It seems like yesterday that Czechoslovakia carried out a bloodless split forming the Czech and Slovak Republics. Do you think this was for the good of both nations?

This split remains a unique example to the world of the way peaceful conflict should be resolved.

Since then, both Slovakia and the Czech Republic continued on the way of political and economic transformation after the fall of the communist regime in 1989, on the basis of the reforms undertaken in the early 1990s in Czechoslovakia.

Today, both countries are full members of the European Union, Nato and OECD and enjoy very healthy and friendly relationships with each other.

How did the Czechs fare following the split?

Surely the Czech economy was transformed and now is doing well in all sectors (in spite of the unstable political situation following last week’s general elections).

Since the split, the Czech Republic, so well known for being a highly industrial and export-oriented country, is benefiting from the EU membership and its funding. The European Union has offered many opportunities to Czech citizens. An area without internal borders, thus providing huge potential for investment especially from Germany and the Russian Federation.

This in turn is resulting in vast economic development and, above all, human contacts. Competitiveness, new technologies and scientific breakthroughs with their use in business, played a most important role in this transformation, thus enabling the country to compete in a globalised world. 

The major exports of the Czech Republic are now headed by the automotive industry with the ‘SKODA’ brand being the flagship of Czech exports and the shoe-making industry with the leading brand ‘BATA’.

Czechs are also the proud producers of the world-renowned cut crystal glass industry whose tradition goes back to the 13th century with the main brand such as ‘Preciosa’, whose chandeliers and decorative crystal ware have decorated deluxe hotels and buildings the world over.

Another traditional industry is that of beer brewing. Among the top producers are ‘Pilsner Urquell’ and ‘Budweider’, but there are also dozens of others, often family breweries, that are carrying on this traditional industry.

Today, the country has a totally European lifestyle in contrast to the dull and restrictive days of the Communist period.

The Czech Republic has always been renowned for its historical heritage, its architecture as well as the great religious and secular Baroque monuments. With the help of EU related programmes, the Czech Republic has spent significant funds on maintaining this heritage.

After the Velvet Revolution, artists from all over the country had the opportunity to present their works to the foreign public in the spheres of filmmaking, theatre or music.

Czech directors like Milos Forman and Jiri Menzel, (both Oscar winners) gave the Czech film industry that added boost. The annual Karlovy Vary Film Festival is considered one of the most prestigious art competitions in Europe.

Music, culture, and sports are areas where Czechs have excelled.

In sport and especially in ice hockey and tennis, Czechs have dominated at international tournaments.

In music and culture, The Prague Spring Arts Festival has become a world renowned event and visitors to the Czech Republic can enjoy world class musicians play at the many concerts organized throughout the year performing either jazz or classical music by the many composers who are world famous, such as Antonin Dvorak, Leos Janacek, Berrich Smetana and Bohuslav Martinu for classical music and many others.

Prague, the capital city has become a most popular destination for the Maltese in recent years, both in the spring and summer months when Air Malta operates two weekly flights from May to September.

How would you rate Czech – Maltese relations?

These are excellent. Both countries support each other in EU fora and our Prime Ministers meet regularly at EU summits. Economic relations are also flourishing especially in the financial services sector, where we have seen a huge increase in Czech investment here. There are also a number of Maltese registered companies with Czech interest. Tourism and the teaching English Language sectors are also doing well.

As a Consulate we try to ensure that such relations are vibrant and we explore ways and means of keeping both sides in contact. At the moment we are involved in talks with Malta Enterprise to organize a Maltese institutional delegation to Prague in the first quarter of 2014 (hopefully by then the political situation will be settled) and we can continue discussions with Czech Trade and Czech Confederation of Industries.  This delegation will aim at explaining to the Czech side the priority areas of Malta’s economy with particular emphasis on FDI. This delegation will then be followed up by a Czech commercial delegation to Malta in the later part of 2014. 

With Czech Trade (the national trade promotion agency), we are now setting up the Czech Trade External Office in Malta, which could support Czech entrepreneurs looking at North Africa who could use Malta and our capabilities and contacts in North Africa especially in Libya.   Economic diplomacy is now the order of the day and we have already proved ourselves in this sector.

Recently, during the World Czech Honorary Consuls meeting in Prague, I had the honour to meet the President of the Czech Republic Milos Zeman. The President showed great knowledge about Malta and its history, especially that related to World War II, and he assured me that he would do his best to visit Malta during his presidential term. Such a visit is most important, as it will consolidate further such relations.

We are also seeing an increase in Czechs living in Malta; at present there are some 50 families. We also have a Czech Compatriots Society, which is quite active among its nationals.

You have been Honorary Consul for a number of years now. Can you mention a few milestones during all these years?

I have been Honorary Consul since 1985, just two years after the split and Honorary Consul General for the last four years now.

I think that the presentation of the “Gratias Agit” award by the Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs presented to me “for services to the Czech Republic” together with the State visit of Vaclav Havel in 2002, and that by our then President Dr Edward Fenech Adami were three of the most significant happenings during these years.

Another occasion was my second personal meeting with Vaclav Havel in 2003 when, following the floods that hit Prague, we had managed to collect funding from Malta to support restoration of various manuscripts in the Prague National Theatre. Havel had invited me to Prague Castle just to say “Thank You”. That was a memorable meeting, when Havel also conveyed his thanks to our late President Prof. Guido de Marco for having hosted here in Malta a group of Czech children whose families were affected by the floods.

You mentioned Vaclav Havel, whom your Consulate will be commemorating next week.  Can you amplify?

Vaclav Havel is a world iconic figure who represents the Czech Republic even to this day, three years after his passing.

It was Havel who laid the foundation stone of what the Czech Republic is today.

Havel was the intellectual, the determined politician, the orator, the statesman and the humble person who led his people towards democracy. This he did in trying times, when he was repeatedly imprisoned for his statements and writings. 

Malta had honoured Havel during his State visit to Malta when our university conferred on him an honoris causa degree. Our Consulate had commemorated his passing in 2011 with an event held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in January 2012.

Tomorrow, we will be unveiling a memorial in his honour at Hastings Gardens in Valletta. This memorial was made possible with the support and co-operation of the Valletta local council, The Prague City Hall, Corinthia Hotels International and the Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Hastings Gardens have been chosen because it is known as the “lovers garden”.

It was Havel who used to state, “Truth and love always prevail over lies and hatred”.

The memorial is very simple in design, a marble pillar with Havel’s signature on the front, which includes ‘the heart’ Havel used to print in red under his signature. This will identify the memorial with Havel’s humane character.

So the memorial ceremony is part of the 20th anniversary celebrations?

Yes, we wished to link this with the 20th anniversary celebrations, as Havel was the first President of the Czech Republic.

We are also organising a concert by GPS Carmina Children’s choir from Ceske Budejovice who are here in Malta to participate in the Malta International Choir Festival organised by the Malta Tourism Authority.

This will be followed by the National Day reception being held at the Phoenicia Hotel. President George Abela will be our guest of honour together with various other VIPs. Our Consulate has always celebrated the Czech Republic National Day, which falls on 28 October.

A delegation from Prague 1 Municipal Authority has been invited for these events and will also hold talks with the Valletta local council and sign a co-operation agreement, finally sealing a “people to people” relationship between our two cities.

Our Consulate has worked hard for this to happen and we are extremely pleased that we have now managed to get these Maltese and Czech local authorities together. Here I wish to thank Valletta’s mayor, Dr Alexiei Dingli, for his co-operation and assistance.

Don’t you think it’s “Czech-Mate”?