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25/10/2007: "MINISTRY of FOREIGN AFFAIRS ....... V.I.P. guest speaker"

(Above) Czech politician at the Department of Foreign Affairs, Taipei, presenting (in English) the comparison between Taiwan and the Czech Republic. i.e. Both are small countries seeking a democratic future and both with powerful neighbors making this far from easy.

His facial features illustrate the risky, hard work involved long term.

(Below) JH making still pictures with a Sony Handycam Hard Disc Drive.

One of the Czech team was a very tall gentleman, maybe over 6 ft 6 inches - a former diplomat in Sydney for five years and very happy that the World Free diving Champion was Czech citizen.

Attending such an interesting event in Australia would be next to impossible for me.

The Czech people had to rush for the airport soon afterwards, a pity we couldn't talk longer with them.

In today's world, where democracy grows but freedoms diminish, liberal democracy may not be taken for granted. Petr Pithart Taipei, October 15, 2007