remarks
U.S.-Czech Bilateral Relations
Remarks by Ambassador Richard W. Graber
Association for International Affairs (AMO)
Savoy Hotel, Keplerova 6, Prague 1
Wednesday, November 29, 2006
Good evening, and thank you for the opportunity to be with you tonight. It’s a pleasure to be here. My family and I have been in the Czech Republic for about two months now, and this evening represents a chance for me to reflect on the extraordinary breadth of the U.S.-Czech bilateral relationship.
I’d like to talk to you about many of the ways in which our two countries work together. Because there are so many, I think the best way for me to do so is to talk first about our cooperation in the very difficult struggle against terrorism, including in NATO. I’ll then comment on how we cooperate on democracy building and economic development, both via the European Union and bilaterally.
Finally, I’ll discuss two important issues in our bilateral relationship which have gotten a lot of press recently: missile defense and visas. At the close of my remarks, I look forward to answering your questions.
WOT/NATO:
Let me start by saying that as U.S. Ambassador to the Czech Republic I will strive to enhance what is already an excellent bilateral relationship. The strong ties between our two countries date back to U.S. President Woodrow Wilson’s support after World War I for the founding of an independent Czechoslovakia. While the ties created then successfully survived the strain of 40 years of Communist rule, it is the current era that has best demonstrated what we can accomplish through cooperation and vision. The United States and the Czech Republic have always been friends. We are now also strategic partners in combating mutual threats, supporting the spread of democracy, and making the world a better place in the 21st century.
There is no question that the most compelling issue of mutual concern today is the threat of terrorism. We face determined, violent extremists who exploit Islam and the desperation of many people in the Islamic world – including here in Europe – to justify their goals and their violent actions. In countries around the world -- from Indonesia, to Turkey, Spain and the Middle East – terrorists have shown that the United States is not their sole target.
Rather, they seek to defeat the forces of democracy, religious tolerance, human rights and essential freedoms. This is an affront to Islam as much as it is to non-Islamic civilization. And the United States and Europe must reach out and work together with moderate Muslims, Christians, Jews, Hindus, and all others who stand for human dignity, justice, tolerance, and peace.
The Czech Republic has been a strong ally of the U.S. in the face of this common threat of terrorism. Czech authorities have worked diligently over the past several years to enhance cooperation among our military, police and intelligence organizations and to support efforts aimed at defeating terrorism and its proponents.
This support includes Iraq, where Czech commitments have included deployments of a field hospital that treated more than 9,000 Iraqis; a long-term civil-military police unit engaged in training Iraqi police in Basra; and dozens of Czech experts to advise Iraqi Ministers. In addition, Czechs are actively contributing to society-building in Iraq by training Iraqi diplomats and judges and by assisting with police training in Jordan. For all of those contributions, America says thank you.
U.S.-Czech cooperation in the fight against terrorism also includes Afghanistan, where the Czech Army has seen service under both U.S. and NATO command. I would particularly note here the contributions of the Czech Special Forces unit, which just recently returned home from their second deployment to Afghanistan.
Looking forward to the end of this year, Czechs will take over operations at Kabul Airport. In short, Czech forces are experienced, highly skilled, deployable, and NATO interoperable; crucial capabilities to have as we face the threats of the 21st century together. And for that, America says thank you.
Let me talk briefly about the NATO Summit which is taking place right now in Riga. Foreign Minister Vondra has been a valued advisor to the Latvians on this Summit, and Czech military chemical specialists from Liberec are providing security.
At the 2002 Prague Summit, NATO declared that we would go wherever the threat confronts us, and that we would have the necessary capabilities to do so. NATO is changing from its Cold War incarnation into an alliance with greater reach. It has the same mission it always had, which is the defense of its members, the Article 5 defense, and it takes that responsibility seriously.
But in the 21st century that responsibility needs to be carried out in places that are unexpected. If we want to be safe at home, we have to make an investment in security and training in tough and at times distant places.
What this means is that NATO has had fifty thousand soldiers operating in the last 18 months on four continents around the world. NATO is now in Afghanistan fighting its first extended land combat mission in its history. NATO has a small training mission in Iraq. NATO provided earthquake relief in Pakistan. NATO even provided modest assistance in Louisiana, in my country.
In short, NATO is becoming an organization that is potentially worldwide in its missions. This is hard, expensive work which requires a long-term, sustained commitment.
At the Riga Summit going on right now, we will highlight and salute how far we have come and how much NATO is delivering today. But we will also redouble our commitment to deliver security and peace, and to ensure that NATO is sufficiently invested in the missions we are engaged in.
Our common fight against terrorism has taught us an important lesson. The real antidote to global terrorism in the long run is advancing the human condition: freedom, economic opportunity and prosperity, social integration, democracy, human rights, the rule of law, and security.
