Hynek Kmoníček

Hynek Kmoníček (born October 22, 1962 in Pardubice) is a Czech career diplomat and one of the most prominent political voices of the Czech Republic. He currently serves as a Foreign Policy Advisor to Milos Zeman, President of the Czech Republic, and as Director of the International Department at the Office of the President. Previously, Kmoníček served as the Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York; Ambassador to India; non-resident Ambassador to Bangladesh, Nepal, the Maldives and Sri Lanka; Ambassador to Australia and non-resident Ambassador to New Zealand, Cook Islands, Fiji, Solomon Islands, Kingdom of Tonga, Vanuatu, and Samoa. As a member of the UN General Assembly, Kmoníček served as Chairman of the Fifth Committee, which is responsible for administration and budgetary matters. Kmoníček worked in various posts under all three post-Communist presidents: Vaclav Havel, Vaclav Klaus, and now Milos Zeman. Kmoníček, a media darling with his trademark bow tie and ready wit, is a prolific writer, influential commentator and active political participant in specialized debates on a wide range of subjects, including international relations, emerging markets, terrorism, global economics, and trade issues. It has been suggested that it was his own ambitions and especially social-democratic political affiliation jealousy over his media popularity that led to his removal from the post of Deputy Foreign Minister during the period of Foreign Minister Karel Schwarzenberg (later an unsuccessful presidential candidate ), who once said, "My wish is to send Kmoníček further than to Australia, the best is to Mars."