As delivered

Excellences,

Mesdames et Messieurs,

Chers amis,

C’est pour moi un grand plaisir de commémorer avec vous le 30ème anniversaire de la révolution de velours.

Comme les photographies exposées ici nous le rappellent, cette révolution a été une révolution non violente menée par la population.

Elle a commencé avec des étudiants suivis d’acteurs, d’artistes et d’autres auxquels s’est associé le Forum civique nouvellement créé et elle s’est transformée en un mouvement de population massif qui a protesté pacifiquement, y compris par une grève générale, pour faire entendre sa voix.

Et ce qui était en jeu, ce qui unissait tous ces gens était l’aspiration à la liberté, aux droits et aux possibilités qu’offre la démocratie.

The events of those days and weeks – the people on the streets, the rattling of keys – those things struck a chord not just with those other Europeans living under totalitarian regimes, but with people across the European continent and beyond.

The courage, the determination, the non-violent nature of the protestors’ approach.

It also ensured that Václav Havel became a household name throughout the continent.

Who, after all, can forget his appearance alongside Alexander Dubček on a balcony overlooking Wenceslas Square on the night of 24th November?

Today, the Council of Europe’s Human Rights Prize continues to bear Václav Havel’s name, and honours outstanding civil society action in defence of human rights.

And our Organisation also benefits from the active support and participation of both the Czech Republic and the Slovak Republic.

As independent countries, you are friends and partners in our common endeavour here.

And the freedom that you earned from totalitarian rule is put to continuous use, protecting and promoting European standards on human rights, democracy and the rule of law within your own countries and across our common legal area of 47 member states.

I congratulate you on all that has been achieved and extend every good wish on the 30th anniversary of this important moment for Europe.