The President of the Republic of Macedonia, Dr. Gjorge Ivanov, today attended the funeral service of the former President of the Czech Republic, Vaclav Havel.

President Ivanov, on behalf of the citizens of the Republic of Macedonia, paid respect to Vaclav Havel, former President of Czechoslovakia and of the Czech Republic. Havel, writer and activist against the communist regime in former Czechoslovakia, was also recognized for his merit in spreading democracy and freedom in his country and in Central Europe. In his letter of condolence to the Czech President, Vaclav Klaus, and to the citizens of the Czech Republic, President Ivanov stated – “Vaclav Havel, as a fighter against totalitarian ideology, gained enormous reputation and respect among all freedom-loving peoples of Europe. Aware of the injustices of the former regime, Havel dedicated his life to destruction of this regime, and, luckily, had the chance to see his lifework accomplished. Among the numerous awards he was honored with, probably most important is the knowledge that millions of people in Europe live today in freedom, in democracy”.

The funeral ceremony held in the cathedral St. Vitus in the Czech capital Prague, was attended by many dignitaries from Europe and the world, including the President of the Czech Republic, Vaclav Klaus, and state officials of the Czech Republic, the British Prime Minister, David Cameron, the President of the French Republic, Nicolas Sarkozy, the former President of the United States, Bill Clinton, and the US Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, the European Commission President, Jose Manuel Barroso, the President of the European Parliament, Jerzy Buzek and others.