It’s through flight that Czech ambassador Vladimír Bärtl says he’s able to “switch from the world of diplomacy to the world of wings”.
Having flown since 1995, he regularly visits the Aéro-Club and airport to take out the above Piper PA-28, which he recently used to fly a group of ambassadors and other dignitaries to the Spangdahlem Air Base.
While he appreciates meeting fellow aviators through the aero clubs he’s joined in his various posts abroad, he also sees links between his hobby and his career: “Aeronautical radio communication is structured and concise: who I am, where I am, where I’m heading, what my immediate intentions are,” he says, “all of which are beautifully applicable to international negotiations!”
The two nations have a long history, he explains, starting with Luxembourg kings on the Bohemian throne and today “like-minded in many areas in multilateral forums”.
It’s also a busy end of year for the ambassador, as the Czech Republic took over the EU Council presidency at the start of July.
Interested in meeting the local Czech community? Get in touch with the Amitiés tchèque et slovaque – Luxembourg. The Czech embassy also regularly has exhibitions along its perimeter gates; stay tuned on Delano, or simply walk past 2 Rond-point Robert Schuman.