More Details Finalized On Czech President’s Visit Here Saturday

President of the Czech Republic Petr Pavel will come to La Grange on Saturday, July 13, to give a speech at the Texas Czech Heritage and Cultural Center (TCHCC).

A welcoming ceremony is scheduled for 9-11 a.m. on the steps of the Center. Representatives of TCHCC will then meet privately with President Pavel and take him on a tour of the Czech Village.

It is believed to be the first-ever visit by a foreign head of state to La Grange.

Pavel arrived in the United States on Monday, July 8, where he led the delegation of the Czech Republic to the NATO Summit, which was held from July 9 to 11, in Washington, DC. The program also includes a festive celebration to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the founding of NATO, consisting of a dinner hosted by US President Joe Biden at the White House.

Together with the President of the Czech Republic, Czech Minister of Defense Jana Černochová, Czech Minister of Foreign Affairs Jan Lipavský and Chief of the General Staff of the Military of the Czech Republic Karel Řehka also participated in the meetings.

As part of an additional program in Washington, DC, President Pavel met with selected members of the US Congress, had meetings with representatives of leading American think tanks, and participated as one of the main speakers at the NATO Public Forum.

On July 12 and 13, Czech President Petr Pavel will travel to Houston, where he will participate as a speaker in a debate with local representatives on the topic of NATO and transatlantic collaboration. He will visit NASA’s Johnson Space Center, lead a discussion on the topic of energy security and meet with representatives of the Texas and Nebraska National Guards, with which the Czech Republic has been cooperating for a long time.

After his visit in La Grange, President Pavel is scheduled to attend a Major League Baseball game.