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The most decorated female Olympian in history

By | News

“I am very sad to hear of the passing of famed Gymnast and anti-Communist hero Věra Čáslavská. The most decorated female Olympian in history, she was a brave spirit who opposed oppression and a corrupt regime. A recipient, with AP Journalist Iva Drapalova, of the noted 2014 Hanno R. Ellenbogen Award, Čáslavská  embodied a fighting tenacity, a keen sense of justice and an energy beyond her years. She helped young athletes and was rehabilitated by famed playwright Vaclav Havel when he became the first democratically elected President of Czechoslovakia in the early nineties. Though cancer has taken her early, she will look over the country and young people she so cared about.”
Marc S. Ellenbogen

President, The Prague Society for International Cooperation
Chairman, The Global Panel Foundation
Member of the National Advisory Board, US Democratic Party (2004-2010)

De Klerk at 70 – Atlantic Eye

By | News

FRANKFURT, Germany, March 15, 2006 (UPI). With tenacity and leadership he fought the odds. While others doubted, he believed. While others scoffed, he pushed forward. An Afrikaner, a European and an African — F.W. de Klerk knew democracy must belong to all South Africans.

“It seems a world ago,” said a ranking Irish Diplomat recently, referring to the end of Apartheid. “It is indeed remarkable how far South Africa has come. This would not have been possible without de Klerk’s vision and sense of purpose.

“More than that,” he continued, “it would never have happened without his courage.”

De Klerk travels the planet with the energy of a man half his age. He sees and solves problem situations long before they turn into a crisis. He is a man who founded and presides over two institutions, the Cape Town-based F.W. de Klerk Foundation and the London-based Global Leadership Foundation. He is the honorary chair of the Prague Society for International Cooperation, on the advisory board of the Global Panel Foundation and an active voice in the prestigious Forum 2000 Foundation.

When I met de Klerk in London last week he was full of plans. No longer a smoker, I missed our “smoker’s moment.” As we sat down to lunch at the marvelous Colonial Restaurant, I was taken by his presence. Even in person, he exuded that aura that belongs to a great personality. And, like most great personalities, he was gracious to the point of self-effacement.

It has been seven years since our first meeting in Prague at President Havel’s Forum 2000 conference. Even then, his calm down-to-earth self confidence impressed me. He had stepped outside for a cigarette, and I happened to be the person standing there at the same time. He smiled, lit his smoke, and proceeded to ask me who I was. I explained that I was the gentleman who would be hosting him for dinner later that evening.

“Really,” he stated, “you are much younger than I thought.”

“Well, sir,” I retorted, “so are you.” We laughed heartily. It was the beginning of an association marked by great affection.

That evening, at the Prague Society’s first Public Policy dinner, President de Klerk spoke of his trials and tribulations as the leader of South Africa. He laid down his vision for the next part of his public policy career — to focus on peace, democracy and development. These values would lead to the creation of both the de Klerk and Global Leadership Foundations.

De Klerk brings immense passion to engendering relations between multi-cultural societies. He is consistently promoting the rights of minorities. He travels hundreds of thousands of miles each year committed to the future of South Africa and the African continent. He is especially committed to the developing world and emerging markets. In any given week, he will travel from Africa to Europe and back, stopping along the way in the United States. “Just a slight detour,” he noted with a wry smile.

“You know, Marc,” he said at lunch, “I expected to slow down when I retired from active politics in 1997.

“Instead,” he added, “I travel more today than ever before.” With a twinkle in his eyes he explained that he should now consider slowing down. “After all, next week I turn 70. I think that is a good
reason to shift down a gear.”

“I cannot imagine F.W. shifting down a gear,” a former U.S. Secretary noted in private. “Look at Henry Kissinger, he’s well into his 80s and still going strong — never mind Jimmy Carter. I often wonder where these guys get their energy. It is impressive. It must be their desire to change, their passion for their mission and their belief in the future which keeps them going.”

Frederick Willem de Klerk was born in Johannesburg, March 18, 1936. His father was a respected Senator and senior Cabinet Minister. He spent most of his school years in Krugersdorp, matriculating at Monument High School. He attended Potchefstroom University for Christian Higher Education, graduating with BA and LLB degrees in 1958. This background would play an immense role in his courage to change South Africa.

In 1978, he was appointed to the Cabinet — only 42 and having served a mere 5 years as a back-bencher. In the ensuing years he would hold numerous portfolios including Posts and Telecommunications; Social Welfare and Pensions; Mineral and Energy; Internal Affairs and Public Service, and finally National Education before becoming President in 1989. He would remain President until 1994. After the 1994 general elections, he would become Executive Deputy President in the government of National Unity led by President Mandela, a position he would hold until the end of 1996.

