Notes for BOAO Forum for Asia

English Pages, 24. 4. 2004

1) Let me express my gratitude for the invitation which I have gladly accepted to participate in this important gathering.

2) It gives the President of a small Central European country a very good opportunity to present the Czech Republic to the political and business leaders of China, of South East Asia and of the whole Asian continent.

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Address delivered by President Václav Klaus on the occasion of the 5th anniversary of the Czech Republic membership in NATO

English Pages, 12. 3. 2004

Distinguished guests,

Today we celebrate the 5th anniversary of an event of extraordinary importance for our country. Exactly five years ago the Czech Republic became a full fledged member of the North Atlantic Alliance.

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The Future of Euro: A View of A Concerned Outsider

English Pages, 20. 11. 2003

It is an enormous pleasure to be here today and to share the platform with so many distinguished scholars. I am afraid, however, that now, at the end of the conference, it is very difficult to come with anything illuminating or surprising.

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Freedom and its Enemies

English Pages, 19. 11. 2003

I agree with one of my gurus, Friedrich von Hayek, that „freedom cannot endure unless every generation restates and reemphasizes its value“. I would extend his argument slightly by saying that these days such a restatement should be done also by those who had lived for decades in a non-free communist world.

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Speech of the President of the Republic on the Occasion of October 28, 2003

English Pages, 28. 10. 2003

Dear and distinguished guests, dear radio listeners and television viewers, ladies and gentlemen,

It is the fourteenth time we are celebrating the birth of our modern State in a free and democratic country; it is the eleventh time we are remembering this date in the Czech Republic - a country whose size is not identical with that of the original Czechoslovak project, yet is still a country with a legitimate claim to the legacy of traditions and values associated with October 28, 1918.

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European Constitution Will Change Our Future

English Pages, 10. 9. 2003

When I heard several years ago about the idea of a European constitution, I hoped it was just a wishful thinking of European centralists and federalists and not a realistic project.

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Reflections on Current Situation in Europe

English Pages, 18. 8. 2003

Here, in Tennessee, my only comparative advantage is to speak about Europe. I see there two main phenomena. First, Central and Eastern part of Europe is in second decade of its difficult transition from communism to free society and it finally understands that the transition is a costly and lengthy process.

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Notes for the Independence Day Speech 2003

English Pages, 3. 7. 2003

Mr. Ambassador, Ladies and Gentlemen:

I feel very honored to be asked by Ambassador Stapleton to say a few words here on this special occasion. To say a few words not only on behalf of those Czechs who can be here today but also of those who are not or cannot be here with us.

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Address to the International Olympic Committee Session

English Pages, 1. 7. 2003

Dear Mr. Chairman,
Members of the International Olympic Committee,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
　　

Let me welcome you all at the 115th meeting of the International Olympic Committee and let me express my sincere delight that you have chosen Prague, the capital of the Czech Republic, for this very important gathering.

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Old Europe, New Europe and New Anti-Americanism

English Pages, 20. 6. 2003

To have a serious dialogue between Europe and America is of extraordinary importance. Especially now, the Beaver Creek World Forum is almost indispensable. It is our mutual task to destroy various myths and misunderstandings, both old and new ones, created by our predecessors or by us, based on fair or unfair valuations of events, on words or deeds, on authentic or only assumed positions, etc.

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