Michael Kocáb

Michael Kocáb

Minister of the Government of the Czech Republic for Human Rights

Personal data:
Date and place of birth: July 28th, 1954, Prague

Education:
1973 - graduated from the secondary school in Mladá Boleslav
1977 - founded Pražský Výběr rock band
1979 - graduated from the conservatory in Prague
subjects: composition (Professor Ilja Hurník) and organ (Professor Jiří Ropek)


Employment career:
early 1989 - shooting of the movie “Those from Prague, they have an easy time”
spring 1989 - co-founder of the “Bridge” initiative (together with Michal Horáček)
since November 17th,1989 - founding member of the Civic Forum
- member of the crisis team of the Civic Forum coordination centre
- together with Michal Horáček, he initiates actions to terminate the occupation of Czechoslovakia by the Soviet Army
- proposes to nominate Václav Havel as the president of Czechoslovakia
December 1989 - member of the Federal Assembly of the Czechoslovak Republic and member of the EU Inter-parliamentary Commission (Foreign Committee)
- initiates the establishment of a commission for the withdrawal of Soviet troops of the Federal Assembly of the Czechoslovak Republic
1990 - re-elected to the Federal Assembly
- chairman of the reconstituted commission for the withdrawal of Soviet troops from Czechoslovakia
- member of the parliamentary commission vetting generals of the Czechoslovak Army
- member of the parliamentary commission overseeing the Security Information Service
1991 - member of the “goodwill mission” to Iraq the purpose of which was to arrange the release of Czech and Slovak “human shields” before the outbreak of the Gulf War
- leaves the Federal Assembly
1992- together with P. Tigrid, he collects signatures for a petition in support of a referendum on the splitting of Czechoslovakia (approx. 2,250,000 signatures)
1995-1997 - organizes an extensive campaign to save TREND Investment Fund
- establishes the Foundation of M. Kocáb in support of literature
2001- since its establishment, the Foundation of M. Kocáb has been supporting “Literární noviny” magazine
1993-2003 - external advisor of President V. Havel
- organizes and moderates more than 80 “Amalias”
(meetings of the President with representatives of political and public life)
2003-2008 - continuing cooperation with President V. Havel, additional“Amalias”
- through his VIZE (Vision) Foundation, he contributes to the renovation of the Church of St. Anna
- co-arranges the seventieth birthday of V. Havel
- opens the Exhibition of the Library of Václav Havel
2003-2005 - full-time return to musical activities
- another comeback of Pražský Výběr in its traditional lineup
2006-2008 - the band is rebuilt and renamed Pražský Výběr II
2008 - runs for the Senate on the ticket of the Green Party (approx. 15% of votes – 3rd place)

Political positions:
since November 17th,1989 - founding member of the Civic Forum
December 1989 - member of the Federal Assembly of the Czechoslovak Republic and member of the EU Inter-parliamentary Commission (Foreign Committee)
1990 - re-elected to the Federal Assembly
2009 - nominated for a ministerial position in the Czech government by the Green party

Personal site:
http://web.me.com/michaelkocab/Site/

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