Ambassador Stanislav Slavicky,
Distinguished Guests,
Friends, Ladies and Gentlemen,

Thank you for joining me in honoring our dear friend and colleague Ambassador Stanislav Slavicky of the Czech Republic who will be leaving Manila soon having reached the end of his tour of duty.  Amb. Slavicky has made many friends in this country and I am sure he will be sorely missed.

Amb Slavicky represents a country with which the Philippines shares a valuable historical and cultural heritage.  The two countries were both once ruled by the Habsburg Dynasty.  Their people in the main have the same Christian values and traditions, including the devotion to the Sto. Niño de Praga.  The commonalities between them are underlined by their long-standing attachment to the ideals of freedom and democracy, manifested earlier by the friendship between Rizal and Blumentritt and recently by People Power in the Philippines and the Velvet Revolution in the Czech Republic.

We will certainly remember Amb. Slavicky for his own many accomplishments as the first resident ambassador of the Czech Republic to the Philippines.  His untiring efforts made it clear indeed that the Czech Republic desired the closest ties possible with the Philippines.  He contributed a great deal to raising the level of bilateral relations between the two countries in the political area by arranging high-level visits to the Philippines by various Czech officials, including notably that of the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Cyril Svoboda in February 2004 and that of First Lady Livia Klausova for the inauguration of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

He facilitated the negotiation of several agreements that have laid the basic legal framework for the relations between the two countries, including those on visa waiver, trade promotion, cooperation between business chambers, and defense cooperation.

During his watch in Manila, trade between the two countries grew significantly, from about 4.33 million US dollars in 1999 to 155.05 million US dollars in 2004.  The MRT now serves millions of commuters in Manila on its Czech-made coaches.

Through his efforts, the Czech ODA extended grants for the installation of water treatment facilities in three areas in Baguio City and the installation of a mini-hydro power plant in Aurora.  Many people in these areas today benefit from these projects in terms of safe water and electricity.

Ever on the lookout for opportunities to bind the two countries in closer friendship, Amb. Slavicky researched and documented the participation of Czechoslovakian volunteers on the side of Filipinos and Americans in the struggle against Japan during the Second World War.  His efforts led to the recognition by the Philippine government of the valor and sacrifices of those Czech heroes and a marker for them now stands in Camp O’Donnell.

Ambassador Slavicky, I would like to convey to you the appreciation of the Philippine government and people for the many things you have contributed to strengthen our bilateral relations.  May I invite everyone to join me in a toast to the good health and success of our dear friend Amb. Slavicky, and to Philippine-Czech friendship and cooperation.

Mabuhay!   END