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PRAGUE

JUNE 20th - JULY 1st

2011

20th anniversary of the disestablishment of Warsaw Pact and the withdrawal of Soviet troops from Czechoslovakia


~ On the 21st of June, 1991 last train with Soviet military engineering and soldiers left Czechoslovakia
~ On the 27th of June, 1991 last soldier, general Vorobjov, left Czechoslovakia.
~ On the 1st of July was signed protocol about disestablishment of Warsaw Pact in the Czernin Palace.

The Week of Freedom is a project with the ambition to start a new tradition of reminding, not only us, but also the entire continent of Europe about the values our common Euro-American civilization is built on. It is not a coincidence that the centre of this international project is located in the “heart of Europe” – Prague, the city with a rich history, the capital of the country which more than twenty years ago underwent the “Velvet Revolution,” going from a totalitarian regime to democracy, to freedom, later followed by a peaceful split of the country, thus setting an example of the peaceful implementation of values for the entire world. The leading figure in this process was President Vaclav Havel who is a global symbol of the fight for freedom and democracy.

The topic of the 2011 Week of Freedom will be the disestablishment of the military alliance, the Warsaw Pact, and the departure of its troops from Czechoslovakia. Not only we, but history in general, considers these two events to be the completion of the process of the Velvet Revolution, both securing democratic principles in the countries of the former Eastern Bloc and also setting up the essential step towards the unification of Europe. That is why Prague is the most suitable place to start the tradition of celebrating the Week of Freedom as we have presented it.

During its first year, the Week of Freedom will pay appropriate attention to this topic (an international conference intended primarily for experts is planned), but we will also treat it with a certain irony, especially common among the younger generation. That is why the symbol of this year’s Week of Freedom will be the pink tank created by David Černý. In general, the colour pink will be the colour of this event in the future. After all, the younger generation is the main social group upon which the events of the Week of Freedom should focus when reminding people of the roots and causality of the system in which they live. We expect the topics of the Week of Freedom to change every year, emphasizing the notable anniversaries and principles of the advancement of civil society and democracy.