Václav Havel is the former President of Czechoslovakia and the former first President of the Czech Republic. He was bom on October 5^,h, 1936, in Prague, the Czech Republic. The beginning of social change began with a peaceful demonstration of students on November 17, 1989, on the occasion of the closure of Czechoslovak post-secondary schools by the occupying Nazis. The communist regime's police force brutally suppressed dus demonstration on Narodni Trida in Prague. Students and Artists came to the forefront of subsequent civic uprisings. 'Hie meeting of the Drama Club of November 19th gave rise to Civic Forum, which became an umbrella group for organizations and individuals who demanded fundamental changes in the Czechoslovak political system. From its inception, Vaclav Havel became its leading figure. The social upheaval came to a climax on December 29th, 1989, when Vaclav HaveL as the candidate of Civic Forum, was elected President by the Federal Assembly of Czechoslovakia. In his inaugural address, he promised to lead the nation to free elections, which he fulfilled in the summer of 1990. He was elected to the Czechoslovak Presidency a second time by the Federal Assembly on the 5di of July the same year.

Due to his unyielding political stance through the years of communist totality, Vaclav Havel became a recognized moral authority. The depth of his perception of the problems of civilization and his contemplation of their formulation enabled him to become very well- respected, even in the framework of his new function as Head of State, and outstanding amongst politicians.

During the course of his second term in office as President of the Czech and Slovak Federation, however, a rift between the Czech and Slovak political representatives over the future organization of the state began to emerge. Vaclav Havel was a determined supporter of a common Federation of Czechs and Slovaks, and always used his political influence to promote it.

After leaving office, Havel retired from public life for a while. In mid-November 1992, during a time when the onset of an independent Czech state was imminent, he confirmed that he would be seekmg die Presidency. The official nomination of his candidacy was submitted on January 18, 1993 by four political parties of the ruling coalition government. On January 26, 1993, the Chamber of Deputies elected Vaclav Havel to be the first President of the independent Czech Republic.Under difficult political circumstances, he was re-elected to the Presidency by both Chambers of Parliament on January 20, 1998.

Since leaving office as President of the Czech Republic on 2nd February 2003 he has focused his activities on the respect of human rights worldwide, particularly in Cuba, Belarus and Burma, as well as on his literary work. As co-founder of the Dagmar and Vaclav Havel Foundation Vize 97, he has supported humanitarian, health and educational projects.