Prague airport renamed after ex-President HavelOctober 6, 2012 - 11:08 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Prague's international airport has been renamed after former Czech President Vaclav Havel, who died last year, BBC News reported. The ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by dignitaries and family took place on what would have been his 76th birthday. More than 80,000 people signed a petition calling for the name change to honor the dissident playwright. Foreign Minister Karel Schwarzenberg said he hoped every Czech air passenger leaving Prague would think of the man to whom they owed their freedom. "This is the right place (to bear Havel's name) - it was he who enabled the Czech nation to travel out of this country," he added. Havel led the peaceful 1989 overthrow of communism in then Soviet-backed Czechoslovakia. "November 1989 was possible only because of Vaclav Havel," said Schwarzenberg. A line of dignitaries including the former president's widow Dagmar Havlova cut the small strip of airport tape to mark the renaming. The airport - one of the busiest transport hubs in central Europe - was formerly known as Ruzyne airport. Vaclav Havel became president of Czechoslovakia in 1989 after the fall of communism. When Slovakia split in 1993, he remained Czech leader until 2003. He died last December after having suffered from respiratory problems for many years. Top stories Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". The earthquake caused a temporary blackout, damaged many buildings and closed a number of rural roads. Partner news | Viva-MTS: Tech solutions to modernize infrastructure of border village The border village has been the focus of Viva-MTS and the Foundation for the Preservation of Wildlife and Cultural Values since 2015. Ucom's fixed network launched in Artashat To mark this occasion, the company has introduced a special offer exclusively for Artashat residents. “By Your Side”: IDBank's new support program for displaced Artsakh citizens IDBank is launching a long-term social support program for forcibly displaced Artsakh residents. The Power of One Dram to benefit Road of Life charity The companies inform that the May beneficiary of The Power of One Dram is the “Road of Life” charitable organization. |