The end of an era

Every generation produces a few great men and women whose achievements have shaped history. Individuals who leave an indelible mark on their society and beyond, and whose names become synonymous with positive changes that have uplifted and inspired humanity.

Today we witness the quiet departure from public office of just such an individual: Vaclav Havel steps down as President of the Czech Republic after 13 years in office.

Czech and international commentators have described President Havel's retirement from the political scene as the end of an era. And indeed it is. Even as the Nineties and the start of a new millennium eclipsed the tumultuous developments of the Eighties - the decade that saw the end of the Cold War and the liberation of Eastern Europe from the Soviet totalitarian regime - Vaclav Havel's name remains alive in our minds as the courageous activist who defied the establishment and led his people to democracy and freedom.

He is the artist and intellectual who, when confronted by the human rights abuses of the Soviet machine, left the relative safety of his literary ivory tower to lead anti-Government factions, continually risking imprisonment and persecution in the process.

Throughout this struggle, he consistently exhibited an unwavering faith in the ability of the human spirit to transcend the grim realities of totalitarianism. The end result was the achievement of the "Velvet Revolution", a peaceful transition from communism to democracy in the Czech Republic.

Even with this success behind him, Havel did not rest on his laurels and return to the stability and peace of his literary life. On the other hand, as the first ever President of the Czech Republic, he continued to provide the moral direction the new republic desperately needed as it adjusted to the demands of an open society and a market economy.

The true mark of his achievement in this regard is the recognition of the Czech Republic as an EU accession country in Copenhagen last December, together with nine other countries, including Malta.

As honorary consul for the Czech Republic, I am proud to have played a small part in increasing the Maltese people's awareness of this great man and his achievements, and in forging the friendly relations between our two countries.

Last year saw two events that further cemented this friendship. The first was the state visit of President Havel to Malta in April. For two days, Malta could experience at first hand the quiet charisma and wisdom personified in this man. The second was the solidarity and support that Malta immediately extended to the Czechs following the devastating floods in the late summer. Thanks to the initiative of President de Marco, Malta hosted children from the areas worst affected by the disaster.

I was also pleased to collaborate with the Czech Embassy in Rome and the Maltese-Czech Society in the organisation of a concert that raised funds for the restoration of Prague's monuments damaged by the flooding. In December, I was honoured to meet President Havel in Prague where he thanked me warmly for Malta's assistance in this regard.

In reflecting on Havel's retirement as President, therefore, I am very conscious of two aspects of this great man. Firstly, as a friend of Malta who truly personifies our local perception of the Czech struggle for freedom - this friendship was particularly relevant at a time when our two countries were seeking a common goal in terms of EU membership.

Secondly, as a citizen of the world, I bid farewell to an inspirational statesman whose dignity, commitment and vision has inspired a moral and ethical approach to politics, far beyond the power games and intrigue that unfortunately often plague this arena.

It is hoped that Havel will retain some role in this regard, perhaps in international fora engaged in alleviating world poverty - yet another area in which he has been particularly active over the years. I will end with the comment of Madeleine Albright, former US Secretary of State, who was born in Prague and who last November stated:

"President Havel has made Czech people very proud and certainly made me very proud of having been born Czech, and I think that he will be very much missed on the international scene. There will be an adjustment in many ways because to a lot of people the word 'Havel' and 'Czech' are synonymous. Havel really put the Czech Republic on the map in the post-Cold War period."

Tonio Casapinta is honorary consul of the Czech Republic in Malta