Interview with H.E. Jiří Kuděla, Ambassador of the Czech Republic to Slovenia
From attempted escape in the 1980s to representing Czechia in Slovenia, Ambassador Kudela reflects on his path through revolution, history, and a career shaped by Central Europe and the former Yugoslavia.
“We Can Speak “naški”: The Czech Ambassador Who Knows the Balkans by Heart”
Our interlocutor knows the Balkans like the back of his hand and speaks almost every one of our ex-Yugoslav languages fluently.
When I had the opportunity to meet His Excellency Jiří Kuděla for the first time on the Bled Business Forum, he said with a gleam in his eye, “Ma, možemo i po naški, vaški/ We can also speak in our/your … language,” and we immediately switched to so-called ‘Balkan Esperanto,’ as dear Marta Kos once called it, or as dear Mateja Malnar Stembal calls it, Tutti Frutti Balkan Language.
He is one of the coolest guys among the ambassadors. Always smiling, communicative, and with a positive attitude.
His wife, Milena Kudělová, is also an amazing lady who gives speeches for the Czech National Day that the audience listens to with attention and interest, and she is one of the diplomatic spouses who adores Slovenian literature, Drago Jančar, for example, and traditions, and – this I know from personal experience—also makes delicious koláče.
The Kuděla couple has been living in Ljubljana since October 2023, and Internationalis is a guest who is always warmly welcomed at the Embassy of the Czech Republic.
When we agreed to organize this talk over a cup of tea, Lady Milena’s koláče, the joy was mutual, especially since Ambassador Kuděla served in Sarajevo, my hometown, on several occasions.
Once we started, our talk seemed never-ending and full of common memories – my childhood memories before the war in Bosnia and ambassador’s from the years before the war, during the war, and after the war in, I am sure that many would agree, one of the most beautiful Republics of the Former Yugoslavia.
Ambassador Kuděla expresses particular fondness for Bosnia and Herzegovina: “It’s a beautiful country with amazing nature—Visoko, Jahorina, Zelengora, Travnik, Maglić Mountain, and the Tara River are unforgettable. Bosnia was close to my heart. We organized exhibitions and I wrote books about Karel Pařík, a Czech architect who designed many of Sarajevo’s most beautiful buildings.”
He adds, “Bosnia is often called the ‘country of miracles.’ It’s true in both a positive and sometimes challenging sense—if you have an idea, you can often make it happen there, which is both good and bad.”
The Experiment called Yugoslavia
Speaking about the unique political and social atmosphere of Yugoslavia, he recalls how the country managed to attract investment from both East and West while offering a surprisingly easy credit system to its citizens.
“I remember my Czech friends in Maribor or in Zagreb,” he shares. “If they wanted to buy a car or a flat, they could easily get a loan from a Yugoslav bank. Quite large sums of dinars—loans that, frankly, were never paid due to incredible inflation back then. Those were really the golden eighties in Yugoslavia.”
Reflecting on Slovenia’s journey over the past two decades, Ambassador Kudela draws a comparison with the time when Slovenia was still part of Yugoslavia. “It’s hard to compare two very different eras,” he says. “In terms of living standards, both Slovenia and the former Czechoslovakia have improved dramatically since then. For Slovenia, the difference isn’t as stark because life in Yugoslavia was already quite good. Slovenians now have more freedom to travel and invest abroad, but if I look at the Czech Republic, the development in the last 30 years is more visible.”
From historian to a diplomat
Kuděla’s path to diplomacy was shaped by the historic changes sweeping through Central Europe in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Originally trained as a historian, he never envisioned a diplomatic career. “Until 1989, I thought I’d be an archivist or a historian,” he says. “But political conditions required party membership to advance in those fields, which I did not have. I even considered fleeing Czechoslovakia in the early 1980s, but meeting my wife changed those plans.”
Despite these personal crossroads, Kuděla remained engaged in underground circles advocating for change. “From 1981 until 1989, we were involved in some activism, copying documents and hoping for democratic reform, inspired by developments in Poland and Hungary. Then came the Velvet Revolution in November 1989 and the election of Václav Havel as president—a pivotal moment.”
Following the revolution, Kudela’s career took an unexpected diplomatic turn. In 1992, as Czechoslovakia prepared to split into two independent states, he was recruited to help form the new Office of the President of the Czech Republic. Fluent in German, he was tasked with foreign policy matters related to Central Europe, including the complex and turbulent Balkans during the Yugoslav wars. His diplomatic career officially began in October 1992, setting him on a journey through some of the region’s most challenging and fascinating posts.
From Archives to Ambassadorship: A Life Between Central Europe and the Balkans
Ambassador Kuděla’s personal journey through history, politics, and diplomacy reads like a vivid reflection of Central Europe’s transformation over the last four decades. What began as a scholarly path in historical archives in communist Czechoslovakia eventually turned into a diplomatic career that would span across the Balkans, Central Europe, and beyond.
