Alexandr Vondra
Encyclopedia
Alexandr "Saša" Vondra (ˈalɛksandr̩ ˈvondra) (born 17 August 1961) is a Czech
politician
, who currently serves as the Senator
from Litoměřice
and the nation's Minister of Defence. He is also a Deputy Chairman of the Civic Democratic Party. He is the most vocal proponent of building part of US missile defense system in Brdy
, Czech Republic.
Vondra was the Foreign Minister
of the Czech Republic
from 2006 to 2007. On January 9, 2007, during the new government reshuffle, he was appointed Deputy Prime Minister for European Affairs, the first to hold this office.
He was born in Prague
. He graduated in geography from Charles University in Prague
in 1984, receiving a Doctor in Natural Sciences degree one year later. In the mid-1980s he was a dissident
and Charter 77
signatory. After organizing a demonstration in January 1989, Vondra was imprisoned for two months. In November 1989, while the Velvet Revolution
was underway, he co-founded the Civic Forum
.
In 1990-1992, Vondra was foreign policy advisor to President Václav Havel
. When Havel stepped down from his office during dissolution of Czechoslovakia
and at the same time independent Czech foreign service began to be formed, Vondra became Czech Republic's First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs in August 1992, responsible i. a. for negotiating the division of Czechoslovak diplomacy. In 1996 he was a chief negotiator for the Czech-German Declaration on the Mutual Relations and their Future Development. In March 1997 Vondra left to become the Czech Ambassador
to the United States
, staying there until July 2001. From March 2001 to January 2003, Vondra was the Czech Government Commissioner responsible for preparation of 2002 Prague summit
of the NATO. From January to July 2003 Vondra was a Deputy Foreign Minister.
He became an ODS member only after his ministerial appointment and the victory in Senate elections in October 2006. He is generally perceived as pro-United States
and wary of European integration
though less than ODS Euroskeptic hardliners, and has good connections to Havel (his announced return to politics in spring 2006 was taken as a sign of ODS trying to appease the political centre) .
Vondra was mentioned as a possible nominee to serve as European commissioner in 2009.
He participated at the international conference European Conscience and Communism
, which took place under his patronage at the Czech Senate in Prague in June 2008.
He is married and has 3 children.
Czech Republic
The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Poland to the northeast, Slovakia to the east, Austria to the south, and Germany to the west and northwest....
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
, who currently serves as the Senator
Senate of the Czech Republic
The Senate of the Parliament of the Czech Republic , usually referred to as Senát, is the upper chamber of the Parliament of the Czech Republic...
from Litoměřice
Litomerice
Litoměřice is a town at the junction of the rivers Elbe and Ohře in the north part of the Czech Republic, approximately 64 km northwest of Prague....
and the nation's Minister of Defence. He is also a Deputy Chairman of the Civic Democratic Party. He is the most vocal proponent of building part of US missile defense system in Brdy
Brdy
Brdy are hills in the Czech Republic, forming a long massif stretching for cca.60 km from Prague in the direction of southwest. The northern section of the Brdy is called "Hřebeny" and features one narrow ridge . The Brdy proper starts south of the Litavka river gorge and consists of several...
, Czech Republic.
Vondra was the Foreign Minister
Foreign minister
A Minister of Foreign Affairs, or foreign minister, is a cabinet minister who helps form the foreign policy of a sovereign state. The foreign minister is often regarded as the most senior ministerial position below that of the head of government . It is often granted to the deputy prime minister in...
of the Czech Republic
Czech Republic
The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Poland to the northeast, Slovakia to the east, Austria to the south, and Germany to the west and northwest....
from 2006 to 2007. On January 9, 2007, during the new government reshuffle, he was appointed Deputy Prime Minister for European Affairs, the first to hold this office.
He was born in Prague
Prague
Prague is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic. Situated in the north-west of the country on the Vltava river, the city is home to about 1.3 million people, while its metropolitan area is estimated to have a population of over 2.3 million...
