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Czechs to rename Prague airport after Václav Havel

  8:36

More than 82,000 people had signed a petition demanding the airport be named after Havel — who never cared for flying

The official presidential photo of the late Václav Havel displayed by his casket foto: © ČT24Česká pozice

The Czech government agreed on Wednesday to rename the country’s main airport after the late Václav Havel, the country’s first post-communist president known worldwide for championing human rights.

Although the move won wide support across the political scene, ironically some of those closest to Havel noted that the former anti-communist dissident and playwright disliked flying — and probably would not have liked to be honored in this way (his widow and brother, however, supported the proposal).

Calls for Prague’s Ruzyně International Airport to be named after Havel came a few days after his death on December 18 at the age of 75. But the government postponed making any decision until the spring. Ahead of Wednesday’s decision, more than 82,000 people had signed a petition demanding the change, first put forward by Prague-based TV producer and filmmaker Fero Fenič.

Transport Minister Pavel Dobeš (Public Affairs, ODS) announced the decision Wednesday, saying he has proposed that the airport — which is majority owned by the state — make the name change on Oct. 5, the 76th anniversary of Havel's birthday.

Host of honors

The Senate in late February approved a bill recognizing Havel’s contribution to the Czech nation by his tireless work in the service of “freedom and democracy.” Other plans to honor his memory include renaming schools and scholarships after him; the mint will issue commemorative coins with his likeness and famous motto “Truth and Love will triumph over lies and hatred” and a series of postage stamps is planned.

Havel was one of the most visible opponents of the former Czechoslovak communist regime — and imprisoned several times for speaking out against it. He was the leader of the Velvet Revolution that helped to topple the regime at the end of 1989 and became president of Czechoslovakia (1989–92).Later, he was named the first head of state of the independent Czech Republic (1993–2003) after its split with Slovakia (which he opposed).

During his time at Prague Castle, the country joined NATO and began negotiations for membership in the European Union, which was attained in May 2004. Havel said he felt his most important accomplishment as president was the dissolution of the Warsaw Pact.

After leaving office, he remained an outspoken advocate for human rights and democracy in places like Cuba, Belarus and Russia.

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