In the 1980s, Yugoslavia stood out in the Eastern Bloc for its unique geopolitical position. “There was some combination of very smart policy from the Yugoslav elites to ‘tranquilize’ citizens and attract investment from both the West and the East,” Kuděla recalls. He describes the so-called “golden eighties” as a time when even his Czech friends living in Maribor could obtain generous bank loans for cars or apartments—loans they never had to repay. “It was really funny for me,” he reflects, noting the surreal economic practices of that era.
Fast forward to 2025, and Slovenia marks 21 years as an EU member. For Kuděla, the transformation is notable, but less stark than in his own homeland. “When I compare how my Slovenian friends lived during the Yugoslav era to now, it was already quite good back then. Now they have more possibilities, of course, but the difference is more visible in Czechia. Our quality of life has improved incredibly in the past thirty years.”
Czech investments in Slovenia
When we turned to economic matters, Ambassador Kuděla shared with us the growing economic relationship between Czechia and Slovenia. Czech companies have made significant inroads in Slovenia, and the investments are not just in one sector, but across various fields. Ambassador Kuděla mentioned that trade between the two countries now reaches more than 2 billion euros, a figure that reflects the strength of the relationship, though there is still room for growth.
The Czech Republic’s PPF Group, for example, owns Pop TV, one of Slovenia’s most prominent media outlets. Another major Czech investment comes from AREX, an industrial company whose reach spans far beyond Slovenia’s borders. The Czech Group Franco (K&H) has owned since 2022 famous Slovenian brand Alpina.
In the food and beverage sector, Czech company Kofola owns Radenska, one of the oldest and most beloved mineral water brands in Slovenia, acquired many years ago. These investments are not just economic transactions; they represent a deeper collaboration between two nations with shared history.
Ambassador Kuděla also pointed out that Paloma, the largest paper and tissue company in Slovenia, is co-owned by Czech and Slovak partners, while Hartenberg Holding has recently expanded its influence in Slovenia by acquiring Adria Tehnika. Czech Wikov acquired one of the most famous Slovenian companies Litostroj Ljubljana.
Moravia Steel and CTP, other Czech investors, are involved in industrial and real estate projects, cementing the Czech Republic’s foothold in Slovenia’s economy. But the investment story doesn’t stop there. Fidurock, a Czech company, owns the renowned Zlati Grič winery, which is quickly becoming a symbol of Czech entrepreneurial spirit in Slovenia’s vibrant wine industry.
For Ambassador Kuděla, these investments represent a broader trend. Young Czech entrepreneurs between the ages of 30 and 45 have been making waves not only in Slovenia but across Europe and even further, into the United States and Asia. It’s a testament to the dynamism of the Czech business community, which seeks out opportunities not just within its borders but in neighboring markets like Slovenia, which acts as an entry point to the wider Balkans.
Internationalis: “What makes Slovenia so attractive to Czech investors?”
“Slovenia is an open door to the rest of the former Yugoslavia—a larger, untapped market,” Ambassador Kuděla replied. “Slovenia may be small, but its strategic position makes it a perfect springboard for Czech companies looking to expand their influence in the region.”
Internationalis: When you arrived in Slovenia, what were your first impressions?
Ambassador Jiří Kuděla: I came to Ljubljana in October 2023, exactly at the time of the incredible attack of Hamas on Israel. It is really nice to live and work here. In a way, I am back in the “same water” because I worked and lived in this region many, many times before and served as a diplomat in Bosnia and Croatia, and partly in Serbia during the last 30-35 years. I know Slovenia quite well, already having in mind that Zagreb is only 1 hour from here. So, while working in Zagreb, I visited Slovenia as well. I have some neighbours here in Maribor from Czechia whose family came here shortly after the First World War. They founded their own business, and this company is still in the hands of this family for 107 years. Therefore, Slovenia is very close to my heart, and my big wish was to serve a year or two here as well. With Slovenia being a part of the EU and NATO, we do not have any big issues that would require solving on a daily basis.
Internationalis: A dream job, obviously.
Ambassador Jiří Kuděla: In fact, it’s a dream job. Here in Slovenia, I basically coordinate our positions regarding some crucial questions in the EU. This is a big difference when I compare this situation with my service in Croatia and Bosnia. That was a hard and tough job, especially in Bosnia. Therefore, it is really a dream job because, for example, our political contacts are excellent.
From Historian to Diplomat: A Twist of Fate
Kuděla’s path into diplomacy was unplanned. A trained historian with a specialization in reading and interpreting documents from the 16th to 19th centuries, he had initially envisioned a life in academia. But the constraints of communist Czechoslovakia—where party membership often dictated one’s career—left him disillusioned. “Until 1989, I thought I would always be an archivist. Maybe a historian. Becoming a diplomat was never in my plans.”
