Taipei, Nov. 22 (CNA) President Chen Shui-bian decorated visiting former Czech Republic President Vaclav Havel with the Order of Brilliant Star with Special Grand Cordon Monday in recognition of his contributions to the promotion of relations between the two countries.
Praising Havel as a world-class literary figure, thinker and political leader as well as an important dissident, Chen said he was honored to meet Havel in person.
Chen expressed his admiration for Havel's versatile career achievements. Havel played a pivotal role in his country's "velvet revolution" of 1989. He used his literary and theatrical creations to kindle and keep the flame of democracy burning amidst a storm of repression and autocracy during communist rule. He eventually led his country to break the shackles of communist suppression and move toward democracy. During his 12-year presidency, he continued working hard to consolidate the Czech Republic's democratic system as well as promote human rights and social justice, earning wide respect and admiration from his fellow countrymen.
Chen also thanked Havel for his efforts at promoting high-level exchanges between the two countries. During Havel's presidency, his wife visited Taiwan. The wife of the then-Czech Republic prime minister, who is now the country's president, also has been to Taiwan. Meanwhile, former ROC President Lee Teng-hui, former Vice President Lien Chan and incumbent first lady Wu Shu-jen all have visited Prague.
Moreover, Chen said, the 23 million Taiwan people were grateful for Havel's explicit support for Taiwan's participation in the United Nations while addressing a ceremony marking the U.N.'s 50th founding anniversary in 1995.
Chen said he himself almost succeeded in making a visit to the Czech Republic in 2002. Even though he eventually failed, Chen said he still appreciated Havel's and the Czech Republic government's support for Taiwan's cause.
Personally, Chen said he admires many of Havel's convictions and concepts, particularly those regarding human rights, such as that human rights take precedence over national sovereignty and nations are formed by people whom Havel said were created by god.