armed forces. The Swedish army of today is equipped with modern, high-class equipment. That was not the case 20 years ago. We spend considerable resources on upgrading Gripen

well as EUMC and NATO, has an important role to play. I value their work in establishing a state of play of ongoing projects, sharing experiences, best practices and not least increasing standardization and harmonization. The proposals for increased cooperation that EDA has developed are promising. The cooperation within EDA has been an opportunity for Sweden to share costs when developing capabilities. Experience and knowledge from other countries, has promoted interoperability and operational performance for the Swedish Armed Forces.

In this context, where do you see the biggest opportunities for the Czech-Swedish defence cooperation at the moment?

I see many areas where we could develop cooperation, such as training, acquisition, experience from exercises and international missions. The Gripen program is the most important area of cooperation between our nations. Sweden regards the Czech Republic as an important partner in the Gripen program. The Swedish Government is dedicated to a long term cooperation. Sweden and the Czech Republic have cultivated an important partnership over the years and I believe our countries have a true potential for an enhanced partnership.

Swedish companies are traditionally very successful on both European and World defence markets. Saab particularly is a market leader in the defence and security industry.

Where is the core of its success in particular?

I think you have to go back to the Swedish security policy of the 1950s and 1960s, when Sweden was forced to always find national solutions for the armed forces and the defence of Sweden. Selfdependence with a strong national industry was absolutely necessary. Back then, the industry´s main buyer was the Swedish armed forces. Today the situation is different. The industry in Sweden has become international and has a good reputation on the global market.

Do you find that the interoperability with NATO capabilities remains the greatest issue of the industrial cooperation within the defence area across Europe?

There are many forces behind the European defence industrial cooperation. Interoperability with NATO is important. Other factors are the need for affordable defence capabilities, and the competitiveness of the European defence industrial base.

We must also create a level playing field, with similar rules across Europe. As long as there are 27 different markets in Europe, the European defence industry will have a disadvantage in relation to, for example, US companies.

The Gripen program is the most important area of cooperation between our nations. and on building a new generation of submarines.

The recent acquisition of UH-60M Black Hawk helicopters constitutes a typical example of procurement off the shelf of well proven military equipment, ready for deployment from the start. Technology is still an important factor for transformation, but the aim for Sweden is to acquire technology in the most cost efficient way.

The Nordic countries have a long tradition of cooperation. What are the success factors in Nordic pooling and sharing?

The main aim and purpose of the Nordic Defence Cooperation, NORDEFCO, is to strengthen the participating nations’ national defence, explore common synergies and facilitate efficient common solutions. Crucial steps and success factors are that a common goal for the cooperation has been established. Part of the goal is to strive for an optimum resource allocation and cost efficiency, to further interoperability and to increase operational effect. Another strength of NORDEFCO is its flexibility. Not all Nordic countries take part in all projects – participation is based on a case by case national decision.

The European Defence Agency offers a great opportunity for multinational cooperation. To what extent is Sweden involved within this platform? How did it help to improve the military capabilities in your country?

EDA is an important actor on the European arena, and Sweden strongly supports their efforts.

EDA’s importance will increase, as many countries in Europe face shrinking defence budgets.

EDA can play a major role as a facilitator for cooperation. One particular area of interest is the Agency’s work on Pooling and Sharing. EDA, as

By Pavlína Holancová

Leaders Magazine II/2012 15

networking/gourmet ne et or etworking/gour etwo orking/ ourmet eev event at Alchymist Grand Hotel & Spa

From left: Doc. Ing. Václav Petříček, CSc., General Manager, Chamber SNS, Ing. Jiří Maceška, Chairman of the Supervisory Board, Česká pošta a.s. and former Czech Ambassador to OECD, Benke Aikell, your Publisher, and Karel Muzikář, President Comenius

11th Leaders Magazine

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From left: Karel Muzikář, President, Comenius and H.E. YU Qingtai, Ambassador, Embassy of the People´s Republic of China

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Among our special guests this evening were H.E. YU Qingtai, Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to the Czech Republic; PhDr. Jan Kohout, former Minister of Foreign Affairs and present President of the Czech China Chamber of Collaboration; Radek John, Chairman of Věci veřejné; and Michael Hrbata, Deputy Minister of Defence. A much appreciated speech about the excellent relations between the Czech Republic and China and the good work done by the Czech China Chamber of Collaboration was given by PhDr. Jan Kohout.

nnetworking/gourmet ettw etw worki rking/gourmet rkin ingg/g g ou ourmet our urrme met even eve event vennt nt

From left: Mgr. Marta Gellová, Director, Česká pojišťovna and Member of the Board, AFIZ, Ing. Silvie Palaščáková, Sales Representative, Leaders Magazine, and Jaromír Šlápota, President, Československý ústav zahraniční

JUDr. Dagmar Raupachová, Attorney at Law

Ing. Ivan Pilný, President, TUESDAY Business Network and Ing. Vladimíra Václavíková, Marketing & Editorial Director, Leaders Magazine

Michal Hrbata, Deputy Minister of Defence

From left: Genmjr. JUDr. Lubomír Kvíčala, former Director of the Department of Protection of Constitutional Officials, Police of the Czech Republic, Fawad Nadri, President of the Czech-Afghan Mixed Chamber of Commerce, and Pavel Kvíčala, Partner, Norton Rose, v.o.s.

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

17

networking/gourmet ne et or etworking/gour etwo orking/ ourmet eev event

From left: PhDr. Jan Kohout, President, Czech China Chamber of Collaboration, Ivan Pilip, private financial consultant and former Minister of Finance, and Ing. Josef Kreuter, CSc., former Czech Ambassador to the EU

Ms. Sofiya Blinkova and Maxim Salamatin, Sales Representative, Leaders Magazine Ing. Hugo Kysilka, Marketing and PR Director, Vemex

From left: Fawad Nadri, President of the CzechAfghan Mixed Chamber of Commerce and Radek John, Chairman, Věci veřejné

18

From left: Zdenka Indruchová, Executive Director, Asociace českých pojišťovacích makléřů, Otto Jelinek, former Canadian Cabinet Minister and current member of numerous international boards, and Mgr. Marta Gellová, Director, Česká pojišťovna and Member of the Board, AFIZ

From left: Benke Aikell, your Publisher, PhDr. Jan Kohout, President, Czech China Chamber of Collaboration, Eva Anderová, Director of the Department of the International Relations, Ministry of Finance, and Ing. Petr Kubernát, Director, PEKOS spol. s r.o.

nnetworking/gourmet ettw etw worki rking/gourmet rkin ingg/g g ou ourmet our urrme met even eve event vennt nt

Karel Muzikář, President, Comenius

H.E. YU Qingtai, Ambassador, Embassy of the People´s Republic of China in his speech

From left: PhDr. Jan Kohout, President, Czech China Chamber of Collaboration, Fawad Nadri, President of the Czech-Afghan Mixed Chamber of Commerce, Karel Muzikář, President, Comenius, H.E. YU Qingtai, Ambassador, Embassy of the People´s Republic of China, and Miloš Janů, Entrepreneur

Radek John, Chairman, Věci veřejné

PhDr. Jan Kohout, President, Czech China Chamber of Collaboration in his speech

From left: Tomáš Masarik, Director, Emeran and JUDr. Josef Šesták, Assistant Professor, Vysoká škola obchodní v Praze, o.p.s.

From left: Ing. Josef Kreuter, CSc., former Czech Ambassador to the EU and Ing. Petr Kubernát, Director, PEKOS spol. s r.o.

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

From left: JUDr. Vladimír Ermakov, CSc., CEO, Vemex, Prof.

Ing. Kamil Janáček, CSc., CNB Bank Board Member and Chief Executive Director, Doc. Ing. Václav Petříček, CSc., General Manager of the Chamber SNS, and Prof. Ing. Jiří Fárek, Professor, Technická Univerzita Liberec

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senate insight

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Mr. Milan Štěch, Chairman of the Senate of the Czech Republic has held a meeting in Germany concerning the future of Eurozone, energetic matters and navigability of the river Elbe .

He also held a formal lunch in honor of Mrs. Ewa Kopacz, Chairwoman of the Sejm of the Polish Republic on February 22nd, 2012.

Official meeting at the Senate has commemorated 20th anniversary of the co-operation of the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Federal Republic of Germany.

Mr. Milan Štěch, Chairman of the Senate of the Czech Republic and Mr. Stanislaw Tillich, Prime Minister of Free State of Saxony

OF MR. MILAN ŠTĚCH, CHAIRMAN OF THE SENATE OF THE CZECH REPUBLIC

Mr. Milan Štěch, Chairman of the Senate of the Czech Republic and Mrs. Ewa Kopacz, Chairwoman of the Sejm of the Polish Republic

20

Mr. Milan Štěch, Chairman of the Senate of the Czech Republic and Mrs. Hannelore Kraft, Vice-chairwoman of the Federal Council of the Federal Republic of Germany and Prime Minister of North Rhine-Westphalia

Mr. Milan Štěch, Chairman of the Senate of the Czech Republic, Guido Westerwelle, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Federal Republic of Germany, and Mr. Karel Schwarzenberg, First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic

state visit At the invitation of President Václav Klaus, President of the Lebanese Republic Michel Sleiman with his wife Wafaa Sleiman, visited the Czech Republic, on March 1st–2nd, 2012.

From left: Michel Sleiman, President of the Lebanese Republic and Prof. Václav Klaus, President of the Czech Republic

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State Visit

of the President of the Lebanese Republic

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From left: Mrs. Wafaa Sleiman, Michel Sleiman, President of the Lebanese Republic, Prof. Václav Klaus, President of the Czech Republic and Mrs. Livia Klausová

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interview A talk with Jiří Verner, Brigadier General, the Deputy Commander of the Joint Forces – Air Force Commander

Gripens exactly meet security requirements

Ing. Jiří VERNER graduated from the Military Air Force College in Košice; he studied English Language Courses at the Military Academy in Brno and at the Garnison St. Jean, Quebec. He also studied at the Air and Ground Operations School in the Netherlands. In 2001, Jiří Verner graduated from the Air War Academy in Alabama in the U.S. and the Aero-Technical School in Linkőping in Sweden in 2005. Jiří Verner has throughout his career undergone various military functions. During 1985–1994, he held the position of senior pilot, a flight leader and later squadron commander at the 3rd Tactical Air Force Corps. In the years 1994–1999, he served in command positions at squadron and corps levels. Jiří Verner also held the position of Chief of Air Force Department, Deputy Air Force and Air Defence Inspector at the General Staff of Armed Forces of the Czech Republic from 1999–2000. Afterwards, in the years 2001–2007, he held the position of Commander of the 21st Tactical Air Force Base at Čáslav in the Czech Republic. From 2007–2008, Jiří Verner worked as International Staff at the NATO Command in Brussels in Belgium. From 2008–2009, he was appointed the Director of Air Force Department, Force Development Division – Operations Division of Czech Ministry of Defence. From March 1st, 2009 he has been the Deputy Commander of the Joint Forces – Air Force Commander. On the 30th of June 2009, Jiří Verner was appointed the Brigadier General.

Leaders LLe eaadder er s Magazine Maaggaazziine M Maga ine ne II/2012 II/ I/20 2 12 22 Lead Photos: personal archive of Gen. Jiří Verner

interview in air combat with modern fighters. However, they but the whole security system and operating condiWhy did you decide to become a professional are very effective in fighting slow and low flying obtions proved to be the best solution for a country soldier? jects such as helicopters and propeller aircrafts. the size of the Czech Republic. The JAS39 aircraft I grew up in a family with an “air background”. My The operation of multi-subsonic combat aircraft is itself can do much more than just secure AIRPOfather was a military aviator and served in the considerably cheaper, and their contribution to LICING. Along with the well-trained pilot and with transport regiment in Ostrava-Mošnov. However, defence is specifically limited only by their speed. the medium-sized missiles AMRAAM, it is able to I did not want to become a professional soldier Additionally, they are used for Czech defence within gain air superiority even against a very tough opfrom early childhood. I studied classical high the framework of the National Air Defence System ponent. The number of Czech GRIPENs, and the school; I had a head full of sports and, especially Booster, which is a supplement of the alliance syscost of their operation exactly meet the requireafter graduation, discovered a love for flying. Thus, tem NATINADS. The system has been aimed at an ment for the Security protection of the Czech ReI started studying at military college in Košice. At increase in capacity with increased security meapublic within NATO. In some cases, it is possible that time I was 19, so I have been a professional sures such as e.g. The Prague NATO SUMMIT in to go beyond the protection of the Czech Republic, soldier for 30 years already.

2002, or the US and Russian presidents’ visits. to help out allies e.g. in Lithuania or in Iceland.

What exactly does protection of the airspace Beyond this, the Czech Republic offers L159 In 2009, Czech pilots with Gripens were proin the Czech Republic entail? aircraft for the meeting of allied commitments tecting the Baltic countries. Are similar missions Airspace protection consists of AIR POLICING for ground forces in low intensity conflicts such as planned for the near future? and AIR DEFENCE, both aimed at ensuring the infor instance Afghanistan at present. Given the simiYes, this September the mission is going to reviolability of state sovereignty. The system includes larity of on-board aircraft systems, the ability of the peat, and we are also considering the option of radar monitoring of the air situation, command and deploying Gripens in a similar mission control elements, provides for the in Iceland. transfer of management informaIs the Ministry of Defence contion, as well as control and decisionThe number of Czech GRIPENs exactly meets sidering a purchase of the attack making processes. At the top level, helicopter? there are high-quality power elethe security and costs requirements within The attack helicopter is a very ments, i.e. combat aircraft and antiNATO for security protection of the Czech Republic. significant means of supporting the aircraft missiles. ground forces. The helicopters Mi24/35 The security of the airspace of provide this ability for the Czech army. the Czech Republic is a part of the These helicopters have the greatest problem with NATINADS system as well, i.e. the collective L159 aircraft is used for effective pilot training for compatibility with NATO, and with costs aimed at defence of NATO allies. What is this system the supersonic JAS-39. their modernization, taking into account that their about?

One of the crucial recommendations of the technical life span is beyond the financial capabiliWe became part of the system NATINADS with Czech White Book on Defence is maintenance of ties of the moribund budget of the Ministry of our accession to NATO. NATINADS is one of the the supersonic aircraft in the Czech Republic. In Defence. In the case of decommissioning, the most visible privileges of the NATO membership. All this respect, have the JAS-39 fighters proved ground troops will be forced to somehow replace this member countries have indivisible privilege to be useful? support. protected by the common system. Yet, the price for Supersonic aircraft is necessary to ensure the The Czech Republic has been involved in project this convenience means that we need to contribute protection of airspace. Also, a fighter must have AWACS, which involves reconnaissance and the to the system with our own means. In this respect, a sufficient excess of speed so that it is able to managing of aircraft. Can you specify this project? the Czech Republic is self-sufficient and provides catch a jet which by itself is moving near the speed E3 AWACS aircraft is a key communication hub for protection of its airspace by itself. The system, of sound. In this context, not only the aircraft itself, taking part in almost all allied air operations in both however, involves the backbone radar of NATO, peace time and during armed conflict. It provides which was built thanks to the money of allies. the overview of the air situation, enables communiCountries without their own fighter aircraft (e.g. cation and, if necessary, assumes control of operathe Baltic States, Iceland, Luxembourg, Slovenia) tions in its air space. The Czech Republic has been maintain a system of land, and their airspace is using the E3 AWACS aircraft for increased security protected by allies in different ways e.g. as the measures. Its radar is connected to the Czech raCzech Republic did in 2009 and this year. dar, and through its systems data from surrounding What machines are currently in the Czech states streams to us. Our pilots of JAS39 GRIPEN Army air forces? and L159 are regularly trained in co-operation with The air force of the Czech Republic is composed the AWACS aircraft. Thus, they also provide training of tactical aircraft operating airplanes L39, L159 on a reciprocal basis for the AWACS´s aircraft crew. and JAS 39 GRIPEN. Moreover, we have a helicopThis cooperation is very mutually beneficial. ter unit with Air Force helicopters Mi-24/35 and In what operations has the aircraft AWACS Mi-17/171, and air transport operating a couple been involved? of Airbus A319, the new aircraft C295 CASA, L410, They are engaged in almost all operations where CL601, Jak40 and helicopters W3A and Mi-8. the NATO member states’ aircraft has been deIn this respect, what is the L159 Alca aircraft’s ployed, i.e. over Kosovo, Afghanistan, Libya, and role within Czech defence and its usefulness in also at the Olympic Games, at NATO´s Summits, the fulfilment of allied commitments? such as the Summit in Prague in 2002, the hunt for The L159 aircraft is primarily aimed at strikes on pirates in the Gulf of Aden and the earthquake in ground targets and support for ground forces. The Haiti.

L159 aircraft is also able to act against air targets.

They are equipped with modern radar and they are

By Pavlína Holancová able to use anti-aircraft short-range missiles. Yet, due to their subsonic design, they are not able to český překlad naleznete v elektronické verzi magazínu na www.leadersmagazine.cz catch up with a jet, nor do they have much chance

Leaders Magazine II/2012 23

interview A talk with Alena Hanáková, Minister of Culture of the Czech Republic

COOPERATION

AND OPENNESS Photo: Vladimír Weiss

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Alena Hanáková (1958) graduated from the Faculty of Education, Palacký University Olomouc in 1988. She has extensive experience with public administration; she worked in the position of Mayor of the City of Vizovice, and also in other elected bodies. She was elected the MP of the Chamber of Deputies for the Zlín Region in 2010, and in December 2011 Alena Hanáková was appointed the Minister of Culture of the Czech Republic.

Alena Hanáková is only the second woman of Petr Nečas’s cabinet, and also only the second woman as the Minister of Culture of the Czech Republic. We talked to her about both the challenges and priorities that she is currently facing.

interview The cabinet has finally been enriched with another woman. Do you consider it a privilege to be a woman in Czech politics?

I see politics a little bit as an arena. I am convinced that men are closer to the arena than women are. Still, I believe that women belong in politics, because they somehow balance or compensate pressures and tensions that arise there. Much like black and white belong to each other, man and woman complement each other as well. I have to say that my colleagues treat me courteously.

The Ministry of Culture is a very boisterous ministry, where almost no minister endures throughout the term. How do you see this challenge?

I suppose the Ministry of Culture to be a rather lively ministry than a boisterous one.

When I joined the Ministry of Culture it was filled with team spirit and co-operation. I do not feel it to be a battlefield. Each ministry, and ministry of culture particularly, needs cultural thinking, much like cultural behavior. And do I consider it to be a challenge? Of course I do. Competing in something new always represents a challenge, whatever it is. I am a supporter of cooperation and openness.

You spent many years in local politics. How different it is from high politics?

You are in contact with people on a daily basis in local politics. Also, you are definitely much closer to people. The responsibility is always great, yet in high politics its much more of everything, everything is multiplied.

Experience is always useful, it is a good helper.

Are you going to continue with the work of your predecessor? Could you name your key priorities?

Yes, I continue and will continue. I would like to strengthen the ministries’ budget and, at the same time, improve the effectiveness of spending money on culture. I would also like to improve the ministry’s openness, communication and space for dialogue in the solutions of many difficult and professional matters.

So, what are your cultural preferences?

The care and protection of our cultural heritage, which is a non-renewable and irreplaceable source of information about the lives of our ancestors. We should not forget about historical monuments which cannot preserve themselves. Because when they disappear before our eyes, it is already too late. I should not forget the regional or the traditional culture either. Of course, I’d like to support the live art

as well, although it has its opportunity and knows how to attract public interest, or the interest of a distinctive audience, much like it knows how to financially contribute to its own activities by giving a high quality performance. As an example, I can cite the National Heritage Institute, which can receive another half-billion for its own budget, in addition to the contribution of one billion from the Ministry of Culture.

One of your main priorities is the property settlement with churches. Is the government going to be involved in the approval process?

What is your view in this respect?

The governmental proposal does not include such a provision. The proposal suggests that the agreement with churches will be closed with particular persons who are obliged (The

The legislative framework of processes regarding how to deal with the heritage fund, as a legal norm defining the public interest, is touching, as a matter of principle, a whole range of subjects. These interests are very contradictory in the case of cultural heritage.

If a conflict among these takes place under applicable law, there are mechanisms to deal with it, albeit not to the satisfaction of all concerned. Preparation of the new law assumes that the entire range of general and partial interest is going to be fully submitted again, to find a balanced compromise. Yet, at the same time, there is no mechanism for finding compromise, apart from the technological process of the new legislative rules, arguments and good will. So, finding a consensus in this situation is very difficult. All previous attempts at the new heritage law resulted in the absence of a clear vision of all involved, and in the unwillingness to compromise. I have a clear assignment for the legislative work within the heritage area. It is the government policy statement which requires us to submit such legislative measures to ensure effective, transparent, predictable and a guaranteed way of dealing professionally with the Heritage Fund of the Czech Republic. Legislative measures which also strengthen the legal certainty of citizens and, at the same time, remove unnecessary administrative burdens. Additionally, the legislative measures shall propose measures aimed at mitigation of impacts arising from limiting the property rights. Since I’ve been a mayor, I’ve been mostly concerned with compensation for restrictions arising from the public interest in monuments. The current system does not adequately cover the whole range of constraints that citizens meet in connection with the monuments.

Do you have time for your hobbies?

I read a lot, go for walks, and visit family and friends, for I really enjoy meeting people and my family in my free time. When I have a moment for myself, I am really fond of reading, as it helps me to mentally transfer to “another world”, and it is great for relaxing.

Recently, I was literally devoured by two parts of Ken Follet’s “Pillars of the Earth” and the book “World without End”, much like the social novel from Ireland “Angela’s Ashes” by Frank McCourt.

Women belong in politics because they balance or compensate pressures and tensions that arise there.

Land Fund of the Czech Republic; Forests of the Czech Republic) to avoid error, therefore the bill allows for control mechanisms. For agricultural property, we will therefore approve any agreement with the Land Fund of the Czech Republic, and will issue an administrative decision on the agreement. Thereafter, every decision and agreement will be approved by the Land registry in charge. Beyond this, government involvement in the process of issuing property would be unique in our legal system.

In what way?

It would actually mean that the final decision regarding restitution would not belong to the administrative authority, but to a political body. Moreover, it is not obvious what legal status the government’s decision would have, and how the Church could defend against any negative governmental decision. I would like to note that any decision by the government was prescribed in case of restitution to physical persons. I also believe that such a provision would open up space for various interest groups’ involvement, groups which might try to influence the government’s decision-making on particular lands. For these reasons, the eventual involvement of government was refused during a discussion at the Government Legislative Council.

Also, a new Heritage Act has been under preparation for years, unfortunately to no avail. What is the biggest catch? And what exactly would you like to change?

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

Leaders Magazine II/2012 25

Ħİ

ĭĪ ĭ Ġ

ś ĩĜ

ĨĜ

ĨĜĩĜśĠĭ ĭĪĦİ

19th ANNUAL

conference

MANAŽER ROKU 2011

Manager of the Year COMPETITION, FOR THE FIRST TIME WITH A CONFERENCE AND PANEL DISCUSSION A conference of professionals and a panel discussion with politicians will accompany the Day of Successful Managers and Firms, during which results of the most prestigious managerial competition, the MANAGER OF THE YEAR, will be announced on the 26th of April. The MANAGER OF THE YEAR is currently the most renowned and the most sophisticated managerial competition in the Czech Republic. Its aim is to find, objectively and independently select and propagate the most remarkable individuals in management positions, their methods and contributions to the development of firms and the economy as a whole. The organizers of the competition are the Confederation of Industry of the Czech Republic, the Confederation of Employers’ and Entrepreneurs’ Associations of the Czech Republic and the Czech Management Association.

The 19th Award Ceremony of the MANAGER OF THE YEAR annual competition will be complemented for the first time in its history by an intellectual hub in the form of a conference titled “Great challenge – successful managers think differently”. Among the participants will be, for example, Björn Stingson, President of the World Council for Sustainable Development, Milan Zelený, professor of economics and management systems at Fordham University in the USA, and many others. The cohort of internationally recognized Czech managers will be represented by Senta Čermáková of Hewlett-Packard, Jiří Cienciala of Třinecké železárny and Zbyněk Frolík of Linet, among others.

Much will also be revealed by the subsequent panel discussion with politicians, conceived as a thematic as well as pragmatic outcome of the preceding conference.

The main topics of the panel will be discussed in the context of the particular Czech conditions. The highlight of the DAY OF SUCCESFULL MANAGERS AND FIRMS will then be the announcement of the winners of the 19th Annual MANAGER OF THE YEAR contest.

The aim of the competition with the most elaborate rules is to objectively and independently select and highlight the best performers of Czech management, leaders in their field, and personalities whose methods are not only beneficial to the development of business and economics, but also to the whole of society. The best managers of the Czech Republic will be inaugurated under the auspices of the Prime Minister and announced on the 26th of April in Prague´s Palace Žofín.

CRITERIA MATTER, NOT SMS! The project MANAGER OF THE YEAR has always attracted a lot of attention and discussions. In comparison to other competitions, it is built on systematically constructed and continuously updated criteria, on strict conditions for nomination, and even more demanding requirements for the evaluation and progress to the higher levels of the competition. It focuses around teams of respected experts from the theory and practice of management and economics, which are concentrated in two independent commissions: the Evaluation Commission and the National Commission. For each participant-finalist, the project draws up a comprehensive appraisal, which

includes, for example, a management audit conducted personally by the judges, on the site of the manager´s workplace.

“What we look for is the manager´s personal contribution to the firm´s success”, explains the president of the Czech Management Association, Pavel Kafka. “We specify the share of his personal and managerial skills, the ability to lead and motivate a team to defined objectives and outcomes, and whether he has adopted the right vision and strategy for the firm. The Evaluation Committee is comprised of 20 independent experts from the theory and practice of management and works according to exact criteria and principles. Based on their detailed assessment, the National Commission, composed of 15 prominent figures of Czech management, then selects the winners for each category. “The qualities of each participant are thus examined at several levels”, adds Pavel Kafka.

In 2008, at the Conference of the European Managerial Confederation (CEC), the MANAGER OF THE YEAR competition and its criteria were reviewed by European managers in Toulouse. Even there, the competition was praised for its complexity, method and depth of processed information. The reason for this is that there are comparable competitions that are being organised across other European countries; not all however necessarily possess the Czech complexity.

GREAT CHALLENGE – SUCCESSFUL MANAGERS INITIATE CHANGES IN SOCIETY The morning conference “Great challenge – successful managers think differently” will consider two main themes.

The first topic examines the current changes in global society and the second one summarizes the views and experiences of Czech managers. Both sections are once again explained to us by the President of the Czech Management Association, Pavel Kafka: “Keeping the necessary level of competitiveness in a turbulently changing global world is extremely difficult. The manager is now located in a pivotal role in the complex triangle of staff, customers, and owners. His mission is to achieve the highest efficiency of these relationships, which is, in the current economic conditions, truly complicated. If the manager wants to succeed, he must cooperate on many levels and across different spectra. We would also like to discuss the quality of our institutional environment in which the manager must carry out his demanding role. We look at the whole issue in the context of competitiveness strategy, not only on the Czech scale, but also on the European and world scale. For it is a startling fact that in a recent international comparison, Czech Republic ranked 38th in overall competitiveness, but the position of our institutions in terms of competitiveness slipped to a position of eighty-plus. Our corporate managers already withstand international comparison, but of those who succeed in the competition MANAGER OF THE YEAR there is no need to doubt.

Instead, we now focus on the turbulent global changes, as well as on the management of public administration – mainly so that it ceases to be a brake on further development of the economy and society. A large shortcoming of

Photo: Jadran Šetlík

Pavel Kafka, President Czech Management Association

our civil service is its strong departmentalism, although the most serious problems today are cross-sectional, supra-departmental. In this respect, there is still a lot of work to be done for the management of the public administration.

Managerial techniques and the mastery of social roles are also among the conditions for success. We will therefore introduce the civil and the social roles of managers in specific instances, in a social context. Companies are strong social organisms and their leaders are taking on a great social responsibility.”

ONE DAY IS NOT ENOUGH The demand for themes that shape the direction and development of the future is immense. In the past years, the announcement of the results of the MANAGER OF THE YEAR competition was a part of the DAY OF SUCCESFUL MANAGERS AND FIRMS. It now appears that one managerial day is not enough. Topics and impulses are so numerous that they would suffice for a whole week. “It would be useful to combine forces with other partners and create a concentrated event for management development”, evaluates Pavel Kafka. “I think this year we made good progress in this direction. On the eve of our DAY OF SUCCESSFUL MANAGERS AND FIRMS, there is the 4th international conference on business and education, called CHANGES OF EUROPE 2012, which is being held by the Ostrava House of Technology in cooperation with the Quality Council of the Czech Republic in Novotného Lávka. During the same days, the CMC Graduate School of Business, a prestigious Czech management school, will hold a meeting of CMC alumni and friends accompanied by a lecture and a social evening with the participation of top managers, entrepreneurs and professionals in the field of education and management. Furthermore, the Czech branch of the World Council for Sustainable Development is also due to open on the 26th of April, in connection with the visit of the president of this reputable organisation. In this manner, the Czech management community will have at its disposal, together with our DAY OF SUCCESFUL MANAGERS AND FIRMS, the best and most esteemed authorities, all in one city, all within two to three days.”

