Hynek Kmoníček

Hynek Kmoníček
Czech Republic Ambassador to Australia
In office
17 May 2011 – 20 March 2013
President Václav Klaus
Miloš Zeman
Preceded by Juraj Chmiel
Succeeded by Martin Pohl
Czech Republic Ambassador to India
In office
10 October 2006 – 2009
President Václav Klaus
Preceded by Jaromír Novotný
Succeeded by Miloslav Stašek
Ambassador to the United Nations
In office
23 October 2001 – 2006
President Václav Havel
Václav Klaus
Preceded by Vladimír Galuška
Succeeded by Martin Palouš
Personal details
Born (1962-10-22) 22 October 1962
Pardubice, Czechoslovakia
(now Czech Republic)
Political party ČSSD
Spouse(s) Indira Gumarova
Residence New York City
Alma mater University of South Bohemia
Charles University in Prague

Hynek Kmoníček (born October 22, 1962 in Pardubice) is a Czech career diplomat and one of the most prominent political voices of the Czech Republic.[1][2] He currently serves as a Foreign Policy Advisor to Milos Zeman, President of the Czech Republic, and as Director of the International Department at the Office of the President.[3] Previously, Kmoníček served as the Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York; Ambassador to India; non-resident Ambassador to Bangladesh, Nepal, the Maldives and Sri Lanka; Ambassador to Australia and non-resident Ambassador to New Zealand, Cook Islands, Fiji, Solomon Islands, Kingdom of Tonga, Vanuatu, and Samoa.[4] As a member of the UN General Assembly, Kmoníček served as Chairman of the Fifth Committee, which is responsible for administration and budgetary matters.[5] Kmoníček worked in various posts under all three post-Communist presidents: Vaclav Havel, Vaclav Klaus, and now Milos Zeman. Kmoníček, a media darling with his trademark bow tie and ready wit, is a prolific writer, influential commentator and active political participant in specialized debates on a wide range of subjects, including international relations, emerging markets, terrorism, global economics, and trade issues.[6][7][8][9] It has been suggested that it was his own ambitions and especially social-democratic political affiliation jealousy over his media popularity that led to his removal from the post of Deputy Foreign Minister[10] during the period of Foreign Minister Karel Schwarzenberg (later an unsuccessful presidential candidate[11] ), who once said, "My wish is to send Kmoníček further than to Australia, the best is to Mars." [12]

Early life and education

Hynek Kmoníček was born in Pardubice, at that time part of Czechoslovakia. He was graduated first from South Bohemian University, with majors in classical guitar and pedagogy, and later earned a degree in English language studies from Charles University. He also holds a degree in classical Arabic studies from Charles University. He finished his studies at the post-graduate program of modern history of the Middle East at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem (Young Jewish Leaders in Diaspora, Rothberg School of Overseas studies).[13] At Hebrew university, his specialization was Islamic medieval mysticism. His graduation paper was titled "Al-Miraj of Abu Yazid al-Bistami" His political science graduation paper was titled "Historical development of Saudi-American relations from the beginning to the JFK era."

Career

Kmoníček started his diplomatic career in 1995 as a desk officer at the Middle East Department of the Czech Foreign Ministry. In 1997, he became Director of the Middle East Department. Later in 1999, Kmoníček was promoted again, this time to the position of Director General of Asia, Africa and America. His last promotion came in June 1999, when he was named Deputy Minister, a position which he held until 2001. Kmoníček’s portfolio in the position of the Deputy Minister were Czech bilateral ties with all non-EU countries, an area where he could fully use his knowledge of the social, cultural and historical background of Third World countries.[13] In the period of 2001-2006, Kmoníček served as Czech Ambassador to the United Nations in New York. Between the years 2006-2009, he acted as Czech Ambassador in India, Bangladesh, Nepal, the Maldives and Sri Lanka.[14] In 2009, he was appointed to the position of Deputy Foreign Minister for Legal, Consular, and Current Political Issues.[15] After his removal from the position of Deputy Foreign Minister in July 2010, then-Foreign Minister Schwarzenberg subsequently nominated him for the post of Czech Ambassador in Australia.[12] A longtime friend of President Milos Zeman, Kmoníček joined Prague Castle on March 28, 2013 as a Director of the Foreign Department of the Presidential Office. Shortly, he became the principle spin master behind the Castle foreign affairs policy.[3] Kmoníček’s clear-headed approach in several stormy TV discussions has repeatedly won him respect by influential political commentators in leading Czech newspapers. He is considered to be a key figure within the Zeman administration in advising the president on Middle Eastern, Asian and American affairs.[16] There has been a great deal of media speculation about Kmoníček’s nomination for position of Ambassador to the United States, what he has so far neither confirmed nor denied[17] Over the years, Kmoníček has negotiated diplomatic solutions in cases like dealing with Czech drug smugglers overseas, or in which Czech nationals were jailed around the world. He negotiated with the Jewish community over the Jewish cemetery on Vladislavova Street in Prague. He was the key participant of the audit and reform of the Czech intelligence services. In the international media, he became known in connection with a never-verified meeting with 9/11 terrorist Muhamad Atta in Prague.[18] For years, he provided an overview of arm sales and license procedures in the Czech Republic. He was a key player in the decision to help the Sri Lankan government during the civil war, which included arms and the air bridge to Jaffna. As ambassador, Kmoníček passionately helped Czech citizens who got in trouble overseas. A Czech scientist who recently discovered a new species of beetle named it after Kmoníček as a token of a gratitude.[19][20] In human rights, Kmoníček was a principal player in diplomatic efforts to release former Czech finance minister Pilip and his friend from a Cuban jail.[21] The case spanned over six months. The minister and his friend had been apprehended by the Cuban police while interacting with Cuban dissidents and political oppositions.

