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CZECH the NEWSNEWS Newsletter of the Embassy of the Czech Republic Public Mourns Loss of Vaclav Havel Special Edition ens of thousands poured Tinto the streets of Prague to join world leaders in paying respects to the late President of the Czech Republic Vaclav Havel during three official days of mourning, culminating with a funeral in the magnificent, gothic cathedral of St. Vitus on December 23, 2011. The ceremony was attended by forty-two heads of state and dignitaries, including Czech President Vaclav Klaus, French President Nicolas Sarkozy, German President Christian Photo courtesy of Oldrich Skacha Photo courtesy of Pavel Vrzala Vaclav Havel passed away on December 18, 2011. The public places candles Wulff, UK Prime Minister ‘leave’ with the passing away of in St. Wenceslas Square in David Cameron, former Polish He urged the public to remembrance of Vaclav Havel. President Lech Walesa, and Havel; ideas such as “freedom never give up fighting for truth U.S. Secretary of State Hillary is a universal principle and, and love. Clinton with former U.S. if it is being taken away from The former U.S. Secretary President Bill Clinton. anybody anywhere, it threatens of State Madeleine Albright, Archbishop of Prague our freedom too.” who was born in Czecho- Dominik Duka shared Pope slovakia and a close friend Benedict’s tribute, which of the late President, also read in part, “Remembering spoke at the funeral, stating, Photo courtesy of Pavel Vrzala how courageously Mr. Havel “As a citizen of the world, he defended human rights at a time cast light into places of deepest Contents: when these were systematically darkness and reminded us con- Photo courtesy of Tomki Nemec Photo courtesy of Tomki denied to the people of your Vaclav Havel and Message from the Ambassador.... 2 stantly of our obligations to one country, and paying tribute to Minister Schwarzenberg another. Vaclav Havel was fully NED Hosts Memorial his visionary leadership... I give conscious of human weak- First Deputy Prime Event Honoring Havel.................. 2 thanks to God for the freedom Minister and Minister of ness, but we will remem- that the people of the Czech ber him because of his re- Memorial Service Republic now enjoy.” Foreign Affairs of the Czech Planned at the Basilica................ 3 Republic Karel Schwarzenberg fusal to accept weakness as Czech President Vaclav gave his respects, focusing a permanent state of being.” Message from the Dalai Lama......3 Klaus, who assumed the presi- dency after Vaclav Havel, gave on President’s Havel’s choice Community Signs an eloquent speech, noting: to take “Truth and Love” Book of Condolences.................. 4 as his motto. He stated: Message from U.S. President “We have suffered a great “…Only love can make us listen Obama..................................... 4 loss by his departure. A great to the truth of another person, president, politician, intellec- to the truth of others. Such Havel’s Life Remembered........... 5 tual and artist has left us; a love teaches us to be humble, Havel Exhibition on View person who will be remembered and Vaclav Havel had more Photo courtesy of Oldrich Skacha at Embassy............................... 7 with gratitude, reverence and humility than we all do. This Former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright and Vaclav Havel respect.” is the deep meaning of the Vaclav Havel, Living in Truth motto…. it expresses the very Church bells rang and an by Madeleine Albright................ 7 Drawing upon Havel’s last substance of human struggle... air-raid siren sounded at noon Havel Library............................. 8 movie Leaving, President Klaus (a) struggle (that) will go on in Prague to honor President listed what ideas must not as long as mankind exists.” Vaclav Havel’s memory. Ambassador and NED Message from the Ambassador “I am deeply touched by the kind words and floral tributes from many Americans who have expressed their compassion with the Czech nation mourning the loss of a man of great courage and profound wisdom. President Havel was not only one of the great- est Czechs of our times but also a true European visionary who has always kept very close to his heart our friends and compatriots in the United States. Though he will be sorely missed, the legacy of his respect for human rights and fight for democracy shall prevail.” ~ Ambassador Petr Gandalovic NED Hosts Memorial Event Honoring Havel Photo courtesy of David Frous Photo courtesy of David Frous n January 6, 2012, the Na- Otional Endowment for De- mocracy (NED) in Washington, DC, in cooperation with the Czech Embassy and the Vaclav Havel Library in Prague, hosted Photo courtesy of David Frous NED President Carl Gershman a memorial event honoring the life and work of Vaclav Havel. The event occured on the 35th anniversary of the found- ing of