Introductory Remarks to the Presentation of the Book „Sauver les démocraties en Europe“ in Paris

English Pages, 2. 4. 2012

Many thanks for the publication of this collection of my recent texts and speeches about Europe here in France and in French language. This book may, hopefully, give – at least to interested and concerned readers – the direct contact with my views, not with their very often intentional and calculated caricature in the media.  Let me express my gratitude to all who made it possible: to the publisher of the book François-Xavier de Guibert, to the translators of my book, to the Czech Ambassador in France Mrs. Chatard and her husband.

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Speech of the President at Çukurova University in Turkey

English Pages, 16. 2. 2012

Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen, Students, thank you for the invitation to visit your university and for the possibility to address this audience. I appreciate it very much. This is not my first academic speech in Turkey. Six years ago, I spoke at the Middle East Technical University in Ankara and a year before that at Forum Istanbul.

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Riyadh Speech: The European Problems As Seen from Prague

English Pages, 17. 1. 2012

Secretary General, Ministers, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, in the past twenty years, I had been – especially in its first part –mostly asked to speak abroad about the intricacies of the transition which the former communist countries, including my country, the Czech Republic, had to undertake on their way from communism to a system of parliamentary democracy and market economy. This unique and revolutionary transition is over but I believe our experience should not be forgotten.

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The Political Economy of Introducing Free Markets: Notes for IIASA Conference

English Pages, 14. 1. 2012

Thank you for giving me the opportunity to be at this very unique gathering with all of you. It is nice to meet so many old friends. It is rather curious that I have not yet participated in any conference organized by the well-known International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis. There is a reason for it, however.

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Speech by the President of the Czech Republic at the Funeral Service in St. Vitus Cathedral

English Pages, 23. 12. 2011

Dear Mr. Archbishop, Dear Mrs. Havlová, distinguished guests from the Czech Republic and from abroad, allow me, as the President of the Czech Republic who assumed this function immediately after Václav Havel, to render the last tribute to this great personality of our modern history, personally, as well as on behalf of the Czech Republic and its citizens.

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Speech by the President of the Czech Republic at the mourning gathering to honour the late President Václav Havel

English Pages, 21. 12. 2011

We have gathered here today at this historic place in the heart of Prague Castle to pay our respect to Václav Havel, who passed away on Sunday, 18 December, following a long and difficult illness, yet he passed away unexpectedly. We have gathered in the Vladislav Hall, where Václav Havel was first elected and inaugurated as President twenty two years ago. There is not a more appropriate place in our country where to bid him farewell.

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Statement by the President of the Czech Republic reflecting the death of former Czech President Václav Havel

English Pages, 18. 12. 2011

Dear Fellow Citizens,

This morning, the first President of our restored democratic republic, Václav Havel, has passed away after a long and severe illness. We knew about his serious health problems but the news about his death is something we did not dare admitting. We know how grave the health difficulties he was facing were and how brave he was in confronting them.

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Introduction to the presentation of the book “Where Tomorrow Begins” in Wrocław

English Pages, 12. 12. 2011

Mr. Rector, Distinguished guests, students, ladies and gentlemen,

Many thanks for the invitation and for the possibility of being here. I have visited Poland many times, but this is my first stay in your beautiful city. I am really pleased to be here and to be able to present my book “Gdzie Zaczyna Się Jutro” which was published in Polish language by the Ossolineum Publishing House here in Wrocław.

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Foreword to Prof. Plimer’s book How To Get Expelled From School

English Pages, 6. 12. 2011

In the last decade, we have been authoritatively told and forced to accept that the Earth has been warming up. Some of us are not ready to accept that. Before fully acceding to the global warming alarmism, we want to know why, how much and how relevant (if not dangerous) the warming is or could be. Many politicians, journalists and activists among scientists pretend to know all the answers.

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Interview of the President for the Croatian Globus Weekly

English Pages, 9. 11. 2011

Mr. President, I suppose the Czech Republic is quite happy to be outside the eurozone now. But, still, how do you asses the situation? It is said that the next few days or weeks will be crucial for euro as a project. How do you feel about it? Were you surprised when the collapse started?

I would not talk about a collapse, but about a serious crisis. The crisis in Europe did not come as a surprise to me and it does not relate to the eurozone only. It is a crisis of the whole model of European integration which has become dominant in Europe since – at least – the mid-1980s.

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