James Morrison. The Washington Times, March 7, 2001.News
and dispatches from the diplomatic corridor.
Czech Ambassador Alexandr Vondra wanted to spend the presidential
transition period meeting with members of the new Bush administration. Instead
he devoted much of his time in January working for the freedom of two Czech
citizens held in a Cuban jail. Top Stories
Mr. Vondra helped raise U.S. support for the release of Ivan Pilip, a
member of the Czech parliament, and Jan Bubenik, a human rights worker.
Besides being fellow citizens, they are also friends of his.
Other Czech officials dealt directly with the Cuban government and
Fidel Castro.
"Their guilt: meetings with dissidents," Mr. Vondra wrote in
the Czech Embassy newsletter.
"They finally were freed after 23 days, but only after a massive
international media campaign and interventions by numerous politicians."
"I would like to thank all of those Americans who helped bring
this case to the public's attention," he added.
"With the memory of our fight for freedom against the Communists
in former Czechoslovakia still fresh, we know the importance of human solidarity
and support from abroad."
"Good luck . . . to all human rights fighters in Cuba," he
added.
Although helping to free his friends was his most important task, he
actually achieved part of his other goal.
"Through numerous phone calls, meetings and conversations in
support of my countrymen, I actually did achieve valuable networking within the
new administration," he wrote.
On Jan. 21, Mr. Vondra attended his first American presidential
inauguration.
"Despite a long wait with the other ambassadors in the freezing,
rainy weather, I found the event an extremely worthwhile experience," he
wrote.
He was impressed by the public ceremony.
"The mere fact that the president swore on a Bible in front of the
Capitol and the very people who had elected him into office gave the event a
feeling of ritual, as well as a sense of dignity and power," he wrote.
Mr. Vondra noted that European leaders are rarely sworn into office in
grand, public ceremonies.
"The old continent," he said, "still prefers to confirm
leaders behind closed doors." | 