Havel, who died on Sunday at the age of 75 years, was such a respected personality in the world that he became a symbol of the fight for democracy and human rights as well as a symbol of the transition from the communist dictatorship to the restoration of democracy after the November 1989 Velvet Revolution, Klaus said.
He stressed he wished that the era starting in November 1989 did not end with Havel's death.
Klaus said people should continue striving for responsibility not to be an empty word and for the defence of citizens' freedoms to become a fundamental political concept.
Klaus delivered a speech after the coffin with Havel's remains was placed on the catafalque in the Vladislav Hall.
Klaus also said Havel was a distinctive and complex personality that was beyond "a superficial assessment."
Havel's life reflected the history of the 20th century, a century that witnessed the world war, the communist regime but also the liberalisation of the political situation in the 1960s, the Soviet-led occupation of Czechoslovakia in 1968 and the following "normalisation" (the return of the hardline communist rule), the collapse of communism and the restoration of democracy, Klaus noted.
Along with the Havel family, politicians and other public personalities listened to Klaus's speech in which he several times mentioned Havel's contribution to the Czech Republic's integration into the world's democratic structures, the European Union and NATO.
"He became an exceptionally respected personality who was listened to,"" Klaus said.
He recalled that Havel had often stirred up discussions and polemics.
"He did not always succeed with his initiatives... He may have been wrong in several things like any of us. But this is also a part of the life of great personalities," Klaus added.
Havel was an advocate of the values of humanity and human rights and a critic of their violations by some dictatorial regimes in the world, Klaus pointed out.
Havel and his successor Klaus had been often engaged in polemics for several political issues since the 1990s. However, Klaus stressed that he always respected Havel.
Over 10,000 people took part in a procession to accompany Havel's coffin from the Prague Crossroads centre in the Old Town, where it had been displayed since Monday, to Prague Castle this morning.
The coffin will now lie in state in the Vladislav Hall until Thursday. The state funeral of Havel will take place on Friday with a number of the world´s statesmen attending.
Havel, playwright and dissident, was Czechoslovak president after the collapse of the communist regime from December 1989 to 1992 and Czech president in 1993-2003. After he left the post he primarily focused on the promotion of human rights in the world.
Author: CTKwww.ctk.cz
Capturetr
yakamoz01 friend
Hiç yorum yok:
Yorum Gönder