The ROC government is saddened to learn of the death of former Czech President Vaclav Havel and has expressed its condolences to Havel’s family and the people of Czech Republic, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Dec. 19.
“Havel worked to promote academic, cultural, economic and technology exchanges between Taiwan and the Czech Republic during his term as president,” MOFA said. “He received former ROC President Lee Teng-hui, first lady Tseng Wen-hui and Premier Lien Chan, when they visited the nation in the 1990s.
“In 1995, during the 50th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations, Havel spoke at the U.N. general assembly in support of Taiwan’s entry into the U.N.
“In November 2004, the ROC government granted Havel the Order of Brilliant Star with Special Grand Cordon for his contributions to bilateral relations.”
According to MOFA, Havel devoted himself to democratic reform in his native country throughout his lifetime. He became president of Czechoslovakia after the outbreak of the Velvet Revolution in 1989, and later took office as the first elected president of the Czech Republic in 1993.
“During the period Havel was in office, he actively pushed for democratization and human rights, allowing Czech society to achieve equality and justice,” MOFA stressed.
In addition, Havel established in 1996 the Forum 2000 Foundation, which aims to “identify the key issues facing civilization and to explore ways in which to prevent escalation of conflicts that have religion, culture or ethnicity as their primary components.”
After stepping down as president in February 2003, Havel devoted himself to charity works and writing, MOFA said. “His publications such as ‘The Power of the Powerless’ and ‘A Farewell to Politics’ have all been translated in Chinese and have been widely popular in Taiwan.”
Born Oct. 5, 1936 in Prague, Havel was also an accomplished poet and dramatist, MOFA said. (HZW)
Write to Grace Kuo at morningk@mail.gio.gov.tw