Outgoing US Ambassador to the Czech Republic for Romea.cz: Support for Romani people was a priority of my team, it's the key to a just society
US Ambassador to the Czech Republic Bijan Sabet is leaving his post one year before his term in office officially expires. On Monday, 20 January, when US President Trump was inaugurated, Sabet returned to the United States with his wife, Lauren.
The early resignation of ambassadors is a common process when the political leadership changes in the USA. Sabet, the son of immigrants and a passionate photographer, loves to travel and has a blog where he shares musings about his trips and photographs from them.
Before his appointment he was an investor who established the firm Spark Capital, which is involved in risk capital. Prior to that he was on the boards of tech startups in Massachusetts and Silicon Valley.
The outgoing ambassador led the US Embassy in Prague for less than two years. US Vice President Kamala Harris administered his oath of office on 16 December 2022. He came to the Czech Republic in late January 2023 and submitted his credentials to then-Czech President Miloš Zeman on 15 February 2023.
Sabet and his wife Lauren have three children. During his ambassadorship he has actively advocated for support to the Romani community and their efforts to face down the discrimination that exists here.
We managed to contact the ambassador during the final days of his stay in the country to ask how he liked it in the Czech Republic, what experiences and impressions he is taking away with him, and how the US Embassy team tries to improve the situation of Romani people in the Czech Republic.
Q: During your two years in office at the US Embassy in Prague you have been meeting with politicians, representatives of non-governmental organizations, and ordinary Czechs. What crucial experiences will you take away from your time here, and has your view of the world been changed by them at all?
A: To serve as Ambassador of the United States of America to the Czech Republic was an immeasurably enriching, joyful experience. From day one here I experienced a very warm reception and the people of this country were an inexhaustible source of inspiration to me. I am glad I could officially visit all 14 Czech regions and that I had so many opportunities to meet with local officials, business representatives, civil society, students and ordinary people on the street. My wife and I also enjoyed our private travel around this beautiful country.
When I think back on my stay here, I am aware of the persistence and resilience of the relations between the Czech Republic and the United States. Our partnership, rooted in shared values and aspirations and fortified by generations of cooperation, will continue even after I leave office. Together we are showing that when nations come together around shared principles, they manage to face even the most difficult of challenges.
The stories I am taking with me from the Czech Republic are not just memories, they are lessons in resilience, shared values, and the unlimited potential of a partnership based on trust.
Q: During your time in the Czech Republic you have actively dedicated yourself to support for the Romani community. How do you perceive that current situation in our country? Do you believe Romani people face systemic marginalization and oppression by the majority society? What measures, in your view, might contribute to improving their position and to supporting meaningful changes?
A: It is sad that systemic discrimination exists all over the world, including in the United States. In the Czech Republic, similar to many other countries, the Romani minority still faces significant disadvantage. That raises the question for us all: “What can we do to improve the situation?” In the Czech Republic, Romani people struggle with persistent problems such as discrimination in housing, de facto school segregation and limited access to medical care, employment and to wider inclusion in society and politics.
For example, pupils of Romani origin comprise 29 % of the children in special needs primary schools even though Roma represent just 3 % of the Czech population. Romani people are also frequently forced to pay exorbitant rents which keep them in the so-called excluded localities. In addition, many of the Romani women who were the victims of forced sterilizations, a practice that was not stopped until 2012, still face bureaucratic obstacles when trying to access compensation.
All these challenges emphasize the urgent need for stronger measures and protections which will aid with building a democratic, fairer, inclusive society. However, the Romani community’s fight is not just theirs, it is also a test of our collective humanity and determination to advocate for justice.
