Havel, 71, has been a supporter and regular visitor to the festival that is held near Hradecek where he has his cottage. However, this year Havel's visit Russia is dictatorship - Havel for French TV ...
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portal lists Czech Havel among world's best intellectuals ... was for the first time part of the festival's official programme and he spent over one hour discussing with citizens. Havel answered their questions about the Warsaw Pact troops' invasion of Czechoslovakia on August 21, 1968 of which 40 years have passed these days, as well as about the current hot Czech and world political issues. On the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the 1968 events, the Trutnov festival was dedicated to the occupation victims. Havel mentioned the historical parallel between the 1968 military invasion and the current Russian-Georgian conflict. "I think that a certain Russian problem has existed for many centuries - Russia does not know exactly where it begins and ends. Though it is the world's largest country, it has still a feeling that it is quite small and that its tiny neighbours around threaten it," said Havel, playwright, thinker and former leading dissident, who was Czechoslovak president in 1989-92 and Czech president in 1993-2003. "The invasion and occupation of Georgia sends a quite clear message about the character of [Vladimir] Putin's current regime. It is much more sophisticated than some communism under [Leonid] Brezhnev, but it basically abounds in the same imperial ambitions again," said Havel, adding that European politicians should reckon with it. "There is no point in talking to Russia like to a leper with whom one must speak in a special, tender and careful manner," said Havel whose words were applauded by hundreds of listeners. Asked about the ongoing Beijing Olympics, Havel said it was not necessary to boycott the Olympic Games in China over the Chinese approach to human rights, but he added that politicians should clearly formulate their opinions in this respect. Havel rejected the idea that politics should not penetrate sport. "It is absolute nonsense, the athletes are citizens, too," and this is why they should not hide their opinions, Havel noted. "It seems to me very dubious to go to the Olympics with the pledge that I will keep silent and forget that I am a free-thinking citizen from a free country," Havel pointed out. In reaction to a question, Havel also expressed clear support for the planned radar base on Czech soil, within the U.S. missile defence shield in Central Europe. Havel rejected the opinion that its construction would be similar to the Russian military influence in then communist Czechoslovakia. "I suppose that there is a slight difference between the Soviet occupation when 600 tanks and then half a million soldiers invaded our territory without asking us, and respect for an allied commitment," Havel added. Havel also said he hopes that Czech parliament would approve the building of the U.S. radar base in the Brdy military district, some 90km southwest of Prague. The United States would never forget it if the Czechs did not approve the radar, he added.
(Ceske Noviny)
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