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Jan Lipavský

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Jan Lipavský
Lipavský in 2022
Minister of Foreign Affairs
Incumbent
Assumed office
17 December 2021
Prime MinisterPetr Fiala
Preceded byJakub Kulhánek
Member of the Chamber of Deputies
In office
21 October 2017 – 21 October 2021
Personal details
Born (1985-07-02) 2 July 1985 (age 39)
Prague, Czechoslovakia
(now Czech Republic)
Political partyCzech Pirate Party (2015–2024)
Independent (2024–present)
Alma materCharles University
Awards Ukrainian Order of Merit (2022)

Jan Lipavský (born 2 July 1985) is a Czech politician and information technology manager who has been serving as Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic since December 2021, in the Cabinet of Petr Fiala. A former member of the Czech Pirate Party, he was a member of the Chamber of Deputies from October 2017 to October 2021.[1]

Early life and education

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Lipavský graduated from the Faculty of Social Sciences of Charles University with a bachelor's degree in Area studies. During his studies, he attended University of Kent through the Erasmus study program.[2]

Political career

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Member of parliament

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In the 2017 Czech parliamentary election, Lipavský was elected to the Chamber of Deputies for the Pirate Party.[3] He also ran in the 2021 parliamentary election, but was not elected.[4]

Minister of Foreign Affairs

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However, after the 2021 election, Lipavský was appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs in Petr Fiala's Cabinet,[5] despite the opposition of President Miloš Zeman.[6][7]

In his first press statement as Minister of Foreign Affairs, Lipavský stated that his political priorities would be improvement of the Czech Republic's international reputation in the area of human rights, alliance obligations, and international partnerships:[8]

The government's program statement calls for a return to a value-oriented foreign policy and the restoration of the good name of the Czech Republic as a country that stands on the side of human rights. Concrete steps in its implementation will therefore include, for example, the submission of the so-called Magnitsky Act, which will ensure better enforcement of protection human rights. We must be a strong, independent country that is also an equal and reliable partner. The key for us is to strengthen our alliance ties and strengthen our position in the EU and NATO. Relations with Russia and China must undergo a material review. At the same time, it is necessary to prepare the presidency of the Council of the EU, which the Czech Republic will take over in the middle of next year.

— Jan Lipavský, in his first statement as Minister of Foreign Affairs

Lipavský chose the former ambassador to Kuwait, Martin Dvořák, as his political deputy at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.[9] His first trip abroad was to Slovakia on 20 December 2021.[10]

2022

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Lipavský with Austrian Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg and Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba in Kyiv, Ukraine, July 2022

Before the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Lipavský supported the supply of artillery shells to Ukraine, stating that the Czech Republic was preparing for the worst-case scenario in the form of a Russian military invasion.[11] Following the invasion, Lipavský was a strong and vocal supporter of Ukraine, describing Russia as a "terrorist state" and overseeing a new security strategy for the Czech Republic focusing on threats from Russia and China.[12][13]

In September 2022, Lipavský spoke at the United Nations General Assembly, where he condemned Russia over the annexation of Crimea, the invasion of Ukraine, and human rights violations.[14] Lipavský supported EU sanctions against Iranian officials and entities in response to Iran's violent crackdown on the Mahsa Amini protests.[15]

At the end of October 2022, Lipavský travelled to Qatar for a two-day visit to lead negotiations over the supply of natural gas,[16] and with the aim of improving the environment for business investments.[17] Lipavský also made efforts to improve relations with Saudi Arabia.[18]

2023

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In June 2023, Lipavský met Vietnamese Foreign Minister Bùi Thanh Sơn, a member of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam, to discuss the strategic partnership between Vietnam and the Czech Republic.[19] He later discussed improvement of economic cooperation and the Russo-Ukrainian War with government representatives in Angola and Zambia.[20][21]

On 10 October 2023, Lipavský was the first foreign politician to visit Israel after the start of the Israel–Hamas war. He met with the President Isaac Herzog and Israeli Minister of Foreign Affairs Eli Cohen to express the Czech Republic's full support for Israel and offer aid.[22]

After Nigeria cancelled a visit by Prime Minister Petr Fiala, scheduled for 6 November 2023, Lipavský rejected any connection with the Czech Republic's support of Israel, and said he "does not attach any deeper meaning" to the cancellation of Fiala's visit.[23]

2024

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Lipavský with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken in May 2024

On 11 March 2024, ANO leader Andrej Babiš sent an email requesting compromising information on Jan Lipavský and his family, including his children. Intended for his advisers, the email was mistakenly sent to another contact with the same name. The email received widespread criticism, and Lipavský himself called it disgusting.[24] In July, Lipavský attended the 2024 NATO Summit in Washington, D.C., where he met with Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz.[25]

