ESUJ-Lecture&Event

Ambassador's Lecture Series No. 15

The Czech Republic Today :
From EU Presidency Holder to Japan-Czech Relations

H.E. Mr. Jaromir NOVOTNY
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Czech Republic

The Czech Republic was born with the dissolution of the former Czechoslovakia in January 1993. The new country may be young, but its history is extremely long and rich. Its capital city Prague is the jewel of Central Europe, full of wonderful sites to see. Starting with its Prague Spring International Music Festival, the city has great charm for music lovers and has produced many celebrated musicians. The Embassy of the Czech Republic in Japan also has a Czech Music Contest at which young Japanese musicians receive commendation.

The Czech Republic joined the European Union in 2004 and has assumed the weighty responsibility of the EU Presidency for the first half of 2009. Ambassador Novotny will speak to us from various angles about the Czech Republic today, starting with the role of his country as holders of the EU Presidency and including culture, the arts, and Czech-Japan relations.

Date:	Tuesday, 10th March 2009 　6:30-8:00pm

Place:	Japan National Press Club (9th Floor, Large Conference Room) Nippon Press Center Building 2-2-1 Uchisaiwaicho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo Tel. (03) 3503-2721 Uchisaiwaicho Station (Exit A-7) on the Mita Line; JR Shimbashi Station; Kasumigaseki Station (Exit C-4) on the Chiyoda and Hibiya Lines; MAP

Admission:	¥1,000 ESUJ members (no charge for supporting members and student members) ¥2,000 for non-members ¥500 for students

To attend:	Please apply to the ESUJ office Click HERE!

Profile: H.E. Mr. Jaromir Novotny, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Czech Republic to Japan

Born in Ostrava in 1947. Graduated from the University of Economics in Prague in 1969. Following various work experiences, between 1989 and 1993 he worked in the Economic Section of the Presidential Office, served as the vice chairman of the Governmental Committee of the Czech Government for Foreign Relations, and was in charge of international relations for a television company. In 1993 he became the Director General of the Foreign Relations Section of the Ministry of Defence where he played an important role in creating the Czech Army’s peace keeping forces. In 1997 he was appointed First Deputy Minister of Defence, subsequently becoming Ambassador to India in 2001 and Ambassador to Japan in May, 2006.