The main event in Washington on Wednesday morning will be the funeral of the former US Secretary of State with Czech roots Madeleine Albright. She was the first woman to ever hold the post of chief of American diplomacy. She died on March 23 at the age of 84.
Senate President Miloš Vystrčil (ODS), Senate Vice President Jiří Růžička or Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defense and Security Pavel Fischer, who acted as an adviser to former President Václav Havel, are flying to the USA for the funeral.
It was not an ally only for the Czech Republic, but for all states that went through totalitarianism.
Pavel Fischer, senator
The funeral will be on Wednesday morning at the National Cathedral in Washington and there will be a number of distinguished guests. The ceremony is estimated to last more than two hours. US President Joe Biden or former President Bill Clinton and former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will arrive. Reporter List of News will attend the funeral in Washington in person and provide readers with real-time information.
“The Czech Republic was very lucky to have an ally like Madeleine Albright. It was not an ally only for the Czech Republic, but for all states that went through totalitarianism. When I should be personal, she was an extremely intelligent person, very kind, piercing eyes. She was a personality who remained very strong in her political views and very open to others who thought differently or were from a completely different generation, “recalls Senator Fischer, who will attend the funeral in the USA.
Both Biden and Clinton will speak
Former ambassador and one of President Václav Havel’s closest associates, as well as court translator of Albright’s books into Czech, Michael Žantovský will speak at a subsequent mourning event at the United States Institute of Peace, where VIP guests will head to the cathedral after the ceremony. “My family turned to me to say something about Madeleine Albright’s homeland, which makes me anxious, but I’ll do anything for her,” List News said.
My family asked me if I would say something about Madeleine Albright’s homeland, which makes me anxious, but I’ll do anything for her.
Michael Žantovský, former diplomat and director of the Václav Havel Library
He will also be one of the members of the coffin’s honorary escort. “The reason I find myself in this role is a long-term relationship with Madeleine Albright, not only official and political, but also personal, family and friendly. It is a great honor for me, “said Žantovský for Seznam Zprávy.
Albright, an enthusiastic American and Czech patriot who was united by her friendship with Václav Havel, made a significant contribution to the accession of the Czech Republic, Poland and Hungary to NATO.
“I never thought I would have the life I had,” she told Elle magazine in 2020. When asked what her best work experience was, she said: “Being a foreign minister and sitting behind a sign saying United States, especially since I was not born here. I am a very grateful American. “
Senator Pavel Fischer also confirms that she never forgot her origins. “I remember the great loyalty to her roots. I remember the stories of friends from Šumperk, who secretly prepared, in agreement with her and her family, a meeting in the places where her family came from. Madeleine Albright arrived there as a world-class star, with her nieces and nephews, explaining very carefully where they were and how she had grown up there. ”
In 2012, she received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Barack Obama, the highest civilian award in the United States.
Madeleine Albright
– She was born in Prague in 1937 in the Czech Jewish family of diplomat Josef Korbel.
– She was raised a Catholic.
– She came to the United States as a refugee in 1948.
– She was Secretary of State from Democratic President Bill Clinton from 1997 to 2001, having previously served as US Ambassador to the United Nations.
– Advocated the accession of the Czech Republic, Poland and Hungary to NATO.
– In 2012, President Barack Obama awarded her the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian award in the United States.
– She died on March 23 at the age of 84.
According to President Miloš Zeman, Albright was the Czech Republic’s most important supporter and lawyer in the United States, not least as the head of American diplomacy. In a letter of condolence addressed to his American counterpart, Joe Biden, Zeman reminded that the politician, who was born in Prague, greatly helped the Czech Republic’s early accession to NATO, when he was prime minister. “Albright will continue to be a great, proud and exemplary personality and a link between the Czech Republic and the United States,” said the president.
Albright was born in Prague in 1937 into the Czech Jewish family of diplomat Josef Korbel. She was raised as a Catholic. She came to the United States as a refugee in 1948. She was Secretary of State from 1997 to 2001 under Democratic President Bill Clinton. She previously served as US Ambassador to the United Nations.
Shortly after the announcement of her death, other Czech politicians also appreciated the merits of the first woman at the head of American diplomacy. Prime Minister Petr Fiala (ODS) said that Albright has extraordinary merits for the Czech Republic and for the fact that the Czech Republic is safer thanks to NATO membership.
