Havel Reaffirms Support For RFE/RL

(Washington, DC–October 9, 2001) Czech President Vaclav Havel paid a brief visit to RFE/RL’s Prague broadcasting center yesterday to reaffirm his support for Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty and its mission.

Havel said that he had come to the station “to repeat at this critical time what I have said to you many times before: the message of truth you bring to people is very important work.”

Noting that he had served for a long time as a freelance contributor to RFE/RL, Havel said that he wanted to “greet all of you continuing the station’s work, especially those broadcasting to the post-Soviet states in Central Asia.” He said that he believes that “the stance of these countries in the current difficult situation — their solidarity with the forces of the anti-terrorist coalition and their own direct participation [in that coalition’s work] — is very good and deserves recognition.”

The Czech president asked in conclusion that his words be broadcast to RFE/RL’s listeners in Central Asia.