This is an archived USAID document retained on this web site as a matter of public record.
Administrator J. Brian Atwood
"Celebration of Partnership"
USAID Czech Republic Mission Closing Ceremony
Prague, Czech Republic
Washington, D.C., May 26, 1997
U.S. Agency for International Development
It is a pleasure to be here in one of the world's most
beautiful cities. I always look forward to coming Prague. I
would like to welcome the many distinguished guests who are
here today and acknowledge the visionary work you have done to
make this day possible.
It is always something of a bittersweet moment when we
close one of our offices. For many of us it means leaving friends
and colleagues behind, and leaving a unique place and people that
we have come to love. For the employees of USAID, we find
ourselves losing a small part of ourselves when we depart, but
today is far more sweet than bitter. For our two nations this is
not an end but more of a beginning of a new relationship in
which partnership and cooperation grow stronger by the day.
Today we celebrate the evolution of relations between two nations
who have always fiercely cherished freedom and the nobility of
the human spirit.
Many people I talk to are amazed by the rapid progress in
the Czech Republic since the collapse of communism. While
serious challenges remain, the Czech story of the 1990s is a
success story that has few -- if any -- parallels in the region.
But for me, the remarkable strides that the Czech Republic
has made this decade are anything but surprising. Those startled
by what you have achieved need to remember that history did not
start in 1990. For when we look at the history of the people of
this great nation, their leadership, courage and creativity have
been a constant theme. The Czech people -- even in the face of
repression and totalitarianism -- never abandoned their aspirations
or their commitment to freedom.
Even in the roots of this city itself, we can see a noble
heritage. From the 14th century and the time of Charles the IV
-- a leader who helped shape the face of the city -- the Czech
people have stood as leaders in the European community.
After the early struggles for freedom, Czech nationalism was
rewarded with the fall of the Austrian-Hungarian Empire.
Bohemia again stood as a center of a prosperous economy and
independent culture.
The traditions of intellectualism, open expression and the life
of the mind have always distinguished the Czech people. Even
during the darkest days of repression in this century, first under
the Germans and then the Soviets, the Czech people were
unbowed. All the world owes a debt to heroic Czech freedom
fighters, like those who lost their lives at the Church of Saint
Cyril and Methodius here in Prague in 1942, others who suffered
in prison between 1949 and 1989, and those who lost their lives
in 1968. These men sacrificed their lives for a Europe in which
all of its people could live in freedom -- today.
This spirit of courage and independence refused to be
diminished even when Soviet domination cruelly replaced the
German occupation. The long-held Czech commitment to
democratic ideals quickly highlighted the flaws within the Soviet
system that led to its eventual demise. Freedom proved once
again to burn more brightly than any force that would seek to
repress it.
Upon regaining independence the Czech Republic made a
number of very wise choices. As President Kennedy once said,
"Our task now is not to fix blame for the past, but to fix the
course for the future." Looking forward has guided the Czech
Republic well. The peaceful split with the Republic of Slovakia
showed the world that tolerance and good faith negotiations could
prevent nations from descending into chaos the way the former
Yugoslavia has tragically done. The stirring words and deeds of
President Havel in the early days of independence will
reverberate through the corridors of history as inspiration for all
people who aspire to freedom.
The willingness of the Czech Republic to make hard choices
on political and economic reform -- and to stick by those
decisions -- showed other nations in the region that reform is the
best way to improve the lives of the people. Political freedoms
and civil liberties in the Czech Republic today are among the
most advanced in the world. In economic policy, the Czech
Republic is a regional leader -- seventy-five percent of the
economy is now in private sector hands.
I would be remiss not to note the economic and policy
debates which are in your daily press and receive international
coverage -- the trade deficit, a slowdown in growth, the strength
of the crown. But this is what democracy is all about -- facing
problems in public debate and trying something new. We all
know the reforms are not completed. Even now, we at USAID
are still working on capital market reforms and with the Czech
National Bank on the problems of banking oversight, financial
fraud and privatization. I have no doubt that with the strong pull
of integration with the West, European Union membership most
notably, progress will continue.
Good economic policies are reflected in good economic
performance. Since 1994, economic growth in the Czech
Republic has been strong and sustained, and has been
accompanied by single-digit inflation and fueled by impressive
productivity growth. I would like to remind everyone that many
countries around the world (especially in Europe) are envious of
"problems" of whether economic growth will only be 3 percent or
4 percent, instead of 5 percent or 6 percent.
I am proud, privileged in fact, to say that the U.S.
government, through USAID, has played a small but important
role in the Czech Republic's transformation back to democracy
and open markets. Without doubt, our contribution has been
magnified many times over due to the vibrant partnership between
our nations. As many of you know, USAID has been working in
the Czech Republic since 1990. By the time we close our office
in Prague this September, we will have invested almost $135
million in grant assistance, and $34 million in loan guarantees.
Our emphasis on partnership has meant that the Czech people
have taken full responsibility for the continuation and completion
of reform.
In privatization, a USAID-supported advisory team worked
with Ministry of Privatization to negotiate with foreign investors
to ensure the best deal possible for the Czech Republic. By
1996, this collaborative effort resulted in over 130 foreign
investor transactions worth more than U.S.$4 billion. Since
1989, the Czech Republic has transferred 80 percent of state
assets into private hands. This has been one of the most
ambitious privatization programs anywhere, anytime.