Lýdie Procházková ■ Spokeswoman and Communication Manager for CMA and MANAGER OF THE YEAR Competition český překlad naleznete v elektronické verzi magazínu na www.leadersmagazine.cz

Leaders Magazine II/2012 27

networking/discussion event

Special thanks to Ifield Computer Consultancy and Laic Aktiengesellschaft for making this reportage possible From left: Martin Kuba, Minister of Industry and Trade and Karel Muzikář, President, Comenius

IN COOPERATION WITH LEADERS MAGAZINE

Round Table of Comenius with Dr. Martin Kuba, Minister of Industry and Trade

With over one hundred participants, the Round Table of Comenius discussion dinner with Minister Kuba was one of the largest Round Tables ever, which confirms that there is a great interest in the developments taking place within the Czech Ministry of Industry and Trade.

28

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH IFIELD COMPUTER CONSULTANCY AND LAIC AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT

From left: Otto Kechner, Assistant Professor, Vysoká škola finanční a správní, Rostislav Dvořák, Chairman, Union of Czech and Moravian Production Co-operatives, Vladimír Dohnal, Chairman of the Board of Directors, Top Hotels Group, and Stanislav Novák, Vice President, Comenius

networking/discussion event

From left: Jan Oberman, Executive Head, Korado Consulting, Jan Kohout, President of the Czech China Chamber of Collaboration and Advisor to the President of the Senate and the President of the Association of Regions of the CR, and Karel Muzikář Jr., Managing Partner, Weil Gotshal Manges

From right: Zbyněk Frolík, Executive and Managing Partner, Linet, Martin Pecina, CEO, Vítkovice Power Ingeneering, Roman Mužík, Executive Head, AVE CZ odpadové hospodářství, and Otakar Hora, Partner, KPMG

From right: Jiří Zapletal, Managing Director, Škoda Power, Vladimír Vaněk, Partner, Deloitte Advisory, and Benke Aikell, your Publisher

From left: Jakub Vít, External Relations Manager, ArcelorMittal Ostrava, Jaroslav Hanák, President, Confederation of Industry of the Czech Republic, and Zbyněk Frolík, Executive and Managing Partner, Linet

Throughout the evening Minister Kuba has proved his willingness to openly discuss issues the Ministry is facing and he also demonstrated his ability to elaborate on relevant questions proposed by participants. The discussion primarily focused on the Ministry’s priorities in the development of the automotive industry, foreign trade and also steps Minister Kuba would like to take in education.

MORE MO RE PHO HOTO TOS TO S AN AND D EL ELEC ECTR EC TRON TR ONIC ON IC VER RSION SIION S N AVAI AV AILAABL AI BLE LE ON N W WW W .L .LEADERSMAAGAZI ZINE NE.CZ CZ

From left: Milan Hovorka, Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade, Jan Světlík, Chairman of the Board of Directors, Vítkovice, Martin Kuba, Minister of Industry and Trade, Karel Muzikář, President, Comenius, and Gustav Slamečka, General Director and Chairman of the Board, ČD Cargo

29

networking/discussion event

Special thanks to Ifield Computer Consultancy and Laic Aktiengesellschaft for making this reportage possible

From left: Karel Muzikář, President, Comenius, Ivan Lapin, CEO and Chairman of the Board of Directors, Severočeské doly, Jan Světlík, Chairman of the Board of Directors, Vítkovice, and Karel Muzikář Jr., Managing Partner, Weil Gotshal Manges

Miroslav Křížek, General Director, Czech Invest speaking Vladimír Plašil, Chairman of the Board of Directors, ALTA

From left: Michal Staša, International PhotoVoltaic Investor Club, Frank Schulte, Secretary General, International PhotoVoltaic Investor Club, Milan Hovorka, Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade, Jan Světlík, Chairman of the Board of Directors, Vítkovice

Pavel Martínek, Head of Department, Vemex and Romana Smetánková, Ernst & Young

From left: H.E. Peter Brňo, Ambassador of Slovakia, Július Kudla, Chairman of the Board of Directors and CEO, Euler Hermes Čescob, úvěrová pojišťovna, and Zdeněk Pelc, CEO, GZ Digital Media

Eva Trotter, Member of th Board of Directors, PemInvest and Josef Veselka, Chief of Cardiovascular Center, University Hospital Motol Eva Frindtová, Publisher, C.O.T. Media and Jiří Maceška,Chairman of the Supervisory Board, Česká pošta

30

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH IFIELD COMPUTER CONSULTANCY AND LAIC AK TIENGESELLSCHAFT

From left: Zbyněk Frolík, Executive and Managing Partner, Linet, Pavel Juříček, CEO and Chairman of the Board of Directors, Brano Group, Ivan Lapin, CEO and Chairman of the Board of Directors, Severočeské doly, a.s., and Tomáš Březina, Chairman of the Board of Directors, Best

Special thanks to Ifield Computer Consultancy and Laic Aktiengesellschaft for making this reportage possible

networking/discussion event From left: Jaromír Drábek, Minister of Labour and Social Affairs of the Czech Republic and Karel Muzikář, President, Comenius

IN COOPERATION WITH LEADERS MAGAZINE

Round Table of Comenius with Jaromír Drábek, Minister of Labour and Social Affairs

The discussion Round Table of Comenius held with Mr. Drábek, Minister of Labour and Social Affairs, took place on the last day of February at the Top Hotel Praha.

During his active exchanges with other participants, Minister Drábek has proved his knowledge, diligence and focus on issues particularly within the area of social affairs. One of the most debated topics of the evening was foreign employment policy, to which participants of the discussion contributed with many practical suggestions.

From left: Stanislav Beneš, General Director CEE, INFRAM, Petr Soukup, Managing Partner, Stance Communications, Vladimír Šiška, First Deputy Minister of Labour and Social Affairs, and Lubomír Káňa, Director, Revírní bratrská pokladna, zdravotní pojišťovna

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH IFIELD COMPUTER CONSULTANCY AND LAIC AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT

31

networking/discussion event

Michal Hátle, General Director, T-Systems

Vladimír Měkota, Director of ICT System Development, Vítkovice

Special thanks to Ifield Computer Consultancy and Laic Aktiengesellschaft for making this reportage possible

Rostislav Dvořák, Chairman, Union of Czech and Moravian Production Cooperatives

From left: Jan Klas, General Director, Air Navigation Services, Karel Muzikář, President, Comenius, and Miloslava Mezerová, Director of HR and Finance Department, Air Navigation Services

Zdeněk Pelc, General Director, GZ Digital Media

From left: Jaromír Drábek, Minister of Labour and Social Affairs of the Czech Republic, Jiří Vacek, Co-owner, Avanti and Miloslava Procházková, Co-owner, Avanti From left: Martin Žáček, General Director and Chairman of the Board, UNIQA ČR and Petr Kučera, Executive, Komix

From left: Jiří Kysela, General Manager, Dell Computer and Daniel Merhaut, Services Sales Executive, Dell Computer

From left: Jan Rovenský, Chairman of the Board, Trade Association of State Authorities and Organizations, Michal Štefl, General Director and Chairman of the Board, OHL ŽS, with a question, and Renata Telínová, Chairwoman of the Board of Directors, Scanservice

The debate also touched upon the negative social outcomes of a decreasing population of the Czech Republic and also demotivated workers relying on state social support.

Minister Drábek confirmed that work motivation is one of the main concerns of the Ministry.

32 MORE PHOTOS AND ELECTRONIC VERSION AVAILABLE ON WWW.LEADERSMAGAZINE.CZ

Top Hotel Congres Hall

networking/discussion event

From left: Vladimír Dohnal, Chairman of the Board, Top Hotels Group, Jan Wiesner, Honorary Chairman, Union of Czech and Moravian Production Cooperatives, Jaromír Drábek, Minister of Labour and Social Affairs of the Czech Republic, Karel Muzikář, President, Comenius, and Rostislav Dvořák, Chairman, Union of Czech and Moravian Production Cooperatives

From left: Jan Klas, General Director, Air Navigation Services and Martin Lukš, Sales Director, CS Data

From left: Jan Rovenský, Chairman of the Board, Trade Association of State Authorities and Organizations, Martin Procházka, Managing Director, Oksystem, and Vítězslav Ciml, Business Development Director, OKsystem

Mrs. Marie Kousalíková, Mayor, Municipality of Prague 6

From left: Aleš Maxa, Country Business Leader, 3M Česko, and Zbyněk Perníček, Sales Supervisor, Occupational Health & Environmental Safety, 3M Česko

Jiří Malý, General Director, Securis and Ivana Šindelářová, CS Data

Hana Krbcová, Director of the HR department, ČEZ

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH IFIELD COMPUTER CONSULTANCY AND LAIC AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT

33

interview An interview with Lenka Bradáčová, President of the Association of Prosecutors of the Czech Republic, and Deputy Regional Public Prosecutor in Ústí nad Labem

I Get a Surge of

Adrenalin in the Work of Public Prosecutor JUDr. Lenka Bradáčová, PhD graduated from the Charles University Faculty of Law, where she also completed her PhD studies. She started her career as a public prosecutor in Litoměřice. In 2003 she became Deputy Regional Public Prosecutor in Ústí nad Labem, and five years later, the president of the Association of Prosecutors of the Czech Republic. Lenka Bradáčová also gives lectures at the Czech Judicial Academy and Police Academy. She speaks English, German, and Russian.

34 Leaders Magazine II/2012

interview What brought you to the job of public prosecutor?

I was interested in criminal law during my studies at the faculty. However it was not obvious at first whether it would be on the defence side or prosecution – i.e. public prosecution of the public prosecutor’s office. I found out later that public prosecution is closer to my interests. Once I was considering focusing on criminal law as a judge, but it was a very short period of time. I even went through the selective procedure. Although I succeeded, I finally decided to work as a public prosecutor. I have never regretted my decision.

What attracts you to criminal law?

Criminal law is a very broad subject. The range of criminal offences spans from the environment, to economic crime to violence. However, a good public prosecutor has to know not only criminal law, but also civil, European and international law, because the interconnection is huge. I also like that as a public prosecutor I can approach cases in an active way.

Every case is a challenge. From the beginning you follow the case, go to the crime scene, are in touch with the team you are working with, and your involvement in trial reflects all of this. The work of public prosecutor is thus possible to compare to extreme sports.

Do most public prosecutors work this way?

I think there is a greater percentage of those who at least want to approach their work actively.

A public prosecutor defends public interest, and should thus behave accordingly. I don’t deliberately use the term state interest, because public interest doesn’t have to always overlap with the state interest, which is often much narrower than the public interest. Some principles aren’t violable and subject to agreements.

How many hours a day do you spend on a case approximately?

If there is a need to work on a case, I spend ten to fourteen hours a day. If we work within the 48 hours that we have from the detainment of the offender, then it is those 48 hours.

What was the most difficult case for you from the perspective of the evidence and dilemma of decision-making?

The case I had to think about most, and still think about, was the murder of an old lady. Finally her grandson was sentenced. It wasn’t anything difficult from the perspective of the facts. However, the perpetrator covered all the tracks, and tried to design the whole situation in a way that it seemed the lady had died on another day. During the investigation we inserted data at the wrong time, because it wasn’t possible to detect when the death precisely occurred.

It was a range of days for which the perpetrator created an alibi for himself. Then the case started to unravel on the basis of little details. I very actively participated in the evidence; I put the case back to another day and returned it to the police. Everything was very difficult to classify. It was also difficult to persuade the senate again. Moreover, it took four months for the senate to adjudge, which is unusual. It came to the conclusion that the grandson was guilty.

It was one of the most difficult cases for everybody, as far as deciding how the crime was committed.

No evidence was direct, all of it was circumstantial.

It was more difficult in that all family members were suspicious, and blamed each other.

You deal with difficult cases. How do you keep your distance?

It is important to view each case through the lens of law. When something happens, I seek the law in it, and not the social aspects. I assess them of course, but again in the context of law. It is about whether the public prosecutors or judges are able to say that they can see people behind the story, and can put it into the legal norm. A public prosecutor has a specific position during the trial. Before the prosecution they defend the interests of all. They observe whether the laws were respected. They review the police methods, and whether the rights of the accused were adhered to. They have the injured and witnesses.

Suddenly they come before the court, where they are a representative party. The rights of the accused are defended by the lawyer; and the public prosecutor battles for the prosecution and a guilty verdict. When the judge gives a verdict and says guilty, the public prosecutor has to subsequently assess whether the verdict is equitable or not. If the verdict is unlawful, and to the disadvantage of the accused, then the public prosecutor has the duty of serving a notice of appeal in their favour. It has happened several times that we served a notice of appeal in favour of the accused, because we considered the verdict unfair. The interest of the public prosecutor has thus been changing. Furthermore, the public prosecutor goes to the prison and pays attention to the fact that the rights of condemned are respected. It is a peculiar role.

Nowadays, the reform of the public prosecutors’ offices has been discussed. How are the public prosecutors involved in it?

The Supreme Public Prosecutor set up a special group comprised of seven public prosecutors, and I was one of them. The group formulated basic theses and principles, which were reflected in the preparation of the legislative intention. The question of a three or four level system of the public prosecutor’s office and special anti-corruption unit aroused the strongest emotions. However, these are issues that have to be decided politically.

You promote a three level system. Why? It is a luxury to have four levels of the public prosecutor’s office for ten million people living in this country. I don’t share the worries that if one level is cancelled, it would lead to a centralization of power, and the whole system would return to the old prosecutor’s office. Whether it is a public prosecutor’s office or a prosecutor’s office, it depends on the tools and instruments that the public prosecutors, or the Supreme Public Prosecutor, have at their disposal, and not on levels. Germany has a classic system of a public prosecutor’s office that has three levels, and nobody questions it. The fourth level is given by the general prosecutor’s office that unites all German Länders. Four levels make sense for federations or confederations, when the fourth one shields the highest levels of federal units. For comparison, Slovakia also has a three level system. In general, three levels are better in order to maintain the effectiveness of work. This should also stand for the judicial system.

How do public prosecutors perceive the problem in general?

I think that the change of structure of public prosecutors’ offices and courts would be welcomed by almost everyone, except those working at the High Public Prosecutor’s Office. I can understand that.

The prevailing opinion is to cancel the High Public Prosecutor’s Office, if public prosecutors even got in touch with it, because the High Public Prosecutor’s Office doesn’t have any competence within districts.

And at the district level, there is the highest number of public prosecutors, and a lot of work as well.

How it is possible to ensure that the public prosecutor’s office isn’t subject to external influence?

Personalities are always key. If we have personalities who have high moral integrity and values, we needn’t any law. The norm always reflects the state of political culture and society. If the system isn’t aware that it is undesirable and inadmissible to interfere in it, then the norm has to protect the system.

It is the main goal. It is also important to ensure clear rules for the Supreme Public Prosecutor. Rules for meeting the professional requirements – education, practice within the public prosecutor’s office, and moreover, the person should also have a high moral standard. The tenure should be clearly defined as well. The person has to know the rules before accepting the office. Then they have a right to choose whether to break the rules and thus create the room for dismissing them, or to abide by them within the set period of time. The government bears the responsibility for the appointment. Then there are issues, let’s say internal rules that determine under which conditions it is possible to give instruction to the cases, when they can be refused, when the case is revoked and given to someone else. On the other hand, the rules should be formulated in a way that the public prosecutor’s office has to be responsible for its activities. The responsibility of the public prosecutor for their methods or decisions should be thus clearly defined.

In general, it is possible to say that there should be examples within the judiciary. I am not quite sure whether there are enough examples for the newcomers. I am not saying they aren’t there, but they have to evolve.

What are your examples in the judiciary?

My big examples among lawyers were Dr. Motejl and Professor Cepl. Although Professor Cepl was a very controversial figure, he remained consistent and high-principled in his opinions. Dr. Motejl was a personality that by general respect could promote issues, which many in his position cannot afford.

These two people I regard as my big examples and I always had a deep respect for them.

Many judges of the Czech Constitutional Court, as well as of the Supreme Administrative Court, are personalities. We can find many at lower levels, but they aren’t publicly known.

What are your hobbies?

I like sport – volleyball, skiing, inline skating. I also spend my free time gardening.

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

Leaders Magazine II/2012 35

interview An interview with Miroslav Křížek, General Director of CzechInvest

The Czech Business Environment Is

HEALTHY AND COMPETITIVE Photo: CzechInvest archive

36

Miroslav Křížek (1979) graduated from the University of Economics in Prague, where he has been lecturing and preparing for an associate professorship. Since September 2010 he has been General Director of CzechInvest. He perceives his position as a head of the Investment and Business Development Agency as a personal priority, supporting the growth of innovations and investment with higher added value, and advancing the commercialization of results in science and research.

interview Why did you accept the position of General Director of CzechInvest?

Almost two years ago, CzechInvest did not have a clear programme, and many people regarded it as “a dead institution”. It was a great challenge for me to accept the post of General Director, which meant that I was to stabilize the Agency position within the Czech economy, and develop a strategy that would move it ahead. I accepted the offer knowing that I would have the opportunity to use my experience from the private sector, as well as from the University of Economics in Prague, in the state institution.

What priorities and objectives did you set?

Have you been successful in implementing them?

As the first state organization, CzechInvest prepared realistic measures in 2011, fulfilling the International Competitiveness Strategy for the Czech Republic that was approved by the government in September. These measures are embodied into the “New CzechInvest” strategy, whose aim is to contribute measurably to growth in competitiveness of the Czech economy. We are gradually introducing new products and services to the market.

For example, we have managed to launch the CzechEcosystem project, supporting the creation of new progressive firms in the Czech Republic.

One of your objectives is to strengthen the position of CzechInvest in the international arena. How do you want to achieve that?

The key is cooperation at the international level in the area of support for and cooperation of clusters, in particular in Visegrad Group countries and their neighbours. We also want to extend other programmes of international cooperation. The first swallow is the Gesher/MOST programme established between the Czech Republic and Israel, which supports the participation of Czech companies in projects of applied research and experimental development. In this respect, we want to focus on areas in which the Czech Republic has definitively something to offer – nanotechnologies, ICT, biotechnology, and cosmic technology. The CzechAccelerator 2011–2014 programme offers to Czech technological companies the opportunity to expand to foreign markets, specifically to the U.S., Singapore, Israel or Switzerland.

One of the CzechInvest tasks is also to ensure that the EU funds for enterprise support are used effectively. How would you assess the progress in this area? Are the entrepreneurs interested in EU funding?

Absolutely. We extended the calls for proposals in many programmes of the Operational Programme Enterprise and Innovation. We register the biggest interest in the following programmes – The Innovation-Innovative Project which funds projects putting new, original solutions into effect, and EcoEnergy that focuses on all types of energy saving, as well as the increase in effective energy, and using renewable energy sources. Furthermore, the number of questions at our Green information line has been growing every year. Entrepreneurs can call to ask about the right procedure for submitting

applications for EU funding. Since its establishment in 2006, specialists of the Green line have responded to tens of thousands of queries.

In your opinion, toward what areas should money go from the EU structural funds in the upcoming programming period 2014–2020?

Priorities for this period are set in the above mentioned Competitiveness Strategy for the Czech Republic. We will in particular focus on support for small and medium enterprises, knowledge economy, investment – primarily in innovation and human resources development for competitiveness, and also on the promotion of the business and investment environment of the Czech Republic abroad.

How did the unfavourable economic conditions influence the flow of investment into the Czech Republic in 2011?

From the perspective of investments mediated

by CzechInvest, last year was more successful than the year before. This was due to the open programmes of the Operational Programme Enterprise and Innovation, within which foreign investors, who decided to expand in the Czech Republic, could have asked for endowments, and also due to the high level of investment in the automotive industry.

In what areas, other than the automotive industry, were investors interested most in 2011?

In addition to the automotive industry, which traditionally plays an important role in the Czech industry, a significant volume of investment went to the chemical and pharmaceutical industries. Also, traditional Czech sectors such as engineering and aviation saw significant total volumes of investment in 2011.

And what about the regions? Which of them registered the highest rate of foreign investment in the last year?

According to the information I have at the moment, it is possible to say that the biggest volume of investment went to the Ústecký region.

What firms invested here most?

Last year’s most significant investments came from Czech firms. Traditionally, American and German investors have also had a big share in investment here.

What can the Czech Republic offer to investors?

The Czech Republic has a special position within the region that is determined by both geographical and historical conditions. In this respect, it is primarily characterized by the stability of the political situation, as well as the stability of the bank sector, whose importance and significance has been confirmed recently in particular. In comparison to other countries in the region, the largest inflow of foreign investment goes to us, and in this respect we are above the EU average. From a geographic perspective we are close to Western as well as Eastern markets; there are good flight connections here, and developed roads and railway systems. The Czech Republic also offers a high-quality workforce. Czech people are on average very well educated and above all possess language skills. Our biggest advantage is the orientation towards sci-

ence and research, and the excellent results we achieve in these areas. We especially belong among the world leaders in biotechnologies, precision engineering, and software development.

To what extent has the economic situation influenced CzechInvest’s activities?

In this dismal economic situation the agencies of our type have a lot to do. It is, however, above all an opportunity to use our potential and experience to support investment, innovation and the development of the business environment and infrastructure. Economic development and prosperity of Czech businessmen is our main mission. The New CzechInvest strategy thus comes with a portfolio of services that should lead to the sustainable competitiveness of the Czech economy in the long run.

What are your expectations for this year?

This year is a challenge and opportunity for CzechInvest to use the experience that we have gathered, over the last twenty years, in the areas of investment support and business environment.

In this difficult time we want to prove that the Czech business environment is healthy and competitive.

After becoming the General Director of CzechInvest you did not give up lecturing at the University of Economics. Why? Lecturing is still important for me. Today’s universities are very much about the mutual exchange of experience between professors and students, and thereby more linked to the practice. And that is good. I am for instance fascinated by the resourcefulness with which young people look for gaps in the current market, and then offer services or products tailored to recognized needs, and on which they can profit well. I myself supported many students’ ideas.

What qualities and competences should a good manager have?

First of all they have to have a vision. They have to set objectives they want to achieve, and methods that will lead them to the objectives. At the same time they have to be prepared to change them flexibly according to the actual development of situations. It is also important to address problems constructively, not to perceive them as obstacles, but as opportunities and challenges, and if possible to prevent problems. What makes a good manager is their capability of dealing with people, partners, as well as members of their teams.

Because even the best manager is nothing without the team they choose.

What are your hobbies?

My grand passion is flying. Apart from the relaxation of escaping into the world several thousand meters above the surface, flying brings a healthy self-confidence, and a very conductive feeling that I have my life fully under control and in my hands alone. Flying also gives me a very necessary detached view. I often touch down on the runway full of new ideas.

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

Leaders Magazine II/2012 37

The Czech subsidiary of global leading company celebrates 20 years of growth and success in the Czech market. ABB, a major industrial player in the Czech market and a world-renowned supplier has entered the third decade on the market with new headquarters and a positive outlook of 7–10% sales growth in line with its global strategy. ABB, a leading global power and automation company, celebrates the 20th anniversary of its presence in the Czech market. To mark the occasion, it held opening of its new local headquarters in the QuBix building in Prague 4, Štětkova Street. The building is equipped with latest technology including even the new fast charging station for electrical vehicles – ABB Terra 100.2 and is energetically efficient. It currently holds the LEED gold “Green Building” pre-certificate and will try to reach the highest level, i.e. LEED platinum, in the final stage of the certification process. The new headquarters will benefit ABB with an expected 30% reduction in operating costs.

prestige event

IN COOPERATION WITH LEADERS MAGAZINE Peter Terwiesch, Director of Regional Central Europe, ABB

GRAND OPENING From left: Ing. Vladimír Korenc, Managing Director, ELCOM, a.s., Mrs. Simona Benešová, Ing. Jiří Holoubek, Chairman of the Board of Directors, ELCOM, a.s., and Ing. Lucie Jandová, Cluster Marketing & PR Director, ABB ČR

From left: Staffan Erenmalm, Global Pricing Manager, Robotics, ABB and Alex Rickli, Country CFO, ABB ČR H.E. Annika Jagander, Ambassador of Sweden and Gabriel Ekermo, Swedish Embassy

38 A toast after cutting the ribbon – from left: Peter Terwiesch, Director of Regional Central Europe, ABB and Hannu Kasi, President, ABB ČR

Ing. Lucie Jandová, Cluster Marketing & PR Director, ABB ČR and Hannu Kasi, President, ABB ČR

From left: Hannu Kasi, President, ABB ČR, Marianne Gerber Szabo, Embassy of Switzerland, and H.E. André Regli, Ambassador of Switzerland

Ing. Lucie Jandová, Cluster Marketing & PR Director, ABB ČR and PhDr. Ing. Ivo Klimeš, MBA, Sales Director, Credit One, a.s.

Monika Reizerova, Consultant, Unique Consult and Birger Husted, General Manager, CR, Unique Consult

From left: Alexandr Svoboda, Advisor, Charouz Group s.r.o. and Michael Svoboda, Sales Director, Charouz Group s.r.o.

Jan Kohout, Partner, PRK and Sylvia Strapcová, SCM Manager, ABB ČR

“AABBB is an a imp mpor orta tant par tant artt off the h Cze zech ch ind ndus ustr us trr y an andd I am pro roud ud of thhe successes that ABB Cze zech ch Republic has achieved over the past 20 ye y ars,” said Hannu Kasi, Cou ount ntry ntry r M na Ma nage g r off ABB Czech chh Reppub ublililic, c, add ddin ingg tthhat in at “We We pro rovi v de dir vi i ec ectt em mpl p oy oyme ment me n to mo nt more r tha hann 3,000 people and indir i ec ir ectltlly to t anoothher e tho hous usan annd th thro roug uggh suubb suppliers.s. In cceert rtai ainn f iel fifiel e ds ds,, AB ABBB is No. 1 in th thee Cz Czec echh mark maark rket. et. Thhis is pa et part rtic rt iccullar arly lyy tru ruee off the wir irin i g ma in m terial, which yo y u wi willll f in indd in i alm mos ost ev e er eryy ho h usse an andd bu buildi ilildiingg in th thee Cz C ec ec h Reppubblilic, c,, frroom ev e er eryo yoone ne’’s hom omes e to th es thee Pr Prag ague ag ue Cas astltlee, the he Ruzyn uzzyn yněě Ai Airp rpor rp ortt annd thhe me or metr trro. Our tro. ur Brn rno pl plan antt is thee wor o ld ld’ss biigg gges estt ma es manu nuffa facttuurrerr of me fact m di dium um-v um -vol olta tage g ins nstr trrum umen ennt tr tran ran a sfor sffor orme merss. me mers

About 93 % of its production goes to export, which testifies to the high quality of products of ABB Czech Republic.”

ABB (www.abb.com) is a leader in power and automation technologies that enable utility and industry customers to improve performance while lowering environmental impact.

The ABB Group of companies operates in around 100 countries and employs about 130,000 people. In the Czech Republic, ABB operates in 8 locations, employing more than 3,000 people.

From left: Peter Terwiesch, Director of Regional Central Europe, ABB, Hannu Kasi, President, ABB ČR, H.E. Annika Jagander, Ambassador of Sweden, and Staffan Erenmalm, Global Pricing Manager, Robotics ABB

MORE PHOTOS AND ELECTRONIC VERSION AVAILABLE ON WWW.LEADERSMAGAZINE.CZ

39

prestigious

From left: Rene Beauchamp, General Manager, Four Seasons Hotel Prague with his wife Louise Beer, and Robert Neale, Portland Trust with his wife Elizabeth

COTTOCRUDO IN COOPERATION WITH LEADERS MAGAZINE

40

FOUR SEASONS NEW RESTAURANT, BAR AND LOUNGE OPENED!

IINN CCOOPERATION OOPERATION WITH WITH MORE PHOTOS LEADERS MAGAZINE LEADERS MAG GAZINAND E ELECTRONIC VERSION AVAILABLE ON WWW.LEADERSMAGAZINE.CZ

Leaders Magazine was at the opening party of stylish new restaurant, bar and lounge CottoCrudo which took place in the end of February. Vibrant new restaurant is located in the premises of the former Allegro hotel restaurant and is accessible for guests through a separate entrance from Veleslavínova Street. CottoCrudo which means “Cooked and Raw”, introduces a new dining concept to the city. An Italian classics menu with a modern twist, a central culinary station with prime Italian delicacies, a Crudo bar, variable seating options and a unique design showcases the latest in dining trends. The fact this is a “place to be” endorsed a number of VIPs and celebrities.

Pavel Roučka with his wife Daniela and Louise Beer

Benke Aikell, Your Publisher, Leaders Magazine and Mgr. Marta Gellová, Director, Česká pojišťovna and Member of the Board, AFIZ

Iva Kubelková, TV presenter and Model

41

Simona Krainová, Model with her husband Karel Vágner

Kamil Levinský, CEO, České Radiokomunikace

Jitka Kolářová, MICE & Corporate Meetings Manager, Czech Convention Bureau

H.E. Norman L. Eisen, Ambassador of the United States of America to the Czech Republic and Rene Beauchamp, General Manager, Four Seasons Hotel Prague with his wife Louise Beer

42 Jakub Flejšar with his partner

Pavel Šporcl, Violinist with his wife Barbora Kodetová, Actress

Osmany Laffita, Fashion Designer

the coach´s corner

Let him who would Move the World, First Move himself.Socrates Following a two-day leadership training recently, a client of mine called to share the highlights of his learning, and some frustrations. This client, who is welleducated, competent, and has a strong desire to be part of a successful team, was hired a year ago by an international company eager to recruit young talent – its next generation of leaders.

