I am specialized in Middle Eastern and North African affairs with focus on foreign policy. Born in Slovakia, I hold a PhD. degree in Arabic Studies from Comenius University in Bratislava. I worked as a Slovak diplomat, UN Political Advisor and publicist. I published a number of political analyses and articles related to the region. I use to be invited to academic panel debates and leading Slovak and Czech TV and radio channels to comment on social and political events in the Middle East and North Africa. I lectured "The Arab Cultures and Societies" at the Bratislava International School of Liberal Arts. My books "The Arab World – Another Planet?" and "Life the Arab Way" are the ultimate insights into the Arab societies. Both nonfiction books bring a foreigner to understand the mentality of this region and its people living in continuous social and political turmoil.
my political jobs
Currently I am monitoring the migration crisis in Europe and its impact given the different cultural, religious and political backgrounds along with the ongoing conflicts in the Middle East and North Africa. I pursue the research of cross-cutting issues, e.g. religions, racism, radicalism, education, violence and gender.
From 2014 to 2015, I worked for the UN in Khartoum in the capacity of the Political Advisor to the UN Resident Representative in Sudan and concurrently having been the focal point for the Department of Political Affairs in UN HQ. I followed the National Dialogue on a daily basis, elaborated a detailed analysis on the Sudanese Electoral System and developed ties between Sudan and the UN. I participated in 3 rounds of peace talks between the Government of Sudan and SPLM-N in 2014 in Addis Ababa and advised on rapprochement.
From 1995 to 2005, I worked in Slovak diplomacy, specializing in the Middle East and North Africa. In 2001, 2002 and 2003, I worked as a Head of Mission in Kuwait. My efforts at Seasonal Consulates have resulted into the opening of the Embassy of the Slovak Republic in Kuwait. After the US-led invasion to Iraq the Slovak Foreign Ministry entrusted me with fact-finding missions in Iraq. In coordination with the Czech contingent deployed in Basra I mapped the ransacked Slovak Embassy in Baghdad and played a major role in its reopening. I coordinated the hand-over of Slovak humanitarian aid to Iraq and worked out development projects for Iraq in cooperation with the Center of Humanitarian Operations in Kuwait. Among other achievements I can count the initiation of the Slovak-Kuwaiti archeological exchange project, which perseveres till now. From 1997 to 2000, I served as a Deputy Head of Mission in Egypt where I focused on bilateral relations with Egypt, Sudan and Yemen, in addition to the coverage of the multilateral League of Arab States. Apart from my political duties I significantly contributed to introducing teaching Slovak as a foreign language to the curricula at Ain Shams University in Cairo.
doing business
From 2006 to 2010, I was active in business, namely in the IT sector. I worked as a managing director of GCWare Middle East, Ltd. Company in Dubai Internet City, in the area of geospatial services and security pipeline solutions covering the territory of the UAE, Oman, Saudi Arabia and Syria. Under my helmet the company implemented the update of the Dynamic Information Navigation System for the city of Dubai and the Address Management System + Roads Information System for the Emirate of Sharjah.
research, books & education
I have written a number of political analyses, academic and op-ed articles for prominent Slovak and Czech newspapers. All of them referred to the Middle East and North Africa. Among my analyses are: Amidst the changing geopolitical polarity, No end to changes in Egypt, What kind of Libya do we want to have?, There will be no more a black-and-white Sudan, and Islam, Gender and Sexuality. An important place has the article co-authored by Edgar Jarunek "The Transcription of the Arab Names and Terms into Slovak", which has become a manual for the Ludovit Stur Language Institute of the Slovak Academy of Science utilized for its transcription-related advisory services.
I authored four books:
1. The Arab World - Another Planet? (Slovak, Czech and Polish editions),
2. Life the Arab Way (Slovak, Czech and Polish editions),
3. Tales from Sumhuram (Slovak and English editions),
4. Dubai Secret (Slovak, Czech and English editions) and
5. The Arab Food Culture, co-authored by Alan Hyža, photographer.
In 2011, I lectured a course "The Arab Cultures and Societies" at the Bratislava International School of Liberal Arts (BISLA). From 2010 to 2011, I contributed to the Oriental Studies blog on SME Daily and from 2004 to 2006, I was the administrator of the Slovak orientalist NGO Pro Oriente.
