By Tereza Neuwirthova.
On Tuesday 29th October, the Slovak and Czech embassies in The Hague organised a concert to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the Velvet Revolution, a momentous historical event that took place on 17th November 1989. The concert was organised in De Kloosterkerk church, and saw the attendance of many excellencies, as well as representatives from international organisations and courts located in The Hague.
To begin the evening, the ambassadors of Slovak and Czech Republics, H.E. Mr. Roman Bužek together with H.E. Ms. Kateřina Sequensová addressed the guests and introduced the context giving rise to the crucial regime change that the Velvet Revolution presented for their countries.
“Thirty years ago Europe and the entire world was completely different place. Europe was divided by the iron curtain. People were not allowed to travel freely, freedom of speech and assembly was constraint, human rights violated.”
“The collapse of the regime opened the way for Czech and Slovak society to parliamentary democracy and the rule of law, which were based on civil and human rights. And for our country the return to the family of democratic states. The changes became known as the Velvet revolution.”
Thereafter, the programme of the concert began, with a piece from Franz Schubert performed by an established Czechoslovak duo composed by Mr. Jan Ostrý playing flute and Ms. Miriam Rodriguez Brüllová playing guitar. The programme of the evening also included pieces from the composers Johann Kaspar Mertz, Sylvie Bodorová, and Alexander Moyzes.
A reception ensued after the concert, during which Slovak and Czech wines, as well as delicacies from these countries were served. On this occasion, the embassies also presented a photo exhibition that showed the process of the changes that occurred during the year 1989, with the Velvet Revolution being the breaking point for the regime change in Czechoslovakia.
This concert organised by the Slovak and Czech embassies marked yet another pleasurable evening for the diplomatic community of The Hague.
