Notes for the NATO 2009 Summit

English Pages, 3. 4. 2009

Secretary General, Dear colleagues,

I would like first to thank both Chancellor Merkel and President Sarkozy for the innovative organization of this summit which takes place in the moment of the 60th anniversary of the founding of the North Atlantic Alliance. I am sure all of us gathered here share the view that in the past 60 years NATO has convincingly proved its importance and indispensability.

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Interview with the President of the Czech Republic Václav Klaus for The Sunday Times

English Pages, 22. 3. 2009

Could you please elaborate on the “democratic deficit” you identified in the institutions of the European Union during your speech in front of the European Parliament?

I see the “democratic deficit” in a growing distance between the citizens of the EU member states and the EU political elite, as well as in the shift of decision-making from the member states capitals to Brussels.

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Europe and the ongoing financial crisis

English Pages, 16. 3. 2009

Thank you for the possibility to be with all of you here tonight because I do not very often speak in Milano. I am glad that the Istituto Bruno Leoni gave me this opportunity. I am aware that the institute plays an important role in Italy. I am also very pleased that my book “Pianeta blu, non verde”, in its Italian version, was officially launched today.

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Speech of the President of the Czech Republic at the 10th anniversary of the Czech Republic’s NATO accession

English Pages, 12. 3. 2009

Secretary General, Ladies and Gentlemen,

It is my pleasure to welcome you here, in Rudolph's Gallery of the Prague Castle. We have gathered in this truly historic place to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the accession of our country to the North Atlantic Alliance and – at the same time – the 60th anniversary of the founding of the Alliance.

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Europe, Global Warming and the Current Economic Crisis: As Seen From Prague

English Pages, 10. 3. 2009

I would like, first of all, to express my thanks for giving me the opportunity to be here today and to address this distinguished audience. Some of you may know that this is not my first visit to the Columbia University. I was here eight years ago, in April 2001, at the invitation of Prof. Padma Desai and her Center for Transition Economies.

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No Progress in the Climate Change Debate

English Pages, 9. 3. 2009

When preparing my today’s remarks, I took into my hands – looking for an inspiration – my last year’s speech here, at the Heartland Institute’s Conference. It did not help much. It is evident that the climate change debate has not made any detectable progress and that the much needed, long overdue exchange of views has not yet started.

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Is Capitalism in Crisis?

English Pages, 7. 3. 2009

I would like to thank Paul Glenn for hosting this event and Fred Smith and his Competitive Enterprise Institute for making it happen.
This is not my first speech in Santa Barbara today. This morning I tried to convince the “green” participants of the Wall Street Journal Conference that environmentalism is a bigger threat to mankind than any, in the visible future imaginable global warming.

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Notes for Santa Barbara: “Is Environmentalism a Bigger Threat to Humanity than Global Warming?”

English Pages, 6. 3. 2009

Many thanks for the invitation to participate in this important and timely gathering of business people, economists, environmentalists and politicians. In this rather confused era, the organizing institution, the Wall Street Journal, remains one of the last pillars of reason and of healthy and so much needed stability and continuity of thoughts and attitudes.

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Speech of the President of the Czech Republic Václav Klaus in the European Parliament

English Pages, 19. 2. 2009

Mr. Chairman, Members of European Parliament,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

First of all, I would like to thank you for the possibility to speak here, in the European Parliament, in one of the key institutions of the European Union. I have been here several times but never before had the opportunity to speak at a plenary session.

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Europe, Environmentalism and the Current Economic Crisis: A Contrarian View

English Pages, 11. 2. 2009

The undergoing weakening of democracy and of free markets on the European continent, connected with the European unification process, is a threatening phenomenon especially for someone who spent most of his life in a very authoritative and oppressive communist regime.

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