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42 KEY BILATERAL RELATIONS Although bilateral relations are on a good footing, the distance between the two countries in strategic matters relating to securi breaches of order in Europe in 2014 were not compensated by any increase in activi in 2015. In its new foreign policy concept, the Czech Republic has reaffirmed its interest in developing a strategic dialogue with Poland. Progress was made in several areas of sectoral cooperation, although some issues such as the land debt remain unresolved. Czech-Polish relations experienced a period of rther stagnation in 2015. There was a lack of interest in developing strategic projects on the Czech side and because of Parliamentary elections in Poland, it was not possible to lly develop cooperation on a working level in the second half of the year. The main event in Czech-Polish relations was inter-governmental consultation that took place in April, where a number of joint projects were discussed. With respect to infrastructure cooperation, it was agreed to begin preparations for a second motorway connecting Hradec Králové and Wroclaw. Support for the construction of the Stork II gas pipeline was also confirmed and a memorandum was signed to connect the Czech and Polish gas distribution networks. Further coordination of activities to improve the air quali in Silesia was agreed and lastly, the Ministers of Agriculture countenanced deepening cooperation between food safe inspection authorities. 2015 did not bring any progress in resolving the “land debt”, where the Czech Republic owes its neighbor a small amount of land following the redrawing of the border in the nineteen fifties. Negotiations were complicated by linking this matter to the issue of ”Warsaw properties” in which the Czech Republic requires the return of land confiscated by the Polish government after WWII. However, the Czech Republic has still not found and presented a ll list of land that is to be the subject of this territorial settlement. While 2015 did not see any major meltdowns in strategic issues, especially securi and Eastern policy compared to the previous year, disagreements tended to be swept under the carpet rather than resolved. The Czech President did not support the joint Polish-Romanian initiative of the Eastern wing of NATO with his participation and the Czech Republic reiterated that it was in a different position than Poland. The establishment of the new Polish government was followed by a wave of foreign criticism due to the rapid changes in public institutions. The Czech Republic did not join this criticism, which should be perceived as a positive step.
KEY BILATERAL RELATIONS 43 United States of America Activity C Determination C Impact C– Normative aspect B– Final mark Relations between the Czech Republic and the United States were particularly damaged in 2015 by the contradictory positions taken by the government and the President, and the increasingly vague foreign policy orientation of the Czech Republic. Due to a lack of new areas for mutual relations, there was a certain exhaustion of bilateral cooperation, although many projects continue to operate successlly. C Bilateral relations between the Czech Republic and the United States continue along the trajectory set in recent years, with a growing divide between the foreign policy actions of the government and the President. With a few minor exceptions, the activi of the government can be considered constructive. Certain steps by President Zeman, however, raised doubts in the United States about the foreign policy orientation of the Czech Republic, which can be considered a serious problem for the ture. There was a gradual exhaustion of bilateral relations, as old matters were concluded or continued without change, and no new areas of cooperation were established. In 2015, Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka travelled to the United States to take part in the securi summit of coalition partners in the fight against ISIL. Increased interaction between the representatives of both countries will undoubtedly benefit Czech-American relations. On the other hand, the government has not overly distanced itself from the actions of the President, which does little to dispel US concerns regarding the long-term direction of Czech foreign policy. President Miloš Zeman also travelled to the USA. During his March visit, no senior American politicians met with the Czech President. On the other hand, Zeman’s meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, who has been involved in a long-running dispute with President Obama, could be perceived as a not very diplomatic step on American soil. A negative light was also cast on the Czech Republic by Zeman’s attendance of the Moscow military parade to mark the 70th anniversary of the end of the Second World War, which was boycotted
Page 1: FINAL GRADE FOR THE CZECH FOREIGN P
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Page 6 and 7: AGENDA FOR CZECH FOREIGN POLICY 201
Page 8 and 9: List of Abbreviations ANO AV ČR CE
Page 10 and 11: 10 AUDIT OF RECOMMENDATIONS IN 2015
Page 18 and 19: 18 FUTILE SEARCH FOR A STRATEGIC DI
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Page 26 and 27: 26 GRADING METHODOLOGY We utilized
Page 28 and 29: 28 GRADING METHODOLOGY assessment f
Page 30 and 31: 30 EUROPEAN POLICY Strategic Dimens
Page 32 and 33: 32 EUROPEAN POLICY and NATO, but al
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Page 36 and 37: 36 VISEGRAD COOPERATION Visegrad Co
Page 38 and 39: 38 VISEGRAD COOPERATION initiative,
Page 40 and 41: 40 KEY BILATERAL RELATIONS Germany
Page 44 and 45: 44 KEY BILATERAL RELATIONS by most
Page 46 and 47: 46 EASTERN EUROPE AND THE BALKANS R
Page 48 and 49: 48 EASTERN EUROPE AND THE BALKANS i
Page 50 and 51: 50 EASTERN EUROPE AND THE BALKANS W
Page 52 and 53: 52 MIDDLE EAST AND NORTH AFRICA War
Page 54 and 55: 54 MIDDLE EAST AND NORTH AFRICA The
Page 56 and 57: 56 ASIA China Activity Determinatio
Page 58 and 59: 58 ASIA Last year’s visit by the
Page 60 and 61: 60 HUMAN RIGHTS AND TRANSFORMATION
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Page 64 and 65: 64 SECURITY AND DEFENSE POLICY Czec
Page 66 and 67: 66 SECURITY AND DEFENSE POLICY and
Page 68 and 69: 68 ECONOMIC DIPLOMACY Economic Dipl
Page 70 and 71: 70 ECONOMIC DIPLOMACY focus on bett
Page 72 and 73: 72 DEVELOPMENT COOPERATION AND HUMA
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Page 76 and 77: 76 CLIMATE POLICY Climate Policy Ac
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Page 80 and 81: 80 SUMMARY OF RATINGS Note that the
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Page 84 and 85: 84 RECOMMENDATIONS FOR 2016 1. The
Page 86 and 87: 86 RECOMMENDATIONS FOR 2016 approac
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