Press Advisories

24. 11. 20147:04

Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka Visits the U.S.

The unveiling of a bust of Václav Havel in the American Congress, a visit to Czech expatriates in Texas, a meeting with Vice President Biden at the White House, and a ceremony commemorating the legacy of J. F. Kennedy in Dallas were some of the numerous events attended by Czech Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka as part a working visit to the United States during 17 to 20 November 2014.

Other officials who joined Sobotka on the trip included Deputy Prime Minister for Science, Research, and Innovation Pavel Bělobrádek and Minister of Culture Daniel Herman.

The main reason behind Sobotka's visit to the United States was to express respect for the legacy of former President Václav Havel, for human rights, and for democracy in Europe as well as elsewhere in the world.

The departure was planned to allow the prime minister to celebrate November 17, a date of material importance in Czech history, in both the Czech Republic and in the United States.

Overview of the Czech Prime Minister's Visit to the U.S.

 

Day 1

Greetings of the Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka before the performance of the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra in Washington, 17th November 2014.
Greetings of the Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka before the performance of the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra in Washington, 17th November 2014.

In the evening on November 17, the Czech prime minister joined Lower Chamber Speaker Jan Hamáček, Deputy Prime Minister for Science, Research, and Innovation Pavel Bělobrádek, and Minister of Culture Daniel Herman to attend a concert by the Czech Philharmonic at the National Cathedral in Washington. Afterward, they met with the former U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, mainly to discuss foreign policy issues.

Day 2

Sobotka visited the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, 18th November 2014.
Sobotka visited the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, 18th November 2014.

On Tuesday, November 18, Sobotka visited the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington.

Prime Minister Sobotka meets US VP Biden, 18th November 2014.
Prime Minister Sobotka meets US VP Biden, 18th November 2014.

In the afternoon, the Czech premier met with Vice President Joseph Biden at the White House. Their meeting, scheduled to last 30 minutes, extended to an hour and a quarter. The two politicians mainly debated defense- and security-related issues, the situation in Ukraine, and energy security. Subsequently, Sobotka met with the U.S. Secretary of Energy Ernest Moniz.

Day 3

In the morning on Wednesday, November 19, the Czech premier attended a debate chaired by Peter Ackermann at the Council on Foreign Relations, a U.S. non-governmental organization. The discussion centered on the 25th anniversary of the Velvet Revolution of November 1989, Václav Havel and his contribution to democracy, and other topics, which mainly included foreign-policy issues.

Czech Prime Minister Sobotka and attended unveiling of a bust of Havel at the US Congress, 19th November 2014.
Czech Prime Minister Sobotka and attended unveiling of a bust of Havel at the US Congress, 19th November 2014.

After lunch, Sobotka joined other important guests to unveil a bust of Václav Havel in the House Wing of the Capitol. Other members of the Czech delegation that attended the unveiling ceremony included Lower House Speaker Jan Hamáček, Deputy Prime Minister for Science, Research, and Innovation Pavel Bělobrádek, and Minister of Culture Daniel Herman.

The Czech delegation met with the Speaker of the House of Representatives John Boehner, 19th November 2014.
The Czech delegation met with the Speaker of the House of Representatives John Boehner, 19th November 2014.

After the unveiling, the Czech delegation met with the Speaker of the House of Representatives, John Boehner, and later with the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi.

Day 4

Laying the cornerstone of a new gymnasium at the local Sokol branch in the town of West, 20th November 2014.
Laying the cornerstone of a new gymnasium at the local Sokol branch in the town of West, 20th November 2014.

The last day of Sobotka's visit was dedicated to meetings with Czech expatriates. First, the Czech premier laid the cornerstone of a new gymnasium at the local Sokol branch in the town of West and lunched with the Honorary Czech Consul General of Texas, Raymond J. Snokhaus. Subsequently, he visited Dallas, Texas to commemorate the legacy of John F. Kennedy at Grassy Knoll. The last item on the program was a meeting with expatriates at The Sixth Floor Museum.