Czech mate

The Czech Republic offers Malta a wealth of opportunities for collaboration in several areas - the two countries just need to get to know each other better, Czech Ambassador Libor Secka tells Joanna Ripard

Rome-based Czech Ambassador Libor Secka has come to Malta this time bearing Christmas gifts: a 12-metre live tree from Budejovice for the Malta Community Chest Fund's fund-raising events, and a highly acclaimed performance by the best elements of the Czech National Theatre's ballet at the Manoel Theatre last Friday.

And while he brings a small taste of Prague's magical Christmas spirit to Malta, Mr Secka, 44, also hopes he can give "new impetus" to relations between the two countries - while important collaboration is being struck in the cultural sector, the potential for co-operation in other fields lies dormant and untapped.

The Christmas tree, set up on Valletta's Freedom Square, was officially inaugurated by President Eddie Fenech Adami yesterday evening, while a Czech folk group sang traditional carols to enrich the atmosphere.

Mr Secka's other gift was 'unwrapped' on Friday as 16 dancers from the Prague theatre's ballet company performed excerpts from Tchaikovsky's Swan Lake and other classical and modern dance pieces. Members of the audience described the performance as "delightful".

There could be more of the same in the offing: the event is the first fruit of a memorandum of understanding between the Manoel Theatre and the Czech National Theatre, which has signed prestigious collaboration agreements with Venice's La Fenice and Rome's Argentina Theatre.

A similar agreement is being offered to the Manoel - a first for our national theatre - which would present endless possibilities to draw on the Czech National Theatre's expertise in disciplines like drama, opera and dance.

"There is strong support from Maltese institutions, like the Ministry of Culture, surrounding the negotiations leading to the agreement, which will cover cultural exchanges," Mr Secka told The Sunday Times on Friday.

"The agreement will eventually cover aspects like financial support, and the kind of exchanges between the theatres. It will be helpful artistically for Malta; it is a good opportunity."

This memorandum of understanding with the Manoel falls under a broader cultural agreement, signed during President Eddie Fenech Adami's state visit to the Czech Republic last January, the result of six years of negotiations.

The agreement's executive protocol provides for three Czech students to study English in Malta for a month. Maltese students are being offered the opportunity to visit the Czech Republic not only to study Czech, but also to attend English programmes in such subjects as art restoration or economics. There are also prospects for teachers and education officials.

To this end, Mr Secka met University of Malta directors to raise awareness of the possibilities the agreement offers to Maltese students who seem to know very little about them.

Meanwhile, Mr Secka, who presented his credentials to former President Guido de Marco in January 2003, hopes the successful collaboration clinched in the cultural sector can rub off on other areas as well. A first step was made during President Fenech Adami's state visit. A trade delegation accompanying the President made useful contacts and held meetings at ministerial level in the industry and trade, Information Technology and tourism fields. There has since, however, been no follow-up to those meetings.

"We opened the doors, so to speak," Mr Secka, whose educational background is in international economic relations, pointed out. "We took the most appropriate sectors close to the structure of the Maltese economy and set up these contacts. We gave our Maltese partners an important opportunity.

"Now it should be followed by another activity so those contacts can be consolidated. I would like to make relations between the Czech Republic and Malta stronger. There is so much potential for collaboration and our intention is to find areas in which we can build solid relations."

Czech diplomats have organised several initiatives in Malta over the past three years, including visits by the Czech Minister for Foreign Affairs, the President of the Senate, four Parliamentary committee chairmen, the mayor of Prague and deputy ministers of culture and the interior. This year, four Czech cultural events were held in Malta, and a Prague Square was inaugurated in Gharb, Gozo.

The Czech Embassy in Rome is now preparing for a possible visit next year by Dr Jason Azzopardi, chairman of Parliament's Foreign and European Affairs committee, and all committee members; organisers have to work round elections in the Czech Republic next June while fixing a date for the visit, originally intended for January but later postponed.

Mr Secka, who was Ambassador to the European Communities before taking up his post in Rome, says European Union membership has been particularly beneficial to Czech entrepreneurship and education with the new opportunities that have arisen. The Czech Republic joined the European Union in the same group as Malta 18 months ago.

"There is a good impression of our current EU status in the political sphere and in public opinion," he says. "We co-operate well with Malta at EU level. Our ministers meet during regular EU proceedings and there is a dialogue and consultation."

Significant Maltese investment in the Czech Republic came when the Corinthia international hotel chain bought two hotels in Prague a few years ago. There is no Czech investment in Malta, partly, Mr Secka says, because Czech investors need more information about the Maltese business scenario and a "deeper understanding" needs to be fostered between both sides.

Prague has seen increased interest from Maltese travellers who constitute a small but important percentage of the Czech Republic's tourism sector. Mr Secka says improved air links (Air Malta stops its service to Prague in September) would mean Maltese travellers could spend Christmas in Prague or visit the Czech Republic for winter breaks to savour its rich cultural heritage.

Meanwhile, during his own stay in Malta, Mr Secka, who is accompanied by his wife Sabrina, has done his utmost to make the best use of his time. He has held meetings with Foreign Affairs Minister Michael Frendo and Speaker Anton Tabone with whom there is a long-term friendship and with whom co-operation between the two parliaments was discussed.

He held a "fruitful meeting" with Dr Azzopardi, and another with Archbishop Joseph Mercieca.

Mr and Mrs Secka also spent time with the 50-odd Czech community in Malta, many of whom are medical practitioners.