Lord Jim of Dilling - Diplomat Magazine

DIPLOMATICA|diplomatic agendaVERNINI Versace classic & J.c.signum shirtstino cosmacerrutialbertoand moreOfferingExclusiveRates For Diplomats-At Accu-Rate Corporation ourteam of highly experienced currencytraders and foreign banking partnersallow us to negotiate currency priceslower than any other currency dealeror commercial institution.Accu-RateCorporationForeign Exchange & International Payment Serviceswww.accu-rate.caAccu-Rate Corporation2573 Carling Ave.(613) 596-5505Verninione location(Made to Measure aVailable)613-746-3452st. laurentshopping centreFor your personalconsultation please call:Marie BoivinManaging Director613-596-5505 ext. 101marie@accu-rate.caWorld Exchange Plaza111 Albert St.(613) 238-8454keep our relationship well balanced andflourishing.The Prague EU-Canada Summitplanned for May should concentrate ontrade and economic issues, foreign policyand international security, and globalissues such as climate change, environmentalprotection, energy security, cooperationin science, education and research,healthcare and medical research, humanrights and humanitarian assistance. But,the main deliverables from the point ofview of the presidency – and we are optimisticabout this – should be the officiallaunch of negotiations of the “deepenedeconomic partnership agreement” and thesigning of an air services agreement andan air security agreement if all necessarylegislative procedures are concluded.The Czech presidency started almostat the very moment of serious economicdownturn of the world economy. It is ouropinion that the key conditions for economicrecovery are to prevent excessiveregulation and avoid protectionism.Energy security was placed among ourmain political priorities long before theserious disruption of natural gas suppliesto Europe at the beginning of this year.As a country dependent on imports of gasand oil, we understand the importanceof energy security as a requirement foreconomic wellbeing and free and independentforeign policy.The crisis in the Middle East, whicherupted again at the beginning of thisyear, reminded us that besides our regularexternal priorities, we must also count onunforeseen urgent tasks. From our historicalperspective, the focus on the Easterndimension of the European NeighbourhoodPolicy, deepened co-operation withthe countries of this region, as well as thecountries of the Balkan, Caucasus andCaspian regions, are a vital part of ourforeign policy priority. A new agreementwith Russia will also be of fundamentalimportance and recent developments haveemphasized the necessity of a commonapproach by the entire EU.The main added value of our presidencyshould be consensus buildingamongst the EU member states andworking towards full implementation ofthe stated priorities of the presidency. Wehave assumed our task with the utmostresponsibility, keeping in mind the interestsof the EU as a whole and we wish todeliver as much as possible.Karel Zebrakovsky is the Czech Republic’sambassador to Canada.12 SPRING 09 | APR–JUN