Unfortunately, twelve months into the job, while his boss and his team kept expecting him to be a leader, he had become very confused about what being a leader really means and what he was supposed to do to feel like one.

Fortunately, his company is supportive of his desire to improve, and encourages his coaching sessions and additional training.

But at the two-day company event, he encountered a question that seems to come up over and over again: Are leaders born or made? “Seriously,” he said. “How many people wake up in the morning thinking ‘Wow, what a great day! I am a leader!’ or, ‘Today is the day I have become a leader!’”

I don’t think the answer is in any doubt, and my thirty years of professional experience working with leaders and aspiring leaders confirms, for me, an inescapable conclusion: leaders are made. And I am not alone in this feeling.

“The most dangerous leadership myth is that leaders are born, that there is a genetic factor to leadership,” says Warren Bennis, an American organizational consultant and author. “The myth asserts that people either have certain charismatic qualities, or they don’t. That’s nonsense. In fact, the opposite is true – leaders are made rather than born.”

THE ONLY QUESTION, THEN, IS “HOW ARE LEADERS MADE?” Today, everybody is clamoring for leadership: in politics, in business, in education. In times of uncertainty we seek Karin Genton-L’Epée is a business coach with 30 years of extensive professional experience in the United States, France and the Czech Republic.

Based in Prague since 1995, for the past 13 years she has developed a range of coaching and training programs for mid- and top-level managers, focusing on leadership development, cross-cultural understanding and effective communication in a global environment. By providing a structured environment that supports people in clarifying who they are and what they want, Karin enables her clients to devise more effective strategies to achieve their personal and professional goals. Thanks to her knowledge, skills and range of international experience, Karin is in demand as a speaker at business conferences and educational institutions on both sides of the Atlantic. She is also a regular contributor to business journals and magazines. She works in English and French and can be reached at karin@coaching.cz.

IN COOPERATION WITH LEADERS MAGAZINE

people who can reassure us by exhibiting confidence, competence and foresight, people who can inspire us and move us at the same time.

To move others, though, as Socrates pointed out, one has to start by moving oneself. To navigate the waters of leadership, one has to embark on an inward journey of self-discovery – and complete that journey – before starting the outward journey of leadership and supportive mutual purpose.

THE INWARD JOURNEY – MOVING YOURSELF The first journey, the inward journey, is about self-discovery. It is about identifying our needs and our values, and about understanding how these needs and values influence our thinking, our behaviors and ultimately, how they influence our lives. It is about finding out what is important to us and what we are passionate about. Ultimately, it is about defining who we are and what we want to achieve.

Our ability to discover ourselves relies on our willingness to ask four questions: Who: Who am I and who do I want to be?

What: What do I want for myself and what do I want to achieve?

Why: Why do I want to achieve these things?

How: How can I become who I want to be and how can I get what I want – what actions do I need to take to achieve my goals?

While these questions sound simple, to answer them, one needs to undertake an intense self-reflective process, one that is critical to developing a genuine sense of self. And being able to answer them truthfully requires stepping boldly toward what one thinks is a deeper and bigger self.

“There is no first step toward self-knowledge without hazard or risk to the surface self we already know.”

David Whyte (Yorkshire-born poet) Fortunately, one of the positive results of this process is that, after having made the journey of self-discovery, the aspiring leader will reach a higher level of self-awareness, a significant level of competence in a chosen field, and increased skill in self-management.

After having acquired a deeper understanding of oneself and fulfilled personal dreams, the aspiring leader can then embark on the outward journey, the journey of reaching out to others, the journey of contribution, where supporting and inspiring others is as important as serving oneself.

THE OUTWARD JOURNEY OF LEADERSHIP Many people who aspire to leadership positions often do so from the wrong point of reference. Their ambitions are self-serving, ego-driven attempts to get more money, more power or more recognition. So they may have the title, and the responsibilities expected of leaders – and they may be perceived as very successful – but they fall far short of being leaders.

Fortunately, many managers, like my client, understand that if the conventional purpose of leadership is to get results through people productivity, real leadership is about developing people through their work performance. They

look beyond themselves to try to find out what their team members want, what they value and what they wish to achieve. As a leader, as someone in a position of authority, my client quickly discovered that he has an obligation to offer others the opportunity to learn and to grow.

His job as a leader, says Google co-founder and CEO Larry Page, is “to make sure everybody in the company has great opportunity and feels they’re having a meaningful impact and are contributing to the good of society.”

Leaders who are recognized to be the best in their field like Larry Page, or Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg, are often the ones we look up to for advice, guidance and inspiration. But one can also be the best in his field, like Apple co-founder Steve Jobs, without necessarily being inclined to offer support and guidance to others (even though his ideas were inspiring).

Soon after he joined his company, my client understood that he would never be able to lead his team if he wasn’t a credible leader. To believe him and to follow him, his team members needed him first to communicate his overall vision for the department he was in charge of and the objectives they were expected to achieve. His next challenge was to motivate them, by helping them focus their talent and energy toward the company’s goals.

Last but not least, he had to find regular opportunities to encourage, support and value them by providing ongoing feedback. He now knows that his performance will be evaluated by what his department accomplishes, but also that his leadership skills and potential will be assessed by the degree to which his team is motivated and inspired to contribute to the company’s overall success.

Leadership is not the answer to all the demanding issues we are confronted with in today’s world, but leaders who have completed their inner journey and are travelling the outward journey have powerful abilities to help others dealing with challenges of mistrust and fear.

To address today’s uncertainty and to become the inspiring architect of tomorrow, the aspiring leader needs to embrace the personal transformation experienced through searching inward. Once the inner journey is complete, he can focus on the needs and wants of others, and it is that focus that fosters the meaningful discourse and actions that lead to tremendous success.

Leaders Magazine II/2012 43

gala event

Giorgio Bonelli, Owner, Alchymist Luxury Group and Julie Loshagina, Miss Russia and Model

IN COOPERATION WITH LEADERS MAGAZINE

of Primavera

THE AWAKENING AT THE ALCHYMIST GRAND HOTEL AND SPA

Lovers of luxury met on the first evening of March at the Alchymist Grand Hotel and Spa in order to celebrate the presage of spring and admire the newest trends for the upcoming spring-summer. Expectation and curiosity were high to see the new creations by Roberto Coin, Escada Sport and Moser and these three prestigious brands did not disappoint indeed. Subtle materials and pastel colors completely gained the control of the newest Escada Sport collection and brought a fresh taste of the blooming spring. Escorting the models on the catwalk was the dazzling glance of precious stones by Roberto Coin featuring the famous diamond cut Cento with 100 bezels. Moser prepared the exhibition of one of their limited collections and provided the guests with a unique opportunity to adulate the glass Chameleon perched with more than 117 carats of natural Czech garnets.

44 From left: Petros Papadopoulos with daughter, Igor and Svetlana Litovkin, Franchise Partners, ESCADA

MORE PHOTOS AND ELECTRONIC VERSION AVAILABLE ON WWW.LEADERSMAGAZINE.CZ

Alena Semenova, Boutique Manager, ESCADA and Andrej Galassi, Owner, Gallery of European Contemporary Art

Eliška Bučková, Model

Natalie Ruden Fashion Designer

The Magnificent premise of The Alchymist Grand Hotel with its romantic adjacent terrace garden flourished once more with splendour, music and champagne fizzle and perfectly underlined the atmosphere of the evening.

45 In the middle: Alex Vernik, Stylist and Kateřina Mojdlová, PR, Alchymist Luxury Group

interview A talk with Vojtěch Belling, the State Secretary for European Affairs, Office of the Government of the Czech Republic

Searching for

BETTER EUROPE

a

PhDr. Vojtěch Belling, PhD. – graduated from the Faculty of Social Science and from the Philosophical Faculty of the Charles University in Prague; he studied and gave lectures at the Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg as well. Among other positions, he worked at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, at the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs, and since 2009 he has held several positions at the Office of the Government of the Czech Republic. Vojtěch Belling was appointed State Secretary for European Affairs in 2011.

The Czech government recently decided not to join the Treaty on Fiscal Union. What exactly does it mean for the Czech Republic?

We have also touched upon this topic when talking to Vojtěch Belling, the State Secretary for European Affairs.

You were one of the Czech negotiators for the Treaty of Fiscal Union. What exactly have we managed to negotiate?

Negotiations over the Fiscal Pact (its full name being Treaty on Stability, Coordination and Governance in the Economic and Monetary Union) were intense and conducted at a very fast pace. We managed to negotiate a number of key changes in the text. I consider the change of Article 15 the most important thing in the present context, which allows each state of the EU to accede to the Fiscal Pact at any time in the future, with no possibility of any state to veto it. Yet, we were also successful in a number of other issues as well.

Can you be more specific?

We managed, for instance, to prevent the Fiscal Pact from confirming the precedence of EU law, including the case law of the Court of Justice, over treaty falling under the competence of member states. That is important, because the approach of the Court of Justice in giving absolute primacy to European law is controversial, and certainly not universally accepted. Such explicit recognition by member states in a legally binding document would therefore have had far reaching consequences. We have achieved, altogether with other allies, the deletion of references to the internal market, because this issue has to remain in the hands of the entire EU. Additionally, we also managed to avoid a radical transfer of powers to the Court of Justice and to the European Commission. The transfer of powers would not be justified by the Pact’s purpose, and thus

46

Photo: Archive of the Office of the Government of the CR

interview material change of the primary law, seen as a set of intertopic of European integration becomes an object of would give the unelected institutions too much power national legal provisions governing the EU and the a deeper political discussion which does not limit itself of political nature. Also, we at least partially succeeded only to a fundamental conflict between the principles of functions of its institutions. As I already mentioned, it is in opening the Eurozone Summits to non euro area member up to politicians to agree on a correct interpretation. “more” or “less” Union. Instead, the debate’s focus should states, which will have ratified the Fiscal Pact. rather be on the question of what further development The overall structure of the economic and monetary Why do you think the other non-members of the euro union has changed since the commitment to adopt of European integration we prefer, what role we want to zone agree with the adoption of the Fiscal Pact? a common European currency; furthermore it also attribute to particular EU institutions, and in what areas It should be noted that states, whose currency is not changes the contract for fiscal union. Is the governwe want greater activity of the EU, and in what areas we the euro, are in varying positions. On the one hand, we ment counting on the fact that citizens would decide want the opposite. I will be very happy if we would treat have Denmark and Great Britain with a so-called “permaon the future adoption or rejection of the euro in European issues much like we do the national ones. nent” opt-out from the adoption of the euro, and thus the referendum?

Moreover, we don’t have to welcome each and every EuroPact will not apply to these countries. Sweden is in a very pean Commission’s proposal only because it comes from There are new conditions for countries joining the ecosimilar situation. There is, much like in Denmark, an agreenomic and monetary union, in addition to meeting the “Brussels”, as well as not every suggestion of the government on calling a referendum on the eventual adoption of Maastricht criteria, as well as acceding to the previously ment at home is welcomed by everyone. Similarly, it is not the euro. The decision of Denmark and Sweden was therementioned Fiscal Pact with all the resulting consequennecessary to criticize any notion on principle. We should fore easier because the Fiscal Pact would not enter into ces, there is also the participation in the Eurozone rescue simply devote ourselves to the substance of the issues force in these states without a referendum, even if they that are addressed in the EU, and to have a clear opinion mechanisms, e.g. in the European Financial Stability were to sign the Pact. Another six states are limited in their about them, which is not based only on automatic Facility (EFSF) and the upcoming European Stability decision-making by the fact that they are recipients, or Mechanism (ESM). Therefore, adopting have recently benefited from financial the euro will be associated with significant assistance from the International Mofinancial costs. Given the above, it is reanetary Fund, or from the EU instruments, Further European integration will be connected with sonable that the government considers or because assistance was at least proa growing tension in the society, if the process is justified only such a considerable change of our commitmised to them, and thus they have, so to by its effectiveness and not by the people’s consent as well ment to adopt the euro to be linked with speak, their hands tied. If you are receia referendum on euro accession. It is, howving help from someone with your budget ever, a matter of political discussion, and due to a poor fiscal and economic situathe principled approach to the relationship between tion, the Fiscal Pact is hard to refuse. So, every country acceptance or the negating of anything coming from the representative and the direct democracy elements. always considers its specific situation and in the end “Brussels”. So far, the public debate in the Czech RepubIn this respect, how do you perceive further the makes a political decision. lic on European issues has been unfortunately very flat. It development of EU integration? Has the European Do you consider the Fiscal Pact rather a political almost seems like we have slipped 15 years into the past, integration process reached its peak, and now can gesture, or can we really consider it a first constant as though we are still dealing with the question if we want we await a gradual return to nation states? step to the fiscal union of the EU? to join the EU or not.

I, personally, have doubts especially about the Although the Pact is sometimes perceived by the public In this respect, it seems that the expert analysis on methods through which the current process of European only as a mere symbolic gesture expressing our support national procedures for approval and ratification of the integration will continue. The decision-making in the EU, and solidarity for the euro area, from a legal point of view, Fiscal Pact do not maintain a single position either. but after all in the member states as well, is increasingly it is a binding international treaty marking an important The procedure is clearly defined by the Constitution. acquiring the nature of some processes automatically shift in European integration in the fiscal area. Despite the As regards the transfer of powers, pursuant to Article 10a following from one another, and these processes are fact that, in our case, the Pact would come into force only of the Constitution, there must either be consent to the losing elements of politically and democratically legitiwith our adoption of the euro, the mere signing of the Pact ratification by the constitutional majorities in both chammate decision-making. Thus, legitimacy is given up to would express consent with all the transfers of powers bers of parliament or a referendum. Most legal analysts make the decision-making more effective. with effects only postponed to the future. At the same scrutinizing the final version of the Fiscal Pact agree Not surprisingly, the gap between the real will of cititime, we do not even know how the Czech Republic will dethat it amounts to a transfer of powers. So far, it seems zens, and the actual steps, is widening. Then again, any cide to adopt the euro. Theoretically, the Czech government that the Pact could be ratified rather on the basis of proposal can be based on some arguments of “objective could do so on its own quite easily, with only a simple maapproval of the constitutional majority in parliament. necessity”, pressure of the financial markets, stability of jority of votes. So, although the Pact itself does not bring The eventual referendum would only be called on for the currency, etc., no matter which opinions resonate many new things concerning the criteria for balanced the matter of the time of the adoption of the euro, i.e. in the society. Therefore, I hope to avoid an overheating budgets, and although economists do not see many regarding the Pact’s effect, not its ratification. It should of the integration process, which would result in the breakthroughs in it, the Pact is, nevertheless, fundamenbe, however, differentiated between constitutional proopposite. What is happening in the euro area is a shining tally changing the decision-making procedures. cedures and political agreements. example thereof. In the beginning, there was a nice idea In what way?

Can you explain this? of a common currency leading to greater political conIt establishes a principle according to which the particiI am referring to the agreement on referendum embonections and reinforcement of ties between European pating states are required to vote in a certain way, and died in the current coalition agreement. Thus, the internations. Today, we have a situation where the tension and possibly also against their original will. Likewise, under pretation of these provisions is up to the coalition politimutual mistrust among Eurozone members, and their certain circumstances, they will be obliged to take action cians. It’s hard to imagine that they would go to any nations respectively, are much higher than before the against another country. They also commit to jointly coindependent judicial procedure with a request for interfoundation of the monetary union. I do not think that ordinate further accumulation of debts. Now, the question pretation of the provision in question. There is no other the integration process has reached its peak, however any is not about whether these steps are correct and necesway than mutual agreement. Since the Fiscal Pact subfurther development will be connected with a growing sary. Perhaps they are, and a monetary union cannot exist stantially changes the way the EU institutions are working, tension in the society, if the process is justified only by without them, yet it should be clearly said that they come.g. voting in the Council, and gives new tasks to EU instiits effectiveness and not by the people´s consent as well. prise no trivial change. tutions, one can hardly say that it does not concern The coalition was seeking a consensus on a position the EU´s primary law. However, we can discuss whether

By Pavlína Holancová that the government was finally going to take on fiscal the “trigger” of referendum, according to the coalition union. What is the real core of the dispute? agreement, should be solely a formal change of the founAs a civil servant, I can hardly comment on political disding EU Treaties, which is not going to happen anyway. Or český překlad naleznete v elektronické verzi putes within the coalition. However, I will be happy, if the we can discuss if the referendum’s trigger should be any magazínu na www.leadersmagazine.cz

Leaders Magazine II/2012 47

interview

A talk with Martin Vychopeň, Chairman of the Czech Bar Association

Advocacy Is

A MISSION Photo: Mr. Zelený´s archive

48

The control and disciplinary system of the Czech Bar Association is regularly priced internationally.

JUDr. Martin Vychopeň (1966) – graduated from the Faculty of Law, at the Charles University in Prague. Currently, he is a member of the Scientific Council of the Faculty of Law at the Charles University, giving lectures on civil law. He was the first articled clerk after the Velvet Revolution in 1989, registered with the serial number 0001.

At present, he operates his private law practice as a partner of the Law Office Camrda, Premus, Vychopeň, Vachoušek, Zeman and Partners in the City of Benešov.

He is also the Chairman of the Czech Bar Association (CBA), a member of the CCBE delegation and the CBA examiner.

interview Had you been considering the profession of lawyer for a long time or did you choose it rather by chance?

I am pleased that I was the first attorney’s clerk of the free advocacy after 1989. I was registered on the 1st of July 1990 as the attorney’s clerk with the serial number 0001.

And after my passing of the bar exams in 1993, I was registered as a barrister to the Bar on January 1, 1994. However, I followed this professional path rather by chance because originally I wanted to become a judge.

What happened?

The court, however, had no free positions at that time. Thus, I tried the profession of an attorney, which then became my life’s destiny.

Since then, many things have changed, and yet, is it true that the number of attorneys has been constantly growing in the Czech Republic?

Yes, without a doubt.

Why is that?

This is primarily due to the fact that there are four public universities in the Czech Republic, providing education in law, in addition to other schools, branches of foreign schools and of course, private schools.

It is too much for such a small country. These schools are literally churning out legions of graduates who have almost no chance of employment in the judiciary, prosecuting authorities and civil service. Thus, a majority of them ends up in the Bar. Because the profession of advocacy is namely counted among “free enterprise”, and, by statutory regulation, any attorney who meets the legal requirements has to be registered.

Are there still any segments of the legal services market which have not been covered well?

I think that advocacy sufficiently covers all areas.

On the contrary, in terms of clients as consumers, the availability of legal services is quite sufficient and satisfactory. I consider it important.

Thus, has the level of specialization of attorneys been changing?

I do not think so, the level of specialization has not been changing, and we can rather say that specialization is getting deeper, not only in the Bar in general, but within the larger law firms as well.

Do you consider the current control and disciplinary system of the CBA effective?

Not only effective, but as one of the most modern.

The control and disciplinary system of the CBA has been regularly priced at the level of international law, and the system itself has been a great example for the Bars in other countries. Several times we were asked to provide for methodological help for Bars in countries that entered the European Union after the Czech Republic.

Let’s look at the statistics. Is the number of disciplinary offences, which must be addressed by the CBA, rising or falling?

Statistically speaking, the number of disciplinary offence has remained at roughly the same level. Of course, I would rather have it decline.

The Czech Bar Association also created a well organized system of free legal aid. Where do you get the means for this assistance?

I am really pleased to answer this question. The CBA has been operating the system of free legal aid for more than 20 years, thus substituting the role of the state in ensuring free legal help to people in need.

The financial means are charged to the CBA, i.e. to particular attorneys. To illustrate it fully, I have to add that the CBA is a separate independent professional Association, we do not receive any financial means from the state, and resources for our activities are obtained from the contributions of the attorneys.

However it has been hardly appreciated.

In this respect, are you satisfied with the operation of the free legal aid?

On the one hand, I am entirely satisfied with the operation of free legal aid, perhaps only in terms of the CBA. In this respect, the CBA has established a nationwide system, and thus we organize the free legal assistance through regional representatives of the CBA in particular regions. On the other hand, I am mostly dissatisfied with the role of the state within the free legal aid provision. As I already mentioned, our state does not participate either in organization or funding of the free legal aid (except in certain cases in civil and criminal proceedings). If I recall it well, over the past twenty years there were always financial reasons, regardless of whether it was an economically favourable time or not. Beyond this, it is not attractive in respect to media and politics.

What do you think about the attorneys’ obligation of wearing robes in court? It is not very popular with attorneys, is it?

Prior to the introduction of the obligation to wear robes, there has been an on-going extensive discussion within the advocacy field. Of course, negative opinions appeared, yet the view of the majority was that wearing robes contributes to the dignity of court proceedings, to the procedural equality of all parties involved, and to the greater dignity of attorneys themselves. This view is indeed supported by the Constitutional Court. I think it was the right step.

Where do you find inspiration for your further work?

The inspiration for my work is my clients. Many times, it is really incredible what situations they have to face. These situations are not only legally difficult, because the legal system is very difficult, and rather chaotic, but their situations are also humanly difficult.

Whenever I can help them, it is for me a real boost and inspiration for my further work. And I should not forget my students, who are another source of my inspiration. Their original and fresh thinking often and considerably inspires me as well.

Do you have time to relax? What do you like doing in your leisure time?

I have unfortunately less time for relaxation than I would like to have. Advocacy is a mission. It concerns working with people, and therefore it is very time consuming. It also includes the continuous study of constantly changing legislation. So, if I am left with some time, I play indoor soccer, I do cycling and skiing.

Last but not least, my great hobby is beekeeping.

IRRESISTIBLE TRUFFLES

ALLUREMENT

Restaurant in a historical house in Týnská street no.12 in a glamorous place of the prague Old Town, is the first and authentic „truffles“ restaurant in Prague, which offers gems of French gastronomy in a very closely working with our partner restaurant Chez Bruno, which is operated by famous „truffles king“ Clément Bruno in France. The person, who once tastes expertly prepared truffles, in symbiosis with a selected wine, will usually completely succumb to these tastes.

For the clients, who haven’t had the honor to become familiar with this delicacy, is prepared „Truffle invitation“ in three courses. For the experts the Chef Jiří Voráč has prepared absolute rarity – „Classic degustation truffe menu“ in six courses. Both menus, and the other delicatessen of French cuisine – lobster, snails, fishes, poultry and desserts based on original recipes, you can find every day (besides Sunday) in the evening on our restaurant menu.

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

Leaders Magazine II/2012 49

Restaurant

, Týnská 633/12, Prague 1 Ph: +420 608 308 574 restaurant@latruffe.cz; www.latruffe.cz

networking/charity From left: Ing. Anton Gerák, CSc., Commercial Director, Secretary, LCI D122 Czech Republic and Slovak Republic, JUDr. PhDr. Oldřich Choděra, Lawyer, Charterpresident of LC Praha Bohemia Ambassador and former Governor of LCI D122 Czech Republic and Slovak Republic, and Radek Špicar, Vice President of the Confederation of Industry of the CR

Guest of honor: Radek Špicar, Vice President of the Confederation of Industry of the CR

Prague Bohemia Ambassador

From left: Prof. MUDr. Václav Mandys, CSc., Head of the Institute of Pathology, MUDr. Blanka Seifertová, General Practitioner, and Prof. MUDr. Aleksi Šedo, Vice Dean, 1st Medical Faculty of Charles University

From left: PhDr. Martin Komárek, Chief Commentator, MF Dnes and Ing. Jiří Nejezchleb, Tax Advisor

From left: Doc. MUDr. Martin Mates, CSc., Head Doctor of Cardiocentre, Hospital Na Homolce and Mgr. Jaroslav Drápal, Analyst, ČSOB

From left: Ing. Anton Gerák, CSc., Commercial Director, Secretary, LCI D122 Czech Republic and Slovak Republic, Oldřich Hořák, Owner of Hotel Bílá Růže in Poděbrady, and Mgr. Jan Haur, IS Administrator

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IN COOPERATION WITH LEADERS MAGAZINE

From left: Jan Budín, Professor, Deyl Academy, Ing. Tomáš Jadrníček, Project Engineer, JUDr. Jaroslav Šátral, Judge of the Municipal Court in Prague, and Miroslav Hříbal, Enterpreneur

From left: new Member of Lions Club, Miroslav Hříbal, Enterpreneur, JUDr. PhDr. Oldřich Choděra, Lawyer, Charterpresident of LC Praha Bohemia Ambassador and former Governor of LCI D122 Czech Republic and Slovak Republic, MUDr. Blanka Seifertová, General Practitioner, and Ing. František Chaloupecký, President of LC Praha Bohemia Ambassador

Oldřich Hořák, Owner of Hotel Bílá Růže in Poděbrady MUDr. Václav Poláček, CSc., Plastic Surgeon speaking

From left: Miroslav Hříbal, Enterpreneur and Doc. MUDr. Martin Mates, CSc., Head Doctor of Cardiocentre, Hospital Na Homolce

From left: JUDr. PhDr. Oldřich Choděra, Lawyer, Charterpresident of LC Praha Bohemia Ambassador and former Governor of LCI D122 Czech Republic and Slovak Republic, Benke Aikell, your Publisher, and Mirko Lachman, Senior Advisor, Leaders Magazine

From left: JUDr. Ing. Bohumil Studýnka, CSc., Lawyer, MUDr. Václav Poláček, CSc., Plastic Surgeon, and JUDr. PhDr. Oldřich Choděra, Lawyer, Charterpresident of LC Praha Bohemia Ambassador and former Governor of LCI D122 Czech Republic and Slovak Republic From left: Radek Špicar, Vice President of the Confederation of Industry of the CR and Ing. František Chaloupecký, President of LC Praha Bohemia Ambassador

MORE PHOTOS AND ELECTRONIC VERSION AVAILABLE ON WWW.LEADERSMAGAZINE.CZ

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gala evening/charity ball

From left: Mr. KR Alexander Waidmann, Executive Director, Kamýk Daunen s. r. o., Mrs. Heidemarie Waidmann, Prof. Dr. Johannes Mühlenburg, and Mrs. Margrit Trauttmansdorff, wife of the Austrian Ambassador

IN COOPERATION WITH LEADERS MAGAZINE

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

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From left: Mrs. Margrit Trauttmansdorff, wife of the Austrian Ambassador, H.E. Norman Eisen, Ambassador of the USA with his wife, and Jiří Dienstbier, Senator Member of Parliament (ČSSD), Deputy Chairman of Social Democratic Party with his wife

MORE PHOTOS AND ELECTRONIC VERSION AVAILABLE ON WWW.LEADERSMAGAZINE.CZ

From right: Mr. Bernard Bauer-Grass, Executive Member of the Board, Czech-German Industry Chamber of Commerce with his wife Claudia and a friend

Colonel Gurpreet Singh, Defence AttachĂŠ of India and Mrs. Zeenie Madhoc

H.E. Dr. Ferdinand Trauttmansdorff, Ambassador of the Republic of Austria

Mrs. and Mr. Christian Autengruber, First Secretary , Austrian Embassy

5533 General view of dancing couples

Mrs. and Mr. Dr. Josef Reiter, General Manager, BMW

Mrs. and Mr. Radomír Šimek, President, CzechGerman Industry Chamber of Commerce

Mag. Christoph Plank, Austrian Commercial Councellor with his wife

Mrs. and Mr. KR Alexander Waidmann, Executive Director, Kamýk Daunen s. r. o.,

Mrs. and Mr. Jochen Modl, CEO, MAN Truck & Bus

Debutants

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From left: Mrs. and Mr. Dr. Nikolaus Seiwald, Commercial Counsellor, Austrian Embassy, MVDr. Milena Pawlicová, Dr. Erwin Hanslik, Managing Partner e|n|w|c Attorneys-at-law, Mrs. MUDr. Hana Zallmannová, Foundation Czech Green Cross, and Mag. Georg Stöger, President, VÖT

marketing analysis

IN COOPERATION WITH LEADERS MAGAZINE

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 Internatio al Univesity 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 Good ideas have a power to live forever and resonate in places that you would never think possible. Like a newborn child, although you can educate it, and give it guidance, what it actually does and where it goes can amaze you. Google recently launched a project where some of the top advertising professionals of the past teamed up with some of Google’s top designers and engineers to recreate classic advertising campaigns. The places that these campaigns went were mind blowing to many, yet to those who created them over 40 years ago, it seemed like science fiction.

One campaign that was re-created was the famous Coca-Cola ad “I’d like to buy the world a Coke.” The ad was created by Harvey Gabor in 1967 and it featured people from different cultures all over the world singing together on a hilltop. This was very socially relevant at the time, when America was full swing in the hippie movement, the Vietnam War was a strong debate, and the school system was just becoming integrated. Google decided to bring Harvey to their New York office and recreate the campaign for the digital age. What came about was the realization that today it is possible to literally “buy the world a coke”. Together they developed a vending machine where a person could buy a coke for someone else in another country.

Google and Coke placed specially created vending machines in major cities throughout the world such as New York, Buenos Aires, Cape Town, etc. Users would be able to walk up to these machines and buy a Coke for someone else, who they did not know, in another city.

Furthermore, they could upload a personal video or text message for the other person to

receive. These messages would be translated in real time using Google translate so that no matter what language you spoke, you both understood the message that was being sent.

The true power of this campaign is in the essence of the creative idea. The idea is that we all have an innate desire to share, an idea so strong that it can transcend cultures. With the use of social media we can instantly share our lives, and now we can even share a coke.

This is a very modern context to a very old idea called “The propaganda by the deed”, whereby the actions of one are exemplary to another.