When the members of Czech Pirate Party voted to leave the government on 1 October, Lipavský announced his resignation from the party due to differences of opinion.[26] Fiala convinced him during a meeting not to leave the cabinet.[27] Lipavský withdrew his resignation and thus continues to act as an independent Minister of Foreign Affairs in the cabinet.[27]

On 15 November 2024, students at University College London (UCL) protested the visit of Jan Lipavský, criticizing the Czech government's support for Israel.[28]

Foreign policy positions

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China

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In April 2020, Lipavský called on the Czech government to ask China for compensation for the damages caused as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, arguing that China bears a significant share of the blame for the spread of COVID-19 over the world.[29]

On 15 January 2022, Lipavský criticised the Czech ambassador to China, Vladimír Tomšík [cs], for statements regarding the 2022 Winter Olympic Games. Tomšík, instructed by President Zeman to show the "maximum possible support" for the games in China, stated that the Games had wide support in the Czech Republic. In response, Lipavský accused Tomšík of comments that served "for the benefit of Chinese state propaganda".[30]

In June 2022, Lipavský criticised China's repressive policies against the Uighur people, which some Western governments and NGOs have described as genocide.[31]

Russia

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Lipavský criticised the response of President Zeman to the 2014 Vrbětice ammunition warehouse explosions.[32] On 9 May 2021, following Russia's involvement in this case, he described the participation of the Czech ambassador to Russia in a military parade in Moscow as "scandalous".[33]

In an interview with ČT24 in October 2021, Lipavský commented that Russia and China "represent a phenomenon of threat to the Czech Republic. It is necessary for Czech foreign policy to properly reflect this in all strategic documents, but also multiple practical steps on the international scene."[34]

In February 2023, Lipavský declared at a UN Security Council meeting: "Together, we must defend the UN Charter and ensure that war crimes are held accountable under international law."[35] He called President of Russia Vladimir Putin a war criminal and welcomed the arrest warrant issued for him by the International Criminal Court in March 2023.[36] During the 2023 Vilnius summit, Lipavský supported Ukraine's entry into NATO, stating that "Vladimir Putin's motives for going to war against Ukraine are probably based on his completely wrong vision of the world through the lens of the Soviet empire."[37]

In October 2024, Lipavský claimed that Russia was "responsible for 80% of foreign influence operations in the world".[38]

Turkey

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In October 2019, Lipavský condemned the Turkish offensive into north-eastern Syria against Kurds in the Rojava territory, stating: "in the long term, it is completely unacceptable for Turkey to occupy the north of the Syrian territory. Europe must continue to find a unified position against the aggressive Turkish regime of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan."[39]

At a meeting of foreign ministers of the Visegrad Group in December 2021, Lipavský pointed out the key role of Turkey in solving migration.[40] During the visit of the Turkish foreign minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu to Prague in June 2022, Lipavský stated there is a need for a "thorough dialogue" on issues where it is not easy to find an agreement between Turkey and the EU, such as migration or respect for the rule of law.[41]

Other

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In June 2019, Lipavský welcomed the proposal of German Minister of the Interior Horst Seehofer, that the Sudeten German congress would be held in the Czech Republic in the future.[42]

In September 2019, Lipavský described as "shameful" Miloš Zeman's comments that Kosovo is a state led by war criminals. He also disagreed with Zeman's proposal to revoke the Czech Republic's recognition of Kosovo.[43][44]

In September 2020, Lipavský supported the deployment of Czech soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan.[45] He criticised the Czech government for being slow to evacuate Czech diplomats and Afghan collaborators, who were put in danger following the withdrawal of U.S. troops in 2021.[46]

Lipavský does not support moving the Czech Embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.[47][48]