Personal life

In his private time, Kmoníček is known as an enthusiastic cook and collector of documentary movies, world music and hot sauces from around the world. He also likes writing reviews for a number of art, culture and academic journals worldwide. Since 2015 he regularly writes foreign policy analysis for the biggest Czech daily MF Dnes as the external staff.

Political affiliation

Hynek Kmoníček is a member of ČSSD (Czech Social Democratic Party), as one of the very few ČSSD members at the castle he is considered to be a negotiator of relations between the prime minister, the foreign minister and the president.

References

  1. ↑ "U.S. ambassador praises Zeman’s man as skillful diplomat - PRAGUE POST | The Voice of Prague". Prague Post. Retrieved 2015-12-06.
  2. ↑ "Kmoníček do USA? Má vytáhnout Zemana z diplomatické izolace - Aktuálně.cz". Nazory.aktualne.cz. Retrieved 2015-12-06.
  3. 1 2 "Zeman jmenoval Kmoníčka ředitelem zahraničního odboru Hradu". Denik.cz. Retrieved 2015-12-06.
  4. ↑ "Hynek Kmoníček". Forum2000.cz. Retrieved 2015-12-06.
  5. ↑ "HYNEK KMONÍCEK OF CZECH REPUBLIC CHAIRMAN OF FIFTH COMMITTEE | Meetings Coverage and Press Releases". Un.org. 2003-09-16. Retrieved 2015-12-06.
  6. ↑ "Hynek Kmoníček - Timeline Photos". Facebook. 2015-08-19. Retrieved 2015-12-06.
  7. ↑ "Máte slovo s M. Jílkovou". Ceskatelevize.cz. Retrieved 2015-12-06.
  8. ↑ "‚Norové nám s Michalákovou prostě lhali‘". Echo24.cz. Retrieved 2015-12-06.
  9. ↑ "The imperative of avoiding another Cold War". Euobserver.com. Retrieved 2015-12-06.
  10. ↑ "Čistka à la Schwarzenberg: Vyhodil je v několika hodinách". Reflex.cz. Retrieved 2015-12-06.
  11. ↑ "Czech election: Zeman wins". The Economist. 2013-01-27. Retrieved 2015-12-06.
  12. 1 2 "Česká pozice | Informace pro svobodné lidi". Ceskapozice.lidovky.cz. 2013-03-14. Retrieved 2015-12-06.
  13. 1 2 "HYNEK KMONÍCEK OF CZECH REPUBLIC CHAIRMAN OF FIFTH COMMITTEE | Meetings Coverage and Press Releases". Un.org. 2003-09-16. Retrieved 2015-12-06.
  14. ↑ "Ambassador of Czech Republic, Dr. Hynek Kmonicek, Delivers Guest Lecture at IIM Indore". Coolavenues.com. Retrieved 2015-12-06.
  15. ↑ "Rošády na ministerstvech pokračují, náměstkem Kohouta je Kmoníček — ČT24 — Česká televize". Ceskatelevize.cz. Retrieved 2015-12-06.
  16. ↑ "Co nedokáže Ovčáček, zachrání Kmoníček - Neviditelný pes". Neviditelnypes.lidovky.cz. 2014-12-04. Retrieved 2015-12-06.
  17. ↑ "Kmoníček may be next ambassador to USA - PRAGUE POST | The Voice of Prague". Prague Post. Retrieved 2015-12-06.
  18. ↑ "UN envoy confirms terrorist meeting". Praguepost.cz. 2001-04-22. Retrieved 2015-12-06.
  19. ↑ "Two new species of the genus Anthaxia (Anthaxia Eschscholtz 1829) from China, and notes on the related species (Coleoptera: Buprestidae: Anthaxiini)". Ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. 2015-09-28. Retrieved 2015-12-06.
  20. ↑ "Čínský brouk na Hradě. Vědec jej pojmenoval po Hynku Kmoníčkovi, který mu kdysi hodně pomohl | ParlamentniListy.cz – politika ze všech stran". Parlamentnilisty.cz. Retrieved 2015-12-06.
  21. ↑ "Pomozte nám s bezprávím na Kubě, žádá Česko - iDNES.cz". Zpravy.idnes.cz. Retrieved 2015-12-06.
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