Speech of the Prime Minister Mirek Topolánek given at the Meeting with Czech Caucus in the Congress

Czech Caucus in the Congress

I am really very happy to see you. It is good to know that we have close friends here, in the Parliament of this great country. I hope that it is not only because you are fans of Czech hockey players. Although I must admit that it is a hell of a good reason to like the Czech Republic. There certainly must be other reasons, otherwise you would not be here. And I am really pleased that I can see both congressmen of Czech origin among you as well as those without Czech roots. It is good to keep the family - and it is good to expand it. You constitute a small minority here in the Congress. But a vitally important minority for us. Thanks to you we have a chance that the interests of our small country can be put across on the soil of this superpower. Of course if they are also beneficial for others and the majority of votes can be gained to support them. But first, someone must formulate those interests so that the others can learn about them. The majority is necessary for adopting final decision. The ideas and solutions leading to the decision are, however, usually proposed by minorities or even individuals. The same applied when the United States was founded. Today, the United States is the leading democracy in the world. And you are, in a way, Czech ambassadors in the center of this democratic power. I always cared about relationships with compatriots and friends who are close to the Czech people. It was the Czech compatriots who mostly funded the resistance during the WWI and WWII. And they helped the anti-communist resistance during the Cold War. Not only with funds, but also by lobbying with American politicians and the public. The foundation of our modern state, its survival and the return of liberty are thus interconnected with Czech expatriate organizations. But not only with them. Ninety years ago, American President Wilson made a decisive move in supporting Masaryk's idea of establishing the Czechoslovak Republic. The campaign to lift visa requirements could not be successful either, if it did not gain wider support than just that of Czech compatriots. I consider this to be an evidence of an improved cooperation between the Czech Republic and the friends in the United States. And I believe that this Czech Caucus here in the Congress will do a lot of good work. In the interest of both countries.

Thank you for being our fans and I hope to have the privilege of welcoming you in the Czech Republic.