The man credited with popularizing this idea in the early 1900’s was Johan Most, who once

You can follow Emil Jimenez on twitter @passioncomm or on LinkedIn at http://www.linkedin.com/in/emiljimenez1

Emil Jimenez Photo: Brian Fleming

said, “He who negates present society, and seeks social conditions based on the sharing of property, is a revolutionary whether he calls himself an anarchist or a communist.” Therefore one can construe that the creative idea, be it physical or intellectual property, should be shared so that it may live to take on another form and revolutionize.

The rebirth of “I’d like to buy the world a Coke” allowed us to see the power of longevity in ideas.

I cannot begin to imagine how Harvey Gabor must have felt as he walked around the halls of Google and worked with the designers and engineers to develop this campaign. It makes me wonder what would Michelangelo, Picasso, Einstein, and other great minds do with their ideas if they were around today. Would they take the Sistine Chapel’s roof and make a 3D augmented reality experience where the God is creating man and Angels are falling to earth?

Would Picasso use a mobile phone application that took different pictures of you and compiled a distorted 3D view? Would Einstein solve our problems of green sustainable energy? These are interesting questions, yet we will never know the answers. Yet, it is incredible that today all of these things are actually possible because of the foundation that these great people have left behind. Renaissance period artists looked to the past for inspiration, and maybe that is the idea behind Google’s Rebirth campaign.

It’s asking all of us to stop looking at the present because the present is going by way too fast.

Let’s slow things down, look to the past, and begin the next Renaissance, the next rebirth.

By Emil Jimenez, CEO, CCO, Passion Communications

Leaders Magazine II/2012 55

interview A talk with Václav Moravec, the foremost Czech Journalist and Presenter of Czech Television

Heart Questions PhDr. Václav Moravec (1974) graduated from the Faculty of Social Sciences, the Charles University in Prague and today gives lectures at the Faculty as well. Since the beginning of the 90’s, he has passed through several positions in Czech radio – Profil, Český Rozhlas, Evropa 2, Frekvence 1, and he also co-operated with TV Galaxie. In 2001, Václav joined the BBC´s Czech section, where he worked until its closing in 2006. Since 2004, he has been hosting “Questions of Václav Moravec” (QVM), which is now the country’s top political talk-show. Presently, he also moderates “Impulses of Václav Moravec”, a popular talk show on Radio Impuls. The Czech Literary Fund awarded Václav Moravec with the “ journalist quail”, an award for journalists up to 33 years of age. He also received the TýTý Award for the most popular personality of TV journalism in 2007.

56

Photo: Vladimír Weiss

interview (ČT) is continuing. In an interview for MF Dnes daily the cancellation of following programmes – “QVM”; What question would you never ask or do not want you openly admitted you had supported Fero Fenič, “’Reportéři ČT” and “168” were a special game before to ask? a candidate for ČT´s new CEO post. In what way did choosing the CEO. And besides, I’ve known for a long Well, I would perhaps never raise the question of the he appeal to you in particular? time what I’ll do after the cancellation of “QVM”, and guest’s racial origin. I am really concerned with our soafter leaving the programme respectively.

I liked his program’s planes and visions. Moreover, ciety starting to be polarised in this matter, and I do not Fero Fenič already showed in the past, via the FEBIO So, what is it your desire to do, once you stop workwant to perpetuate it by examining for instance the racial program content, what public service is, and thus deing as ČT´s presenter? or ethnical roots of some people, or expert witnesses on I certainly won’t leave the world of journalism. When veloped the following visions in the candidate project. extremism. I find these questions extremely disgusting Yet, it was clear to me that because of the interest I am gone from the ČT, I will have a freer hand in comgiven the historical experience of mankind. groups behind the scenes, Fero Fenič did not have menting on the world around us. This is one of the You have worked in several positions in Czech ramany chances. Nonetheless, the fact that he did not reasons I have been writing a diary, and I suppose dio, including the Czech section of the BBC. Can you advance to the election’s second round, I found – dipthat internet journalism is an area offering amazing compare the BBC´s editorial background with Czech lomatically speaking – rather strange. opportunities. radio, or media in general?

You also marked the project of the current CEO of Well, let’s return to the present. QVM has had It is very difficult to compare it. Czech mediums will a large audience for a long time, yet it is quite often ČT, Peter Dvořák, the second best. In your view, why hardly ever possess the facilities that are available to criticized at the same time. Critics often accuse the has his vision of ČT´s transformation won in the end? the BBC. I refer for instance to the moderators search shows live confrontations of politicians as facilities, or the number of foreign corresbeing counterproductive and primarily serpondents that the BBC has in all corners of ving political propaganda. the world. In addition, comparing the BBC We want to reach greater depth because Let my work be assessed by my viewers. to the Czech media is always a little bit tricky, the world of new media is oversimplified And their long-term interest in QVM is one of because the British public service broadthe answers to this criticism. It is interesting caster had the good fortune of unbroken that the second hour in the show on the ČT24 tradition of almost one hundred years. Czech channel is the most high-profile programme of any news Television and Radio may only dream of this. In any case, I’ve known the present CEO of ČT since his arrival in TV station in the long-term. Moreover, I find the accusation I consider my six years spent in the Czech section of the NOVA. In addition, he offered me the change of jersey, that QVM is visited only by politicians, and that it is BBC the best school of journalism that I could ever get. i.e. a change from ČT for TV NOVA, many times. I resisted solely political propaganda, purely baseless. A few and jokingly told him at that time that he might finally At present, you are working at Radio Impuls as weeks ago, I obtained QVM´s 2011 content analysis. end up with Czech Television anyway. Petr Dvořák is well. You can’t do without radio?

This analysis shows that the share of political and nona good manager with a good feeling for TV, which is not I can’t, indeed. When the Czech BBC section disappolitical guests is in the ratio 50:50. In addition to that, commonplace with the financiers.

If you have a look into peared in 2006, I thought about accepting the Czech similar programmes are broadcast by all major TV stathe candidate’s projects one more time, namely in the Radio offer. Finally, I decided to have a break from the tions abroad ranging from the BBC, to NBC and ABC. final selection process, it is more than obvious that radio microphone. However, I endured it only for about Do you intend to make any changes to QVM in the two projects exceeded the others – those of Dvořák a year. Then, it was my long-term friendship with the near future as well? and Fenič. I belong to those for whom the work in ČT is Radio Impuls manager, Jiří Hrabák, or actually his offer Yes, of course. One of the assumptions that QVM has a matter of heart. This is why I never took any other TV to create a similar programme to the one of the “Interlasted on TV for eight years, is its on-going modernizaoffer.

I wish that Petr Dvořák manages to make ČT the view BBC” on Radio Impuls. Such an offer could not tion and development format. The last change came last best public service media in the region. have been rejected. At that time, I really began to miss fall. We have shifted graphic and explanatory elements QVM has remained encompassed in ČT´s portfolio. the radio microphone. I like to say that an interview on that are accompanying any interview or discussion. Our Did you really worry about the programme’s cancellathe radio is more intimate and open than on TV. goal is to go into as much depth as possible, for the tion ahead of ČT´s new management election?

So, how was your transition from radio broadcasworld of new media oversimplifies media discourse.

Perhaps few people will believe it, but I did not! ting to the TV screen?

Another new feature we are preparing is a regular special I was rather tired of the constant speculation and It was rather complicated. Television is a very combroadcast of QVM with an audience, and QVM´s lobbyist pressure, which the interim news editorial plex medium. The most difficult task is to remain natural Facebook friends respectively. management was subjected to, after the resignation of and, of course, one should not be scared in front of Thus, the Facebook page of QVM´s show has turned Jiří Janeček.

Not having strong and stable managea camera either, which I think I failed at the beginning. out well? ment is always a great problem for ČT and its news The older and more experienced one is the more natural Yes, presently the page amounts to almost 40 thoueditors. Moreover, since the news manager was one one is too. However, radio to me is an important school sand friends. It is a great number for a talk show. The of the candidates for the CEO of ČT, it did not create for any TV journalist.

QVM´s Facebook friends are invited to a special broada good atmosphere. This constant speculation about In what way? casting; we organize trips for them which are directed It can teach you how to speak well and improvise. Just behind the scenes of ČT, and other events. I believe that Václav Moravec, according to his look at the career development of the best TV presenin this way, public service television makes only a small ters abroad. own words, belongs to those for quittance for people paying TV fees and who support ČT. Your models are Aaron Brown or Jeremy Paxman, whom the work in Czech Television Beyond this, people’s reactions to the show’s broadamong others. What particularly do you admire about is a matter of heart.

We asked him, casting represent a great source of feedback, which, of them? course, helps me in preparing other programmes. among other things, about his beginLive experience, quickness of mind, preparedness, What are you doing when you are not working? nings in the world of media, challenspontaneity and I could obviously go on with the list…

I relax, go on trips, read, listen to music, etc… there´s They are great presenters, and not only these two you’ve ges he has been facing throughout a lot to do. I am not a workaholic as many people conmentioned. I look very often to foreign TV for inspiration. his professional career, and desires sider me. Although workaholics apparently always deny For example, the slogan of the QVM programme: “And they would have a problem… (Laugh) he would like to follow in the future. what topics will be on talk show after today’s QVM?” is He admits there is still much to do, based on a paraphrase of a slogan coming from BBC

By Pavlína Holancová Radio 4. Thus, I have to laugh when uneducated critics, and internet journalism seems to be without a view, condemn it. an option. český překlad naleznete v elektronické verzi At present, the transformation of Czech Television magazínu na www.leadersmagazine.cz

Leaders Magazine II/2012 57

outlook Sanjiv Suri, Founder, President & CEO of Zátiší Group comprising presently of four restaurants in Prague i.e.

V Zátiší, Bellevue, Mlýnec, Žofín Garden & Zátiší Catering and Cube Austria catering. Sanjiv Suri serves on several boards, for example: UNICEF, Prague Convention Bureau, American Chamber of Commerce, and Czech Innovation for Global Markets (CIN). He is a partner and sponsor of the Association of Foreign Investments (AFI) and a member of “Young Presidents´ Organization” worldwide. He is married with wife Markéta and has four children Virat, Jacqueline, Shaan, and Jasmine.

Sanjiv Suri with his daughter and His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, under with his family and His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama

58

outlook

How can we Make this World a Better Place to Live in?

Some Amazing Inspirations from Mohd. Yunus, Ben Zander & His Holiness, the Dalai Lama Many years ago, Joseph Epstien said: “We do not choose to be born. We do not choose our parents or the country of our birth. We do not, most of us, choose to die; nor do we choose the time of our death.

But within this realm of ‘choicelessness’, we do choose how to live.”

I am extremely grateful for all of the good luck I have encountered in my life, and the choices I have been able to make. I have had the good fortune of meeting and sharing ideas with some amazing personalities which have completely changed my life and made me the person I am today. Now I would like to share a few small parts of three of those conversations with you.

MOHD. YUNUS – 2006 NOBEL PRIZE LAUREATE AND THE FOUNDER OF GRAMEEN BANK and more than 50 other for profit sustainable social businesses (including joint ventures with Danone, Adidas or Veolia) which are managed professionally for solving the very real problems of poverty and development and investors get their investment back but no dividends except for the social issues they solve. I met Mohd. Yunus in Prague recently, and again in Singapore at the Global Leadership Summit of YPO – WPO. He started in 1976 with loans of $27 going out to 42 people in one village and today, as the father of micro-finance, he has built Grameen Bank up to lend $1.5 billion per year to over 8.3 million people (an average of $220 per person). Recipients are most commonly women (97%) who live under the poverty line and are unable to give any form of collateral or guarantee. But despite this, and Grameen Bank itself having no lawyers, the programme has an over 99% payback track record – the best of any bank anywhere in the world.

When I asked him how he operates these more than 50 very large social businesses (of which Grameen Bank is one) he humbly replied, “Sanjiv, people have a lot of potential; they are self-motivated and want to make a real difference in the world, no matter how small that difference may be.

We just need to TRUST THEM & get out of the way and give them autonomy.” We have pulled more than 4 million people and their families out from under the poverty line to become people who can not only support themselves, but can also create jobs for others.

My goal is to be happy, and my happiness comes from servant leadership and ‘responsible capitalism’.

In my case, the creation of social businesses that solve specific problems – and alleviate human suffering – brings me happiness. “Happiness is a state of mind that comes more from ‘giving and sharing’, although we are under the illusion that it comes from ‘getting and consuming’”. The model of GDP

growth through consumption, therefore, needs to be reshaped for the future. Profits without purpose become a goal in themselves, rather than a means.

The purpose is then lost, leading to a lot of greed and little happiness.”

BEN ZANDER – CONDUCTOR OF THE BOSTON PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA SINCE 1985, AND AUTHOR OF THE BOOK, “THE ART OF POSSIBILITY” I was lucky enough to have lunch with Ben in London last year, and I asked him the secret of his success. He replied: “Every year 50–60 of some of the world’s best musicians come to me to take their talent to the next level. On the very first day, I gather them and give them their grade – an A+. Irrespective of how they do, they get to keep the grade. Each musician is expected to mail me a postcard within 14 days, telling me where they see themselves in May (at the end of the term) and explain why they got an A+. No-one has ever deserved anything other than an A+. You see Sanjiv, when you TRUST people, they always live up to the expectations they set for themselves. So, the world may become a better place to live in because we make Sanjiv Suri and His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama

a difference by trusting & creating an environment for a child, or an adult, to set high expectations for themselves, and then have the confidence that they will meet them.”

He went on to explain that “although a conductor does not make a single sound himself, but is allpowerful because he helps bring out the best in everyone else.”

TENZIN GYATSO – THE 14th DALAI LAMA OF TIBET, SPIRITUAL LEADER, AND 1989 NOBEL PRIZE LAUREATE I am very fortunate to have had various conversations with the Dalai Lama and will share with you some teachings that have stayed with me over the years. When asked what a human being’s ultimate responsibility was, he responded: “The ultimate responsibility of a human being is to raise his or her level of consciousness to connect with the ultimate energy that exists inside each one of us. All other

issues, like world peace or human rights, take care of themselves, as we have people who are happy and satisfied dealing with these issues. “Happiness is a state of mind that comes from giving and sharing.” (Not very different from Mohd. Yunus’s words earlier.)

I then asked him how he leads a life without getting angry at a government which has tortured and raped and tried to wipe out his peoples’ way of living from the face of the Earth. This very humble man responds: “I am a Buddhist. My goal in life is the practice of spirituality. “The people in my life do not get in the way of my spiritual practice; they are my spiritual practice. The challenges and times of my life which threw me out of my comfort zone were the times when I was able to grow as a human being, so I thank them for being my teacher and Guru. The universe always gives you what you need (although you may not think so at that time), not necessarily what you want.” The problems I have faced in my life have been disguised opportunities for growth, and I am grateful for them. I would not be the person I am today if the events in my life had not subjected me to what I considered to be suffering at that time.”

IN CONCLUSION I started on my personal spiritual journey four months ago, and as I start to change my perspective and look at problems as “opportunities to grow”, and people who cause me pain as my Spiritual Gurus, I see some amazing things happening around me.

We at Zatisi Group are committed to maximizing value for all stakeholders [the environment, society, partners (some of us call them employees), suppliers and shareholders alike] and are taking small steps each day to move the business into creating ‘shared value’ for all of us.

We are also committed to adding the arts, in a meaningful way, into basic education, as well as actively promoting lifelong learning with an emphasis on creativity and innovation in everything we do.

This will allow people to find their passions, and give all stakeholders the possibility to set high expectations for themselves. It is our strong belief that as conscious and responsible business leaders grow in numbers throughout this decade, we will reach a tipping point and fill the need for responsible global leadership through creating ‘shared value’.

Come and join us in our journey together as we see some amazing possibilities to live into and HOPE to live for – not just for us but for all future generations to come :-) Sanjiv Suri sanjiv@zatisigroup.cz

Leaders Magazine II/2012 59

opening of the exhibition

IN COOPERATION WITH LEADERS MAGAZINE

Eliška Hašková Coolidge, Coolidge Consulting Services and H.E. Jan C. Henneman, Ambassador of the Netherlands in the Czech Republic

STORIES TOLD BY A PROSPEROUS AGE

In the presence of His Excellencies, the Netherlands Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Uri Rosenthal and the Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Mr. Jan C. Henneman, as well as noted representatives of Dutch museums and research institutes, like Mrs. Leonore van Sloten (Museum Het Rembrandthuis, Amsterdam), Mr. Rudi Ekkart (Director of the Netherlands Institute for Art History, RKD, the Hague), Mr. Norbert Middelkoop (Amsterdam Museum, Amsterdam) and Mr. Pieter Roelofs (Rijksmuseum Amsterdam) on February 8th the opening of the exhibition Rembrandt & Co. – Stories Told by a Prosperous Age was celebrated. Through May 27th the baroque Piano Nobile of the prestigious Sternberg Palace on Prague Castle Hill is dedicated to the Golden Age of Dutch Painting and Printmaking in the 17th century.

Unique highlights are set by selected loans from renowned museums and private collections in the Netherlands, Germany, Hungary and the Czech Republic which show the Prague artworks in new, surprising contexts.

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From left: Prof. Vít Vlnas, Director of the Old Masters Collection, National Gallery in Prague, Uri Rosenthal, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, and Vladimír Rösel, General Director, National Gallery in Prague

More than 160 masterpieces by iconic painters like Rembrandt van Rijn, Frans Hals, Gerard Dou, Jan van Goyen, Salomon van Ruysdael, Adriaen van Ostade and Jan Steen, excellent examples of all painting schools and categories like portrait, still life, landscape painting, battle scenes, genre and history painting allow Ncentury CCOOPERATION OO–PEanRera ATIOmarked N WITH WITbyH a stimulating visit to the Dutch 17thIIN unprecedented economic growth and extraordinary flowering MAGAZINE LLEADERS EADERS M AGAZINE of science and culture. Rembrandt & Co. recounts this story of success.

From left: Jan Bartholomeus, CEO, ING Bank Czech Republic and Alexander Pisaruk, CEO Central & Eastern Europe, ING Commercial Banking

From left: Vladimír Rösel, General Director, NG, Hans van der Noordaa, Executive Board, ING Bank N.V., and Miroslav Singer, Governor, Czech National Bank

From left: Pieter Roelofs, Curator of 17th Century Painting, Rijksmuseum Amsterdam and Uri Rosenthal, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of the Netherlands

Tereza Maxová, Patroness, Foundation Tereza Maxová for Children and Jan Bartholomeus, CEO, ING Bank Czech Republic

From left: H.E. Pasquale D’Avino, Ambassador of Italy in the Czech Republic and Vladimír Rösel, General Director, NG

Jaspar Schade by Frans Hals

Young Couple by Jan van Noordt

Photo: Archive of National Gallery in Prague

In the tradition of groundbreaking Dutch art patronage in the Golden Age ING Bank Czech Republic took over the sponsorship for Rembrandt & Co. ING is a noted partner of prestigious institutions like the MOMA New York and the Rijksmuseum Amsterdam.

61 MO M ORE ORE RE P H HO OTO TOS A AN ND EL EL EC EC T R O ON NIC NIC C VER ERSI S ON N AAVVAI AILA AIL L ABL BLE ON ON W WW W W..LLE LEADE E ADEER EA RS SMAGA MAGAA ZI MA ZINE ZINE NE..C CZ

CFO club event Aleš Barabas, Vice-president of CFO and Member of the Board, Chief Risk Officer, UniCredit Bank Czech Republic, a.s.

The first of this year’s gatherings of CFO Club members, which took place on January 22nd in the Prague Grand Hotel Bohemia, as usual focused on looking back at last year’s economy, and more importantly on this year’s forecast.

Presenters and speakers in the discussion (moderated by Aleš Barabas, Member of the Board of UniCredit Bank Czech Republic, and Vice-president of CFO Club) were Tomáš Zídek, Deputy Minister of Finance; Pavel Řežábek, Director of the Department of Market Analysis and Prognosis of ČEZ; and Július Kudla, Chief Executive Officer of Euler Hermes Europe SA. During the next gathering of CFO Club members that will take place on April 11th the results of the annual “Financial Director of the Year” award will be announced. A discussion entitled “How the award changed your life?” will precede the announcement.

Photo: Jakub Joachim

IN COOPERATION WITH LEADERS MAGAZINE

A PROGNOSIS OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN 2012 AND A REVIEW OF 2011

From left: Pavel Řežábek, Director of Market Analysis and Prognosis Department, ČEZ, a.s., Dean Brabec, Managing Director CEE, Arthur D. Little and President of the CFO Club, Tomáš Zídek, Deputy Minister of Finance, Július Kudla, CEO and Chairman, Euler Hermes Europe SA, and Aleš Barabas, Vice-president of CFO and Member of the Board, Chief Risk Officer, UniCredit Bank Czech Republic, a.s.

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From left: Bořivoj P. Pražák, Senior Advisor, Arthur D. Little and Member of the Board of CFO Club and Petr Budinský, Vice-rector for studies and external relations, Vysoká škola finanční a správní, o.p.s.

From left: Dean Brabec, Managing Director CEE, Arthur D. Little and President of the CFO Club and Martin Klika, Consultant, Egon Zehnder International

Vendula Krtilová, Consultant, NWD Asset Management CZ, a.s., Michal Źižka, Managing Partner, Sunberg s.r.o., Daniel Ryšávka, Senior Advisor, KPMG Česká republika, s.r.o., and Michal Sládek, Arthur D. Little GmbH

From left: Benke Aikell, your Publisher and Petr Kouba, Manager, Ernst & Young, s.r.o.

Zbyňka Šolcová, Harpist

Michal Mejstřík, Chairman of the Board, EEIP, a.s. and Martin Novák, Member of the Board, Chief Financial Officer, ČEZ, a.s.

MO M O ORE RE PHO RE HOTTO OS AN AND EL EL EEC C TTR RO ON N NIC IIC C VEER RS SIION ON AVAAIILAB AV LLAAB BLLE LE ON ON W WW W W.LLEEAAD DEER ER RS SMA MAGAA ZI ZINE NE.C CZ

From left: Dean Brabec, Managing Director CEE, Arthur D. Little and President of the CFO Club and Martin Tesař, Audit & Advisory Partner in Charge, Deloitte Audit s.r.o.

From left: Tomáš Zídek, Deputy Minister of Finance ČR, Pavel Řežábek, Director of Market Analysis and Prognosis Department, ČEZ, a.s., and Július Kudla, CEO and Chairman, Euler Hermes Europe SA

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gala evening

IN COOPERATION WITH LEADERS MAGAZINE

Special thanks to FANS for making this reportage possible

From left: H.E. Sergey B. Kiselev, Ambassador of the Russian Federation, Ing. František Masopust, Executive Director, Chamber of Trade and Industry for CIS Countries, and MUDr. Přemysl Sobotka, First Vice Chairman of the Senate of the Parliament of the Czech Republic

th

11 Czech-Russian Ball 11th Czech-Russian Ball at Žofín – organized by Chamber of Trade and Industry for CIS Countries under the auspices of H.E. Sergey B. Kiselev, Ambassador of the Russian Federation to the Czech Republic.

Jaroslav Hanák, President, SPCR with his wife

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From left: Mrs. Gorda, Benke Aikell, your Publisher, Marta Gellová, Director, Česká pojištovna and Member of the Board, AFIZ, and H.E. Stefan Gorda, Ambassador, Embassy of the Republic of Moldova

From left: Marek Špok, CEO and Chairman of the Board of Directors, Tractebel Engineering a.s. and Jiří Borovec, General Director, ČEPRO with his wife

JUDr. Vladimir Ermakov, CSc., Managing Director, Vemex with his wife

From left: Gabriela Hájková, Partner, Peterka and Partners, Mgr. Petr Říha, Attorney at Law, Peterka and Partners, Michaela Nekvasilová, Marketing and Business Development Coordinator, Peterka and Partners, and Barbora Israeljan Mokrošová, Attorney at Law, Peterka and Partners

Sergej Vladimirovič Shiljuk, Deputy General Director, OMZ with his wife

Ing. Miroslav Sklenář, Prague Municipality with his wife

From left: Jadran Šetlík, Photographer, Marta Gellová, Director, Česká pojištovna and Member of the Board, AFIZ, and Cyril Svoboda, Director, Diplomatic Academy

Mgr. Jiří Klapka, President of the ČAR with his wife

Mikhail Ignatenkov, Member of the Board, Škoda JS a.s. with his wife

From left: Doc. Ing. Václav Petříček, CSc., Chairman of the Board, Chamber of Trade and Industry for CIS Countries, Jana Kordačová, Deputy Executive Director, Chamber of Trade and Industry for CIS Countries, Ing. František Masopust, Executive Director, Chamber of Trade and Industry for CIS Countries with his wife, and Miroslav Kostelka, former Minister of Defence and former Ambassador of the Czech Republic to the Russian Federation with his wife

65 MORE PHOTOS AND ELECTRONIC VERSION AVAILABLE ON WWW.LEADERSMAGAZINE.CZ

From left: Mgr. Vítězslav Pivoňka, Director, Services Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the CR and Miroslav Topolánek, former Prime Minister of the Czech Republic, now President, Sdružení tepláren

Petr Votoupal, Administrator, CIVEX with his wife

H.E. Sergey B. Kiselev, Ambassador of the Russian Federation with his wife

From left: Ing. František Masopust, Executive Director, Chamber of Trade and Industry for CIS Countries, Jana Kordačová, Deputy Executive Director, Chamber of Trade and Industry for CIS Countries, and Felix Slováček, Musician

From left: Miroslav Kostelka, former Minister of Defence and Josef Hušek, Chairman and CEO, Inekon Group

MUDr. Přemysl Sobotka, First Vice Chairman of the Senate of the Parliament of the Czech Republic with his wife

Main Hall in Žofín Palace

66 Valeriy A. Agapov, Representative in the Czech Republic, State Corporation Russian Technologies with his wife

Lucie Talmanová, former Vice Chairman of the Chamber of Deputies of the Parliament of the CR and Miroslav Topolánek, former Prime Minister of the Czech Republic, now President, Sdružení tepláren

From left: Simon Mesrobyan, Attorney at Law, Peterka and Partners, H.E. Tigran S. Seiranian, Ambassador of Armenia, and Ing. Arnošt Israeljan, Executive Director, Elporas Consulting

From left: Ing. Petr Kuchař, General Director, Prominecon Group, a.s., Barbora Starková, and Karel Muzikář, President, Comenius

Marina Linhartova, Marketing Director, UJP Praha and Jaromír Shejbal, Director, UJP Praha

PhDr. Miloš Balabán, Ph.D., Director, CESES with his wife

Ivan Starodubov, Commercial Director, PJSC Stroytransgaz with his wife

From left: MUDr. Přemysl Sobotka, First Vice Chairman of the Senate of the Parliament of the Czech Republic, Doc. Ing. Václav Petříček, CSc., Chairman of the Board, Chamber of Trade and Industry for CIS Countries, and H.E. Sergey B. Kiselev, Ambassador of the Russian Federation

Doc. Ing. Václav Petříček, CSc., Chairman of the Board, Chamber of Trade and Industry for CIS Countries, Ing. František Masopust, Executive Director, Chamber of Trade and Industry for CIS Countries, Lucie Talmanová, former Vice Chairman of the Chamber of Deputies of the Parliament of the CR, and Miroslav Topolánek, former Prime Minister of the Czech Republic, now President, Sdružení tepláren

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Special thanks to FANS for making this reportage possible

Yulia Kamenkova, CSc., Consultant of Business Dealership of the Russian Federation in the Czech Republic and Ing. Akhytam Nevmetzanov

Andrey Laptev, Director, IntraEvropa with his wife

Ing. František Masopust, Executive Director, Chamber of Trade and Industry for CIS Countries with his wife

Monika Absolonová, Singer and Karel Vágner, Musician and Music Producer

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From left: Ing. Josef Hušek, General Director, Inekon a.s. with his wife, Yulia Kamenkova, CSc., Consultant of Business Dealership of the Russian Federation in the Czech Republic, and Ing. Alexander Turov, Head of Business Dealership of the Russian Federation in the Czech Republic

Mgr. Jiří Demiš, Alta, a.s. with his wife

Oldřich Petržilka, President, Czech Gas Union

energy matters

IN COOPERATION WITH LEADERS MAGAZINE

Czech Energy Mix and the State

From left: Vladimír Ermakov, General Director, Vemex s.r.o., Milan Kohout, Sales Director, ŠKODA JS a.s., and Kamil Ouška, Board Chairman, Europe Easy Energy

From left: František Maruška, Chairman of Board, EŽ Praha a.s. and Jiří Vaníček Conference Moderator, Žofínské fórum, External Relations Director, NKL Žofín Agency H.E. Peter Brňo, Ambassador of Slovakia and Markéta Schauhuberová, Manager, Czech Gas Union

70 From left: Peter Paukner, General Director, Carbounion Bohemia s.r.o. and Ladislav Moravec, General Director, Pražská teplárenská a.s.

From left: Oldřich Petržilka, President, Czech Gas Union, Jan Nehoda, Partner, NET4GAS, s.r.o., and Václav Bartuška, Energy Safety Representative of the Czech Republic

Martin Kuba, Minister of Industry and Trade

From left: Josef Šelepa, General Director, TTC Marconi s.r.o. and Robert Sobol, Director, NKL Žofín Agency

Miroslav Fiala, Board Chairman and General Director, ŠKODA JS a.s.

Alan Svoboda, Head of Division Sales, ČEZ in his speech

Tomáš Varcop, Member of the Board of Directors, RWE Transgas a.s.

