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Brussels/Bratislava – Roughly 100 Slovaks and Czechs met on Sunday night within the Brussels park Leopold on the Václav Havel Bench to commemorate the thirty fifth anniversary of the Velvet Revolution and its message for right this moment, together with the Czech Ambassador to the EU, Edita Hrdá, and the Slovak Ambassador to the EU, Juraj Nociar. That is reported by the TASR correspondent.
The Václav Havel Bench was ceremonially unveiled in October 2021 and has been a spot for numerous cultural and social occasions for 3 years.
The Czech Ambassador to the EU reminded, after the enjoying of the nationwide anthems of the Czech Republic and Slovakia, that Czechs and Slovaks – identical to final yr – got here to this place to recall the occasions from 35 years in the past, appreciating that they got here with kids to whom they’ll go on the message of the Velvet Revolution.
“For me personally, it is among the most necessary nationwide holidays,” she stated, explaining that it was a big turning level within the lifetime of society, which has effectively realized in 35 years what this present day means “for our historical past, current, but in addition future.” She additionally emphasised that it is very important go on the legacy of Václav Havel.
“We, who knew him and labored with him, knew that his reflections had been deep and had been primarily based on clear and easy ideas. Maybe he could be shocked right this moment that mutual tolerance and dialogue have disappeared from our society,” stated Hrdá.
In his speech, Nociar described the Velvet Revolution as essentially the most essential second within the trendy historical past of Slovaks and Czechs, reminding that November 17 didn’t come like “a bolt from the blue,” because it was preceded by a candle demonstration in 1988 and likewise by the scholar march of November 16 in Bratislava.
“With out November, it might be onerous to contemplate that the Czech Republic and Slovakia could be a part of the EU and a part of the western democratic world,” he stated. He additionally talked about Havel, with out whose non-confrontational pondering, actions, and group of civil society the revolutionary adjustments of 1989 will surely have been much less “velvet.”
In line with him, it is a nice message for right this moment’s society as a result of we see how not solely political forces however the entire society, not solely in our nations however all through Europe and the world, are polarizing.
“Allow us to be glad that Czechs and Slovaks have met once more within the European Union, as we had been earlier than in a single frequent state. Nonetheless, we should proceed to make sure that the message of November 17 not solely persists but in addition that we proceed to nurture it,” concluded Nociar. (November 17).
“With out November, it might be onerous to contemplate that the Czech Republic and Slovakia could be a part of the EU and a part of the western democratic world”: Juraj Nociar
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