On Sunday, 22 September 2024, President Petr Pavel and Eva Pavlová left for a working trip to the USA, where the President will lead the Czech delegation to the UN General Assembly. The President will address the Future Summit at the start of the programme on Monday 23 September.
The President will deliver his national address at the UNSC on Wednesday 25 September. On the same day, he will also attend the UN Security Council meeting on Leadership for Peace: united in respect for the UN Charter in the search for a secure future. On the sidelines of the UNSC, President Paul will also address a panel on "Securing the Digital Future" on 24 September. He will also speak at a meeting of the World Jewish Congress, whose mission is to combat anti-Semitism. In New York, the President will meet with top leaders of the United Nations and a number of countries.
On Wednesday, the President will move to Chicago, which is historically known as one of the largest centres of Czech emigration, where a very active community of compatriots is still active today. On Thursday, the President will give a speech at the University of Chicago, launching the three-year Václav Havel Lecture Series. He will honor the memory of President Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk, who lectured at the university in 1902 and 1907, and President Woodrow Wilson. President Paul will also launch a roundtable discussion focusing on current security threats and the role of innovation and new technologies. In addition to Czech and US companies, the event will be attended by a representative of the US Department of Defense's Defense Innovation Unit. The meeting with Czech compatriots will culminate the Czech Heritage Week.
The last item on the programme of the President's visit to the USA on 27 September will be the second largest city in Iowa, Cedar Rapids, where the National Czech and Slovak Museum and Library is located, which is responsible for maintaining awareness of the history of Czech emigrants in the USA, Czech culture and traditions. The visit will include the unveiling of a clock, the only one in North America, which the museum built after the Old Town Clock in Prague. Slovak President Peter Pellegrini will also attend the ceremony.
As part of the program in Illinois and Iowa, the President will meet with top officials from both states, as well as Chicago and Cedar Rapids. The President of the Republic will also be accompanied by a business mission of the Chamber of Commerce, this time focusing on start-ups and innovative companies in the field of cybersecurity and defence.
Office of the President of the Czech Republic
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