From right: Kamil Ouška, Chairman of Board and General Director, Europe Easy Energy a.s. and his team of managers Markéta Veverková, Pavel Kříž and Michaela Johnová

From left: H.E. Peter Brňo, Ambassador of Slovakia and Alexej Katkov, Secretary, Russian Embassy

Tuesday, February 21st 127th conference Žofínské fórum was held. The conference hosted 300 most important people of energy sector in the Czech Republic and was focused on the Czech energy mix and the State Energy Concept. The conference was attended by Minister of Industry and Trade Martin Kuba, Energy Safety Representative Václav Bartuška, or Czech Gas Union President MORE PHOTOS AND ELECTRONIC VERSION Oldřich Petržilka. Other speakers were Tomáš Varcop, Member of the Board of Directors AVAILABLE ON WWW.LEADERSMAGAZINE.CZ of RWE Transgas, or Alan Svoboda, the head of the division sales of ČEZ. The conference was organised by NKL Žofín and Česká plynárenská unie was one of partners of the conference.

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networking/charity

IN COOPERATION WITH LEADERS MAGAZINE

From left: Mgr. Jefim Fištejn, Director, Radio Free Europe, Ing. Antonín Novotný, CEO, CSI, and JUDr. PhDr. Oldřich Choděra, Lawyer, Charterpresident of LC Praha Bohemia Ambassador and former Governor of LCI D122 Czech Republic and Slovak Republic

Prague Bohemia Ambassador

In the back from left: JUDr. PhDr. Oldřich Choděra, Lawyer, Charterpresident of LC Praha Bohemia Ambassador and former Governor of LCI D122 Czech Republic and Slovak Republic and Mgr. Jefim Fištejn, Director, Radio Free Europe

From left: Prof. MUDr. Aleksi Šedo, Vice Dean, 1st Medical Faculty of Charles University and MUDr. Jiří Pekárek, former President, Czech Dental Chamber From left: Mgr. Kamil Košina, Executor and Ing. arch. Petr Bílek, Architect´s Studio Bílek Associates, spol. s r.o.

72 Miroslav Hříbal, Enterpreneur

From left: Prof. MUDr. Aleksi Šedo, Vice Dean, 1st Medical Faculty of Charles University, MUDr. Blanka Seifertová, General Practitioner, Ing. Jiří Opichal, Executive Head, Allimex Trading s.r.o. and former President of LC Praha Bohemia Ambassador, and Vladimír Páral, Writer

From left: Prof. MUDr. Václav Mandys, CSc., Head of the Institute of Pathology and Oldřich Hořák, Owner of Hotel Bílá Růže in Poděbrady

Ing. Petr Kučera, CSc., Authorized Expert for the Construction Field

From left: Ing. Jiří Nejezchleb, Tax Advisor and Ing. Aleš Haur, Enterpreneur

From left: Ing. Anton Gerák, CSc., Commercial Director, Secretary, LCI D122 Czech Republic and Slovak Republic and JUDr. Vojtěch Trapl, Lawyer, former Governor, LCI Czech Republic and Slovak Republic

RNDr. Pavel Kalášek, Consultant and former General Director of Hewlett Packard

From left: Ing. Jaromír Kaulfus, Enterpreneur and Vladimír Páral, Writer

From left: JUDr. PhDr. Oldřich Choděra, Lawyer, Charterpresident of LC Praha Bohemia Ambassador and former Governor of LCI D122 Czech Republic and Slovak Republic, Mgr. Jefim Fištejn, Director, Radio Free Europe, and MUDr. Václav Poláček, CSc., Plastic Surgeon

Guest of Honor: Mgr. Jefim Fištejn, Director of Radio Free Europe Topic: The role of Radio Free Europe, and freedom in today’s world

73 MORE PHOTOS AND ELECTRONIC VERSION AVAILABLE ON WWW.LEADERSMAGAZINE.CZ

science and technology for business

IN COOPERATION WITH LEADERS MAGAZINE

From left: Peter Kaiser, Special Envoy for Science and Technology, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and H.E. Norman L. Eisen, U.S. Ambassador to the Czech Republic Photo: Kateřina Kynclová, CzechInvest

Prague Hosted

THE CZECH-AMERICAN INNOVATION CONFERENCE

From left: Paul Rausnitz, Owner and Member of the Board, Meopta-optika s.r.o. and Michal Koselja, Institute of Physics ASCR, v.v.i.

From left: Rudolf Hanka, Cambridge University and Vladimír Mařík, Head of Department of Cybernetics, Czech Technical University John Szymanski, White House Office of Science and Technology Policy

74 From left: Jan Franc, Charles University in Prague, Institute of Physics and Jindřich Houžvička, Managing Director, Crytur s.r.o.

From left: Ivan Wilhelm, Deputy Minister, Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports, Mr. Stuart Graham, Chief Economist, Patent and Trademark Office, U.S. Department of Commerce, Jiří Drahoš, President, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic and Walter Jones, Executive Director, U.S. Office of Naval Research

From left: Jerry Krill, Chief Technology Officer, Johns Hopkins University, Applied Physics Laboratory, Vojtěch Petráček, ViceRector for Science & Research, Czech Technical University, and Luis Proenza, President & CEO, The University of Akron

From left: Simon Schneider, CEO, OmniCompete and Martin Sekanina, Country Business Leader, Industry and Transportation, 3M Czech Republic From left: Rob Wilcox, Associate Director and Innovation Lead, U.S. Office of Naval Research Global and Petr Kaiser, Special Envoy for Science and Technology, Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Charles Wessner, Director, Technology, Innovation and Enterpreneurship, U.S. National Academies

From left: Petr Fiala, Chief Scientific Advisor, Office of the Prime Minister, E. William Colglazier, Science Advisor to the Secretary of State, U.S. State Department, H.E. Norman L. Eisen, U.S. Ambassador to the Czech Republic and Tomáš Dub, Deputy Minister of Ministry of Foreign Affairs

“The U.S.-Czech Innovation Conference: Exploring the Innovation Opportunity” is the title of the conference in which the Czech Republic had a unique chance to demonstrate its innovation potential and present itself as a country where it pays to invest. The event took place on 5–6 March 2012 at Lichtenstein Palace in Prague under the auspices of Prime Minister Petr Nečas and was attended by representatives of institutions, universities and firms from the Czech Republic and the United States. The event supported by the U.S. was part of the already traditional Czech Technology Days organized by CzechInvest in cooperation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

From left: Vladimír Mařík, Head of Department of Cybernetics, Czech Technical University, Miroslava Kopicová, 1st Vise President of Research, Development and Innovation Council, H.E. Karel Dyba, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of the Czech Republic to the OECD, and Rudolf Hanka, Cambridge University

75 MORE PHOTOS AND ELECTRONIC VERSION AVAILABLE ON WWW.LEADERSMAGAZINE.CZ

Invelt I company was founded in 1992 in Pilsen.

Throughout the twenty years of its existence the firm, historically the first authorized dealer of BMW cars in the Czech Republic, has established itself as a leader in domestic sales of BMW, MINI, BMW Alpina and BMW motorcycles. For the 20th anniversary of its presence on the Czech market Invelt hosted a gala evening for its clients in the premises of its showroom in Prague, which was accompanied by an introduction of the new model from the BMW 3 Series.

celebration event

IN COOPERATION WITH LEADERS MAGAZINE Photo: Zdeněk Sluka

Guests were greeted by Dr. Josef Reiter, General Manager, BMW Group CZ and Ing. Jiří Jirovec, General Manager, Invelt together with the moderators of the evening Marta Jandová and Petr Vágner

From left: Gabriela Lachoutová, Managing Director of Private Banking, J&T Bank with a guest of the evening

Ing. Jiří Jirovec, General Manager, Invelt with his wife

Mr. Rudolf Silný, Co-owner, Invelt with the guest of the evening

76 76 Guests of the evening

From left: Veronika Jakubcová, Corporate Communication Manager, BMW Group CZ and Zita Vinšová, EV Communications, PR Invelt

From left: Dr. Josef Reiter, General Manager, BMW Group CZ, Marta Jandová, Moderator, and Ing. Jiří Jirovec, General Manager, Invelt

New BMW 3 series

From left: Ing. Jiří Jirovec, General Manager, Invelt and Rudolf Silný, Co-owner, Invelt

Natali Ruden, Fashion Designer

The evening was symbolically launched at exactly 20.00 pm, offering guests a spectacular experience in the form of music, dance and audiovisual performances.

The moderators of this special evening that was attended by more than 600 hundred guests were Marta Jandová and Petr Vágner. During the celebration, guests had the chance to gain an insight into the history of the company as well as to learn about its visions for the future. The gala evening was further supported by the attendance of the CEO of BMW Group CZ Dr. Josef Reiter, who wished Invelt many more successful years and personally handed a gift to the General Director of Invelt, Ing. Jiří Jirovec. The new model of BMW 3 Series was presented under a slogan “Passion wins“ and unveiled together with the first public performance of the winner of the “CzechoSlovakia got talent” competition, Mr. Atai Omurzakov. At the close of his original robotic dance to the accompaniment of sound and lighting effects, a giant cube set into a motion, revealing a new phenomenon in the form of the BMW 3 Series. www. ww w innve w. veltlt.c .com o

77 MORE PHOTOS AND ELECTRONIC VERSION AVAILABLE ON WWW.LEADERSMAGAZINE.CZ

From left: Ing. Jiří Jirovec, General Manager, Invelt, Marta Jandová, Moderator, and Petr Vágner, Moderator

Pavel Kysilka, Chairman of the Board of Directors & CEO, Česká spořitelna

business breakfast

Photo: Miguel Alonso

The Canadian Chamber of Commerce in the Czech Republic continued its Business Breakfasts series on March 12, 2012. The guest of honour was one of the leaders of the Czech banking sector: Pavel Kysilka, Chairman of the Board of Directors & CEO of Česká spořitelna, who shared with the participants his views and observations concerning the condition of the Czech economy in the European and global context. Corinthia Hotel Prague provided fine catering and conference services for this enlightening debate.

IN COOPERATION WITH LEADERS MAGAZINE

CANADIAN

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE IN THE CZECH REPUBLIC BUSINESS BREAKFAST WITH PAVEL KYSILKA

Petra Ondrušová, Regional Director, Premier, Česká spořitelna, Monika Fraňková, Head of Expat Center, Česká spořitelna, and Jaroslav Kalvoda, Key Account Manager, Profinit

Tomáš Říha, Deputy Director, STEM/MARK From left: Jaroslav Kalvoda, Key Account Manager, Profinit and Pavel Kysilka, Chairman of the Board of Directors & CEO, Česká spořitelna

78 From left: Tomáš Vachuda, Vice-President & General Counsel and Pietro Andrea Podda, Lecturer, Anglo-American University

From left: Karel Eliáš, Vysoká škola finanční a správní and Pavel Kysilka, Chairman of the Board of Directors & CEO, Česká spořitelna

Jan Prušák, AWD Česká republika

Alan Krautstengl, President, Anglo-American University and Vice-President of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce in the Czech Republic

Gerald Cary-Elwes, the New Presence

From left: Nikolaus Seiwald, Counsellor, Commercial Affairs, Embassy of Austria and Pavel Kysilka, Chairman of the Board of Directors & CEO, Česká spořitelna

Benke Aikell, your Publisher and Petra Ondrušová, Regional Director, Premier, Česká spořitelna

Pavel Kysilka, Chairman of the Board of Directors & CEO, Česká spořitelna and Kamila Svobodová, Business Manager, D.A.N. production From left: Pavel Kysilka, Chairman of the Board of Directors & CEO, Česká spořitelna and Hans Weber, Senior Corporate Representative, ARTOC

From left: Pavel Kysilka, Chairman of the Board of Directors & CEO, Česká spořitelna, Jiří Krejča, Managing Partner, Dosonmo and Vice-President of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce in the Czech Republic

79 MORE PHOTOS AND ELECTRONIC VERSION AVAILABLE ON WWW.LEADERSMAGAZINE.CZ

Mr. Daniel Soural, Chairman of the Board, Ariana Capital, a.s. welcoming all the guests

afghan new year

IN COOPERATION WITH LEADERS MAGAZINE

Nouwrus means “New Day”. It is the new day that starts the year, traditionally the exact astronomical beginning of the Spring.

Organized by Czech-Afghan Mixed Chamber of Commerce

From left: prof. MUDr. Miroslav Nosek, Director, ČR – Zdravotnické zařízení MV with his wife and Fawad Nadri, President, Czech-Afghan Chamber of Commerce

From left: Benke Aikell, your Publisher, and Jan Jedlička, CEO, United Bakeries with his wife Kateřina Jedličková, Representative, Mary Kay From left: Ing. Jana Abdallová, Director, Prague International Business School and Kateřina Braithwaite, Alliance Manager, HP CR

80 From left: JUDr. František Brabec, President, ČKDS, Stanislav Profant, President, NFMK, and Fawad Nadri, President, Czech-Afghan Chamber of Commerce

From left: Radim Kotlaba, Attorney, CMS, Ing. Jaromír Dudák, MBA, Ministry of Industry and Trade, and Zdeněk Cvrkal, Commercial Director, Association of Engineering Technology

From left: JUDr. Václav Školout, Attorney, Vyroubal, Krajhanzl, Školout, Petr Špinar, CEO, CSC Eastern Europe, Lenka Galeoni, and Hans Weber, Senior Corporate Representative, Artoc Prague

Kateřina Brožová, Actress and Radek John, Chairman, Věci veřejné Ing. Michal Šrámek, General Director, Dukla Praha with his wife

František Pazderka, Adviser to the Chairman of the Committee on Economic Affairs for Economic Strategies, PSP CR with his wife

From left: Mr. Ondřej Skoupý, JUDr. Petra Buzková, Partner, Vyroubal, Krajhanzl, Školout attorney office s.r.o., Mgr. Vlasta Bohdalová, PSP ČR, and Daniel Soural, Chairman of the Board, Ariana Capital, a.s.

81 MORE PHOTOS AND ELECTRONIC VERSION AVAILABLE ON WWW.LEADERSMAGAZINE.CZ

From left: Antonín Kratochvíl, Photographer, Fawad Nadri, President, Czech-Afghan Chamber of Commerce, and Mrs. Kratochvíl

Silvie Palaščáková, Sales Representative, Leaders Magazine and Nick Bolkvadze, IT Web Manager, Leaders Magazine

From left: RNDr. Jiří Hynek, President, AOBP, Ing. Lucie Orgoníková, Director, Orgmedia, s.r.o., and Fawad Nadri, President, Czech-Afghan Chamber of Commerce

Ing. Ladislava Havrdová, Interior Design, Vaxo s.r.o. with her husband

From left: Ing. Lucie Lamačová, Ph.D., Diamonds International Corporation a.s., Ing. Lucie Orgoníková, Director, Orgmedia, s.r.o., and MUDr. Viera Frantlová, MBA, Diamonds International Corporation a.s.

From left: Martin Jan Stránský, M.D., F.A.C.P., MUDr., American Board of Internal Medicine and Mr. Vrabel with his wife

From left: Radek John, Chairman, Věci veřejné, Mrs. Jana Kadlecová, and Benke Aikell, your Publisher

From left: Petr Špinar, CEO, CSC Eastern Europe, and František Pazderka, Adviser to the Chairman of the Committee on Economic Affairs for Economic Strategies, PSPCR

82 From left: Petr Rusek, Excalibur Army s.r.o. and Benke Aikell, your Publisher

Waissi family

From left: Fawad Nadri, President, Czech-Afghan Chamber of Commerce, Mgr. Petr Jákl, J.B.J. Film, Kateřina Brožová, Actress, and Mr. Petr Kellovský

From left: Martha Gellová, Director, Česká pojišťovna and Michal Kabele, Managing Director, Kaja-Trading s.r.o.

Ing. Ivana Souralová, Ariana Capital and Mgr. Oldřich Malý

Jan Štechr, Executive Vice-President Defence & MRO, Aero Vodochody a.s. with his wife

From left: Zdeněk Cvrkal, Commercial Director, Association of Engineering Technology, Jaromír Dušek, Chairman, Union Associations, Anife Vyskočilová, Actress, and Vernes Čošabić, General Manager, Vexim s.r.o.

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The violinists

From left: RNDr. Petr Nečas, Prime Minister, Chairman, Honorary Committee of the Arnošt Lustig Award for 2011 and Mons. Václav Malý, Laureate of the Arnošt Lustig Award in 2011, Auxiliary Bishop of Prague

IN COOPEERATION WITH LEADERS MAGAZINE

Photos: Jan Tilinger and Ondřej Cundr

MO M ORE RE PHO OTO TOS AN ND EL ELEC EC C TR T RO ON NIC C VER ERSI SIO ON N AVAI AV AILA LABL BLLE O ON N W WW W W.L .LEAAD DEERS SM MAAAGA GAA ZI ZINE NEE.C N CZ

From left: Doc. MUDr. Bohuslav Svoboda, Mayor of Prague and RNDr. Petr Nečas, Prime Minister, Chairman, Honorary Committee of the Arnošt Lustig Award for 2011

84 Doc. MUDr. Bohuslav Svoboda, Mayor of Prague

From left: Ing. Jiří Schneider, First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, State Secretary for European Affairs, Doc. MUDr. Bohuslav Svoboda, Mayor of Prague, and RNDr. Petr Nečas, Prime Minister, Chairman, Honorary Committee of the Arnošt Lustig Award for 2011

From left: RNDr. Petr Nečas, Prime Minister, Chairman, Honorary Committee of the Arnošt Lustig Award for 2011, Doc. MUDr. Bohuslav Svoboda, Mayor of Prague, JUDr. Pavel Smutný, Partner, Císař, Češka, Smutný Law Office, President, CIMCC, Ing. Bohdan Wojnar, Board Member, Human Resources Management at Škoda Auto a.s. (General Partner of the Arnošt Lustig Award), PhDr. Jiřina Šiklová, Sociologist, Member of the Arnošt Lustig Award Committee, Eva Lustigová, daughter of Arnošt Lustig, Hana Hnátová, sister of Arnošt Lustig, Josef Lustig, son of Arnošt Lustig, Hanuš Hozler, Vice President, CIMCC, Mgr. Jana Nagyová, Managing Director of Cabinet to PM Petr Nečas, and RNDr. Petr Beneš, Chief Editor and CEO of Sdělovací technika magazine, Vice President, CIMCC

JUDr. Pavel Smutný, President, CIMCC

From left: Ing. Jan Fischer CSc., Vice President, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, Chairman, Arnošt Lustig Award, Mons. Václav Malý, Laureate of the Arnošt Lustig Award in 2011, Auxiliary Bishop of Prague, and RNDr. Petr Nečas, Prime Minister, Chairman, Honorary Committee of the Arnošt Lustig Award for 2011

A prestigious award bears the name of Arnošt Lustig. Each year it will commemorate the vital role of moral values to the whole society. The Arnošt Lustig Award was established in connection with the first anniversary of the death of the world renowned writer and memorable representative of social life. Every year, it will be awarded to outstanding personalities who, like Arnošt Lustig, embody the four basic values of the Award: COURAGE and BRAVERY, HUMANITY and JUSTICE; those values that Arnošt Lustig impersonated. The prize was founded by the Czech-Israeli Mutual Chamber of Commerce, whose long-time honorary member was Arnošt Lustig.

From left: Bohdan Wojnar, Board Member, Human Resources Management at Škoda Auto a.s. (General Partner of the Arnošt Lustig Award), Ing. Jan Fischer CSc., Vice President, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, Chairman, Arnošt Lustig Award, Mons. Václav Malý, Laureate of the Arnošt Lustig Award in 2011, Auxiliary Bishop of Prague, RNDr. Petr Nečas, Prime Minister, Chairman, Honorary Committee of the Arnošt Lustig Award for 2011, Doc. MUDr. Bohuslav Svoboda, Mayor of Prague, and JUDr. Pavel Smutný, President, CIMCC

Fifteen members of the Arnošt Lustig Award Committee have selected the Award´s first laureate out of a ten leading figures of domestic public life. The Award was created by the Czech-Israeli Mutual Chamber of Commerce in memory of the world’s renowned prose writer, humanist and irreplaceable bearer of high moral values. “Courage and bravery, justice and humanity. This is Arnošt Lustig in short, the way we knew him. We want to commemorate his permanent legacy and Václav Malý carries it in him very naturally,” commented on the selection Pavel Smutný, President of the Czech-Israeli Mutual Chamber of Commerce.

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CD launch

From left: MgA. Jitka Hosprová, Viola Player, Emil Viklický, Musician and Piano Player, and Kateřina Englichová, Harpist

Photo: Martin Kubica

BY JITKA HOSPROVÁ AND KATEŘINA ENGLICHOVÁ Violist Jitka Hosprová and harpist Kateřina Englichová launched their new album, Chanson dans la nuit/Night Song, at the Hotel Paris on March 15th, 2012.

The recording brings a charming hour of music for viola and harp from the Baroque masters to the French impressionists. The evening was moderated by Martina Kociánová. The CD´s godfather became musician Emil Viklický.

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From left: Ing Jiří Kunert, CEO/Chairman of the Board, UniCredit Bank, MUDr. Petra Petanová, Libuše Blaierová, Top Private Banker, UniCredit Bank, and Ing. Miloš Petana, Director, Internet TV Stream.cz and General Director, Supraphon

IN COOPERATION WITH LEADERS MAGAZINE

From left: MgA. Jitka Hosprová, Viola Player and Kateřina Englichová, Harpist

From left: Josef Blecha, Artist and Ing. Miloš Petana, General Director, Supraphon Ing. Jiří Kunert, CEO/Chairman of the Board, UniCredit Bank and MgA. Jitka Hosprová, Viola Player

From left: MgA. Jitka Hosprová, Viola Player, Emil Viklický, Musician and Piano Player, and Kateřina Englichová, Harpist

From left: H.E. Nina Nakashidze, Ambassador of Georgia, H.E. Lembit Uibo, Ambassador of Estonia, David Sheppard, Art Director, Marie Claire, MgA. Jitka Hosprová, Viola Player, and Benke Aikell, your Publisher

877 From left: Kateřina Englichová, Harpist, Matouš Vlčinský, Producer, Supraphon, Martina Kociánová, Moderator, and MgA. Jitka Hosprová, Viola Player

MORE PHOTOS AND ELECTRONIC VERSION AVAILABLE ON WWW.LEADERSMAGAZINE.CZ

prestigious exhibition

From left: Marek Eben, renown Moderator receiving a caricature from Josef Blecha, Artist and Caricaturist

IN COOPERATION WITH LEADERS MAGAZINE

World Famous Caricaturist CELEBRATED HIS 60 YEARS WITH AN EXHIBITION at Bílkova 13 and Gallery La Femme

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From left: Miloš Petana, Director, Internet TV Stream.cz and General Director, Supraphon with his wife and Ing. Jiří Kunert, Chairman and CEO, UniCredit Bank CR, a.s.

MORE PHOTOS AND ELECTRONIC VERSION AVAILABLE ON WWW.LEADERSMAGAZINE.CZ

Benke Aikell (in the middle), your Publisher and Miro Voštiar, Film Producer and Owner of Hotel Aria with his wife

From left: Josef Blecha, Artist and Caricaturist and Mr.Josef Lábský

From left: Benke Aikell, Your Publisher and Marek Eben, renown Moderator

From left: Josef Blecha, Artist and Caricaturist and Mr. Jaroslav Přečko

From left: Josef Blecha, Artist and Caricaturist and JUDr. Ladislav Vostárek, Member of the Board, Czech Golf Federation with his wife

89 Caricatures at Gallery LaFemme

From left: Josef Blecha, Artist and Caricaturist and Ing. Evžen Satran with his wife

From left: Marek Eben, renown Moderator and Miroslav Lipina, Owner, La Femme gallery Mr. Hloušek and Libuše Blajerová, Private Banker, UniCredit

From left: Monika Lipinová, Gallerist and Dušica Zimová, TV and Radio Moderator

From left: Josef Blecha, Artist and Caricaturist and Mr. Janda with his wife

9 90 From left: MUDr. Bohuslav Svoboda, Mayor of Prague, Jiří Laštovička, Designer, and Josef Blecha, Artist and Caricaturist

On 17th of February 2011, the European Leadership & Academic Institute (ELAI) held a conference on “Infrastructure as a competitive advantage of the Czech Republic” in the Lobkowicz Palace at Prague Castle.

The conference was organised under the auspices of the Association of Transport and Industry CR and saw the speech of Minister of Transport Pavel Dobeš. Other speakers included professor Michal Mejstřík, Member of the Government National Economic Council, ELAI Patron and Chairman of the International Chamber of Commerce ICC CR; Petr Kašík, Executive Director of the Association of Transport and Industry CR; Petr Jonák, Director of External Relations at AWT and Advisor to the International Chamber of Commerce ICC CR; and professor Petr Moos, respected specialist, former transport minister and the author of the chapter on transport in the International competitiveness strategy for the Czech Republic.

discussion event EUROPEAN LEADERSHIP & ACADEMIC INSTITUTE P R A G U E

From left: Lukáš Sedláček, Executive Director, ELAI and President, the Oxford & Cambridge Alumni Society CR, Petr Jonák, Director of External Relations, AWT and Advisor to the International Chamber of Commerce ICC CR, Pavel Dobeš, Minister of Transport of the Czech Republic, Petr Kašík, Executive Director, Association of Transport and Industry CR, Michal Mejstřik, Member, Government National Economic Council, ELAI Patron and Chairman of the International Chamber of Commerce ICC CR, and Petr Moos, former Minister of Transport

ELAI CONFERENCE: Infrastructure as a Competitive Advantage of the Czech Republic IN COOPERATION WITH LEADERS MAGAZINE

Pavel Dobeš, Minister of Transport of the Czech Republic

From left: Michal Mejstřík, Member, Government National Economic Council, ELAI Patron and Chairman of the International Chamber of Commerce ICC CR and Petr Moos, former Minister of Transport

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the good things in life

The Future is Already Here

THE PROPHETS OF THE FUTURE

Part 1

…and it is entirely up to us, whether we will be able to enjoy it in all our strength – I am now speaking for myself and our “post-war” generation.

The future of Jules Verne is already the past. Our future is written by microprocessors.

Geminoid conception

Blueseed Project I

92 Leaders Magazine II/2012

the good things in life If you would claim at any dinner party that in twenty years a mobile phone will be reduced to the size of a blood cell and that nano-robots will circulate in our body, no one will take you seriously unless your name is Raymond Kurzweil. In that case, Bill Gates will invite you twice for dinner, you have invented the flatbed scanner, the first electric piano (your friend is Stevie Wonder) and the first program for recognizing human voices; you received 12 doctorates, many honorary degrees and high state awards, etc.

Today, Raymond Kurzweil is considered a pioneer of a movement called “Singularity”, which argues that the next stage of human existence is only a matter of artificial intelligence. Over the past 50 years, the results of computer technology and biology have exponentially accelerated.

According to Kurzweil, there are two turning points in the near future that will impact our civilization.

First will be the year 2029, when the computer will win the test “Turing”, where after three hours of a written dialogue with scientists the examiner will not be able to determine which of the five examinees is a computer and which is human, and therefore making the test successful (for the computer). In 1999, a group of experts talked of 100 years before any artificial intelligence would be capable of passing such a test successfully.

In 2006 this prediction was reduced by 50 years.

Today we talk about it happening in 20 years.

Another milestone is meant to be the year 2045, “the point of no return” when artificial intelligence on the planet will be a trillion times higher than the biological intelligence of humanity, and it will keep improving itself exponentially.

At that point we will enter the era of “Singularity”, the stage where you can no longer make reasonable predictions by the use of the biological brain.

Or so it is now assumed. Does this sound like a catastrophic scenario of Space Odyssey? No, in

fact it is quite a near reality. Today, man still has the power and the ability to control the computer and to switch it off, but tomorrow? Kurzweil sees this concern as misplaced, as apparently the progress of computerization can no longer be stopped; we are unable to operate without telecommunications, automated services, manufacturing, etc. Your iPhone is now 100 times smaller than a computer was in 1980, yet a thousand times more powerful and a million times cheaper.

Technological development is meant to solve poverty and hunger. Soon we will be able to produce anything we could think of in 3D: food, clothes, furniture ... not to mention science and medicine.

Robots are already helping to carry out dangerous tasks in industry, military and everyday life, particularly in Japan. Prof. Hiroshi Ishiguro has succeeded in developing Geminoid, the first robot with a human face, the author´s own double, which is able to change facial expressions. Ishiguro has created dozens of robots; the new always represent an improvement on the previous one.

Their skin already possesses pores and is covered with the finest hair, though it will take Ishiguro years before he creates an electronic smile on the robot´s face. Robots do not always resemble humans. In 2008, Brit Kevin Warwick became the first cyborg (cybernetic organism). On his own arm, he has tested an electronic implant, which in conjunction with a computer can transfer the movement of his hand to the arm of a robot, even if it situated on the other side of the globe.

A million-billion operations per second. The written code is rather illegible. This is the capacity of the most powerful computer in Europe and there are 500 similar ones worldwide. Leviathan Tera-100 is installed near Arpajon and is the image of companies CEA and Bull. The computer fits into 280 cabinets on a 750 square-meter

Raymond Kurzweil

Jean-Marc Lemaitre

area. Tera-100 implements a billion operations per second in “petaFlop” units, a performance comparable to 7 billion people simultaneously conducting one operation per second, on a calculator, for the duration of 52 hours. In November last year, the Japanese and Russian giants have already reached 10 petaFlops per second, and a new one, 100 times faster is currently under development...

