GLOBSEC 2016 Will Honour Michael Žantovský with the Transatlantic Award

As a part of the GLOBSEC 2016 conference in Bratislava, two renowned personalities will receive the Czech and Slovak Transatlantic Award (CSTA). One of the laureates is Czech diplomat and politician, Michael Žantovský. The Award honours those who have significantly contributed to the strengthening of transatlantic relationships.

Michael Žantovský is a senior diplomat, formerly the Czech Ambassador to the United Kingdom, Israel and the USA. Amb. Žantovský started his career as a psychological researcher and freelance translator. In 1989, he was a founding member of the Civic Forum, an organisation which played a pivotal role in the overthrow of the Communist regime in Czechoslovakia. He subsequently became the spokesman and advisor to President Václav Havel. In 1992, he became the Czechoslovak Ambassador to the United States and four years later, he successfully ran for the Czech Senate, where he chaired the Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Security.

The Czech and Slovak Transatlantic Award is jointly awarded by GLOBSEC organiser Slovak Atlantic Commission (SAC) and Czech organisation Jagello 2000. “Amb. Žantovský was one of the key characters of the Velvet Revolution,” says SAC Managing Director Milan Solár. “During his diplomatic career, he personally dedicated a lot of his work to re-establishing transatlantic ties after the fall of Communism,” Mr Solár adds.

The other 2016 CSTA awardee is Madeleine Albright, former US Secretary of State. There is an interesting connection between this year’s recipients, as Mr Žantovský translated Madeleine Albright’s autobiography “Madeleine” to the Czech language.

Madeleine Albright and Michael Žantovský will officially receive the CSTA at a Gala Dinner ceremony in Bratislava which will be a part of GLOBSEC 2016 Global Security Forum. The conference takes place on 15-17 April 2016.