F.W. de Klerk was only 57 when he received the Nobel Prize, with Nelson Mandela, for his vision and courage. It was a most deserving prize for a man who lived the change he promoted. It was a most deserving prize for a man who is a living zeitgeist.

On Saturday de Klerk turns 70.

He is, along with Carter, Gorbachev, Havel, Peres and Thatcher — one of the world’s last great statesmen.

14th Hanno R. Ellenbogen Citizenship Award

By | Events, News

Prague, April 6 2016 – Souad Mekhennet, Tony Fitzjohn, Magda Vášáryová and Zdeněk Tuma received the 14th Hanno R. Ellenbogen Award at a ceremony hosted by Lord Mayor Adriana Krnáčova at the Mayor’s Residence on Tuesday, April 6th.

Tony Fitzjohn a renowned conservationist with activities in Kenya and Tanzania, Souad Mekhennet, who could not accept her prize in person because she recently received death threats connect to her work on Islamic extremism, is a Moroccan journalist which has worked for Washington Post & ARD, Zdenek Tuma former Czech Central Bank Governor and Magda Vasaryova first female Presidential Candidate in Slovakia, the ambassador of Czechoslovakia in Austria (1990–1993) and ambassador of Slovakia in Poland (2000–2005) and Czech and Slovak Screen Doyenne.

Previous recipients include the Dalai Lama, Václav Havel, Miloš Forman, Wesley Clark and Věra Časlavská. The Award is ranked by UN as one of top five Awards in Central and Eastern Europe and is jointly presented by the Prague Society and the Global Panel Foundation.

This Award is about courage – the courage to change, to stand against mediocrity – to think beyond parameters. Each of these recipients has shown that courage” said Marc S. Ellenbogen, the President of the Prague Society and Chairman of the Global Panel Foundation.

The annual HRE Citizenship Award honors life-long dedication to public service. 
Guests of honor at this year’s ceremony included –

  • Hon. R. James Woolsey – Former CIA Director
  • Hon Peter Necas – Former Czech Prime Minister
  • Hon. Stefan Fule – Former European Commissioner
  • Hon. Hynek Kmonicek – Head of Foreign Affairs Office for Czech President Miloš Zeman
  • Hon. Tomáš Borec – Former Justice Minister, Slovakia
  • Hon. Helena Valkova – Former Czech Minister of Justice
  • Hon. Klaus Peter Gottwald – Former Commissioner for Disarmament and Nuclear Issues
  • Karel Janeček – Diplomacy 2.1
  • General Bruce Lawlor – Former Chief of Staff, US Department of Homeland Security
  • Hon. Dan Maffei – Former US Congressman, New York
  • Hon. Yannos Papantonion – Former Defense Minister, Greece
  • Hon. Mark Pritchard – Member of the House of Commons, UK
  • Hon. Geoffrey Robertson, QC – Human Rights Attorney

The award comes with a 40,000 CZK cash prize. It is typically donated to a young person of the recipient’s choice. Souad Mekhennet nominated organizations Praunheimer Werkstätten and Die Weisser Ring, Tony Fitzjohn nominated Arthur F. Sniegon which is an aspiring conservationist from Czech Republic. Magda Vášáryova has chosen the oldest women organization in Europe – Živena and its activity towards females from the Roma community in Slovakia and Zdeněk Tuma has chosen Petr Koukal, Czech Olympic winner and his nadation which is helping men with testicle cancer. 

More information: Eduard Schlesinger, Executive Director – schlesinger@praguesociety.org +420 722 584 878 +421 910 901 389

Remembering Otto Jelinek’s Past

By | Articles

On the occasion of the International Day against Corruption the foreign representatives of Britain, Canada, Finland, Norway, Sweden, South Korea and the USA signed a statement against said corruption. Other ambassadors refused their signature because of Canadian Ambassador Jelinek’s links to the Gripen scandal and his work as a lobbyist. The ambassadors of Denmark and Japan publicly voiced their criticism. Novinky.cz cites a source saying Danish Ambassador Hoppe refused to sign once he heard Jelinek was to sign as well because the latter was publicly associated with alleged corruption.

The scandal in question revolves around Jelinek’s involvement in the acquisition of Swedish Gripen fighter jets the Czech Air Forces. A police investigation in Austria, the United Kingdom, Sweden, Switzerland and Czech Republic followed. International news coverage followed the alleged corruption as other international newspapers Ambassador Jelinek denies his actions. The Globe and Mail raised questions regarding corruption and Jelinek’s motivation to become ambassador to the Czech Republic. Jelinek, a former figure skater and native of Prague, has longstanding business relations in the Czech Republic and now enjoys diplomatic immunity. Regrettably much of the Czech Republic’s political and diplomatic community pretend nothing happened.

Prof. Marc S. Ellenbogen, Prague Society,

President, Global Panel Foundation, Chairman Former Member of the National Advisory Board of the US Democratic Party (2004-2010)