. He graduated in geography from Charles University in Prague
Charles University in Prague
Charles University in Prague is the oldest and largest university in the Czech Republic. Founded in 1348, it was the first university in Central Europe and is also considered the earliest German university...
in 1984, receiving a Doctor in Natural Sciences degree one year later. In the mid-1980s he was a dissident
Dissident
A dissident, broadly defined, is a person who actively challenges an established doctrine, policy, or institution. When dissidents unite for a common cause they often effect a dissident movement....
and Charter 77
Charter 77
Charter 77 was an informal civic initiative in communist Czechoslovakia from 1976 to 1992, named after the document Charter 77 from January 1977. Founding members and architects were Václav Havel, Jan Patočka, Zdeněk Mlynář, Jiří Hájek, and Pavel Kohout. Spreading the text of the document was...
signatory. After organizing a demonstration in January 1989, Vondra was imprisoned for two months. In November 1989, while the Velvet Revolution
Velvet Revolution
The Velvet Revolution or Gentle Revolution was a non-violent revolution in Czechoslovakia that took place from November 17 – December 29, 1989...
was underway, he co-founded the Civic Forum
Civic Forum
The Civic Forum was a political movement in the Czech part of Czechoslovakia, established during the Velvet Revolution in 1989...
.
In 1990-1992, Vondra was foreign policy advisor to President Václav Havel
Václav Havel
Václav Havel is a Czech playwright, essayist, poet, dissident and politician. He was the tenth and last President of Czechoslovakia and the first President of the Czech Republic . He has written over twenty plays and numerous non-fiction works, translated internationally...
. When Havel stepped down from his office during dissolution of Czechoslovakia
Dissolution of Czechoslovakia
The dissolution of Czechoslovakia, which took effect on 1 January 1993, was an event that saw the self-determined separation of the federal state of Czechoslovakia. The Czech Republic and Slovakia, entities which had arisen in 1969 within the framework of Czechoslovak federalisation, became...
and at the same time independent Czech foreign service began to be formed, Vondra became Czech Republic's First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs in August 1992, responsible i. a. for negotiating the division of Czechoslovak diplomacy. In 1996 he was a chief negotiator for the Czech-German Declaration on the Mutual Relations and their Future Development. In March 1997 Vondra left to become the Czech Ambassador
Ambassador
An ambassador is the highest ranking diplomat who represents a nation and is usually accredited to a foreign sovereign or government, or to an international organization....
to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, staying there until July 2001. From March 2001 to January 2003, Vondra was the Czech Government Commissioner responsible for preparation of 2002 Prague summit
2002 Prague summit
The 2002 Prague summit was a NATO summit where the heads of state and government of the NATO member states met. Seven states were at this summit invited to begin accession talks with NATO: Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia. NATO's post-Cold War Open Door Policy...
of the NATO. From January to July 2003 Vondra was a Deputy Foreign Minister.
He became an ODS member only after his ministerial appointment and the victory in Senate elections in October 2006. He is generally perceived as pro-United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and wary of European integration
European integration
European integration is the process of industrial, political, legal, economic integration of states wholly or partially in Europe...
though less than ODS Euroskeptic hardliners, and has good connections to Havel (his announced return to politics in spring 2006 was taken as a sign of ODS trying to appease the political centre) .
Vondra was mentioned as a possible nominee to serve as European commissioner in 2009.
He participated at the international conference European Conscience and Communism
Prague Declaration on European Conscience and Communism
The Prague Declaration on European Conscience and Communism , which was signed on 3 June 2008, was a declaration signed by prominent European politicians, former political prisoners and historians, including past signatories of Charter 77 such as Václav Havel, which called for condemnation of and...
, which took place under his patronage at the Czech Senate in Prague in June 2008.
He is married and has 3 children.
External links
- http://www.alexandrvondra.cz – official webpage stressing his senatorial role
- http://www.alexandrvondra.cz/bioenglish.php
- Vondra in foreign-language media, mostly English
- Vondra's statement at the general debate of the 61st session of the United Nations General AssemblyUnited Nations General AssemblyFor two articles dealing with membership in the General Assembly, see:* General Assembly members* General Assembly observersThe United Nations General Assembly is one of the five principal organs of the United Nations and the only one in which all member nations have equal representation...
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