In 1983, he even considered fleeing Czechoslovakia through the Slovenian-Austrian border. “I came to Slovenia to observe the border and plan my escape with a colleague,” he admits. “But then I met my wife, and everything changed.” Instead of leaving, he became active in underground dissident circles. Influenced by the rising opposition movements in Poland and Hungary, Kuděla believed in the possibility of change. “We copied forbidden documents, circulated them, and of course, that brought me some trouble with the secret police. But we were young and believed in a better future.”
That future arrived with the Velvet Revolution in 1989. Kuděla remembers the moment well: “On the 29th of December 1989, Vaclav Havel became president. That very day, my former professor called and said, ‘You’ll start teaching at the faculty on January 1st.’ It was my dream to teach.” But life soon took another unexpected turn.
As Czechoslovakia split in 1992, a friend approached him with a proposal: join the newly forming Czech Office of the President as a foreign policy desk officer. Fluent in German and knowledgeable in history, Kudela joined the team, and his diplomatic career took flight. He was soon assigned to deal with the complexities of the Yugoslav wars—an ironic twist for someone who once tried to flee his country through that very region.
His first ambassadorial post came in 1997, when he was appointed to Croatia. He later served in Bosnia and Herzegovina (2005–2009), Dresden, Milan, and the Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs in various capacities. “Bosnia was very close to my heart,” he says fondly. “It’s a place where everything is possible—positively and negatively. If you had an idea, you could make it happen. That’s rare.”
His deep engagement with the region included exhibitions, cultural initiatives, and even books. Kudela published two works on the Czech-born architect Karel Pařík, who designed over 70 significant buildings in Sarajevo. “We managed to have a square named after him. It was a beautiful experience.”
Reflecting on the cultural mosaic of the Balkans, Kudela notes the differences and similarities between its nations. “Slovenians are the most different. They are closest to the Czechs—both are like Slavic-speaking Germans. Croats and Serbs are more emotional, more cordial. But we all share something. Yugoslavia and the Balkans kind of stamped me for life.”
Indeed, his memories of backpacking through Yugoslavia in the 1980s—crossing mountains alone, mistaken for a Viking or German, jumping out of a train to avoid bureaucratic harassment—feel cinematic. Today, decades later, he finds himself posted in Slovenia, a country he once viewed from the outside with curiosity.
Personal Connection to the Balkans
Internationalis: To tell your Balkan story, we need to go back 35 years, yes?
Ambassador Kudela: More than 35. We should go back nearly 50 years because I visited Yugoslavia for the first time when I was 17. Back then, there was a huge difference between communism in Czechoslovakia and communism in Yugoslavia, and it was very interesting to observe it from a distance, but I wanted to learn more about it and to travel to Yugoslavia. I managed to get a permit to travel to Yugoslavia from the Czechoslovakian police. I was quite active member of a mountaineering club in Czechoslovakia, and wanted to climb all the Balkan mountains to reach all the mountain peaks of the Balkans and to put the Czechoslovak flag on every top. We managed easily to travel to Bulgaria and Romania. Yugoslavia was quite complicated at that time, but we got the permit. And so, I first climbed Maglić in Bosnia, then Triglav, and then later Korab and Šar planina in Macedonia. And then later, we visited most of the mountains we planned. We were a small group of active mountaineers, and I fell in love with this splendid country, Yugoslavia, at that time. After I started to study history and ethnology, I visited Yugoslavia six or seven times until 1989, until the Revolution. I came mainly for the mountains, not for the sea. I was not typical Czech tourist. I always went to the mountains as a hiker. I also visited my neighbours here in Maribor, but could not stay long because, back then, the tourist stay outside Czechoslovakia was limited.
I remember very well when I visited Sarajevo for the first time. Namely, after watching the movie “Sječaš li se Dolly Bell” by Emir Kusturica. I simply wanted to see this city too. And the city was really like in this movie. It was an amazing movie. But I was in Bosnia before, since I climbed the mountains of Bosnia on the border between Montenegro and Bosnia. Already in 1980, in the Summer, after Tito died. I was arrested in Yugoslavia twice. My two friends and I were hiking in Kosovo and in Macedonia. They were questioning us: “What are you doing here and so on?” It was so funny. And afterwards they kicked us out.
I understood that there was something wrong with Yugoslavia already in 1980. It was quite clear. I fell in love with this country because this was some kind of big laboratory for national questions and ethnic processes. Spending time here was quite interesting as well from a scientific perspective since I am a historian. After that, I came back again in 1993 and 1994, and several times after with my diplomatic career.
