CZECH the NEWSNEWS Newsletter of the Embassy of the Czech Republic 25 Years of Freedom US Capitol Unveils Havel’s Bust Special Edition | February 2015 and Democracy n November 17, 1989, Othe Velvet Revolution began with a peaceful student march and led to a remarkable transformation from communism to the re- establishment of democracy. The courageous dissident, prisoner of conscience, and talented playwright Václav Havel became the tenth and last President of Czechoslovakia and later the first President of the Czech Republic. Twenty- five years later, Washington celebrated to honor President Havel’s inspirational legacy, commemorating the significant anniversary dear to both Czech and American hearts. Photo courtesy of Miroslav Mrákota Photo courtesy of Miroslav Former First Lady of the Czech Republic, Dagmar Havlová, Speaker Jan Hamáček, Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka, US House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, US Congressman Ed Royce (R-CA) Contents: applaud the unveiling of Havel’s bust at the US Capitol. Ambassador’s Message............... 2 chiseled bust of Presi- Adent Václav Havel now Czech Delegation Visits DC.......... 2 sits in the United States Capi- Czech Philharmonic Attracts tol, the home as well as ultimate Thousands ............................... 3 symbol of democracy in Amer- ica and abroad. His likeness Gala Dinner Honors Havel’s Global Impact..................3 serves as a constant reminder of his lifetime commitment Lion and Eagle Symposium......... 4 to the advocacy of universal human rights and democratic NGOs Discuss Human Rights Initiatives................................. 4 principles, even in the darkest hours, and offers inspiration Conference Addresses for others to follow in his Photo courtesy of Aleš Petruška Photo courtesy of Havel’s Political Importance footsteps. ZZ Top’s Billy Gibbons rocks his personal tribute to Havel. and Legacy............................... 5 The congressional cer- Republic, Jan Hamáček, and Czech-American artist Lu- Georgetown Celebrates emony commmmorating the the Prime Minister of the Czech bomir Janecka, who wished International Students’ Day....... 6 dedication of a bust of Vá- Republic, Bohuslav Sobotka, to “capture Havel’s clear and clav Havel was hosted by the spoke about Václav Havel’s open nature, the unwavering The Miracle Year........................ 6 Speaker of the House, John legacy and the momentous firmness of his convictions, and Boehner, and joined by House 25th anniversary of the Vel- his kindness.” The official sym- Hundreds Gather for Freedom Celebration............................... 7 Minority Leader Nancy Pe- vet Revolution. Former First bols of the Czech Republic, the losi and highest Czech rep- Lady of the Czech Republic, coat of arms and the two tailed Booksigning - “Havel: A Life”..... 7 resentatives in the Capitol’s Dagmar Havlová, was present. Czech lion, are symbolically Statutory Hall on Novem- True to Havel’s personality, found on the pedestal. Artist Statement on the Václav Havel Bust...................... 8 ber 19, 2014. Speaker of ZZ Tops’ Billy Gibbons rocked Three small stones from the Chamber of Deputies of out a few tunes in his memory. the Czech Republic have also the Parliament of the Czech The bust was sculpted by Continued on pg. 2 Ambassador / Delegation Czech Delegation Visits Washington Ambassador’s Message The weeklong commemorations cele- brating freedom and saluting the legacy of President Václav Havel were, for all Czech people and me personally, unforgettable. To mark 25 years of de- mocracy with three thousand people at the Washington National Cathedral to the sounds of the greatest Czech Ambassador classical masterpieces played by the Photo courtesy of Aleš Petruška Photo courtesy of Gandalovič Czech Philharmonic and then to have a Ambassador Petr Gandalovič hosts a meeting with high-ranking Czech and US representatives at his residence in Washington, DC. bust of VáclavHavel placed in the United States Capitol before the US House leadership and highest Czech representatives was unquestionably historic. Czech and Americans came together in unity to celebrate their strong belief in the same democratic value system. Petr Gandalovič Photo courtesy of Aleš Petruška Photo courtesy of US Vice President Joe Biden meets with Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies of the Parliament of the Czech Republic, Jan Hamáček, and the Prime Minister of the Czech Republic, Bohuslav Sobotka. Havel’s Bust Unveiled at US Capitol Continued from pg. 1 been embedded into the granite. fourth foreign leader to be The semiprecious stone Agate, represented in the United which comes from the region of States Capitol building. The Český ráj (Czech Paradise), was distinction was unanimously used to decorate the walls of the approved by the House of