Havel Congratulates RFE On Anniversary Of First Czechoslovak Broadcasts
PRAGUE, CZECH REPUBLIC — Thanks to President Vaclav Havel, who took the time to draft a statement congratulating RFE/RL on the 60th anniversary of its first Czechoslovak broadcasts. English translation of President Havel’s statement below. Dear Friends, I am glad that RFE/RL celebrates such a mature birthday, and in full strength. Its broadcasts have played…
PRAGUE, CZECH REPUBLIC — Thanks to President Vaclav Havel, who took the time to draft a statement congratulating RFE/RL on the 60th anniversary of its first Czechoslovak broadcasts. English translation of President Havel’s statement below.
Dear Friends,
I am glad that RFE/RL celebrates such a mature birthday, and in full strength. Its broadcasts have played an exceptional role in the modern history of Czechoslovakia. The radio belongs to institutions that have for several decades informed truthfully about real and important events, and thus have helped to maintain continuous civic awareness under communist dictatorship. It was with great satisfaction that we could welcome the radio in Prague after the fall of the Iron Curtain, and thus start to repay our debt for its credible work. I hope that RFE/RL will continue to pursue in the post-modern and politically unstable world the same goals for which it was established, and which the radio faithfully and steadfastly served: defense of human rights, civic rights and human dignity.
– Vaclav Havel