At the same time, however, I do see reason for optimism when it comes to the progress of the Romani community in the Czech Republic. The recent case of a politician resigning after making inappropriate or insulting remarks about them shows that accountability and intolerance for hostile behavior are gaining ground. Under the leadership of Czech Government Commissioner for Roma Minority Affairs Lucie Fuková, in collaboration with Czech ministries and Romani activists, significant progress has been made. This includes, for instance, the establishment of a definition of the participation of Roma in civic life, the adoption of a definition of antigypsyism, or the creation of the PRO-ROMA program to support Romani youth education.
The Education Ministry is also updating school curricula to include the history of the Roma and also strengthening support for schools with disadvantaged pupils. Moreover, there is draft legislation planning to extend the deadline for filing requests to compensate the victims of forced sterilizations.
A great deal of work still remains to be done in spite of these positive changes. Although there is no doubt that the appointment of the Czech Government Commissioner for Roma Minority Affairs was an important move, her office still lacks sufficient resources to address the full range of problems faced by Romani people. Just as in other areas, it is also the case here that meaningful change requires local initiatives, permanent political support, and a strong societal commitment.
Q: How has the US Embassy supported the Romani community during your time in post? Can you give us specific examples of such initiatives or programs?
A: As you’ve already mentioned, my team and I established our active involvement in supporting the Romani community as a priority. During our negotiations with partners in the Government and civil society we placed an emphasis on including Roma and combating discrimination. Our shared aspirations and values, such as the conviction that each person should have equal access to opportunities and feel at home in a democratic society, is what forms the basis of American-Czech relations.
The work being done by Czech Government Commissioner for Roma Minority Affairs Lucie Fuková has inspired me and I am proud to have had an opportunity to meet with her and to strive to push through positive changes together with her. She and the ARA ART organization jointly launched the celebration of International Romani Day 2024 at the US ambassador’s residence in Prague, and that was actually one of the high points of my time here. In December 2024, I also joined Commissioner Fuková and my fellow ambassadors at an event focused on discussing strategies for effectively facing down anti-Romani racism.
The entire embassy team actively looked for opportunities to cooperate directly with and meet with Romani communities, with advocates for their rights, and with organizations pushing for meaningful change and more visibility for this issue.
We were proud, in 2024, to award the Alice Garrigue Masaryk Human Rights Award to Marie Gailová of the Romodrom organization for her life’s work in the field of advocating for Romani people. We have also included a Romani community representative on the Ambassador’s Youth Council, too.
We have also launched a tradition of holding the ceremonial awarding of the Romano Suno prize in our American Center, which we make available to many Romani civil society organizations. Our aim is not just to make room for important discussions there, but also to demonstrate that the United States considers Romani voices and their inclusion to be crucial here.
Support for the Romani community is a priority for my team in our work throughout the Czech Republic. The team of the US Embassy saw an opportunity to augment foreign language instruction and provided financing to the DROM organization in Brno to implement a statewide education program concentrating on teaching English and on developing soft skills. We hope that program will make it possible for a larger number of Romani youth to join our exchange programs and we will continue to look for ways for such programs, supported by the US Government, to be accessible to all.
Finally, something I have considered crucial here during my time in post is that we are looking for new opportunities to arrange for the embassy team to reflect the diversity of the Czech Republic in terms of personnel so as to fully represent its inhabitants.
Q: The United States is a nation built on diversity and your own life story shows that – your mother is from Korea and your father is from Iran. You have said that as a child you were bullied during the Iranian hostage crisis because you were the only student of Middle Eastern origin in your school. Did those experiences influence your empathy for minorities and shape your personal approach to issues of injustice?
A: I actually believe America’s diversity is our greatest strength, even though I know it is not always easy to take advantage of that strength. My parents immigrated to the United States in the 1960s and got American citizenship as quickly as possible. They wanted to fully experience the American Dream and always instilled me with the importance of democracy and freedom. As a family of immigrants, we do consider ourselves typical Americans in many respects and I feel great humility when I realize how proud my parents are that I am serving my country.