Research in medicine is progressing at a similar pace. Fifteen years from today, our average life expectancy will keep increasing, thanks to nanotechnology, by one year or more. It will be possible to inject our great grandchildren´s bodies with nano-robots programmed to identify and destroy all the malignant tumours and diseases of all kinds. Already today, we are capable of treating Parkinson’s disease by introducing nano-chips into the brain, which then send impulses to body muscles to replace damaged neurons. Soon, it will be within our reach to scan the entire brain, save our own memory to an external “hard disk” and install it back anytime....

The ideas of Aubrey de Grey, a renowned, selftaught biogerontologist of British origin, and his SENS theory (Strategies for Engineered Negligible Senescence) are taken seriously by the international scientific community, who has so far failed to prove him wrong. In Grey´s theory, the task of medicine is to identify and repair damaged cells in the body before they become pathogenic.

Rather than keeping the body in a state of an advanced age, however, the purpose is to not reach that stage at all. Grey divides the reasons for aging into several categories, and the therapy of replacing body stem cells forms the basis of stopping the aging process. The several clinical trials on patients that are taking place in Britain and the USA are showing encouraging results.

At the moment we have managed to identify, for example, an enzyme that can take away harmful molecules that the body accumulates and that cause heart attacks, we will be able to erase cardiovascular disease, etc.

Leaders Magazine II/2012 93

the good things in life

Dr. Hiroshi Ishiguro

In Montpellier, France, Jean-Marc Lemaitre and his team advanced the path to eternal youth. Aging is no longer an inevitable process.

“The point of no return” does not hold true for the aging cells of the human body anymore.

Scientists have succeeded in creating “renewed” cells from the “old” ones in a case of a 74 year old individual. These cells are then capable of producing new, functional cells of any kind that can be found in the human body.

Simultaneous to this research, a similar study of the recovery of stem cells has been undertaken for the past 8 years by Dr. Shinya Yamanaka in Japan and James Thomson in Wisconsin.

Although it is not yet a promise of immortality, it is nevertheless an amazing leap of science that will enable us to repeatedly repair organs and tissues without the need of surgery.

We live four times longer than people in the Gothic times, and are exponentially approaching the eternity of life, and we may already know how to reach it. It is no longer science fiction. There is

a good chance that by 2030 human aging will slow down significantly. In the final stage, when the first person lives up to 150 years, it may become possible to live a thousand years 200 years later. Does it reminiscence of The Markopoulos Case? Are we looking forward to these developments, or do we fear the unknown? Is it a dangerous curiosity of proving how far we are able to go? At what moment does a good idea turn into an uncontrollable weapon?

In this potentially inversed world, societies will not function like they do now. There is a talk of new models of sociality. The creation of numerous types of micro societies in international seas with isolated governments and leadership is no longer an absurd idea. There are several hints of this kind of organisation, such as the Blueseed Project, which was created as a solution to the immigration bureaucracy of the United States, the aim of which is to create a neutral, floating Silicon Valley off the coast of the US with approximately 300 to 500 residents. There will be more micro planets being created, each with different activities and economic or strategic goals. Finance is one of the considerations for these projects, as well as the schemes´ psychological impact, the issue of migration of population, and an individual attitude to the meaning of life.

The current world powers and other state structures, no matter how democratic or associated with financiers and thriving industry they are, are not interested to leave the lucrative type of politics and defend the values they proclaimed and dusted so many times in their election slogans. There is still the reluctance to give up excess for the creation of balance on earth, and to act on the basis of real values that are beneficial for human coexistence. It is relevant to attempt to answer the questions posed by Tao, Buddha, Jesus and the others a thousand years ago. Do we know of any better, long term solution for a better and long life for which we so eagerly strive? How will we personally reconcile with the surrounding

Robot of the conceptor Dr. Hiroshi Ishiguro

life and the universe? Will it be a computer that will do this for us, and will it programme what is good and what is bad for us? Who will control this computer and how? Intellectual happiness and external and internal satisfaction cannot yet be bought or programmed. Health is still under the control of industry, marketing and profit. It is only our personal will and individual effort that can reverse this situation, and we should start with ourselves. Curiously, the challenge of how not to get bored if we live up to 1000 years has still not yet been addressed. We will probably need more than two sets of golf clubs and a few more pairs of shoes.

By Iva Drebitko Photos: Author´s own archive To be continued... český překlad naleznete v elektronické verzi magazínu na www.leadersmagazine.cz

media power

Abandon All Hope YOU WHO CHASE QUICK PR

Every time a client comes to me and asks for quick PR, my stomach churns. Such clients usually ask for PR for events they organize in one or two months, and they don’t have enough attendees. Clients are also often asking for a quick media image boost in the expectation of a successful acquisition or public listing. In the worst case, they realize the customer pipeline is empty, no other business development solutions work, and they turn to PR as the last resort to put the business back on track. Well, PR is nothing quick. I would like to share with you three things that I’ve learned during the last two years since I have been running Media Education CEE, and three values in which I believe.

did it take you to gain the respect of your life partner? Not just to gain a life partner, but to gain his or her respect. It takes time, doesn’t it?

In order to win the respect of your public, you must behave the same way: know what you want, act upon it and be consistent. It is common sense and the same rule goes for PR as well.

PR means long-term thinking. What you need when you come for a quick solution is a miracle, not PR. Big fast gains have been synonymous with the situation on the emerging markets of Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) after the fall of communism. Yes, this led to the creation of a whole class of nouveau rich, who exist because they spotted the right opportunity at the right moment. Fast gains pay off in gambling or in short-term investments. But when you consider building yourself an image, you need to consider long-term. Just think about it: how long Cristina Muntean is a communication adviser with more than 12 years’ experience in the Czech, Romanian and international media. Between 2005–2010, Cristina worked for the English-language economic magazine Czech Business Weekly (CBW) in Prague. During this time she wrote more than 3,000 news articles, features and interviews. Cristina graduated in journalism from the University of Bucharest, Romania.

She also holds a master’s degree in project management. In June 2011 Cristina was elected president of the Czech PR Klub.

Currently, she provides reputation management advisory, media training, coaching and support to managers, communication specialists and public officials across Central and Eastern Europe. Cristina speaks Romanian, French, English and Czech and can be reached at cm@mediaed.cz.

IN COOPERATION WITH LEADERS MAGAZINE

PR means vision, strategy and tactical planning. It’s not by accident that I mention that first of all, you need to clarify what you want.

Not just “I want money; I want new clients,” but “I want to make a million crowns in entrance fees and two million in sponsorship contributions, net revenue for my company.” “I want to attract and retain 100 new customers in the X line of business by the end of this year. They should bring me X net revenue.” “I want to be voted and elected by X people three years from now.” Only then can we talk about the role of communication in achieving your dreams. We can set up a vision, create a strategy, and draw the tactical plan to bring things to life. After that we can talk about concrete resources that need to be allocated to implement the strategy, and about the needs of these specific resources – money, training, support etc. A proverb says: “If you don’t know where you’re going, any road will take you there.” So, why put your budget into PR if you don’t know where you’re going? Your investment will bring you value only provided that you have a clear vision in your mind, and you are ready to act to bring it to life.

PR means honesty. Funny, isn’t it? The second moment when my stomach churns is when a client knows he has a flawed product, and yet he’s willing to put budget into creating a positive image for something that isn’t there. In the best case, he commits to improving the flaws while building the image of the product. This is, in my view, the road to hell. The time when one could foul people around on cheap promises is gone – or, at least, I deeply hope so. People can check on the reviews of other users, they can test your product, go to different markets and buy a different one. The only way to stand this challenge is to go out when you’re fully ready and to be authentic about what you’ve got.

It’s no problem the product isn’t perfect. The road to success is always under construction.

Photo: Jakub Stadler

But have the guts to be honest about it, look the problem in the eye, and then honestly and truthfully try to fix it. I believe in the words of Richard Branson that business is about creation – making things that haven’t been there before and that are meant to genuinely make people’s lives better.

Otherwise, why bother?

There are a few other points I could make, but I leave them for individual consultations. In summary, PR is for you when you value communication. Public relations are about the management of your soft interaction with your public (s), whomever and wherever they may be. A professional communication advisor will open your eyes on this aspect, and help you get there. That’s why such advisors belong with you, on your organization’s management board.

You know what the best part of quality PR is?

It’s like public speaking. You put some energy into it, and you share something that comes from your heart. After that, your thoughts get mirrored in hundreds and thousands of minds and souls. If you manage to touch them, their energy will come back to you in so many ways that will astonish you. At the end of the day, it’s a very selfish exercise – the more you give, the more you receive.

It’s a passionate way to interact with the world while growing and developing yourself. Does that sound like an effort worth trying?

By Cristina Muntean ■ český překlad naleznete v elektronické verzi magazínu na www.leadersmagazine.cz

Leaders Magazine II/2012 95

culture event

IN COOPERATION WITH LEADERS MAGAZIN NE

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From left: Ing. arch. Daniel Dvořák, Director of the National Theatre Brno, Ing. Hugo Hrubý, Deputy CEO, SKEX a.s., and Richard Novák, Laureate of the Special European Trebbia Award 2012 for Lifetime Achievement

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Miroslava Němcová, Chairwoman, Chamber of Deputies of the Czech Republic and Pavel Pecháček, Laureate of European Trebbia Award 2012 for Contribution to National Dialogue of Cultures

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CONSTRUCTION OF ENERGY COMPLEXES

Sir Bob Geldof, Irish Singer, Author and Political Activist, Laureate of European Trebbia Award 2010 during his laudatio spech

L ureaate La tess of the Eur uropean Tr T ebbbia biia Aw Awar a d fo for 20012 1 for CRE R AT ATIV I E IV AC CTI TIVI VITI TIES ES:: MI MILA L N LAASI SICA CA (*1 *194 940) 0),, Ac A tor (SSlo lova v ki kia) a a) OL LGA K AB ABO O (*196 968) 8)), Ac A tr tres esss (R (Rus ussi sian a Fed eder erration) n) ERIK ER IKO OH HO ORIIKII (*196 9662) 2), Desi signerr (Jaapan) pa ) Laur La urea eate t s of the European Tr Treb ebbbi b a Aw Award 20 20122 for SUPPPO ORT RT OF CU UL LTU T RE E AN ND D THE H ARTTS: DADJ DA DJAA AL LTENBURG-KOHL L (*1194 9 9) 9), Busi siine n ssswoma m n andd Maecenas as (Cz C ecch Repuubl b ic/G /G Ger e manyy) VICT VI CTOR OR PIN INCH CHUK UK K (*1960), Businessmaan an a d Maecen ennas a (Uk U ra r ine)) Laureate of the Trebbia European Award 2012 for the TREBBIA AWARD FOR LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT: RICHARD NOVÁK (*1931), Opera Singer (Czech Republic) Laureate of the Trebbia European Award 2012 for CONTRIBUTION TO NATIONAL DIALOGUE OF CULTURES: PAVEL PECHÁČEK (*1940, Prague), former Director of Radio Free Europe

From left: Sir Bob Geldof, Irish Singer, Songwriter, Author and Political Activist, Laureate of European Trebbia Award 2010 and Victor Pinchuk, Laureate of European Trebbia Award 2012 for Support of the Culture and the Arts

From left: Ján Lešták, Owner, Eye Clinic JL Prague and General Partner of the Trebbia Benefit Gala Evening, Bolek Polívka, Actor, Mime and Dramatist, and Milan Lasica, Laureate of European Trebbia Award 2012 for Creative Activities

From left: Andy Hryc, Actor, Producer, Director, Businessman, Honorary Consul of the Republic of Seychelles in Slovakia, Anna Rusnak, Branch Director of Italian Jewelry Company Roberto Coin, and Olga Kabo, Laureate of European Trebbia Award 2012 for Creative Activities

Ing. Hugo Hrubý, Deputy CEO, SKEX a.s. and Dagmar Havlová, Chairwoman of the Board, VIZE 97 Foundation with the check for the amount of 750,000 CZK

Katharina Treutler, Piano Player

Lubomír Brabec, Guitar Virtuoso

From left: Marc Ambroisien, Vice-Chairman of the Executive Committee, Banque Privée Edmond de Rothschild Europe, Eriko Horiki, Laureate of European Trebbia Award 2012 for Creative Activities, and Miroslava Němcová, Chairwoman, Chamber of Deputies of the Czech Republic

Ondřej Černý, Director of the National Theatre in Prague and Dadja Altenburg-Kohl, Laureate of European Trebbia Award 2012 for Support of the Culture and the Arts

Zdeňka Sigmundová, Member of the Board TREBBIA Foundation

PhDr. MgA. Miro Smolák, Auctioneer, Founder of the TREBBIA Foundation, Chairman of Trebbia INC (Czech Republic), Director of MIRO Gallery, Prague and Alena Šváchová, Project Manager, Pomozte dětem

Ladislav Mravec, Director of the Department of Foreign Affairs, President’s Office with his wife

MORE PHOTOS AND ELECTRONIC VERSION AVAILABLE ON WWW.LEADERSMAGAZINE.CZ H.E. Nina Nakashidze, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Georgia to the Czech Republic and H.E. Genc Pecani, Ambassador of Albania

From left: Ing. Ivo Gajdoš, Andrea Trang, Finalist of the Miss Vietnam Europe, Miloš Janů, CEO, ECOFLUID Group Ltd. with his son, and Petr Bratský, Senator with his son and wife

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From left: PhDr. MgA. Miro Smolák, Auctioneer, Founder of the Trebbia Foundation, Chairman of Trebbia INC (Czech Republic), Director of MIRO Gallery, Prague, Dagmar Vítková, successful Bidder of the Graphic by Juraj Jakubisko, which was auctioned for 150,000 CZK in favor of the Home of St. Charles Borromeo in Řepy, Sister Konsolata, Statutory Representative of the Home of St. Charles Borromeo in Řepy, and Juraj Jakubisko, Film Director and Author of the Graphic

From left: Magdaléna Vášáryová, Slovak Actress and Diplomat, Štefan Margita, Slovak Opera Singer, Hana Zagorová, Czech Singer and Actress, and Milan Lasica, Slovak Actor and Laureate of European Trebbia Award 2012 for Creative Activities Jitka Novotná, Moderator of the Czech TV and Ľubomír Bajaník, Moderator of the Slovak TV

From left: Makran Matragi, Blanka Matragi, Fashion Designer, and Miroslava Němcová, Chairwoman of the Chamber of Deputies of the Czech Republic with her son

From left: František Münster, USAS, s.r.o. with his spouse, Zuzana Benešová, and Jan Zbigniew Czendlik, Roman Catholic Parish in Lanškroun

From left: Amri Aminov, Sculptor and Author of the statuette Trebbia and Michael March, Director, Prague Writers Festival and Laureate of European Trebbia Award 2009

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Benefit Cheques Trebbia received: Civic Association Help children – 225,000 CZK TREBBIA Foundation – 225,000 CZK The Home of St. Charles Borromeo in Řepy – 150,000 CZK VIZE 97 Foundation – 750,000 CZK TREBBIA Foundation – 750,000 CZK

From left: Thomas Weihe, Deputy Head of the Board International Relations, Victor Pinchuk Foundation, Ph.D. Vitali Klitschko, Reigning WBC Heavyweight Champion, Leader of the Political Party UDAR of Vitaliy Klychko, Victor Pinchuk, Laureate of European Trebbia Award 2012 for Support of the Culture and the Arts, Founder of the Victor Pinchuk Foundation, Štefan Čemický, DRiART, Zürich, and PhDr. MgA. Miro Smolák, Founder of the TREBBIA Foundation, Chairman of Trebbia INC (Czech Republic), Director of MIRO Gallery, Prague

From left: Ing. Dušan Piederman, CEO, Botanika areál, Eva Piedermanová, Head Nurse, Eye Clinic JL Prague, Ján Lešták, Owner, Eye Clinic JL Prague, Bc. Pavla Šrámková, Head Nurse, Eye Clinic JL Prague, Ing. Pavel Šrámek, Chairman of the Board, EKMA FIN, a.s., MUDr. Martina Růžičková, Doctor, Eye Clinic JL, Pavel Lešták, Eye Clinic JL Prague, and PhDr. MgA Miro Smolák, Founder of the TREBBIA Foundation, Chairman of Trebbia INC (Czech Republic), Director of MIRO Gallery, Prague

From left: PhDr. Michail Odarčenko, CSc. with his spouse and Ing. Jaromír Schling, former Minister of the Czech Government Dr. Anna Ondrušeková, Director, Tatranská galleria and Univ. Prof.

Ing. Ivan Stadtrucker, CSc.

From left: Yuri Gorbachev, Painter, Dimitar Georgiew, General Director, Cosmetic Company RosaImpex, successful Bidder of painting by Yuri Gorbachev, which was auctioned for 100,000 CZK in favor of the project Pomozte dětem and Trebbia Foundation

Ing. Vladislav Stanko, CEO, Czechoslovak Real, s.r.o., successful Bidder of Graphic Work by Ronnie Wood, which was auctioned for 100,000 CZK in favor of the project Pomozte dětem and Trebbia Foundation in the middle and PhDr. MgA. Miro Smolák, Auctioneer on the right From left: Georgi Stojanov, Painter and Dimitar Georgiew, General Director, Cosmetic Company RosaImpex, Plovdiv

In the middle: PhDr. MgA. Miro Smolák, Auctioneer, Founder of the TREBBIA Foundation, Chairman of Trebbia INC (Czech Republic), Director of MIRO Gallery, Prague with the painting

by Karel Gott, which was auctioned for 250,000 CZK in favor of the project Pomozte dětem and Trebbia Foundation

On the right: Ing. Hugo Hrubý, Deputy CEO, SKEX a.s., successful Bidder of painting by Václav Havel, which was auctioned for 1,500,000 CZK in favor of VIZE 97 Foundation and Trebbia Foundation

H.E. Peter Brňo, Ambassador of Slovakia in the Czech Republic with his wife Andrea

99 From left: Gabriela Šetliková, Jadran Šetlík, famous Art Photographer, and Světlana Dankovičová, Senior VicePresident, Banque Privée Edmond de Rothschild Europe

From left: Jan Vodňanský, Poet, Singer and Composer, Reon, Painter, and Mrs. Vodňanská

From left: Jaroslav Jirkovský, CEO, PSJ, a.s., successful Bidder of painting by Karel Gott, which was auctioned for 250,000 CZK in favor of the project Pomozte dětem and Trebbia Foundation and PhDr. MgA. Miro Smolák, Auctioneer, Founder of the Trebbia Foundation, Chairman of Trebbia INC (Czech Republic), Director of MIRO Gallery, Prague

From left: Julia Nezhentseva and HennaMari Luolamo, Opera Singers

From left: Veronika Wolf, Director, Lobkowicz Collections with a friend

From left: Victor Pinchuk, Laureate of European Trebbia Award 2012 for Support of the Culture and the Arts and Benke Aikell, your Publisher and Member of the Trebbia International Nomination Committee

From left: Joseph Drebitko, CEO, D&COMM, Iva Drebitko, President, Triga, Patrons of Art, and Petr Bratský, Senator

From left: Alexandra Chudnovská, Event Management, Riga and Diana Gubanova, President, Baltic Guild of Doll & Toy Artists

From left: Jaromír Šlápota, Chairman, Czechoslovak Foreign Institute and Ing. Radomír Šimek, President, DTIHK – ČNOPK with his wife

From left: Yuri Gorbachev, Painter and Ph.D. Vitali Klitschko, Reigning WBC Heavyweight Champion

100 Charles Olivier Munroe, Conductor, NorthCzech Philharmonic and Julia Nezhentseva, Opera Singer, Saint Petersburg

From left: Felix A. Slováček, Musician, Pavlína Filippi, JUDr. Zdeněk Zemek, and Joseph Drebitko, CEO, D&COMM

From left: Světlana Dankovičová, Senior Vice-President, Banque Privée Edmond de Rothschild Europe, Bolek Polívka, Actor, Mime and Dramatist, and Dagmar Vítková with her husband

From left: Adam Sigmund, Lawyer, Zdeňka Sigmundová, Dr. Denisa Janečková, Ph.D., Clinical Research Associate, Bayer s.r.o., and Ing. Zbyněk Janeček, Manager C&S, Opel SEE From left: Jana Doležalová, Miss Czech Republic 2004 and Lucie Smatanová, Vice Miss Czech Republic

From left: Václav Hybš, Conductor with his wife, Eva Bláhová, Member of the Trebbia International Nomination Committee, and Giovanna Roklová

From left: Yuri Gorbachev, Painter and Dimitar Georgiew, General Director, Cosmetic Company RosaImpex with his spouse

Catering partners

Soloists of the Prague State Opera Ballet

The gala evening is supported by

From left: Mohammed Al-Qadiri, Laureate of European Trebbia Award 2008 and Klaus von Trotha, Member of the Trebbia International Nomination Committee with his wife

Julia Careva, Sunoffer S.L., Madrid and Juan Carlos Klemente, General Director, Sunoffer S.L., Madrid

Mr.Cyril Svoboda, Director, Diplomatic Academy and former Minister of Foreign Affairs with his wife MUDr. Věnceslava Svobodová, Neurologist, KlinNeuro

From left: Anna Rusnak, Branch Director, Italian Jewelry Company Roberto Coin and Martin Palan, Business Development Manager, Central European Media Enterprises with his spouse

Bolek Polívka, Actor and Eva Bláhová, Opera Singer

MUDr. Boris Šteňo with his wife

From left: Juraj Jakubisko, Film Director, Miroslava Němcová, Chairwoman of the Chamber of Deputies of the Czech Republic, and Deana Jakubisková, J & J Jakubisko Film s.r.o.

Mrs. Vlasta Brtníková and Michael March, Director, Prague Writers Festival Ing. Helena Leisztner, Artist, Fashion Designer with her husband Roland

102 From left: Ulf Landeberg, CEO, Crowne Plaza Prague Castle and Benke Aikell, your Publisher and Member of the Trebbia International Nomination Committee

From left: Felix A. Slováček, Musician, Andrea Brňová, wife of the Slovakian Ambassador, Wanda Adamík, Slovak Independent Film Producer, Andy Hryc, Actor, Producer, Director, Businessman, Honorary Consul of the Republic of Seychelles in Slovakia, and PhDr. MgA. Miro Smolák, Founder of the TREBBIA Foundation, Chairman of Trebbia INC (Czech Republic), Director of MIRO Gallery, Prague

From left: PhDr. MgA. Miro Smolák, Founder of the TREBBIA Foundation, Chairman of Trebbia INC (Czech Republic), Director of MIRO Gallery, Prague, Sir Bob Geldof, Irish Singer, Songwriter, Author and Political Activist, Laureate of European Trebbia Award 2010, and Štefan Čemický, DRiART, Zürich

From left: Alexandr Čihař, Image Theatre with his wife, PhDr. MgA. Miro Smolák, Founder of the TREBBIA Foundation, Chairman of Trebbia INC (Czech Republic), Director of MIRO Gallery, Prague, Adela Srncová, and Jiří Srnec Jr., Black Theatre, Prague Andrej Smolák Jr., Ministry of Enviroment of the Slovak Republic with his spouse

From left: Dimitar Georgiew, General Director of the Cosmetic Company RosaImpex with his spouse, Ph.D. Vitali Klitschko, Reigning WBC Heavyweight Champion, and Ing. Fawad Nadri, President, Afghan-Czech Chamber of Commerce

From left: Olga Kabo, Laureate of European Trebbia Award 2012 for Creative Activities, Nikolai Razguliaev, CFO, Terre di Lama Ltd., and Victor Pinchuk, Laureate of European Trebbia Award 2012 for Support of the Culture and the Arts

From left: MUDr. Michael Vít, Deputy Minister of Health and Chief Public Health Officer and Michal Košťál, Account Manager, SAS CR, s.r.o.

From left: Ph.D. Vitali Klitschko, Reigning WBC Heavyweight Champion, Ing. Radomír Šimek, President, DTIHK – ČNOPK with his wife, and Fawad Nadri, President, Czech-Afghan Chamber of Commerce

H.E. Toshio Kunikata, Ambassador of Japan with his wife

MUDr. Martin Kuncek, Executive Director, B. Braun Avitum s.r.o. with his wife

103 Ing. Jana Bobošiková, Chairwoman, Suverenita with her husband

Trebbia Foundation & MIRO Gallery says a special thanks to Obecni dům Prague and Mr. Jan Štěpánek Owner of the Francouzská restaurace ART Nouveau

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This is a place where one can truly discover a naturally privileged zone embraced by the magic of the Mediterranean and an incomparable BEAUTY WHERE A SELECTED FEW lND RELAXATION AND PEACE ,A :AGALETA OFFERS TO THE MEMBERS TWO MAGNIlCENT HOLES GOLF courses, riding club, tennis courts, a prize-winning nature landscaping COMPLEMENTED BY ,UXURY 4AYLOR -ADE 3ERVICES

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personal enlightenment

Cosmic Consciousness – James A. Cusumano, PhD

A JOURNEY TO WELL-BEING, HAPPINESS, AND SUCCESS Part II: Where Do We Come From? A, B

“We come spinning out of nothingness, scattering stars like dust. Look at these words, ‘spinning out of nothingness.’ This is within your power.”

Jalāl ad-Dīn Muhammad Rūmī – Persian Poet (1207–1273) KEY CONCEPTS: The real world is not what we perceive it to be with our five senses, Everything in the universe – energy, material things, even thoughts – emanate from a “quantum soup” of “nothingness.”

Everything in the universe is made up primarily of 99.99% empty space.

Our sensual perception of the real world is generated by a “discontinuity” – points of energetic vibrations wherein a signal vibrates abruptly and instantly from on to off.

The mystery is not what is in the “on” position of the discontinuity, where energy and information exist, but what is in the “off” position of the discontinuity, the domain of “nothingness.”

In the “off” position, physicists know that there exist no energy, no information, no space-time, and no objects. There exist only infinite possibilities, an infinite number of probability waves described in quantum physics by the Schrödinger Wave Equation, which represent the immeasurable potential of all that was, all that is, and all that ever will be. This is the “nothingness” from which everything in the universe comes forth – including you.

In Part I of this series, we discussed Conscious Cosmology, which follows from quantum physics, and maintains that consciousness is the true ground of existence and reality. Conscious Cosmology holds that the consciousness that gives rise to your thoughts is also responsible for all of the intelligent activity of the universe. There is no such thing as an accident. Each of us, through our Personal Consciousness, is involved in the creative process of the ground of being, and we are all connected to Cosmic Consciousness, which has no beginning or ending in space and time. It is infinite. Both Personal and Cosmic Consciousness are what quantum physicists

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call “non-local,” i.e., they are infinite in space and time; they have been and always will be intimately interlinked. Cosmic Cosmology concludes that the only way to understand True Reality is through the “eyes” of your consciousness, and not through the “eyes” of your five senses.

Your senses deceive you in a bizarre manner. Your brain which is responsible for your perception of the world has never had any direct experience of the world.

How could it? Since birth, it’s been locked up inside your skull. Your brain cells only respond to internal biological signals, such as changes in pH, electrolyte concentration, the presence of hormones, and body temperature. All of this biological activity, which is generally created by the reaction of one or more of your five senses to an external stimulus, ultimately turns into a binary code of plus and minus electrical charges across a cell membrane in a neuron. This binary code of charges within a cerebral neuron or brain cell gives rise to your perception and experience of the external world. How does it do this? It is very mysterious and it confounds the most brilliant scientists of our times.

Indeed, we do not have a cogent explanation as to how we hear, see, feel, taste and smell.

If you ask authoritative scientists, who work at the forefront of our perception of reality, “What does the real world look like?” you will get a picture similar to that provided by Sir John Carew Eccles, who received the Nobel Prize for his discovery of synaptic neuron firings. In an incisive comment, he concluded, “I want you to know that there are no colors in the real world; there are no textures in the real world; there are no fragrances in the real world; what actually exists out there is some radically ambiguous and ceaselessly flowing quantum soup.” The magic is in our consciousness, because out of that soup of energy, we conjure up in our consciousness our picture of the physical world, in fact, of the entire universe (see Figure 1).

For example, take just a moment and think of a beautiful sunset on the ocean; can you see that picture in your brain? Of course, you can. Where is that picture? If I opened your skull and went inside your brain, I would not see a sunset, but just a binary code of plus and minus electrical charges going on and off. How does this electrochemical phenomenon create such a vivid picture in your brain? How does this kind of activity create a sound, a taste, a smell? How does a series of plus-minus charges within your brain create the entire universe within your consciousness?

If you talk with fundamental scientists today, they will tell you that even though the world appears as pictures, sounds, tastes, fragrances, and textures, in reality it’s not like that. Then what’s it like? The best answer that scientists can provide today is that it is a “discontinuity.” There are many kinds of discontinuities in physics and mathematics, but for our purpose, we can consider the following definition.

A discontinuity is a point at which a signal abruptly and instantly undergoes change, such as when a vibrating signal continuously goes on and then off.

Consider the graph in Figure 2. It is a plot of a mathematical function known as a square wave in two dimensions on an X-Y plane or graph. In this case, it can represent the on-off sequence of a light bulb. For values of X equal to 0, –S, and +S, the bulb goes from “off” to “on” or vice versa, depending on which direction we are moving along the X-axis. When the light is on, the value of its intensity is exactly equal to “a.” We say that there are discontinuities at 0, –S, and +S because the bulb goes instantly from “off” to “on” or vice versa, and the value of Y at these points is “a” or “0,” but nothing in between, hence the mathematical function representing this process is said to be discontinuous at these points. The signal is vibrating on and off. We have either something (X = a) or nothing (X = 0), but nothing in between.

