Remembering the Velvet Revolution

A quarter century ago, events in Prague opened the door to regain human freedoms and dignity.
By BRONISLAVA TOMJOV`
I very much appreciate we gathered here today to remember together the events of November 17, 1989 in Czechoslovakia, an important day not only for my country and Slovakia, but for the whole Europe.
On November 17 this year it is exactly a quarter of century since citizens of Czechoslovakia regained their freedoms and returned to enjoy democratic values after more than 40 years of totalitarian dictatorship.
The peaceful student manifestation against the communist regime on November 17, 1989 – suddenly blocked and violently attacked by the police forces – launched a chain of public demonstrations around the whole country leading to the fall of the communist regime in few days. The fully new era started for millions of Czechs and Slovaks, an era which was for many of them just utopia only few days before.
It is my special honour to welcome you here to the solemn opening of the exhibition of the prominent Czech photographers reflecting the described events worldwide known as the Velvet Revolution.
Even if the photographs do not speak I believe that we who witnessed the moments still can hear calls “M⮥ hol顲uce” – which means “We are with empty hands” – looking at the photographs of the clashes between peaceful student manifestation and strongly armed police forces, or singing the songs forbidden by the regime or the sound of shaking the keys – as a sign for the end of the regime – looking at other photographs with massive public demonstrations on the squares of the Czech and Slovak cities.
Alexander Dubcek, the symbol of the Spring of Prague, could suddenly again address the public as well as many dissidents and chartists with V⤬av Havel in the first place. His “Power of Powerless” became all of a sudden the reality: on November 24, he announced in front of crowds at the Venceslas Square in Prague that the communist regime gave up.
The Velvet Revolution in Czechoslovakia as one of the important moments of the fall of the iron curtain in Europe was the peak of the long struggle by Czech and Slovaks with the communist regime in Czechoslovakia. This struggle started already in 1968 with the reform process of the Spring of Prague and was followed by immolation of young students Jan Palach and Jan Zajat the beginning of 1969, development of strong dissident movement in the 70es and many protests against communist regime especially close to 1989.
It is why the exhibition we are just opening also includes the historic photographs from the periods before 1989 starting with those of the Spring of Prague including the sad episode of its suppression by entering of the Warsaw Pact armed forces.
The Czech Republic is till nowadays grateful to Albania that it did not participate in this tragic moment of our history launching the period of 23 years of Soviet occupation of Czechoslovakia.
The commemoration of the Velvet Revolution in Czechoslovakia is important to us not only because it is for many of us still a living history. The Velvet Revolution opened for us the door to regain human freedoms, and especially also the human dignity. We could return to our pre-second world war tradition of democracy, and mainly also to Europe where we always felt to be part of.
I am very happy that we can welcome among us at this such significant occasion Mr. Jan Ham⤥k, Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies of the Czech Parliament who is paying an official visit in Albania. I appreciate that Mr. Ham⤥k and Mr. Ilir Meta, both agreed to take this exhibition under their joint auspices. I am persuaded that the Czech Republic and the Republic of Albania share much more than the history. They share also the presence and the future.
I believe that it is a right moment now to toast. To toast for both: for friendly relations between our countries and people, for return of both our countries to Europe of freedoms and democratic values.
These were the remarks Czech Ambassador Bronislava Tomᛯvᡭade at an event in Tirana to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the Velvet Revolution in Prague.