Honours

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References

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  1. ^ "Bc. Jan Lipavský". Naši Politici (in Czech). Retrieved 5 November 2021.
  2. ^ Karlesz, Štěpán (18 November 2021). "Táta od rodiny a nezkušený aktivista: Lipavský si to chce rozdat s Ruskem a nevoní mu ani Izrael". Expres (in Czech).
  3. ^ "Volby do Poslanecké sněmovny Parlamentu České republiky konané ve dnech 20.10. – 21.10.2017" (in Czech). Czech Statistical Office. Retrieved 26 October 2017.
  4. ^ "Volby do Poslanecké sněmovny Parlamentu České republiky konané ve dnech 8.10. – 9.10.2021" (in Czech). Czech Statistical Office. Retrieved 23 October 2021.
  5. ^ "Seznam ministrů. Podívejte se, kdo má usednout ve vládě Petra Fialy". Czech Radio (in Czech). 18 November 2021.
  6. ^ "Vládu v pátek prezident Zeman jmenuje i s Janem Lipavským, oznámil Fiala". ČT24 (in Czech). Czech News Agency. 13 December 2021.
  7. ^ Rambousková, Michaela (13 December 2021). "Překvapení: Zeman jmenuje vládu i s Lipavským, oznámil Fiala". Seznam Zpravý (in Czech).
  8. ^ "Jan Lipavský převzal úřad ministra zahraničních věcí". Czech Minister of Foreign Affairs (in Czech). 18 December 2021. Retrieved 2 March 2023.
  9. ^ "Lipavský si za náměstka vybral diplomata Dvořáka. Ten se omlouval Kuvajtu kvůli podpoře Izraele". Echo24 (in Czech). 20 December 2021.
  10. ^ "Ministr Lipavský uskutečnil svou první zahraniční pracovní cestu do Bratislavy". Czech Minister of Foreign Affairs (in Czech). 20 December 2021. Retrieved 2 March 2023.
  11. ^ Jemelka, Petr; Trousilová, Alžběta (21 January 2022). "Česko je připraveno na nejhorší scénář vývoje na Ukrajině". Novinky.cz (in Czech).
  12. ^ "Lavrov is a clown, and Russia a terrorist - Czech Foreign Minister". Ukrainska Pravda. Retrieved 11 October 2023.
  13. ^ "Minister Lipavský submitted to the Cabinet a new Security Strategy and a proposal to add more persons to the national sanctions list". Czech Foreign Ministry. 29 June 2023. Retrieved 11 October 2023.
  14. ^ Paník, Jan (4 October 2022). "Lipavský se setkal s Bidenem. Poděkoval jsem mu za podporu Ukrajiny a zmínil, že máme v Česku dobré pivo, tvrdí ministr". Forum24 (in Czech).
  15. ^ "Ministři zahraničí EU rozhodli o další podpoře Ukrajiny a přijali sankce proti Íránu" (in Czech). Czech Foreign Ministry. 15 November 2022. Retrieved 2 March 2023.
  16. ^ "Před časem odletěl emír nečekaně. Lipavský zamířil do Kataru vysvětlovat". Mladá fronta Dnes (in Czech). Prague: Mafra. 26 October 2022.
  17. ^ Drake, Daniel (26 October 2022). "Lipavský: Česko energetické smlouvy s Katarem uzavírat nebude, je to věc soukromníků". Novinky.cz (in Czech).
  18. ^ Koutník, Ondřej (7 September 2022). "Česko posílí vztahy se Saúdy. Kvůli ceně ropy a expanzi Ruska s Čínou". Seznam Zprávy (in Czech).
  19. ^ "Lipavský se setkal se svým vietnamským protějškem Bui Thanh Sonem". Deník N (in Czech). 9 June 2013.
  20. ^ Urbanová, Anna (14 June 2023). "'Malý začátek něčeho velkého.' Angolská cesta Lipavského může otevřít ekonomické kanály". Czech Radio (in Czech).
  21. ^ "Afričtí lídři jsou pragmatičtí, nehledají patrona. Český ministr je nepřesvědčí, míní expert". Czech Radio (in Czech). 16 June 2023.
  22. ^ Fodor, Anna (11 October 2023). "Czech minister first foreign official to visit Israel in wake of attacks". Czech Radio. Radio Prague International. Retrieved 11 October 2023.
  23. ^ Danda, Oldřich (7 November 2023). "Česko dostalo od Nigérie diplomatickou facku". Novinky.cz (in Czech).
  24. ^ "Babiš poptával informace o Lipavském. E-mail poslal na špatnou adresu". Seznam Zprávy (in Czech). 11 March 2023. Retrieved 13 March 2023.
  25. ^ "Katz warns against Iran, China at NATO summit". The Jerusalem Post. 10 July 2024.
  26. ^ "Foreign Minister Lipavský to end his membership in Pirate Party". Radio Prague International. 1 October 2024.