For those same reasons, it has been especially hard for me to face down racism, whether in my childhood or as an adult. When I speak of the necessity of supporting marginalized groups in both our countries, I see it through our shared aspirations and values. We are democracies. Each and every citizen is valuable. I am convinced that the marginalization and oppression of groups or their individual members damages all of society. Whether we are speaking of Romani people, the LGBTQI+ community, women or other groups, we can never achieve our full potential when such groups continue to be oppressed.
Because the Czech Republic and the USA are allies, friends and partners, it is essential that we support each other in achieving those aims.
Q: You are leaving one year before the planned termination of your time in post because the administration in the USA has changed. As a Democrat appointed by President Biden, how do you perceive the immediate political future of the United States with Donald Trump, who is taking office as president for a second time? Are you concerned about a possible threat to democracy under his leadership? Do you believe his policies could influence NATO, support for Ukraine, or even democracy and stability in the Czech Republic?
A: I have already said this more than once: Receiving my appointment by President Biden, and these two years spent as Ambassador of the United States to the Czech Republic, have been the honor of my life. As ambassador, I serve at the pleasure of the president, and the incoming president has the right to appoint his own ambassador.
I have also emphasized that I work in foreign relations, I do not make policy. My task in the Czech Republic was to represent all Americans, irrespective of their political affiliations or the candidates for whom they voted. In the United States in 2024 there were free, fair and democratic elections, the outcome of which reflects the will of the American people. The strength of our alliance consists of the values we defend together. This is not about any one administration, but about our permanent commitment to democracy, freedom and peace
I am immeasurably proud of the work done by the Biden administration, especially here in Central Europe and on the eastern wing of NATO. Our common goal with the Czech Republic remains a democratic, independent, sovereign and prospering Ukraine that has the resources to defend itself against aggression. Under the leadership of President Biden, we stood side by side with our allies in defending Ukraine. The incoming administration, naturally, will express its own policy toward NATO, this region, and Ukraine. However, I have been encouraged by the strong determination I have seen across the American political spectrum when it comes to support for Ukraine and the fight against Russian aggression.
Q: In the blog where you share your passion for photography and travel you described President Biden as a man with a “big heart” and highlighted his care and empathy for those who need aid. Do you believe compassion and empathy belong in politics?
A: Empathy, simply put, is the ability to comprehend where others are coming from, what forms them. For me, it would be unimaginable to undertake my own work without compassion and empathy. Empathy is not weakness – it is the bravery to comprehend others, the strength to set up alliances, and the basis for permanent solutions to problems. That has applied both during my career in the private sector and my career in international relations.
If our embassy team is to be successful in advocating for American interests here in the Czech Republic, it is essential that we deeply understand the feelings and motivations of our partners. It goes further than that, though. At the end of the day, all people deserve to be treated kindly and with respect. As you mentioned, I feel that the United States had enormous luck during the last four years to have a president who embodies compassion and empathy.
Q: What will you miss the most about the Czech Republic? What are you looking forward to the most after your return to the United States? Lastly, what are your plans after your time as ambassador ends?
A: Whenever I am asked what I will do next, I have to laugh a bit, because that question was recently asked of me by both the Czech Prime Minister and my mother! That’s called pressure! It is an important question and I am starting to think about it, but I am remaining fully focused on my mission here as ambassador until the last day I am in post.
The Czech Republic has become a second home to me, and therefore I know that whatever I do, I will find ways to keep strengthening ties between the United States and this beautiful country. I will most miss the living beauty of Czech history, which is written not just in her castles and cobblestone streets, but also in the hearts of her people.
I will transfer my experiences and impressions to the new ambassador as soon as he is appointed and approved by the Senate. I will be able to congratulate him and say that he has the best job in the world: Serving the United States here in the Czech Republic.
When I look back on my two years in the post of ambassador I am immeasurably proud that we managed to consolidate the cooperation, friendship and partnership between the United States and the Czech Republic. We have achieved a lot together, and the United States is proud to have such a reliable, strong ally in the Czech Republic.