In private sector development, scores of American
volunteers -- from the Peace Corps and elsewhere -- have worked
side-by-side with Czech entrepreneurs to help teach the nuts and
bolts of running a business in a market economy. In the financial
sector, USAID has worked with Czech partners in the National
Bank, individual banks, and the Prague Stock Exchange to help
create the financial infrastructure which is so critical for
economic growth.
Our partnership to help establish a sustainable, market-oriented system of financing local governments has also been a
key part of our efforts. In 1993, when municipalities were given
the authority and responsibility for revenues and investment,
many of these municipalities lacked the capacity to carry out
these functions. USAID responded by providing technical
expertise to municipal officials and bankers, as well as capital to
banks which now give long-term loans to municipalities.
We have also worked to help improve the quality of life
throughout the Czech Republic. Forty years of neglect left
bankrupt and antiquated health and social systems, and wasteful
energy systems that polluted the environment. Part of our
collaborative focus has been on broadening social services to
particularly vulnerable segments of the population, such as the
physically and mentally disabled.
In health care, Czechs and Americans worked towards
preventive health measures, to revamping health care in the
hospitals, and to stimulating new private sector services. In the
environment, innovative American technologies set the pace for
responsible use of environmental resources and clean energy, and
have helped lay the groundwork for meeting various standards for
EU membership.
The U.S. Government, under the able leadership of
Ambassador Walker, has also supported the Democracy
Commission and the rebirth of an active civil society in this
nation. I want to particularly underline the important role of
partnerships in strengthening civic society. In countries
throughout the world, experience has proven that all the
components of society must work together to create an
environment that encourages civic participation and government
responsiveness.
That is why I am so pleased today to salute three very
important partnerships that have made a tremendous difference
here in the Czech Republic. These three non-profit partnerships -- Czech institutions working with Czech institutions -- are models
for not only the Czech Republic but also the region. With no
further ado, let me present these certificates of appreciation:
The first partnership is that between the Olga Havel
Foundation and the Czechoslovak Trade Bank. Dr. Milena Cerná
[mi-le-na chair-na], Director of the Olga Havel Foundation, and
Pavel Kavánek [pa-vel ka-vah-nek] of the CSOB are here to
represent this partnership and to receive our recognition and our
respect. Together, the Olga Havel Foundation and the
Czechoslovak Trade Bank help to educate young persons with
disabilities through the Education Fund, first established in 1994
by the Foundation and endowed primarily by the Bank. The
Education Fund offers scholarships to disadvantaged high school
and university students. And in doing so, it helps provide, in a
sustainable way, an important and honorable social service.
A second certificate goes to Ms. Jana Ledvinová [ya-na led-vin-o-vah], Chairperson of TEREZA and Jirí Skalický [yi-rzhi
ska-lits-kee], the Minister of Environment. The partnership
between TEREZA and the Ministry of Environment is a
collaboration to better educate the public of environmental
concerns and to help address these concerns in the policy arena.
Under TEREZA's leadership, for example, school groups monitor
concentration of acid rain and ground level ozone, and the
Ministry applies these findings. With the assistance of both the
Ministries of Environment and Education, TEREZA also serves
as country coordinator for the GLOBE Project sponsored by U.S.
Vice President Gore, which brings students from around the
world together through the internet to monitor and evaluate
environmental conditions. We extend our congratulations and
appreciation for the significant impact you are making.
Last, but certainly not least, is the partnership between the
Regional Fund and the City of Ústí nad Labem [oost-i nahd
lah-bem]. Lubomír Krbec [loo-bo-meer ker-bets], the founder
of the Regional Fund and Dr. Josef Jílek [yo-sef yee-lek], on
behalf of the City of Ústí nad Labem [oost-i nahd lah-bem],
are the recipients today of our praise in regards to this particular
partnership. The Regional Fund was established in 1993 to help
provide community care for the mentally handicapped. In 1995,
it linked up with the City of Ústí nad Labem [oost-i nahd lah-bem] to help provide a wide array of health and social care
services for the city. The partnership provides an inspirational
role model as to how an NGO and local government can work
together to improve the quality of life of citizens at the grass
roots.
We applaud the efforts of these fine organizations and all
they have done to improve the lives of thousands of people.
Their work in partnership illustrates how much we can achieve
when we work together.
That spirit of partnership thrives not only in this nation, but
between our two nations. The United States and the Czech
Republic truly enjoy a "Partnership for Change." In a few
minutes I will ask my Czech colleague to join me in unveiling a
bronze plaque which will hang in a place of honor in the
American Embassy. It will hang next to another plaque that
commemorates the American-Czech bond during the First
Republic of Czechoslovakia, epitomized by the friendship
between Presidents Wilson and Masaryk [mass-a-rik].
The bonds between the Czech and American people are
strong. While many of us feel a touch of sadness in watching
this phase of our work draw to end, we are greatly comforted,
knowing that the partnerships created with USAID's help will
continue. And new partnerships in trade, investment, science and
security will bring new friendships.
I am now pleased to give the podium to a man who has been
an excellent partner for USAID and a leader for transition in the
Czech Republic, and once again I will ask for his partnership in
this ceremony... Minister Skalicky [ska-lits-kee]. Thank you.
This is an archived USAID document retained on this web site as a matter of public record.
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Last Updated on: July 18, 2001
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