At the most fundamental level, what we call solid matter is made up of molecules, which are made up of atoms. Atoms are made up of subatomic particles such as protons, electrons and neutrons, and these subatomic particles are further made up of various forms of subatomic quarks, all vibrating in and out of an infinite void. Beyond that, modern physicists believe that quarks may further divide into infinitesimal “strings,” the basis for String Theory. And in fact, if you could see the world as it really is, you would see that you and I, and the chair you are sitting on – everything in the universe – are as proportionately void as intergalactic space. And everything that you observe with your five A)

EDITOR’S COMMENT – This is the second article in a new series based on the author’s recent popular book, “Cosmic Consciousness – A Journey To Well-being, Happiness and Success.” In this remarkable little book, published in both the Czech and English languages within one volume, and with an introduction by internationally-acclaimed author, Dr. Deepak Chopra, Dr. Cusumano explains in simple terms, the connection between Eastern Philosophical Wisdom, consciousness and quantum physics. He develops specific practices for living a successful and fulfilled life, regardless of your passion of pursuit.

B) The author may be reached at Jim@ChateauMcely.Com.

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH LEADERS MAGAZINE

personal enlightenment Figure 1: Infinite Quantum Soup. Out of the ever-existing infinite “quantum soup,” we conjure up in our consciousness everything we perceive with our five senses in the physical world – in the entire universe.

senses is vibrating on and off at the speed of light, i.e., 186,000 miles per second. Your whole body, which you currently occupy as you read this paragraph and which appears solid to you, is actually trillions of vibrations that are going on and off. It is mostly empty space, 99.99%, and the 0.01% that appears to be material is also mostly empty space. You, me, and other material objects are made mostly out of nothing. The reason we seem so solid, e.g., your feet on the hard floor, is a more complex explanation, but in simple terms, beyond the electrostatic repulsion of the electrons in the floor to those in your feet, the primary reason is that electrons possess something know as “quantum numbers,” and there is a firm rule known as the Pauli Exclusion Principle which says that electrons with the same quantum number cannot occupy the same quantum state.

The mystery is what is this “nothingness” from which we all come – you, me, planets, galaxies, in fact, the entire universe? Is it just a void, or could it be the womb of creation? Is it possible that Nature goes to exactly the same place to create a galaxy of stars, a cluster of nebulae, a rainforest, a human body, or a thought (Figure 3)? What’s a thought? Where does it come from? And after we have had a thought where does it disappear to? These are questions that some Figure 2: A Discontinuity is a point at which a signal goes abruptly and instantly on and then off. In this example, the signal has a value equal to both “0” and “a” at points –S, 0, and +S. The signal plotted along the Y-axis goes instantly from one value to the other, depending on which direction one proceeds along the X-axis. There exist no values of the signal (Y) in between this instantaneous change.

Y a

–S

0

TO BE CONTINUED...

S

X

people have asked forever. Some sages, geniuses and psychotics have figured it out. There is a fine line between sages, geniuses and psychotics!

Figure 3: Womb of Creation. What is the nothingness from which everything in the universe comes – you, me, planets, the entire universe? Is it just a void, or could it be the womb of all creation? Is it possible that Nature goes to exactly the same place to create a galaxy of stars, a cluster of nebulae, a rainforest, a human body or a thought? Some sages, geniuses, and psychotics have figured it out.

What we call the picture of the world is not the look of it; it’s not what we perceive with our five senses.

It is an on-off signal that has been going on and off for all eternity. It is this on-off signal that gives us our experience of the world. We need the on-off signal to have the experience of the world and the universe.

Without the off there is no on. Without the on there is no off. That’s what a discontinuity is – something that is vibrating on and off. When you see a light moving around a Christmas tree, there is no light actually traveling around the tree. The effect is created by light bulbs going on and off in a certain sequence, in which we cannot see the off, but only see the on, so our senses perceive and transmit the picture of a moving light within our consciousness. The same effect occurs in the sensory transmission of neon signs.

Lights are not moving; bulbs are just going on and off in a prescribed sequence. This again is a discontinuity – a signal vibrating on and off. Another example

is a movie, where you see continuity on the screen, but the movie is actually a series of still frames that are going on and off. If the film is projected at 24 frames per second, then your eyes can only see the on part of the film, not the off, so you see a moving picture, but in actuality, there is no moving picture.

Today, scientists have a good idea as to what’s in the “on” part of the signal. It is energy and information. For example, if I take a picture of you with my cellphone and then e-mail it to somebody in China, what goes from here to there is not a picture, but a vibrating signal of photons, i.e., small quantum packets of light or electromagnetic energy. And then the picture is recreated, first in the receiver’s cellphone or computer, and then in his or her consciousness. So, we are using the concept of the discontinuity today in our technology.

The mystery is not what is in the “on” part of the discontinuity, but what is in the “off” part. If you ask knowledgeable scientists at the forefront of quantum physics research, “What is in the off part of the discontinuity,” they will give you a most amazing and perhaps unfathomable response! “There is no energy, no information, no space-time, and there are no objects.” So then, what’s there? The best answer that quantum scientists can give us is that there are infinite possibilities.

The discontinuity is a field of possibility waves – what Nobel laureate, Werner Heisenberg (Heisenberg’s Uncertainty Principle) called the realm of “potentia.” Here there exist only infinite possibilities, an infinite number of probability waves described in quantum physics by the Schrödinger Wave Equation, which represent the immeasurable potential of all that was, all that is, and all that ever will be.

This is the “nothingness” from which everything in the universe comes forth – including you. It is from this field of “nothingness” that everything comes forth and is manifested into our universe. Pursuing this concept in some depth leads to an insight that can enable you to manifest into your life that which you truly desire. The details of this almost incomprehensible concept of “nothing to everything” and other aspects of the discontinuity are discussed in forthcoming additions of this series. Next in this series – “The Discontinuity: Nothing to Everything.”

James A. Cusumano, PhD About the Author: James A. Cusumano is Chairman and Owner of Chateau Mcely (www.ChateauMcely.Com), chosen in 2007 by the European Union as the only “Green” 5-star luxury hotel in Central and Eastern Europe and in 2008 by the World Travel Awards as the Leading Green Hotel in the World. He is a former Research Director for Exxon, and subsequently founded two public companies in Silicon Valley, one in clean power generation, the other in pharmaceuticals manufacture via environmentally-benign, low-cost, catalytic technologies. While he was Chairman and CEO, the latter – Catalytica Pharmaceuticals, Inc. – grew in less than 5 years, to a $1 billion enterprise with 2,000 employees. He is coauthor of “Freedom from Mid-East Oil,” recently released by World Business Academy Press (www.WorldBusiness.Org) and the author of “Cosmic Consciousness – A Journey to Well-being, Happiness and Success,” published in English and Czech by Fortuna Libri, 2011.

Leaders Magazine II/2012 107

Photo: Archive

VE VILE TUGENDHAT SE ZHMOTNIL NEKONVENČNÍ DUCH BRNA Město Brno je v dějinách evropské i světové moderní architektury nezpochybnitelným pojmem. Není proto náhodou, že právě zde stojí jedna z nejvýznamnějších staveb moderní doby – vila Tugendhat.

Exkluzivní rodinný dům na Černopolní ulici postavený v duchu funkcionalismu se 29. února 2012 po důkladné a náročné rekonstrukci opět zaskvěl v plné kráse. Slavnostní otevření vily, z níž dodnes vyzařuje hmotné i duševní bohatství, sebevědomí, krása a majestátnost, se těšilo nebývalému zájmu domácích i zahraničních médií a vedle desítek významných představitelů českého politického a společenského života jsme mohli uctít a přivítat také dcery stavitelů vily Danielu Hammer-Tugendhat a Ruth GuggenheimTugendhat.

Greta Tugendhat wished to have a modern spacious house with clear and simple shapes. Villa Tugendhat, a unique monument of modern architecture, has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site since 2001.

108

Důsledná restaurátorská rehabilitace vily německého architekta Ludwiga Miese van der Rohe trvala dva roky – o půl roku déle než její samotná stavba – a zahrnovala opravu budovy, veškerých interiérů a zahrady. Vila se tak vrátila k originálnímu stavu z let 1930–1938, tedy z období, kdy zde žila rodina Tugendhatových, vzdělaných a bohatých představitelů tehdejší brněnské společnosti.

Atributy Miesovy stavby, která je novátorsky řešena ve smyslu volného prolínání prostoru a formální čistoty, se staly sklo, ocel a beton. Výjimečné je také technické zázemí domu, např. kombinace teplovzdušného vytápění a chlazení, elektrické spouštění velkoplošných oken či fotobuňka u vstupu. V interiérech jsou užity vzácné a exotické materiály jako onyx, travertin, palisandr, zebrano, či makassarský eben. Z toho všeho je zřejmé, že tímto dílem rušícím hranice mezi interiérem a exteriérem se vizionář Mies obracel k budoucnosti. Možná i z tohoto důvodu nebylo ve své době jednoznačně přijímáno a k tomu, aby svět pochopil výjimečnost vily a náležitě ji ocenil, musel dozrát čas. Dnes pro nás ztělesňuje spojení tradice s vizí moderního města. Je to dům s bohatou a pohnutou historií – původní majitelé jej kvůli židovskému původu museli v obavě před sílícím nacismem opustit a stopy v podobě narušeného prostoru, roztříštěných původních skel či poničené zahrady zde pak zanechali nacisté, ruští a američtí vojáci i komunisté. Navzdory tomu všemu se nepřehlédnutelná vila stala národní kulturní památkou, místem, kde zaniklo Československo, byla zapsána do seznamu svě-

tového kulturního dědictví UNESCO a vyšel o ní úspěšný román.

PAMÁTKA, ALE I ŽIVÝ A FUNKČNÍ DŮM Když jsem 25. ledna 2010 přímo v prostorách vily podepisoval s brněnskou firmou Unistav smlouvu o rekonstrukci vily, byl jsem si vědom toho, že město Brno má nyní vynikající příležitost ukázat, že vize a naděje architekta a původních majitelů vily došly svého naplnění.

Na komplexní obnově se finančně podílely Evropská unie, Ministerstvo kultury ČR a město Brno a celkové náklady včetně projektu činily cca 183 milionů korun.

Své vědomosti a svůj um do ní pak vložily desítky tuzemských i zahraničních odborníků.

Od 6. března mají všichni milovníci moderní architektury možnost se přesvědčit, jak se podařilo naplnit hlavní myšlenku rekonstrukce – obnovit vilu jako živý, funkční rodinný dům, kam by se rodina hned zase mohla nastěhovat. Připraveny jsou dva návštěvnické okruhy po obytných prostorách i technickém zázemí domu, lze si zakoupit vstupenku také pouze do zahrady. Otevřeno je od úterý do neděle od 10 do 18 hodin (včetně státních svátků).

Prohlídky lze předem objednat na adrese www.tugendhat. eu, vstupenky je možné zakoupit i na pokladně.

Věřím, že vila Tugendhat se do srdcí i do paměti svých návštěvníků zapíše jako jeden z nepřehlédnutelných symbolů města Brna.

Roman Onderka primátor statutárního města Brna

IN COOPERATION WITH LEADERS MAGAZINE

TUGENDHAT

VILLA

Photos: Marie Schmerková

MATERIALIZED BRNO’S UNCONVENTIONAL SPIRIT More than one hundred domestic and international journalists were accredited for the ceremonial opening of Villa Tugendhat

Brno holds a prominent position in the history of modern European and global architecture. It is therefore no coincidence that the city hosts one of the most significant modern-period buildings – Villa Tugendhat.

An exclusive detached family house on Černopolní Street, built in the Functionalist style (also known as International Style, or Bauhaus), shone out in its original beauty on the 29th of February, following a thorough and challenging reconstruction. The ceremonial opening of the house, still radiating with material and spiritual richness, self-confidence, beauty and grandeur, was met with excellent interest of the domestic and international media. Besides dozens of VIP’s of Czech political and social life, the house also welcomed two daughters of the Tugendhat family that built the house – Daniela Hammer-Tugendhat and Ruth Guggenheim-Tugendhat.

The thorough restoration of the house, originally designed by the German architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, took two years to complete – half a year longer than its former construction – and included renovation of the building, the entire interior space and garden.

The house was reinstated to its original shape from 1930–1938, when it was occupied by the Tugendhat family, learned and wealthy personalities of Brno society of that time.

Glass, steel and concrete became attributes of Mies’ building, featuring an innovative design that accentuated free blending of space and formal purity. The technical equipment of the house is also exceptional: a combination of hot-air heating and cooling, electrically retractable large-scale windows and a photocell at the house entrance. The interiors make use of rare and exotic materials such as onyx, travertine, palisander, zebrano and macassar ebony. All this comes to show that the visionary Mies, blurring the boundaries between interior and exterior in this house, looked towards the future. It might be one of the reasons why this masterpiece was not well received in its period, and the time was yet to come for the world to fully appreciate the exceptionality and value of the house. Now, the house embodies a liaison between tradition and vision of a modern city. It is a house with a rich and turbulent history – the original owners, being of Jewish origin, had to leave it for fear of growing Nazism.

Its later occupants – German Nazis, Russian and American soldiers and communists – also left their traces here in the form of disrupted space, smashed original glass panes and a damaged garden. Nevertheless, this remarkable house eventually became national cultural heritage, a place where former Czechoslovakia split up, and it has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site, and a successful novel about it was published.

A HERITAGE SITE, BUT ALSO A LIVING AND FUNCTIONAL HOUSE When I signed a contract on the house’s restoration with Brno-based building company Unistav, right in the

house on the 25th of January 2010, I was aware that this was a unique opportunity for Brno to show that the visions and hopes of the architect and the original owners of the house came true. The comprehensive restoration was funded by the European Union, the Czech Ministry of Culture and the City of Brno; the overall cost including design work was approximately 183 million Czech crowns. The knowledge and expertise of tens of domestic and international experts was essential for the result of the work as well.

Since the 6th of March, all admirers of modern architecture have been given an opportunity to see for themselves how the main idea behind the reconstruction – to renovate the villa as a living, functional, detached family house into which the family could immediately move back – was fulfilled. Two guided tour circles have been prepared for the visitors covering residential spaces and technical facilities of the house; a ticket may also be bought to visit the garden only. Villa Tugendhat will be open from Tuesday to Sunday between 10 AM to 6 PM (including public holidays). The tours may be booked in advance on the website www.tugendhat.eu, tickets are also available for purchase in the box office.

I believe that Villa Tugendhat will leave an impression in the visitors’ minds as an excellent symbol of the city of Brno.

By Roman Onderka Mayor of the City of Brno Simple and austere, yet economical and comfortable, communicating with the surroundings and humble to nature – that is the way functionalist structures are, and that is the way Villa Tugendhat is

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moravian-silesian region

In 2012, It Held its 5th Winter Olympics Accessible for

CHILDREN AND YOUTH Photo: Archive

“The organizing of such an important event can be very challenging and we put a lot of work into it. We were able to take advantage of some of the latest new communication technologies, which permitted us to share even more of this year’s children’s Olympics with the public. For the entire week, it was possible to see footage of each day’s events on the games’ internet website. And, based on the feedback we received from the athletes and those accompanying them, it looks as though we were able to create just the right atmosphere for these Olympic games,” commented Věra Palková, the Vice-President of the Moravian-Silesian Region.

“I was thrilled to be able to watch the performances of the young athletes. And, of course, what thrilled me the most was to see the gold medals go to our hockey team. But there was an excellent effort made by each of the athletes in attendance. It makes one proud,” Věra added, this time as the head of the organizing committee. The President of the Moravian-Silesian Region, Jaroslav Palas, was very glad to see how well his region presented its attractions and showed itself off to the rest of the country. “I have to thank the entire organizing team, everything was very well planned and all of the events took place without any serious problems.”

The President of the Czech Olympic Committee, Milan Jirásek, noted that with the high degree of organiza-

Hockey players from the Moravian-Silesian Region

110 Leaders Magazine II/2012

The first major sports event of the year has now been held – it was the 5th Winter Olympics for Children and Youth. It took place in the Moravian-Silesian Region under the auspices of the Czech Olympic Committee. Ostrava, Bílá, Frenštát pod Radhoštěm and Pustevny played host to a total of 1,000 young competitors under the age of 16, who competed in 11 different major events. tional planning, the Moravian-Silesian Region has now raised the bar quite high for future Olympic events. He noted, “I think all of the athletes enjoyed the event and have strengthened their attraction to the region.”

The regional teams of young athletes were led into the opening ceremony of the games by some famous Czech Olympians of the past. Among the flag bearers were the hockey goalies Jiří Králík and Petr Bříza, other hockey players Vladimír Martinec and Bohuslav Ebermann, the ski acrobat Šárka Sudová, the skier Ondřej Bank and the badminton player Petr Koukal. The host region’s team was led by two-time world champion and an Olympic

SKI Resort Bílá

medalist at Nagano, David Moravec. The Olympic atmosphere was capped off by two medal award ceremonies – the first taking place in the main square of Frenštát pod Radhoštěm and the second taking place at the Bonver Arena in Ostrava. The close of the 5th Winter Olympics for Children and Youth took place February 3, 2012, during which the final medal counts for the different regions were announced. The most successful team in terms of medals came from Liberec, with a total

of thirteen gold medals (6 silver and 12 bronze), coming in as number two was South Bohemia (7-6-5) and in third place was the Hradec Králové Region (4-5-9). The home team from the Moravian-Silesian Region ended up in fifth place (5-3-3).

There have been a total of 19,126 young athletes who have now participated in these Czech Olympics for children and youth. The summer version of these Olympic Games has brought together 14,794 competitors, and the winter version of the games a noteworthy 4,332 competitors from all parts of the Czech Republic.

In the history of these games for children and youth, the most successful region at the summer games has been South Moravia, and at the winter games, the Liberec Region. The Liberec Region has quite a tradition of coming in on top in terms of the winning medal count – this year they won for the fifth time. At the 4th winter Olympic Games, South Moravia had come in second place, and in third place was the Vysočina Region. The most successful individual athlete at the 2010 games was Matouš Bělohorský from the Liberec Region who took home medals from all speed skating events held on a short track. In the history of these games, the most successful overall athlete was Ester Ledecká, who took home a total of five gold and two silver medals between 2008 and 2010.

We hope the young athletes enjoyed testing their sporting prowess in our modern sports venues and that they will be looking forward to coming back to the Moravian-Silesian Region in their free time. The conditions for winter sports in the region are excellent.

Jaroslav Palas Governor of the Moravian-Silesian Region

Ski jumping platforms in Frenštát pod Radhoštěm

Moravskoslezský kraj pořádal V. zimní olympiádu

DĚTÍ A MLÁDEŽE 2012 První velkou sportovní událostí letošního roku byla V. zimní Olympiáda dětí a mládeže 2012, kterou z pověření Českého olympijského výboru pořádal Moravskoslezský kraj.

Ostrava, Bílá, Frenštát pod Radhoštěm a Pustevny přivítaly 29. 1. 2012 celkem 1000 mladých sportovců do 16 let, kteří se utkali v jedenácti sportovních disciplínách. „Organizace takovéto akce byla velmi náročná a věnovali jsme jí obrovskou pozornost. Využili jsme nové moderní komunikační prvky, které posunuly tuto dětskou olympiádu o kousek dál, neboť po celý týden bylo možné, prostřednictvím internetových portálů, sledovat sestřihy z každého dne. Podle reakcí sportovců a jejich doprovodu se nám podařilo vytvořit tu správnou olympijskou atmosféru, hodnotila náměstkyně hejtmana Moravskoslezského kraje Věra Palková a dodala: „Výkony mladých olympioniků jsem byla nadšena, největší radost jsem samozřejmě měla ze zlatých medailí našich hokejistů. Ale vynikající výkony podávali všichni zúčastnění sportovci, jsem spokojená,” hodnotila šéfka organizačního výboru Věra Palková. Hejtman Moravskoslezského kraje Jaroslav Palas byl rád, že se Moravskoslezský kraj výborně prezentoval v celé České republice. “Musím poděkovat celému organizačnímu výboru, bylo to perfektně připravené a všechny soutěže proběhly bez výrazných zádrhelů.” A předseda Českého olympijského výboru Milan Jirásek upozornil, že tak kvalitní organizací nastavil Moravskoslezský kraj laťku hodně vysoko.

“Myslím, že si to všichni sportovci užili a že si prohloubili vztah ke svému kraji,” prohlásil Jirásek.

Krajské výpravy mladých sportovců vedly do boje osvědčená olympijská jména. Mezi vlajkonoši byli třeba hokejoví brankáři Jiřího Králík a Petr Bříza, hokejisté Vladimír Martinec a Bohuslav Ebermann, lyžařská akrobatka Šárka Sudová, lyžař Ondřej Banka či badmintonista Petr Koukal. Domácí výpravu Moravskoslezského kraje vedl dvojnásobný mistr světa a olympijský vítěz z Nagana, hokejista David Moravec.

Olympijskou atmosféru dokreslily dva medailové ceremoniály: první na náměstí ve Frenštátě pod Radhoštěm a druhý pak v ostravské Bonver Aréně.

Definitivní tečku za Olympiádou dětí a mládeže 2012 udělal závěrečný ceremoniál 3. 2. 2012, při kterém bylo zveřejněno pořadí krajů v celkové olympijské klasifikaci. Nejúspěšnější výpravou celé olympiády se stal Liberecký kraj s třinácti zlatými medailemi (6 stříbrných, 12 bronzových), druhé místo patří kraji Jihočeskému (7-6-5) a třetí pak Králové-hradeckému (4-5-9). Domácí Moravskoslezský kraj nakonec skončil na 5. místě (5-3-3).

Všech dosavadních ročníků Olympiády dětí a mládeže se zúčastnilo přesně 19 126 mladých sportovců.

Na letních hrách startovalo 14 794, na zimních pak 4332 účastníků z celé České republiky. V dosavadní historii ODM byl na letních hrách nejúspěšnějším krajem kraj Jihomoravský, na zimních hrách kraj Liberecký.

Nejúspěšnějším krajem zimních olympiád se při minulé olympiádě stal již počtvrté Liberecký kraj, druhý skončil Jihomoravský kraj a třetí kraj Vysočina. Nejúspěšnějším sportovcem ODM 2010 byl Matouš Bělohorský z Libereckého kraje, který vyhrál všechny disciplíny v rychlobruslení na krátké dráze. Nejlepší sportovkyní v dějinách Her je Ester Ledecká, která získala během ODM 2008 a 2010 pět zlatých a dvě stříbrné medaile.

Doufáme, že si mladí sportovci změřili své síly v moderně vybavených sportovních areálech a budou se chtít do Moravskoslezského kraje vracet i ve svém volném čase. Podmínky pro zimní sporty jsou zde výborné.

Jaroslav Palas hejtman Moravskoslezského kraje

ODM CLOSING CEREMONY, attended by from left: Mgr. Věra Palková, President of the Organizing Committee of the Moravian-Silesian Region for Education, Ing. Jaroslav Palas, Governor of the Moravian-Silesian Region, MUDr. Milan Jirásek, Chairman of the Czech Olympic Committee, and Mgr. Josef Slovák, Councillor for Education, Youth and Sports of the Zlín Region, which takes over the organizer´s baton

Leaders Magazine II/2012 111

energy analysis

The EU Should Not Last year in the middle of October the European Commission has presented the plan to improve the European infrastructure. The so called Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) will fund projects, which will close the gaps in the European energy, transport and telecommunications networks. The proposed instrument will become one of the most important novelties in the next multiannual financial framework (2014–2020). More specifically, the facility should promote the development of roads, railways, electricity grids, oil and gas pipelines and broadband infrastructure, which are crucial for the European citizens and companies.

There are almost 9.2 billion Euros earmarked for the support of investments in the fast and ultra-fast broadband infrastructure and panEuropean digital services. The programme should also stimulate other investments from private and public sources. The European Commission predicts that the financing of investments in infrastructure from this facility will stimulate more than 50 billion Euros of other investments.

In the Industry, Research and Energy committee I became the rapporteur for the regulation on guidelines for trans-European telecommunications networks, which is also known as e-TEN and is an integral part of the facility. I would like to inform the readers how important this initiative is and what possible obstacles we can come across. I generally agree with the Commission’s proposal. The proposed instrument should mainly concentrate on the areas of infrastructure, where there are weaknesses, which can be mitigated or removed and which cannot be solved through other instruments or by pure commercial entity.

Here I would like to stress that the financial support from this instrument should not lead to economic competition distortion. This means that regarding the broadband infrastructure, the financial support should mainly be directed into low and medium density areas, where private investors are not willing to invest due to low rentability of their investment.

This regulation together with the regulation on CEF should mainly create a business-friendly environment for the development of telecommu-

112 Leaders Magazine II/2012

nications infrastructure. This can be done through financial instruments such as guarantees and the project bonds. Grants should be used only in exceptional cases and as a complementary financial instrument. It will therefore depend on how the Member States will continue to stimulate the development of the telecommunications market; they should be removing obstacles that prevent faster development and they should promote competition in this market. Centrally planned and managed projects for the further development of the ICT sector are not recommended, due to the close links of this sector with the market and due to rapid changes in the orientation of its development. Broadband and digital services function in a fully market-based environment, this regulation should not intervene with nonmarket measures and influences, but it should responsibly mitigate the deficits in this sector.

The principal deficit is connected with the digital divide between the rural and urban areas in the possibilities to connect to fast internet and the use of digital services linked to it. Overcoming this divide is one of my key priorities. It is one of the areas where public money can effectively promote the development of this market.

It is important to mention that the projects of common interest focused on the achievement of Digital Agenda for Europe goals, that is ensure by 2020 that all Europeans have access to internet speeds of above 30 Mbps and 50% or more of European households should be subscribed to internet connections above 100 Mbps, need to be based on realistic predictions of demand for services using fast internet.

Regarding the areas for projects of common interest in the field of digital services infrastructure, these areas can be generally also accepted.

Nevertheless I would like to find out from the Commission based on which criteria they have chosen these priority areas. From my personal and professional point of view I would like suggest to add to the projects of common interest the area of crisis management, civil protection or programmes related to search and rescue.

This area seems to me as a necessary part of the public cross-border services, where there is a common interest among the Member States.

Photo: Archive

The chosen areas are mainly public digital services and therefore we cannot expect that the private investors will enter these projects in their initial phases. Grants in this case seem to be the effective mechanism in supporting these kind of services.

The Commission based on this proposal has large power in modifying, removing and adding new projects of common interest, which are essential to this regulation. That is why it is necessary to ensure particular control mechanisms that will scrutinize the actions of the Commission.

ICT is a dynamic and rapidly developing sector, therefore on the one hand it is necessary that the regulation is flexible and takes into account development changes, however on the other hand it should not threaten the legal and investment certainty in this market, by changing and removing projects in the short-term.

The whole legislative process of the proposal will stretch over the course of one year, therefore it will be interesting to observe how it will develop.

I look forward sharing with you the outcomes of the final version of the proposal.

By Evžen Tošenovský Member of the European Parliament To be continued... český překlad naleznete v elektronické verzi magazínu na www.leadersmagazine.cz

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infrastructure analysis

The EU, or how to Live with

Angels and Demons Seven years after the Czech accession to the European Union, it seems that the original enthusiasm of Czech society for the nation’s membership in the EU is gradually vanishing. And it is not only for the very serious reason that the EU shows an apparent inability to solve the crisis troubles of the south-wing countries of the Union, which can undermine stability and the living standards of those with relatively sober public spending and thrifty households. Other such trifles, like the introduction of “enriched” hen cages, which drove up egg prices in the Czech Republic, and the ban of classical Edison bulbs, were also able to evoke public dissatisfaction.

The EU is, anyway, a human invention, not God’s invention. Having originated as the European Communities after the disastrous last war, it was conceived to restore peace, stability and welfare in the continent, and in this respect it met almost full unanimity of its members; and the success was almost perfect. As the Community was growing, differences and disputes manifested themselves to an increasing degree. It is now put to question whether the organism will gradually dissolve, or find a new, generally accepted basis of stability, not necessarily in the form of a tight federation.

The Union sometimes behaves like an elderly spinster-aunt trying to bring up a vivid child of her relatives. Some Union’s orders and bans go well beyond how grown-up people should be treated. Must more spacious cages for hens really be prescribed when everybody knows that better welfare for hens brings tastier eggs, and saucier meat, which can be sold better? How can I feel comforted by an “economic” fluorescent bulb that is much more expensive than the classical one, and breaks much sooner than indicated on the paper box? More people will get angry if it is said that they managed the light improperly, by switching it on and off too frequently. In some cases, it is not hard to decipher the vested industrial interests behind this sort of legislation.

But not all the evil can be attributed to the Union’s influence. The influx of EU funds to our country was driven by the noble idea to help the less developed.

This should not be forgotten, and deserves gratitude.

It is not the fault of the EU that more Czech public entities, which received the funds, behaved like a seven-year-old boy left alone in a confectioner’s.

The money was not always used efficiently. And now

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the boy, naturally, is not able to consume even what could be available if prepared in a consistent way. It was more the general euphoria with EU funds, than the existence of the funds themselves, which led to a complete crowding out of private capital from public infrastructure, to the detriment of the speed and quality of its construction.

