Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2009-11-11-Speech-3-005"
| Predicate | Value (sorted: default) |
|---|---|
| rdf:type | |
| dcterms:Date | |
| dcterms:Is Part Of | |
| dcterms:Language | |
| lpv:document identification number |
"en.20091111.1.3-005"2
|
| lpv:hasSubsequent | |
| lpv:translated text |
"Ladies and gentlemen, this is a formal, plenary sitting to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the democratic change in Central and Eastern Europe.
President Havel, President-in-Office of the Council, Prime Minister of Sweden, President of the Commission, fellow Members, ladies and gentlemen, honoured guests, today is a very special day, and we have as our guest in the European Parliament a man who has had a great effect on the history of Europe.
Two days ago, we watched the Wall fall for a second time in Berlin, this time, in the symbolic form of dominoes. Today, Parliament is playing host to a man who was one of those who, twenty years ago, set those dominoes falling – a writer, an intellectual and a wonderful human being. A friend to all those fighting for freedom and human rights wherever they do not exist – President Václav Havel. Dear Václav, welcome!
Let us not forget that communism was overthrown by ordinary people: Workers, academics writers; millions of people behind the Iron Curtain who never gave in to oppression. Their only weapons against the tanks were a strong heart and great determination. They took many risks during the decades of subjugation, but triumphed in the end, because people’s dreams are stronger than concrete walls; than murderous political systems. However, an important role was also played by those who helped them from the other side of the Iron Curtain, letting those in the East know that they were not alone. It was thanks to all of those many people that the historic reconciliation between East and West, the reunification of Europe, was possible. Václav Havel was, and remains, a hero to them all.
In 1989, students in my country came out into the streets to call for Václav Havel’s release. Václav Havel became the president of a free Czechoslovakia soon after; president of both Czechs and Slovaks and a hero to both."@en1
|
| lpv:unclassifiedMetadata | |
| lpv:videoURI |
Named graphs describing this resource:
The resource appears as object in 2 triples