Jan Šinágl angažovaný občan, nezávislý publicista

The best ambassadors of our country have often been those who were not appointed as such.

I read the slim little book by diplomat Bohuslav Hynek "Diplomat in African Switzerland" (2021) in one breath. We know each other personally from his time at the Czech Embassy in Switzerland. With the author's permission, I am making it available to the public and recommend it especially to young people and schools at all levels. One cannot but bow before Jan Pivečka (p. 86) for his life's work as a Bata worker. The story of Alžběta Pezoldová (page 63), sister of Karel Schwarzenberg, is a shocking example of the continuing failure of the Czech justice system. The rule of law and justice is determined by the relationship to existing political and power structures. As a side note, I would like to remind you that the Czech Republic has nominated as the new ambassador to the USA the former State Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic, Miroslav Stašek, a demonstrably unprincipled person. If his diplomatic 'mission' is accepted by the US President, it will be another failure of Czech diplomacy and another disgrace for our country. J.Š.

"I don't have any flashy bank account, I don't have any glittering jewels, I don't have any show buildings, I don't have any big assets. But I have friends and people to whom I can give my favour. That's what's important - people you can help to become better. Then you become better too."

From Bohuslav Hynek's book Diplomat in African Switzerland.

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He introduced himself by phone from the hotel and immediately invited me to lunch. I was not used to accepting such invitations. I stood to receive the Czech shoe expert, as he first said about himself at the embassy, to learn who I was dealing with and what was going on. I offered to send a car to the hotel to pick him up.

Entered a gray-haired gentleman of tall stature and neat manners, at first sight a retired worldling, but most of all a Wallachian. He had flown to Zimbabwe to help select applicants to study at "The International School oí Modern Shoemaking, in Zlín, which he co-founded after November.