In our 7th installment of the “Ambassadors Series,” ΤΟ ΒΗΜΑ International Edition talked to the Czech Ambassador to Greece, Ivo Silhavy, who welcomed us on a sunny day at the Vaclav Havel bench at the Freedom Park in the center of Athens.
Mr. Silhavy said it was a great honor to serve as the ambassador of Czechia to Greece. “Greece is one of the main pillars of our civilization,” adding it was a unique challenge for him both professionally and personally to be posted in Athens. The ambassador pointed out that the essence of relations between the two nations is based on partnership and effective cooperation in the European Union. The two nations share a common history as they suffered domination and occupation by foreign aggressors.
His mission, as he says, is to boost bilateral trade and facilitate mutual investments, with the Czech Embassy supporting initiatives of the Hellenic-Czech Chamber of Commerce in Athens. Revealing his personal goal, he stressed he wants to strengthen the relationship between Czech and Greek firefighters, recounting the Czech firefighters’ contribution and close cooperation in last year’s wildfires in Athens with their Greek colleagues. To this end, he stressed his conviction that there was a huge opportunity for deepening cooperation in a more systemic way.
The Czech Ambassador to Greece highlights the opportunities in the sectors of modern technology and innovation for both countries. He believes Greece’s energy and climate plan presents an interesting opportunity for the Czech business community to invest, making special mention of the Greek “Pharos” initiative, the first of seven artificial intelligence factories established in Europe.
On the war in Ukraine, the Czech Ambassador draws a quote from the towering modern political figure of Czechia, Vaclav Havel, who said, “Evil must be confronted in its womb.”
“Truth and love must prevail over lies and hatred,” he adds, warning that the war in Ukraine is not a local conflict but a harbinger of the future of the whole of Europe. Based on his country’s history, he insists that policies of appeasement toward aggression have never prevented war.
Mr. Silhavy says that a false peace with Russia would embolden others to disregard and disrespect international law while encouraging them to promote historical revisionism. He says that if Russia is not held accountable for its actions, this appeasement would send a message to other authoritarian leaders that their expansionist policies of conquest would remain unpunished. “Peace at any cost makes no sense,” he says, adding that peace must be comprehensive, lasting, and just.
Join ΤΟ ΒΗΜΑ International and “The Ambassadors Series” in these exclusive sit-down interviews to discover how these global leaders build bridges, foster connections, and shape the future—in the heart of the Mediterranean.
Stay tuned for our upcoming videos with the ambassadors of countries from Europe, Asia, the Americas, and the Pacific region.
