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Meet Jaromir Novotny, the Czech Republic's new envoy to the SAARC region barring Pakistan. He is based in New Delhi. He was in Colombo recently to present his credentials to President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga. He has had meetings with Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and ten Cabinet Ministers along with MPs of other political parties.

Novotny has had a chequered career having started as a sailor. A Graduate of the Prague School of Economics in 1969, he was forbidden to be employed. When the Communist regime fell, he served as the Economic Advisor to the first non communist Mayor of Prague for one year. With the separation of the Czech Republic he was later Deputy Chief of Foreign Affairs Relations Committee.

He was also the founder of military diplomacy and a member of the Peace Keeping Forces in Iraq, Croatia, Balkans and Africa. He was the negotiator with NATO for Czech membership. He has been Minister of Defence in the Governments of three Parliaments. A multi-faceted personality, he speaks English Russian, Polish, French, Serbian Croatian and Slovak. He could read German, Italian and Spanish.

Czechoslovakia has become a smaller country after the separation and we cannot have the same diplomatic relations that we had before, and I am envoy to five countries, he says.

Here, the C'zech envoy is in conversation with Ravi Ladduwahetty from the Daily News at the Mount Lavinia Hotel.

Q: Up to the commencement of World War I in 1914, Europe had a different map and agenda.The first, the Auspro- Hapsburg empire had many countries which included Czechoslovakia and parts of Slovakia. Then, there were parts of Yugoslavia which belonged to the Ottoman empire. Both empires suddenly ended and new countries were born. This was not due to ethnic development, but were victors of war. All countries have integrated and the bonds were due to the Soviet banner and communism which went with it. How do you see these developments ?

A: Czechoslovakia was a velvet divorce between Czechs and Slovaks which followed the elections of 1992. That is the independence that the Slovaks have won in 1992. But, the division of Yugoslavia was due to civil war. Now the Czechs, Poles, Hungarians and Slovaks will meet again at the European Union. We hope to join EU so that we could join the EU elections in 2004. But, the division of Yugoslavia was due to civil war.

Q: In the 1990s, Czechoslovakia was separated into the Czech Republic and Slovakia which was designated as a velvet separation without any bloodbath. How did this happen ?

A:Czechoslovakia, which had Czechs and Slovaks was divided through the approval of Parliament. It was divided in the ratios of 2:1 as Czechoslovakia had a population of 10 million Czechs and 5 million Slovaks. This ratio was applicable to even the Armed Forces. So, it was a smooth and peaceful transition.

Q: Your country- Czechoslovakia, had a proposal to dam the waters of the River Danube at a town named Nagimaros-Gobcklero. It was taken to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on environmental grounds. What happened thereafter ?

A: It was decided to build the dam during the time of Czechoslovakia. But now the proposed dam is in Slovak territory. It is now an issue for the Slovaks and the Hungarians. It is the question of a different state. Problems cannot be solved through terrorism and war and come into an agreement where you can live together.

Q: How do you see the effects of globalisation ?

A: This is a growing phenomenon. Even if we do not, it will continue. It is up to each nation to find itself in that process.

Q: How do you see your nation getting to the process of globalisation ?

A: Our Government has two goals. One was entry into the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO). We have succeeded on the March 12 1999. The second is our entry into the European Union. We hope to finalise our negotiation this year so that 2003 could be the process of rectification in the new Government. We are entering into the EU. each nation has its role there.

Q: With your entry into NATO how will that affect your relationships with Russia which has opposed to the eastern expansion of NATO ?

A: paradoxically our relations with NATO are the best after our entry into NATO. It has been better than ever before. There has been no need for reasons of fear.

Q: What about the context of the Czech republic and Slovakia in terms of integration ? Do you have friendly relations ?

A: After the division ironically these relations are better. The relationship has been non stunted. This has been further evidenced by the non requirement of citizens of either country to enter each other without a passport. They can work in either country as well.

Q: How do you see the different ethnic groups mingling with each other ?

A: We get on well. Slovaks are not made to feel that they are a minority in Czech republic and vice versa. We have lived together for 70 years in peace and we have had no problem.

Q: In this context what is your message for Sri Lanka a country which has ethnic diversity ?

A: The message is that every problem can be solved peacefully.

Q: How do you see economic development in the SAARC region which is home to 1.2 billion people ?

A:SAARC region could be very successful. It is only a start. It could be something like the EU.

Q: Do you advocate a common currency for SAARC ?

A: It took nearly 50 years for the EU to arrive at a common currency. It takes time but it is good to make a start.

Q: The idea was touted that Sri Lanka could be an ideal manufacturing base for China with the intention of supplying India and Pakistan in the manner of what Hong Kong is to China. What are your sentiments in this regard ?

A: India is a huge market of 1.2 million and I do not think that Sri Lanka could single handedly do it. However, to build a Hong Kong in Sri Lanka, one needs durable peace. Foreign investors will pour in when peace is arrived at. After our entry into NATO, we have a US$ 20 billion investments when last year it was only US$ 5 billion inflow into the Czech economy.

Q: How do you propose to have trade relations between Sri Lanka and the Czech republic ?

A: There should be better trade relations now with the development of the peace process. If we were able to promote business without peace in the last 10 years why not now ? when the opportunities are opening ? We could also assist Sri Lanka in producing sugar mills and trucks. We are a heavily industrialised country with a mix of eastern and western technology. We have the NATO equipment as well. It all depends on how the Sri Lankan Government is interested.

Q:What about the power generation at present in the light of a power crisis in Sri Lanka ?

A: There are many areas to be pursued with and one of them could include hydro power energy whether they are mini hydros of 0.1 MW to 5 MW. We are producing power in India and we have power stations in Turkey. So why not here in Sri Lanka ? There are many regions here that we could actively promote power generation here.

Q: Your country has been a huge industrial base for the manufacturing of motor cars. We Sri Lankans could remember the Skoda cars in the 1970s. What is the latest ?

A: Skoda is a very successful product today. There is a joint venture with Volkswagen. The annual output is 40,000 cars and it is being exported to Western Europe. Last November, we introduced Skoda to the Indian market. Skoda has an assembly line in Aurangabad near Bangalore. The factory's output for November and December has been sold within 15 days. The production target for India is 6000 cars per annum.

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