The European Union is, after all, a battlefield of national interests. There is nothing abominable in them. They are much more real than somehow naïve ideals of European unity. It is not always appropriate to curse Brussels officials: they might in many cases come with good ideas, but it was the specific national interests that removed them from the table in the end. The stronger the speakers of the interests are, the easier their successes became. This surely raises a question as to the role of a smaller nation in this big company.

The first condition is about maturity. Peculiar as the Brussels newspeak and political correctness may appear – to always be positive and formally in-line with the sublime idea – the mastering of it is a precondition that you must satisfy. This is the basis on which the game with national interests is played. You can hardly be taken into the Viennese Opera Ball in a jogging dress. In this respect, the controversial Entropa installation, followed by a spectacular destruction of the Czech EU presidency in progress, might not be a good mark of Czech political maturity. The second condition, more importantly, is national unity, at least on essential interests. It magnifies the powers that national representatives work with.

And the third condition, interlinked with the previous two, is that you must be considered understandable and reliable, which can help to enlist allies and combatants for interests you defend, as the country is seldom isolated in those interests. It is not sufficient to decline the signing of the new intergovernmental treaty on fiscal discipline; it is also necessary to credibly explain why you have declined, including the changes under which the treaty would be signed. The positions of prominent Czech political parties seem to be paradoxical in a way. Does the Civic Democratic Party (Občanská demokratická strana, ODS) really oppose a treaty that is so very near to the ODS’s political sacred principle, which is fiscal discipline and stability? Do Social Democrats (Česká strana sociálně demokratická, ČSSD) really adhere so much to the European pact involving

necessary austerity measures in public expense, at the same time constantly accusing the right-centre Government of asocial budget cuts? This special domestic dispute cannot be omitted by external observers. On the other hand, the activity of the Government towards the initiative to enhance the EU internal market can only be praised. This is also the way to make the Union less bureaucratic, and so more durable.

Luckily, the Czech political elites are united at least in the idea of preserving the EU membership, and to be in some way active in its policy making. No alternative to this can come into consideration. It is only needed for them to take a more direct part in the political solution of the existing serious European crisis. This does not need to be in any contradiction to special Czech national interests; in fact, just the contrary.

By Emanuel Šíp Partner Allied Progress Consultants Association český překlad naleznete v elektronické verzi magazínu na www.leadersmagazine.cz

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EU matters interview

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An interview with H.E. Jakub Dürr, Deputy Permanent Representative of the Czech Republic to the EU and Permanent Representative to COREPER I

WE MUST TAP THE

POTENTIAL OF EU Internal Market

Photos: Radek Honzák

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EU matters interview Excellency, before you became the Deputy Permanent Representative of the Czech Republic to the EU last September, you held the post of the Vice-Rector responsible for Foreign Affairs at the Palacký University in Olomouc. Is there anything that you learnt in your previous academic career that could serve you in your current diplomatic position?

If I may quote a former US Secretary of State who had previous experience with the academic sphere, I would say that academic world may sometimes be even more vicious than politics.

Seen in this light, an academic career was a great training for a post in state administration. I have had hands-on experience with policy-making both on national and European levels. The post of Deputy Minister for European Affairs at the Ministry of Education provided me with a deep insight into national administration, and my work during the Czech Presidency in the Council of the European Union in 2009 gave me a lot of experience with European diplomacy. I hope that this equipped me with necessary prerequisites for this diplomatic position.

Academically, you focused on politics and EU affairs. Is there anything that surprised you in real politics compared with the theory?

I think that theory helps a lot. However, a direct, personal experience is obviously much stronger than any theory. In my position in Brussels, this involves participating in intense bilateral and multilateral negotiations, creating coalitions and looking for compromise. I have been quite impressed by the dynamics of negotiations and creation of alliances among EU Member States. It showed me how important it is to find allies to defend your priorities. In these negotiations, you can establish very good professional relationships based on mutual respect.

What is the role of the Permanent Representation to the EU, and how does your position fit in the whole structure?

The Permanent Representation is the key link between the Government and administration of any Member State and EU institutions. Our diplomats and experts take part in negotiations of the 27 Member States in the Council of the EU, and the highest technical or diplomatic level of these negotiations is conducted by Committees of Permanent Representatives (COREPER) – that is to say, by the Member States’ Ambassadors and their deputies.

Given the enormous range of topics, the agenda is divided into several parts. Our Permanent Representative to the EU, Ambassador Milena Vicenová, represents the Czech Republic in the so-called COREPER II that deals with more political agenda such as economic and financial affairs, EU budget, internal affairs and justice, among others. I defend Czech positions in COREPER I, which focuses on fields as varied as the EU Internal Market, Energy, Innovation, Transport, Competitiveness, Educa-

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tion, Social Policy, Agriculture, Environment and many others. Last but not least, our institution is also home to the Permanent Representative to the Political and Security Committee, Ambassador Václav Bálek, who deals with Security and Foreign Policy. Perhaps not surprisingly, the Permanent Representation is the largest embassy that the Czech Republic has abroad.

On the surface, the Czech Republic may seem to be one of those EU Member States that are rather reticent regarding further EU integration. What are the Czech priorities in the European Union, and to what extent are they shared by other like-minded countries?

An internal debate on Czech opinions and positions regarding further development of the European Union is very much ongoing, and it is only natural that different Member States may have different views. That, however, does not prevent them from creating like-minded groups on various important issues. Some are established ad hoc, others for the longer term.

The Czech Republic is actively participating in a like-minded group dealing with the Internal Market – one of those with longer term targets.

We were one of the initiators of the “Plan for Growth in Europe”, a letter to the Presidents of the European Council and the European Commission signed by thirteen Prime Ministers before the last EU summit at the beginning of March. This plan identifies specific ways of tapping the unused potential of the EU internal market and we are happy to see that most of our strong and clear priorities were supported by all 27 Member States.

Another example of a thematic like-minded group that we participate in deals with the proposal for future multiannual financial framework of the European Union for 2014–2020.

Some say that the European Union has lately focused too much on solving the financial crisis rather than on growth and job creation. However, a functional Internal Market could help us overcome economic crisis. What kind of initiatives should we focus on to stimulate growth?

8/2011–present Deputy Permanent Representative of the Czech Republic to the EU 2/2010–7/2011 Vice-Rector for Foreign Affairs at Palacký University, Olomouc 9/2008–11/2009 Deputy Minister for European Affairs at Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports 2/2006–8/2008 Vice-Rector for External Relations at Palacký University, Olomouc 8/2002–8/2008 Senior Lecturer at Department of Political Science and European Studies at Palacký University, Olomouc

It is clearly necessary to speed up progress towards completing a truly functional Internal Market and unlocking its great potential.

Specifically, we focus on three priorities – removing barriers hindering smooth functioning of the Internal Market, especially in the sphere of services, cutting red tape and supporting small and medium-sized enterprises.

One of the most important priorities within the area of the Internal Market is also achieving a fully operational Digital Single Market. Better recognition of e-signatures, e-authentifications and e-authorisations across the EU would bring great benefits to cross-border e-commerce, but the key precondition is modern infrastructure facilitating access to broadband. That is why we supported an initiative of our Finish colleagues who stressed the need of the Digital Market completion at the January EU summit.

The Czech Permanent Representation to the EU is developing a project called Businesses and Legislation. What is its aim?

The “Businesses and legislation” project is the result of a long-lasting vision of Ambassador Milena Vicenová. The aim is to help Czech businesses, business organisations and stakeholders get closer to the EU, mainly through a website called “EU for entrepreneurs” (www.czechrep.be/ podnikatel), a series of seminars and conferences, and other initiatives. It is crucial that Czech stakeholders be more involved in the EU legislative process and promote their interests effectively, such as their counterparts from countries that have been Members of the EU for a longer time than the Czech Republic. We also wish that they are more successful in using EU funding. I am happy to see that the project is already bearing positive results.

By Alena Vlačihová CEBRE

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

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EU matters debates

From left: Libor Dupal, Chairman, Czech Consumer Association, Marie Moravcová, Secretary, Arbitration Court attached to the Czech Chamber of Commerce and Czech Agricultural Chamber, Tomáš Večl, Director, European Consumer Centre of the CR, Věra Knoblochová, Consumer Affairs Expert, Permanent Representation of the Czech Republic to the EU, and Ivana Kocová, Director, Technical Harmonization and Consumer Legislation Dept. at the Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Czech Republic

ALTERNATIVE

Dispute Resolutions Arbitration and mediation are mechanisms of alternative dispute resolutions (ADR). ADR basically is an alternative to formal court dispute settlements. Such an instrument has many advantages – it is faster, cheaper and parties do not leave the process as enemies but as two entities that found a solution in a peaceful way. These mechanisms function differently across the EU (depending on the nature and on the sector), therefore it complicates their use in cross-border disputes. In order to facilitate the ADR in cross-border disputes, the European Commission adopted a proposal for ADR Directive and a proposal for a Regulation on Online Dispute Resolution (ODR) on November 29, 2011. In Prague on February 14, different stakeholders discussed the use and functionning of ADR mechanism in the Czech Republic and how it could function in the future in connection with ODR. ADR, and later ODR, could be a good solution for both parties of the dispute – consumers and businesses, only if they are well-balanced, clearly defined, of a high quality and known to their users. The debate was organized by the Confederation of Employers´ and Entrepreneurs´ Associations of the Czech Republic and CEBRE – Czech Business Representation to the EU in cooperation with the Representation of the European Commission in the Czech Republic and the Information Office of the European Parliament in the Czech Republic.

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IN COOPERATION WITH LEADERS MAGAZINE Participants of the debate

In the Czech Republic, the Corporate Social Responsibility concept has to reflect business environment. Stakeholders, rather than the regulation, have to motivate entrepreneurs to use CSR concept, agreed representatives of public bodies and business organizations who participated at the debate on 30th January 2012 in the European House in Prague.

In October 2011 the European Commission published a new paper on Corporate Social Responsibility.

The aim is to enhance positive impacts, for example through innovation of new products and services, that are beneficial to society and enterprises themselves, and to minimise and prevent negative impacts. CSR concept has been developing in the Czech Republic and Commission’s CSR package can be a source of inspiration for drafting national CSR strategy.

From left: Ivo Jupa, CSR Consult, Petr Jonák, Director for Foreign Affairs, AWT Group, Pavlína Kalousová, Member of Leadership Team, and Richard Falbr, Member of Employment and Social Affairs Committee, European Parliament

Corporate

Social Responsibility The debate was organized by the Confederation of Employers´ and Entrepreneurs´ Associations of the Czech Republic and CEBRE – Czech Business Delegation to the EU in cooperation with the Delegation of the European Commission in the Czech Republic and the Information Office of the European Parliament in the Czech Republic.

Participants of the debate

117 From left: Jaroslav Prachař, Director, Korektní podnikání, Ivo Jupa, CSR Consult, and Petr Jonák, Director for Foreign Affairs, AWT Group

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EU matters business

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BUSINESS NEWS DID YOU KNOW THAT…

…the LIFE programme shall continue after 2013?

The Commission has adopted a proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the establishment of a Programme for the Environment and Climate Action (LIFE). The total financial amount for the LIFE Programme in the MFF Communication for the period 2014–2020 is 3.2 billion. Of this amount, 2,713.5 million is allocated to the sub-programme for Environment, half of which shall be allocated to action grants in the field of nature and biodiversity conservation. 904.5 million is allocated to the sub-programme for Climate Action. LIFE will positively influence environmental policy, due to simplicity, adaptability and higher budget. …this year is dedicated to active ageing?

The year 2012 is the European Year for Active Ageing and Solidarity between Generations. Commission will therefore support elderly people to stay in workforce and share their experience with younger colleagues, promote active role of seniors in society and live as healthy as possible. According to the Commission, this should be the key to maintain the solidarity between generations in the society with rapidly increasing number of elderly. The European Year for Active Ageing is designed to serve as a framework for raising awareness, for identifying and disseminating good practice and for encouraging policymakers and stakeholders at all levels to promote active ageing. ...closer partnership is needed to boost the Custom Union?

The Commission has adopted a Report on Progress on the Strategy for the Evolution of the Custom Union.

It states that it is necessary to focus on closer collaboration with other agencies and international partners in the area of health, safety and environment.

Furthermore, the Commission will focus on improving and modernizing the administration in terms of structures and working methods, sharing and pooling of capacities and capabilities between the Member States. The report describes and evaluates the implementation strategy of the Custom Union for the period 2008–2013. …the young generation is heavily unemployed?

Youth unemployment currently stands at more than 20% in the European Union. European companies are convinced that this high number of young people without work stands in sharp contrast to the real potential of the young generation. Therefore, at the request of the European Commission, BUSINESSEUROPE has set up a task force in order to get more apprenticeships. It will look at concrete proposals on how the EU can better support apprenticeships/dual learning systems through the use of EU funds. Task force will publish report on the Tripartite Social Summit in March 2012. ...Commission has its CSR partners?

The European Commission has announced the names of organisations that will implement important new European projects on business and human rights under Corporate Social Responsibility Strategy. The development of sector-specific guidance on the cor-

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porate responsibility to respect human rights will be led by the Institute for Human Rights and Business together with Shift, an independent non-profit centre specialising in this field. Work to build the capacity of small and medium-sized enterprises in the field of human rights will be carried out by Bernard Brunhes International in cooperation with Global CSR. These partners will be supported by UEAPME. Together they will produce a human rights risk-mapping for SMEs, draft some case studies of how SMEs deal with human rights, and develop a practical guide to human rights for small businesses.

LET’S TALK NUMBERS …Compliance with EU waste legislation would save 72 billion Full implementation of EU waste legislation would save 72 billion a year, increase the annual turnover of the EU waste management and recycling sector by 42 billion and create over 400,000 jobs by 2020 according to the European Commission study published mid-January.

Illegal waste operations in Member States are causing missed opportunities for economic growth, but stronger national inspections and better knowledge about waste management would bring major improvements.

Compliance with EU policy would help create a sector with 2.4 million jobs and a total annual turnover of 187 billion. ...EU population aged 55 and over will represent 40% by 2060 The proportion of the population in the EU27 who are aged 55 and over rose from 25% in 1990 to 30% in 2010, and is estimated to reach around 40% by 2060.

Positive approach of the EU to the active ageing is reflected in the employment rate for persons aged 60–64 which has increased from 23% in 2000 to 31% in 2010. …SME created 85% new jobs The European Commission published the main results of a study on the essential contribution of SMEs on job opportunities. 85% of net new jobs in the EU between 2002 and 2010 were created by small and medium sized enterprises – SMEs. This figure is considerably higher in comparison with the total of 67% of SMEs in general employment. During this period, employment in the EU’s business economy rose substantially, by an average of 1.1 million new jobs each year. With 1% annually, the employment growth for SMEs was higher than for large enterprises with 0.5%. …Industry down 1% The Commission published report about manufacturing production in the last three months to November 2011. Manufacturing production was some 1% higher than a year ago, but also 1% below the level registered in the preceding three months. Manufacturing output is still 13% higher than its trough in early 2009 and some 9% below its former peak in early 2008. Business confidence has declined, but still remains broadly at its longterm average. Recent data and forecasts for services, including tourism, remain positive, but their performance will depend on the general economic situation.

EU IN THE WORLD

Stronger consular protection for EU citizens abroad The European Commission has proposed to improve assistance for EU citizens caught in crisis situations – such as those that occurred in Japan, Libya or Egypt last year – and day-to-day emergencies when travelling abroad. Proposals will strengthen these rights by clarifying when a citizen is considered not represented and specifying the type of assistance Member States typically provide in cases of need, such as arrest, serious accident or lost documents. The aim is to ease cooperation between consular authorities and strengthen European citizens’ right to consular protection. EU citizens abroad have the right to ask for assistance from a consulate or an embassy of another EU Member State when their Member State is not represented in the country.

New system for protecting European borders The Commission proposed to establish a European Border Surveillance System (EUROSUR), with the main purpose of preventing unauthorised border crossings, reducing the number of illegal immigrants loosing their life at sea and increasing the internal security of the EU by contributing to the prevention of crossborder crime. The system is supposed to improve coordination of national departments in preventing and combating serious crime – such as drug smuggling and human trafficking, and also aims to limit the unacceptable loss of life of migrants who enter the EU by sea.

Exports of raw materials from China The World Trade Organization rejected China’s appeal for export of raw materials. The final decision of WTO limits the amount of China’s exports of mineral resources and it was welcomed by the EU in the area of trade. Restriction on exports of raw materials from China helps to boost domestic supplies and lower prices for users in Europe. This decision is a positive impulse for companies and their employees, because it proves that the rules apply to all countries equally.

Although the law under which the WTO does not know the procedure precedents, it is clear that this decision may be from the perspective of a future resolution of similar disputes key.

Reform of the EU data protection legislation The European Commission has proposed a comprehensive reform of the EU’s 1995 data protection rules to strengthen online privacy rights and boost Europe’s digital economy. A single set of rules on data protection, valid across the EU, will do away with the current fragmentation and costly administrative burdens, such as notification requirements for companies, leading to savings for businesses of around 2.3 billion a year. The initiative will help reinforce consumer confidence in online services, providing a much needed boost to growth, jobs and innovation in Europe.

Brought by CEBRE – Czech Business Representation to the EU (kindly supported by CzechTrade), www.cebre.cz

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

Jaromír Šlápota, Chairman of the Czechoslovak Foreign Institute and Ing. Jiří Rudolf, Member of Managing Board of the Czechoslovak Foreign Institute

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social evening Members and friends of the Czechoslovak Foreign Institute traditionally get together at the turn of the year to reflect upon the past year, as well as to discuss what is going to come in the next months. Thanks to the invitation from a member of the Czechoslovak Foreign Institute, the Strahov Monastery abbot Josef Michael Pojezdný, such a meeting took place in one of the most beautiful church premises in Prague. Some five dozen members and friends of the Czechoslovak Foreign Institute met in the Strahov Monastery on February 7, 2012.

“The Strahov Monastery is famous because of its library.

The book is a symbol of wisdom and therefore I wish for you to be wise in 2012, to bring wisdom to our neighbourhood, to contribute to positive changes in the world,” the abbot Pojezdný said in his toast. Members of the Czechoslovak Foreign Institute keep his words in their minds. The role of this institute is, among other things, to make and strengthen relations between people. One of the ways to do it is to hold such regular meetings as the one in the Strahov Monastery.

OF THE CZECHOSLOVAK FOREIGN INSTITUTE IN THE STRAHOV MONASTERY

From left: the Strahov Monastery Abbot Josef Michael Pojezdný, Member of the Czechoslovak Foreign Institute, Jaromír Šlápota, Chairman of the Czechoslovak Foreign Institute, and Gejza Evermond Šidlovský, Head Librarian of the Strahov Monastery welcomed guests

Ivan Souček from IMG, Member of the Czechoslovak Foreign Institute and MiMORE PHOTOS AND ELECTRONIC VERSION roslava Součková AVAILABLE ON WWW.LEADERSMAGAZINE.CZ

Two wise men – the Strahov Monastery Abbot Josef Michael Pojezdný and Ing. Miroslav Toman, former Minister of Agriculture, Chairman of the Agrotrade, both Members of the Czechoslovak Foreign Institute

Jaromír Šlápota, Chairman of the Czechoslovak Foreign Institute, Jitka Hybnerová, Vratislav Hybner, Miroslava Součková, Ivan Souček from IMG, Member of the Czechoslovak Institute

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prague castle event

Soloist Sinne Eeg, Singer, as a guest Gerard Presencer, Trumpet

Trumpet Section Anders Gustafsson Christer Gustafsson Thomas Kjaergaard Mads La Cour Gerard Presencer Saxophone Section Nicolai Schultz Peter Fuglsang Uffe Marcussen Hans Ultik Anders Gaardmand Trombone Section Vincent Nilsson Steen Nikolaj Hansen Peter Jensen Annette Saxe Jakob Munck Rhythm Section Henrik Gunde Per Gade Kaspar Vadsholt Soeren Frost

IN COOPERATION WITH LEADERS MAGAZINE

with Danish Radio Big Band

From left: H.E. Mohammad Kabir Farahi, Ambassador of Iraq with his wife and H.E. Jose Manuel Lira, Ambassador of Chile

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From left: Mgr. Jan Vít, Department of Linear Services, Office of the Council for Broadcasting and MUDr. Michael Vít, Deputy Minister of Health and Chief Public Health Officer

From left: Ivo Zboril M.Gen. (Ret.), Meopta Systems, s.r.o. and Alena Veliká, Press Service Head, Office of the President

From left: George Bechara, Business Development, Ethar Group, Mr. Abdallah, Prof. JUDr. Jan Kříž, Advokátní Kancelář Kříž a Bělina s.r.o., Prof. Dr. Eduard Gombár, Director, Charles University in Prague, Institute of Near Eastern and African Studies, and Ing. Miloš Janů, Managing Partner, Czech-Kuwait Trading Ltd.

From left: H.E. Ole E. Moesby, Ambassador of Denmark with his wife, Casey Holt, Managing Partner and Creative Director, Ideabenders, and Karin GentonL’epée, Business Coach, Coaching 4 Success

From left: Prof. Václav Klaus, President of the CR and H.E. Ole E. Moesby, Ambassador of Denmark

From left: Emil Viklický, Pianist and Composer and Ladislav Kopecký

From left: Andrea Gontkovičová, Director Corporate Affairs CZ, Philip Morris CR, a.s. with her husband and son and Gregor Hofstaetter-Probst, CFO, UniCredit Band CR, a.s. with his wife

From left: Petr Bratský, Senator, PČR, Senate, Nora Stříbrná, Business Coordinator, Al Harbi Group, Saudi Arabia, and Rodan Šenekl, Project Manager, Advanced World Transport, a.s.

From left: H.E. Cihad Erginay, Ambassador of Turkey and H.E. Mohammad Kabir Farahi, Ambassador of Iraq

121 MgA. Jitka Hosprová dipl. spec., Renown Viola Soloist and Ing. Jiří Kunert, Chairman and CEO, UniCredit Bank CR, a.s.

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From left: Jiří Stivín, Stivín and CO JAZZ, behind – Vincent Nilsson, Musician, JUDr. Soňa Illner Pajerová, Attorney at Law, Ing. Vladimíra Václavíková, Marketing and Editorial Director, Leaders Magazine, and Steen Nikolaj Hansen, Trombone, Composer

From left: H.E. Yaakov Levy, Ambassador of Israel, Sinne Eeg, Singer, and H.E. Jose Manuel Lira, Ambassador of Chile

Danish Radio Big Band

Jirka Vávra, VAVI, s.r.o. with his wife

122 From left: Karel Vágner, Music Publisher, Milan Svoboda, Pianist, Ing. Zdeněk Pelc, CEO, GZ Digital Media a.s., and Prof. Václav Klaus, President of the CR

From left: Adam Milwiw-Baron, Trumpetist and Piotr Baron, Saxophonist

prague castle event

Piotr Baron – Saxophone Adam Milwiw-Baron – Trumpet Dominik Wania – Piano Maciej Adamczak – Double Bass Przemyslaw Jarosz – Drums

with Piotr Baron Quintet

IN COOPERATION WITH LEADERS MAGAZINE

From left: Josef Mixa, General Director, Phoenix Zeppelin, s.r.o. and Prof. Václav Klaus, President of the CR

From left: Josef Vejvoda, Drummer with his wife and Josef Nálepa, Academic Sculptor

From left: Eduard Pálka, Commercial Director, CE Group, Ladislav Dráb, Chairman, CE Group, Štěpán Marković, Jazz Musician, Mgr. Daria Šťastná, Coordinator EGS24 Summit 2012, CE Group, and Mrs. Marie Kadeřábková

H.E. Marie Chatardová, Czech Ambassador to France and Prof. Václav Klaus, President of the Czech Republic

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From left: Mrs. Marie Kadeřábková, Mgr. Daria Šťastná, Coordinator EGS24 Summit 2012, CE Group, Mrs. Markéta Sobolová, and Milada Karasová, President, Czechoslovak Models

From left: Prof. Václav Klaus, President of the Czech Republic, Prof. Ing. Kamil Janáček, CSc., CNB Bank Board Member and Chief Executive Director, and Ing. Stanislava Janáčková, CSc., Advisor to the President, Office of the President Ing. Zdenka Mrvová, Director of Pharmaceutical Engineering, Zentiva, k.s.

From left: H.E. Sergey B. Kiselev, Ambassador of the Russian Federation and Ladislav Mravec, Director, Foreign Affairs Department, Office of the President of the Czech Republic

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From left: Ludmila Nutilová, Vladimír Suchánek, Academic Painter, Mrs. Benešová, and Mrs. Suchánek

From left: Stanislav Skřička, FashionTV, Veronika Zajglová, Josef Vejvoda, Drummer with his wife, René Sion, General Manager, Alois Dallmayr Automaten – Service s.r.o., and Ing. Miloš Janů, Managing Partner, Czech-Kuwait Trading Ltd.

From left: MUDr. Dmitry Fedorov, Prof. Václav Klaus, President of the Czech Republic, and Ing. Alexey Zorin

Aneta Jankovská, and Vladimír Lachout, PR Manager and Marketing, Council of the State Castle of Karlštejn

From left: Viktor Dvořák, General Manager, Gray Line and Mr. Rubinstein

Martin Šiler, System Specialist, České Dráhy, a.s. and Mgr. Eva Rybková, CEO, Novitex Fashion

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From left: Karel Vágner, Music Publisher and Jakub Vágner with his girlfriend

From left: Josef Mixa, General Director, Phoenix Zeppelin, s.r.o., Štěpán Marković, Jazz Musician, Ladislav Dráb, Chairman, CE Group, and Prof. Václav Klaus, President of the Czech Republic

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Classic comic opera by Carl Maria von Weber and Gustav Mahler (Die Drei Pintos), premiere January 12th, 2012 at the State Opera.

culture event IN COOPERATION WITH LEADERS MAGAZINE

Stage scene, from left: Jana Sibera, Clarissa and Martin Šrejma, Don Gomez

From left: Jana Sibera, Clarissa and Jana Horáková Levicová, Housemaid Laura

From left: Don Gaston, WuiLong Tao and Zdeněk Plech, Don Pinto

126 From left: Clarissa, Don Gaston, and State Opera Ensemble

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

culture event Tragic comedy from a wrong era (a dream) by Karel Steigerwald, world premiere February 17th, 2012 at the New Stage of the National Theatre.

My Remote From left: Eva Salzmannová, Krista and Antonie Talacková, Číča

Don Quijote

Classical ballet by Ludwig Minkus, performed February 19th, 2012 at the State Opera.

Milan Boček, Don Quijote

127 Ondřej Vinklát, Basil, Alina Nanu, Kitri, and State Opera Ensemble

culture event

Enchantia From left: Jakub Tolaš, Parrot, Petr Stach, Frog, and Lucie Fišer Silkenová, Penelope

Family opera expedition based on Gerald Durrell´s book The Talking Parcel, premiere January 14th, 2012 at the National Theatre.

Jana Šrejma Kačírková, Singing Book

JUDr. Dominika Kolowrat-Krakovská with son Maxmilián and daughter Francesca

Enron Managing Board

Comedy by Lucy Prebble. Enron – the word that has become a symbol of collapse. The fall of this gigantic energy company in 2001 preceded the current world finance crisis. The comedy about debts premiered February 16th, 2012 at the Estate Theatre.

128 Václav Postránecký, Ken Lay and Petra Špalková, Klaudie Roe

From left: Jan Dolanský, Andy Fastow, Václav Postránecký, Ken Lay, and David Matásek, Jeffrey Skilling

Radek Baborák has explained each part of the concert

culture event

2012 On January 27th, 2012 the concert Mozart´s Birthday 2012 was held as a tribute to the 256th anniversary of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. The event took place at the Estate Theatre. Music was performed by State Theatre Orchestra and this year for the first time ever the voices of the opera singers were replaced by the sound of the horn. The life of the horn was given by Radek Barborák who also conducted the concert itself.

Pavel Hlavinka, Vice President, Vodafone Czech Republic, a.s. with hostess in contemporary costume

Contemporary dance performed at the Mozart melodies with daughters of Radek Baborák

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27. 2. 2012 – 2nd Birthday of the Maecenas Club of The National Theatre

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Systém CESR spolehlivě ochrání vaše podnikání před nespolehlivými obchodními partnery.

The CESR system will reliably protect your business against unreliable business partners.

Rating českých ekonomických subjektů jednoznačně ukáže, na co si u dané společnosti dávat pozor a jaká rizika při spolupráci s ní očekávat

Rating of Czech economical subjects it will show unambiguously what to be aware of in particular company and what risks can be expected when cooperating with it

Hlídání insolvence program u zadaných subjektů sleduje, zda nebyl podán návrh na zahájení insolvenčního řízení, a informuje o všech změnách

Insolvency watch a program checking selected subjects for information whether an insolvency proceedings was not started against them, and informs about all changes

Hlídání změn v obchodním rejstříku program sleduje zadané subjekty v obchodním a živnostenském rejstříku a e-mailem zasílá informace o zjištěných změnách - např. likvidaci

Watching for the changes in business register a program watching selected subjects in business and trade register, and sends e-mails about noticed changes – e.g. liquidation

Registr dlužníků zadejte do systému své problematické dlužníky a dluhy se až do splacení promítnou do jejich ratingu

Register of debtors input your problematic debtors here and their debts will affect their rating until they are paid

Adresář subjektů kompletní adresář českých ekonomických subjektů, v němž lze vyhledávat podle regionu, oboru, obratu apod.

List of subject a complete list of Czech economical subjects, where one can search by region, field, turnover, etc.

www.cesr.cz