Rep- Chapel of Saint Wenceslas in resentatives (H. Res. 506) in the Saint Vitus Cathedral at the the spring of 2014. Prague Castle, the seat of the The resolution itself Czech presidency. Vltavin or reflects upon the legendary ad- moldavite is a gemstone that can dress that Vaclav Havel deliv- be found almost exclusively in ered on February 21, 1990, be- Photo courtesy of Aleš Petruška Photo courtesy of the watershed of the Vltava fore a Joint Session of Congress Speaker Jan Hamáček talks with the US Speaker of the House, John Boehner River. Václav Havel resided in and his legacy that “inspires a house on its bank in Prague. those that advocate and work The third small stone is an or- for freedom from tyranny.” dinary rock from the garden of Through the resolution Václav Havel’s summer house Václav Havel is remembered in the village of Hrádeček. He as “one of the world’s great spent a lot of time in this mod- democratic leaders …(who) est house throughout his life was awarded many interna- and died there as well. tional prizes recognizing his American Friends of the commitment to peace and dem- Czech Republic and the Václav ocratic principles,” including Havel Library Foundation fi- the Presidential Medal of Free- nanced the creation. dom from President George W. This was a historic honor Bush for being “one of liberty’s Photo courtesy of Aleš Petruška Photo courtesy of as President Havel is only the great heroes.” Speaker Jan Hamáček meets with US House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi 2 Czech the News / Special Edition Czech Philharmonic Photo courtesy of Aleš Petruška Photo courtesy of Photo courtesy of Aleš Petruška Photo courtesy of Washington National Cathedral Czech Philharmonic Attracts Thousands for Memorable Concert n November 17, Prime Minister of the Czech O2014, the world renowned Republic, Madeleine Albright, Czech Philharmonic, under the former US Secretary of State; direction of Maestro Jiří Pavol Demeš, former Slo- Bělohlávek, performed an vak Minister of International extraordinary concert at the Relations; US Congressman Washington National Cathedral Ed Royce, and Pavel Fischer, Photo courtesy of František Gebr before 3,000 people, coming Chairman of the Board of the Speaker Jan Hamáček from all corners of the United Prague Freedom Foundation. Photo courtesy of František Gebr States and the Czech Republic. High ranking dignitar- Speaker Jan Hamáček and former US Ambassador The orchestra beautifully ies, including former First Norman Eisen rendered Bedřich Smeta- Lady of the Czech Republic, na’s Vltava (The Moldau), Dagmar Havlová, came togeth- from the symphonic poem er at the concert to remember Má vlast (My Country), and celebrate that momentous and Antonín Dvořák’s date of 1989, when the streets Photo courtesy of František Gebr Symphony No. 9 in E mi- in Prague were filled with an Former US Secretary Madeleine Albright nor, Op. 95, “From the atmosphere of conviction and New World.” hope. The courageous students Opening remarks had then seized the moment were presented by: Jan and dissident and visionary Hamáček, Speaker of Václav Havel led the the Chamber of Depu- velvet transformation of the Prime Minister Sobotka, ties of the Parlia- Czechoslovak society and Photo courtesy of František Gebr František of courtesy Photo Secretary Madeleine Albright, and Speaker Jan Hamáček ment of the Czech political system. Photo courtesy of František Gebr Republic; Bohuslav Sobotka, Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka Gala Dinner Honors Havel’s Global Impact he Václav Havel Library Foundation, in collaboration with the American Friends of the TCzech Republic, hosted a gala dinner to honor and extend Václav Havel’s global legacy of human rights and civil society at the Omni Shoreham Hotel in Washington, DC. Former US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright moderated an elaborate program before 400 guests, who included US Senators and Congressmen as well as Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies of the Parliament of the Czech Republic, Jan Hamáček, and Prime Photo courtesy of Aleš Petruška Photo courtesy of Minister of the Czech Republic, Bohuslav Sobotka. Ambassador Gandalovič and his wife Pavlína Gandalovičová Dramatic readings of works by Václav Havel were read by: Ambassador of the Czech Republic to the Court of St. James´s, Michael Žantovský; former Ambassador of the Czech Republic to the US and current President of the Václav Havel Library, Martin Palouš; late Václav Havel’s brother Ivan Havel; Miss World 2006, Taťána Kuchařová; Antonieta Lopez and Lilian Tintoriov (the mother and wife of Venezuela politician Leopoldo Lopez who was arrested for organizing protests against the government in Caracas); Azar Nafisi (the author of the book Reading Lolita in Tehran); and Rosa Maria Payá (Cuban political activist