S t a t e m e n t .
Vaclav Havel deserves to be honored in a way that would not only be a formal recognition of his achievements, but also a reflection of his struggle for our freedom. A symbol not only for those here today, but for future generations as well.
His life's journey, which took him from a prison in Ruzyne to Prague Castle, the demolition of boundaries and the opening of doors to the world, even giving visibility and recognition to our small country in the world, can not be better commemorated and symbolized, than by the renaming of the antiquated named Prague Airport Ruzyne to
Vaclav Havel Airport.
The airport is a crossroad, a place of mingling and meeting and a symbol of the free movement of people and ideas. For Czechs, it was and is the gateway to freedom and for foreigners it's the first place through which they enter our country.
Thus far, the name "Prague Airport" evokes memories of the widely known Ruzyne prison.
Renaming it "Vaclav Havel Airport" shows our declaration to uphold values which we admire.
Many other countries have renamed airports in major cities for people who greatly influenced their history such as John F. Kennedy Airport in New York or Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris.
We believe that in this way, Vaclav Havel would also be perceived not only as a sign of his heritage, but also as a reminder that we need to protect our freedom and democracy every day.
We call on the Parliament of The Czech Republic and competent authorities to honor Vaclav Havel by this step.
Prague, 19th December 2011
Fero Fenič, director and producer