Military and law enforcement and judicial and financial means are all necessary against al Qaeda and other terrorist groups. But success will come only when moderate, peaceful citizens throughout the world insist on an end to violence, and a focus on building better societies.
Democracy Building/EU/Economic Development:
One of the best examples of U.S.-Czech bilateral cooperation on society-building is what Secretary Rice calls transformational diplomacy, which she describes this way:
To work with our many partners around the world to build and sustain democratic, well-governed states that will respond to the needs of their people -- and conduct themselves responsibly in the international system…Transformational diplomacy is rooted in partnership, not paternalism -- in doing things with other people, not for them.
The Czech Republic clearly understands this concept. After completing your own transition to a fully-functioning democracy and market economy, you are using your own experience to assist other countries around the world in making a similar transition from a repressive to an open society.
Czechs are the most active promoters within the EU of human rights in Cuba. You work with Belarussians to increase access to independent media, support democratic opposition, and provide assistance to those persecuted by Lukashenko’s regime. And Czechs are also active as far afield as Burma. The Czech government has spent over $5 million in Iraq in humanitarian aid and democracy programs since 2003, helping Iraqis rebuild their society.
As part of its efforts to encourage the growth of democracy, the Czech Republic hosts Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, which moved to Prague from Munich in 1995. In the post-Cold War world these radios, fully funded by the U.S. government, broadcast independent news coverage in 26 languages to Eastern and Southeastern Europe, Russia, the Caucasus, Central and Southwestern Asia.
In countries stretching from Belarus to Bosnia and from the Arctic Sea to the Persian Gulf, listeners rely on RFE/RL's daily news and analysis. Despite political backlash from some of the countries to which the radios broadcast, the Czech Republic has remained firm in its commitment to host the radios and provide security to the more than 600 employees who work there. Within a couple years, RFE/RL will move to new, state of the art facilities. We’re proud that those facilities will continue to be right here in Prague.
The United States also works cooperatively with the Czech Republic as a strategic partner in the European Union. President Bush believes in America’s alliance with Europe. As he said in his second Inaugural address:
"All the allies of the United States can know we honor your friendship, we rely on your counsel and we depend on your help. The concerted effort of free nations to promote democracy is a prelude to our enemies’ defeat.”
Czech accession to the EU was good news not just for the Czech Republic, but also for the U.S. We firmly believe that there is no contradiction between having a solid European identity and a strong transatlantic orientation. We work cooperatively and straightforwardly with the EU on a range of issues, from limiting arms sales to China, promoting human rights in Cuba and Belarus, and engaging in the Middle East Peace Process.
And there is perhaps no better illustration of the value of transatlantic cooperation than our efforts to bring peace to the Balkans. The United States is certain that, by advocating its views as confidently and as skillfully as it has in NATO, the Czech Republic is helping to build a better, stronger EU.
No discussion of U.S.-Czech relations would be complete without a word regarding trade and investment. The United States is one of the largest foreign investors here, with an estimated $3.5 billion in investments since the Velvet Revolution.
Trade creates important linkages between Czech and American companies and communities. In fact, every week small businesses come to the Embassy seeking Czech partners, representatives, and opportunities.
There are several hundred U.S. factories, sales offices and other businesses in the Czech Republic. Last year more than 100 U.S. companies entered the Czech market to invest, buy and sell.
The Czech Republic is a desirable location for U.S. companies because it is a gateway to the rest of the EU market, and has a well educated labor force and lower labor costs. At the same time, there are steps the Czech government can take to make its country more attractive still for foreign investors.
Sustainable economic growth in the long term depends on further structural reforms of the pension system, healthcare, labor flexibility, and energy diversification. It is particularly important to have an active public debate on transparency and the cost of corruption. Excessive bureaucracy, corruption, relatively high taxes, and rising labor costs could eventually impact foreign investment as companies look further eastward.
Missile Defense/Visas:
In addition to speaking about all the ways in which we cooperate successfully on military, transformational diplomacy and economic matters, I would like to address two bilateral issues which have gotten a lot of media coverage: missile defense and visas.
I believe that both our countries have much to gain by a sustained, open dialogue on these issues.
Missile Defense:
First, missile defense. The United States and the Czech Republic are working together bilaterally and multilaterally to examine the potential to defend Europe and North America from future threats. The Czech government invited the U.S. in 2002 to consider it as a possible host country for a missile defense facility, and the U.S. Defense Department is now assessing potential sites in the Czech Republic and in Poland.
We expect a decision sometime this winter. It is my hope that we will be able to offer the Czech Republic a chance to host a missile defense facility. However, let me stress that it is a Czech decision whether and to what extent to participate in this particular element of European defense and security.
