Dissident Czech

By Filip Fried - 04.12.2008 / 00:00 CET

How a dissident became Prague's chosen pragmatist.

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Fact file

Curriculum Vitae

1961: Born, Prague
1984: Graduated in geography from Charles University, Prague
1985: Doctorate in geography from Charles University
1989: Nine months in jail
1989: Spokesman of Charter 77
1990–92: Adviser to President Václav Havel
1992–97: Deputy foreign minister
1997–2001: Czech ambassador to the US
2002: Responsible for organising NATO summit in Prague
2003: Deputy foreign minister
2004–06: Worked for the consultancy Dutko Worldwide, lectured at New York University in Prague
2006: Elected senator for Litome?r?ice for the ODS
2006: Foreign minister
2007: Deputy prime minister for European affairs