  27. ^ a b Fraňková, Ruth (1 October 2024). "Foreign Minister Lipavský to remain in government as non-party member". Radio Prague International.
  28. ^ "Pro-Palestine protesters bring Czech foreign minister's UCL speech to abrupt end". The Telegraph. 16 November 2024.
  29. ^ Lipavský, Jan (26 April 2020). "Pirát Lipavský se obrátil na vládu: Uznáte vinu Číny a WHO? A budete žádat vyvození odpovědnosti?". forum24.cz (in Czech). Retrieved 28 November 2021.
  30. ^ Ciroková, Kristina (15 January 2022). "Náš velvyslanec nesmí lhát, říká ministr zahraničí k přešlapu v Číně". Seznam Zprávy (in Czech). Retrieved 17 January 2022.
  31. ^ Valášek, Lukáš (6 June 2022). "Nucenou práci Ujgurů mění Čína na státní program. Hrozí 2,5 milionu lidí, říká výzkum". Aktuálně.cz (in Czech).
  32. ^ Rozsypal, Michael (25 April 2021). "Lipavský: Zeman si vzal týden oddech, aby vyrobil materiál pro dezinformační weby". Aktuálně.cz (in Czech). Economia. Retrieved 6 November 2021.
  33. ^ "Velvyslanec Pivoňka se zúčastní přehlídky v Moskvě. Skandální, píše Pirát Lipavský". Echo24 (in Czech). 8 May 2021. Retrieved 28 November 2021.
  34. ^ "Rozvíjet vztahy s Tchaj-wanem je namístě, shodli se Kohout a Vondra". ČT24 (in Czech). Czech Television. 28 October 2021. Retrieved 28 November 2021.[permanent dead link‍]
  35. ^ Starostová, Marie (24 February 2023). "Lipavský v Radě bezpečnosti: Musíme zabránit Rusku, aby nás zatáhlo do hororů jako ze světových válek". Czech Radio (in Czech).
  36. ^ "Čeští politici vítají, že mezinárodní soud vydal zatykač na Putina". Radio Prague International (in Czech). 17 March 2023.
  37. ^ Harzer, Filip (11 July 2023). "Ukrajina bude cítit zradu, varuje Lipavský". Seznam Zprávy (in Czech).
  38. ^ "Russia responsible for 80% of foreign influence operations in the world, Czech FM says". The Kyiv Independent. 10 October 2024. Retrieved 19 October 2024.
  39. ^ Brezovská, Katarína (18 September 2019). "Čeští politici chtějí další tlak na Turecko, i ze strany EU". Radio Prague (in Czech). Czech Radio.
  40. ^ "Lipavský poprvé jednal s kolegy z V4 a Turecka, mluvili hlavně o Afghánistánu a migraci". ČT24 (in Czech). 21 December 2021.
  41. ^ "Turecko stále odmítá rozšíření NATO. Summit v Madridu ukáže jednotu aliance". Mladá fronta Dnes (in Czech). Mafra. 11 June 2022.
  42. ^ "Sudetský sněm v Česku? Pro jsou jen KDU-ČSL a Piráti". Novinky.cz (in Czech). 10 June 2019.
  43. ^ Brezovská, Katarína (11 September 2019). "Zeman: Česko by mělo odvolat uznání Kosova samostatným státem". Czech Radio (in Czech).
  44. ^ Pavlíček, Tomáš; Čihák, Ondřej (10 September 2019). "Kosovo má ekonomiku loutkového státu. Produkuje drogovou narkomafii, myslí si Foldyna (ČSSD)". Czech Radio (in Czech).
  45. ^ "Sněmovna schválila dvouletý plán armádních misí v zahraničí". ČT24 (in Czech). 29 September 2020. Retrieved 28 November 2021.
  46. ^ "Česko stahuje diplomaty z ambasády v Kábulu. Evakuuje také afghánské spolupracovníky". ČT24 (in Czech). Czech Television. 14 August 2021. Retrieved 28 November 2021.
  47. ^ Prchal, Lukáš (9 November 2021). "Musíme přehodnotit vztahy s Ruskem a Čínou. Ohledně Tchaj-wanu nejsem nestranný, říká kandidát na ministra Lipavský". Deník N (in Czech). Retrieved 28 November 2021.
  48. ^ Šídlová, Tereza; Machová, Martina (6 November 2021). "Vláda se může zaseknout na jednom postu. Zemana mezi ministry čeká letitý sok". Seznam Zprávy (in Czech). Retrieved 28 November 2021.
  49. ^ "Ministr Lipavský obdržel ukrajinský Řád Za zásluhy. Česko je a bude s Ukrajinou, dokud nezvítězí, slíbil". forum24.cz (in Czech). Retrieved 31 August 2022.
  50. ^ "Lipavský v Londýně převzal Magnitského cenu za přínos k ochraně lidských práv". České Noviny (in Czech). Czech News Agency. 16 November 2022. Retrieved 17 November 2022.
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