Our missile defense plans are a direct response to Iran’s and North Korea’s relentless and methodical pursuit of nuclear weapons. North Korea’s nuclear test on October 9th is a stark reminder that this is not a theoretical debate.
Iran has portrayed international efforts to persuade it to abandon its nuclear weapons ambition as an effort by the U.S. and its allies to deny it access to nuclear technology. In fact, President Bush has made it clear that the U.S. government supports the Iranian people’s desire to develop its peaceful civilian nuclear energy program, but we cannot allow the regime to develop nuclear weapons. We do not seek regime change, but rather change in the regime’s behavior.
It is also important to note that our plans for a possible European missile defense site are for a small, purely defensive facility that would employ only a few hundred people and consist of 10 missiles and one or two radars. Comparisons to Russian bases which were imposed upon the Czech Republic in the past are simply wrong.
Hosting this facility would be unlikely to make the Czech Republic more of a target for terrorists. When the Czech Republic became a member of NATO and decided to actively engage in the war against terrorism in Iraq and Afghanistan, the Czech Republic assumed certain risks – risks which your country believed were justified in light of the greater risks posed by extremists around the world. In my view, the presence of a facility in the Czech Republic would not, in any material way, change the already existing risks.
Again, in the event of a U.S. offer, the decision whether to accept is ultimately up to you. But I believe that it would be an opportunity for the Czech Republic to make an important contribution to European and transatlantic security.
Visas:
The last topic I’d like to speak with you about today is visas. I have heard this issue raised repeatedly, even before I arrived in the Czech Republic, and I understand how important it is to Czech citizens. Why do Czechs still need to apply for a U.S. visa when Americans don’t need one to travel here? Let me try to explain.
There are currently 27 participants in the Visa Waiver Program. However, the program hasn’t been significantly modified since its implementation in 1988 to take account of new threats to our security.
Because of that, President Bush announced yesterday morning in Tallinn that he intends to seek modifications to the program that would strengthen the security of visa waiver travel and allow us to accelerate the entry of new countries into the program. There will be more flexibility for countries that cooperate in implementing the security measures.
This is good news for the Czech Republic. I can’t tell you when your country will be invited to join the Visa Waiver Program. But as the President said, we intend to consult very closely with your government on the new security component, and during my time here, I can tell you that I am committed to personally working with the Czech government on this important issue.
I just co-chaired the most recent meeting of our Bilateral Consular Working Group on November 22, and I am convinced that our dialogue in this group is a key way for the U.S. to ensure that the process is transparent and to help Czechs reach their goal. As a result of past meetings, there has been progress. Together, we have simplified the method for students and temporary workers to make appointments. Last week, we announced our business visa facilitation program for members of the American Chamber of Commerce. We have completed two studies on overstays – a factor in attaining Visa Waiver Program participation. Indeed, the refusal rate percentage has fallen over the past few years.
The thought I would like to leave you with is that the United States welcomes visitors from the Czech Republic. Our visa application process is quick and easy. We just finished renovation of our consular section to make the waiting room larger and more comfortable. And as long as the visa requirement exists, we are committed to a respectful, efficient, transparent and pleasant experience.
The statistics are important. Over 90% of Czech applicants at our Embassy receive U.S. visas. Of those who are issued tourist visas, about 90% get visas which are good for 10 years, meaning you can travel to the U.S. many times over a 10-year period for short business or tourism trips. Last year, we issued almost 35,000 visas. Of those, 3,000 were special visas issued to Czech students who participated in the Summer Work and Travel program. Almost 46,000 Czechs visited our country last year which is an increase from the prior year.
I hope many of you are interested in visiting the U.S. some day, and I encourage all of you to visit our Embassy website to get further details on the Summer Work and Travel program; it is a wonderful way to get to know the U.S. and earn some money at the same time.
For those of you who would like to study in the U.S., please note the link on our website to the Fulbright Commission. The Fulbright Commission has supported more than 600 Czech and U.S. exchanges since 1995; with between 75 to 100 Czech and American scholars exchange each year.
Finally, I would also encourage you to visit the U.S. Embassy’s information and research center, which will be re-opening on December 4 as part of the new American Center at Trziste 13, next door to the Embassy. Visit our website to join our mailing list, subscribe to our newsletter, and be invited to panel discussions, film screenings and other events.
Thank you once again for this invitation to discuss the U.S.-Czech bilateral relationship, which is strong and vibrant and so multilayered that it is difficult to describe in a short time. It is my belief that our countries will continue to cooperate in NATO, in the EU, and in transformational diplomacy, to the benefit of those organizations and to the benefit of the world at large. In fact, it is my belief that countries such as the United States and the Czech Republic must cooperate in all these ways if we are to bring peace and stability to the difficult world in which we live.
Thank you. And now I am happy to take questions.
