HSH Prince Albert II this week inaugurated the “Václav Havel Bench” in the Bosio Pavilion Gardens, in the presence of, Mr Patrice Cellario, Minister of the Interior, Ms Céline Caron-Dagioni, Minister of Infrastructure, Environment and Urban Planning, Ms. Isabelle Berro-Amadei, Minister of External Relations and Cooperation, as well as His Excellency Mr Michal Fleischmann, Ambassador of the Czech Republic in Monaco.
Designed by architect Bořek Šípek, the bench was inspired by the democratic ideals and principles of Mr Vaclav Havel, a famous playwright and dissident under Communism who was also the first President of the Federal Czech and Slovak Republic from 1989 to 1992 until its dissolution, and then President of the Czech Republic from 1993 to 2003.
The installation symbolises openness towards dialogue and democracy: two metal garden chairs connected by a round table in the middle of which a lime tree grows, the Czech national tree. On the bench is inscribed Vaclav Havel’s motto: “The truth and love must prevail over lies and hatred.”
Examples of the memorial bench are now present in 52 countries on three continents: in Europe, in the Middle East and North America.
ORIGINAL SOURCE & PHOTO: Monaco Government Press Service
