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Celebrations of the 80th anniversary of Václav Havel's Birth in Myanmar

On 17 and 18 November 2016, celebrations of the 80th anniversary of the birth of former Czech president Václav Havel were held in the cities of Nay Pyi Taw and Yangon.

The Embassy of the Czech Republic in Yangon organized this event within the framework of a small scale local project (TRANS) Support for Human Rights, Human Dignity International Film Festival and in cooperation with the Václav Havel Library, whose director, Mr. Michael Žantovský,  attended both events in person.


During celebrations a documentary film Life by Václav Havel (Václav Havel - Living in Freedom, dir. Andrea Sedláčková, 2014) was screened with English and Burmese subtitles and was introduced by the director of the Václav Havel Library Mr. Michael Žantovský.


The highlight of the celebrations in Nay Pyi Taw was the participation of the President of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar H. E. U Htin Kyaw with spouse and H. E. State Counsellor and Minister of Foreign Affairs Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. After an introductory speech by Czech Ambassador Mr. J. Doleček, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi gave an extraordinary speech in which she very spontaneously described her friendship with Václav Havel, as well as Mr. Havel himself as an important person in the context of the history of both countries. It was really unique and never seen here before that a festive event organized by the Czech Embassy was honored by the presence of two national leaders of Myanmar.

Among other accompanying events of the celebrations, the Embassy arranged a meeting of Mr. Michael Žantovský with local friends of president Václav Havel - representatives of political prisoners organizations and members of Generation 88 Group, exhibited photographs of Václav Havel by the Czech documentary photographer Oldřich Škácha and presented a book of selected essays by Václav Havel that was  translated into Burmese and published by the Prague Burma Center with the financial support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic. The book was also given as a present to each of the more than six hundred and sixty Members of the local bicameral parliament.

Arrival of the State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi

Arrival of the State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi

The Ambassador is welcoming the President U Htin Kyaw

The Ambassador is welcoming the President U Htin Kyaw

 

The State Counsellor presented an extraordinary speech

The State Counsellor presented an extraordinary speech

Celebrations in Yangon were also the centre of attention

Celebrations in Yangon were also the centre of attention

 

Exhibition of Václav Havel Photos by Oldřich Škácha was a perfect complement to the celebrations

Exhibition of Václav Havel Photos by Oldřich Škácha was a perfect complement to the celebrations