Charter 77. Also, on the same date two years ago, Vaclav Havel delivered a let- ter to the Chinese Embassy Photo courtesy of David Frous Former U.S. Ambassador to in Prague demanding the re- Czechoslovakia William Luers lease of Chinese dissident Liu Xiaobo who was imprisoned after writing Charter 08, the Chinese version of Charter 77. Speakers included former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, bestselling Iranian Photo courtesy of David Frous author Azar Nafisi, former U.S. Iranian arthur Azar Nafisi ambassador to Czechoslovakia William Luers, NED President Carl Gershman, Czech Ambas- sador Petr Gandalovic, as well as prominent dissidents and de- mocracy activists from all over the world. Video messages Photo courtesy of David Frous were sent by Cuban disident Former U.S. Secretary of State Photo courtesy of David Frous Madeleine Albright Oswaldo Paya and the Bur- The National Endowment for Democracy paid tribute to the life and work of Vaclav mese opposition leader Aung Havel. Activist Aung San Suu Kyi gave a special video message at the event. San Suu Kyi. In the speeches, Vaclav Havel was celebrated The program in NED also rating Charter 77 and Vaclav for his courage, solidarity and featured a live video connec- Havel as one of its three origi- inspiration, but also remem- tion with a concurrent event nal spokesmen were held in bered as an informal and held at the Archa Theatre in New York, Minsk, and Soul. A Prague. Besides Washington requiem for Vaclav Havel was Photo courtesy of David Frous humble personality with a great Ambassador Gandalovic sense of humor. and Prague, events commemo- also served in Miami, FL. 2 Czech the News/Special Edition Memorial Service and the Dalai Lama Memorial Service Planned at the Basilica memorial service in honor by Pope Benedict XVI on March and remembrance of 3, 2011. Since 1991, he has A former President of the Czech served as official of the Secre- Republic Vaclav Havel will tariat of State (Section for Gen- be celebrated by The Most eral Affairs). From 1992–2005, Reverend Jan Vokal, Bishop he was the personal of Hradec Kralove, in the secretary of Cardinal Crypt Church of the Basilica Corrado Bafile, Prefect of the National Shrine of the of the Congregation Immaculate Conception on for the Causes of February 12, 2012, at 10 am. Saints. Between 1989 Photo courtesy of Mary E. Fetzko During the Mass, the choir and 1990, he served Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception will of the Basilica will perform as a parish vicar host a Memorial Service in remembrance of Vaclav Havel. Dvorak’s Requiem in B-flat mi- of Epiphany Church University in The Basilica of the nor, Op. 89, under the direction (Diocese of Preo- Monsignor Jan Vokal Rome in 2008. National Shrine is located at of Dr. Peter Latona. ria in the United States). In In 1995, 1997, and 400 Michigan Avenue, NE, Monsignor Jan Vokal addition to his service, he 2009, he was a member of the Washington, DC 20017. For (born September 25, 1958) was earned a doctorate in Utroque papal entourage during the pas- directions to the Basilica, please appointed Bishop of Hradec Jura in both civil and canon toral visits of the Holy Father to visit www.nationalshrine.com. Kralove in the Czech Republic law from Pontifical Lateran the Czech Republic. Message from the Dalai Lama Statement by Dalai Lama for the January 6, 2012 NED Memorial Tribute to Vaclav Havel ith the death of my dear friend Vaclav Havel, the world has lost a great leader, Wwhose steadfast and unflinching determination played a key role in establishing freedom and democracy in what was then Czechoslovakia. Gentle, honest, humble and full of humor, he was motivated by the idea that Photo courtesy of Oldrich Skacha truth must ultimately prevail. It was this insistence on the truth that got him into Vaclav Havel with the Dalai Lama trouble with the authorities when he was young. The same quality inspired his people to choose him to be the President when they threw off totalitarianism during the Velvet Revolution, which Havel led with an ex- traordinary display of people power. His abiding concern for human rights meant that once in a position of authority himself he did not indulge in rancour or vengeance, but instead worked to bring about reconciliation. He was also a strong advocate of the Tibetan people’s right to justice and freedom. Not content with articulating his support in words, he also marched to show solidarity with Tibetans. Charter 77, the Human Rights charter he co-authored, had far-reaching ramifications in his homeland and even further afield, inspiring, more recently, Charter 08 in China. Like a true friend, he went to great lengths to defend its author, Chinese human rights activist, Liu Xiaobo. Indeed, I am told that January 6th marks the anniversary of his launch of the successful campaign to give Liu Xiaobo the Nobel Peace Prize.