Internationalis: How come we Yugoslavs didn’t realize what was going on? Could people from the outside see better than those who are inside what will soon be blood-covered “Bosanski lonac/Bosnian cooking pot – a usual Balkan symbolic syntagma for a complicated situation.
Ambassador Kudela: It was something really incredible for me – the situation in Yugoslavia. For instance, I had talked with my Czech friends here in Slovenia, who lived in Maribor then, and I was surprised that Slovenia was completely different than the rest of Yugoslavia, completely different from Croatia, Macedonia, Kosovo, Montenegro, and Serbia. What I also couldn’t understand was the system of this samoupravljanje/ self-management, which was, in the sixties inspiration for our people and politicians in the time of the Prague Spring as well. But even I, with my elementary knowledge of economics at this time as a university student, couldn’t understand how this economic model could function. It’s not feasible. Everybody had big debts. The whole country suffered under big debts from the West side, from the East side, and so on. But there was some combination of very smart policy of the Yugoslavian politicians and the Yugoslavian elites to “tranquilize” citizens and to attract investment from the West and from the East, taking money from all parts of the world and never to pay back. This was really funny for me. My mentioned Czech friends in Maribor, for example, if they wanted to buy something, they would easily get a loan from the Yugoslav bank. Quite huge sums of dinars to pay for some goods, a car, or a flat. In fact, they never paid this back. Never. These were the golden eighties in Yugoslavia.
Cultural Diplomacy: Czech Music in Slovenia
Internationalis: Speaking of public diplomacy, which projects of that kind would you highlight?
Ambassador Jiří Kudela: Year 2024 was a very important year in the history of Czech culture. We celebrated the famous Czech composer Bedřich Smetana, who was born in 1824. We had more reasons to celebrate this anniversary and the Czech music in 2024. Within the Ljubljana Festival in July 2024, we organized a very nice concert with Martina Janková, a famous soprano. Earlier in 2024, we also organized a concert of two very talented young musicians, one Czech and one Slovak. The Embassy organized a Czech brass music concert here in Ljubljana, and in 2025, we presented really nice vocal concert in Maribor. Those mentioned concerts were amazing, and we managed to present Czech music and to connect Czech and Slovenian culture.
Did you know that the composer of the first Slovenian opera Gorenjski slavček (The Upper-Carniolan Nightingale) was Anton Foerster who was Czech who moved to Ljubljana in 1867? I should also mention that we co-organized a big concert of the Prague Philharmonic Orchestra, the 2nd one of the most famous orchestras from Czechia, at Cankarjev dom in June 2024. It was fantastic as this hall has fantastic acoustics ad the Orchestra was very satisfied with the venue and the audience. The tickets were sold out, and it was full, and the atmosphere was fantastic. 2024 was truly the year of Czech music.
Art Circle – Connecting Czech and Slovenian Artists
Internationalis: Within the cultural sphere, you are also very actively supporting the Art Circle initiative.
Ambassador Jiří Kudela: Yes, it was really nice because the art from my country was presented in 2024 by three quite young Czech artists from North Moravia, and they were hosted in Hiša Brinovka. It was the art-in-residence concept. I think this art campus is a good idea for artists to connect and promote contemporary Czech art, while also learning about Slovenia, thanks to the Slovenian host Mr. Andrej Lovrencic to learn about Slovenia too.
Life in Slovenia Today
Now posted in Ljubljana, Kudela and his wife explore Slovenia avidly. “We use every free weekend to discover new places, not only in Slovenia but also in nearby Istria and Italy. My wife isn’t much into hiking, so we combine travel with history, which suits me as a historian.”
He shares his fascination with historical figures like Czech-Austrian Field Marshal Radetzky, who married a Slovenian countess and whose legacy is still visible in Slovenia. “We visited his castle and many cultural sites in Škofja Loka and Kranj, including works by the architect Plečnik.”
In September 2024, the Czech National Day was celebrated at the Zlati Grič winery in Slovenjske Konjice, showcasing the warmth of Czech-Slovenian relations to fellow diplomats.
Ambassador Kudela’s journey from historian to seasoned diplomat is a testament to the intertwined histories of Central Europe and the Balkans, and to the personal and political transformations that continue to shape the region.
After years in the Balkans and Central Europe, the ambassador remains grounded by curiosity, memory, and the enduring belief that history—like diplomacy—is ultimately about understanding people.
Internationalis attended one of the recent events organized by the Embassy of the Czech Republic in Slovenia; namely, on June 17th 2025, the embassy marked the Day of the Armed Forces of the Czech Republic. The event started by the arrival of the guard of honor with a ceremonial bringing of the Czech flag, followed by a speech by Ambassador Jiří Kuděla and a performance of the brass quintet of the military music from Olomouc, the music unit of the Czech Army.
