Summer Events in the Czechoslovak Foreign Institute

The discussion with Israeli Ambassador H. E. Gary Korenem (at the front of the table) was followed with interest by the two Czech former Prime Ministers, Ing. Jiří Paroubek (second left) and Ing. Jan Fischer (third left).

Among the participants of the discussions with the Israeli Ambassador was also Vice-Chairman of the Institute, former Chair of the Senate PhDr. Libuše Benešová.

Special furniture designed by the member of the Managing Board of the Czechoslovak Foreign Institute Hana Hlaváčková was made by the Czech company Linea.

The American participants of the Czech language course, which was prepared by two members of the Czechoslovak Foreign Institute, were excited by visiting the ceremonial halls of the Prague Castle.

The participants of the Czech language course in the headquarters of the Institute became familiar with the history and activities of this independent association and they took photo under the portrait of the first Czechoslovak President, based on whose initiative the Czechoslovak Foreign Institute was founded in 1928.

The youngest generation of Czech expatriates in Vienna enjoyed the new nursery, which was fully equipped by the Czechoslovak Foreign Institute.

Chinese Ambassador to the Czech Republic H. E. Ma Keqing (fourth from the right) with her husband Cai Ping (fourth from left) visited the Zlín region at the invitation of Senator and Vice-Chairman of the Czechoslovak Foreign Institute Ivo Valenta (fifth from the left). She was also accompanied by the Chairman of the Board in the Holešov strategic industrial zone Libor Karásek (first from left), Petr Sáha, Rector of Tomáš Baťa University in Zlín and Chairman of the Czechoslovak Foreign Institute Jaromír Šlápota.

In Uherské Hradiště, the Ambassador Ma Keqing participated at the Festival of Wine and Open Monuments and she tasted the juice of freshly crushed grapes.

Interesting friendly discussion

Since 1994, the Czechoslovak Foreign Institute has organized discussions with domestic and foreign personalities for its members and friends. On August 31, the Israeli Ambassador in Prague H. E. Gary Koren came to talk about the relations between the Czech Republic and his home country. Few political personalities from among the members of the Institute met there, including two former Prime Ministers, Ing. Jan Fischer and Ing. Jiří Paroubek. “I’m not saying that the relations between Israel and the Czech Republic are ideal. There are also problems there. But in comparison with other countries our relations are at a high level, “the Ambassador said at the beginning of the discussion. He explained that his assessment is based on his thirty years of diplomatic practice and reminded that even in the reports of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the current Czech foreign policy, in the section on relations with the countries of the Middle East, it is stated that Israel and the Czech Republic have relations of strategic importance. He also said that the Czech Embassy in Israel is among the ten largest and excellent diplomats are working there. The fact that the Czech Republic considers the relations with Israel as important is indicated, according to the Ambassador, also by numerous official visits, such as Israeli President Reuben Rivlin in Prague last year, President Miloš Zeman in Israel two years ago, or two visits of the Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka in his current function.

The Czechoslovak Foreign Institute equipped nursery in Vienna

Since the new school year, the children of expatriates in Vienna have not only kindergarten, primary school and high school, but even nursery. Its equipment was donated by the Czechoslovak Foreign Institute to the Comenius School Association.

The Association Comenius asked the Czechoslovak Foreign Institute for equipment for 15 children under the age of three years as early as in 2015. Then, this spring the Institute secured financing and the member of the Managing Board Hana Hlaváčková started to process nursery design in accordance with the request from Vienna. And when it was approved by the School Association, the Czechoslovak Foreign Institute ordered its production in the Linea company. All the miniature furniture and other elements were made to measure, out of solid wood and treated according to strict hygiene standards.

Compatriots from the USA came to improve their Czech

From 28 June till 18 July 2016, the campus of the Czech Agricultural University on the northern border of Prague became again the venue for the language and heritage course, in which the Czechoslovak Foreign Institute offers the opportunity to the countrymen to improve their Czech language and become familiar with the motherland of their ancestors. After six years of the course, in which students of Czech came to Prague from Czech schools in Europe, two members of the Managing Board of the Institute prepared a special training program for descendants of Czechs and Moravians, who left the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy at the turn of the 19^th and 20^th century to work in America. All the participants appreciated the level of teaching and interesting accompanying program.

Important visit to the Zlín region

The Chinese Ambassador to the Czech Republic H. E. Ma Keqing visited the Zlín region at the invitation of the Senator Iva Valenta, Vice Chairman of the Czechoslovak Foreign Institute. During her visit, she was accompanied by the Chairman of the Institute Jaromír Šlápota. The second weekend of September (9 – 11 September) was dedicated to one of the greatest folklore feasts in Uherské Hradiště region, the 14^th Festival of Wine and Open Monuments. The Ambassador was one of the most important personalities that have visited the Festival.

“The Festival left a deep impression on me. It surprised me how many people are actively participating, and how they can enjoy its atmosphere. It is good that the Czechs attach so much importance to traditions, “said the Ambassador.