Press Advisories

4. 4. 201420:22

Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka Meets UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon

Premier Sobotka met with Secretary-General of the United Nations Ban Ki-moon on Friday 4 April 2014 to discuss current international issues, protection of human rights, UN peacekeeping missions, and prospects of reforming the United Nations Organization.

"Given that Czechoslovakia was present at the birth of the United Nations in 1945 and has helped shape this influential international organization ever since, the Czech Republic regards active UN membership and participation in peacekeeping missions as one of the priorities of its foreign policy. We want to increase the Czech presence in individual missions to make a greater contribution to the UN's efforts to maintain global peace, security, and stability," explained Sobotka.

An incumbent member of the UN Human Rights Council, where the Czech representative holds the seat of the vice-president, the Czech Republic plans to submit candidature for the 2019-2021 period when the current term expires at the end of this year.

Among other issues, today's debate focused on the prospects of reforming the United Nations Organization. In this respect, Sobotka thanked Ban Ki-moon for his effort to improve the efficiency and transparency of UN's institutions. The Czech premier also mentioned that the Cabinet's policy statement places emphasis on multilateral diplomacy and attributes high importance to the role of the United Nations.

Other priorities of the Czech foreign policy include promoting economic diplomacy, deepening and expanding the European integration process, and signing the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership agreement between the EU and the US.