The Velvet Revolution... as seen by our 4EU+ Alliance partners ****************************************************************************************** * The Velvet Revolution… as seen by our 4EU+ Alliance partners ****************************************************************************************** This week Czechs are marking the 30th anniversary of the Velvet Revolution which began on 1989. Representatives from five partner universities within the prestigious 4EU+ Alliance recent special issue [ URL "https://issuu.com/ukforum/docs/forum_special_89_2019_en_web"] look back on the events which brought down more than 40 years of communism in Czechoslovak University of Warsaw After the end of World War II, the countries of Western Europe enjoyed democratic freedom market economy, whereas countries of Central and Eastern Europe had to face criminal commu The years 1956, 1968, 1981 and finally 1989 demonstrated that their spirit of freedom coul and that the regimes had to fall. Poles, who were already enjoying the first non-communist Tadeusz Mazowiecki, watched the “Sametová revoluce” with great interest and supported it w I myself remember keeping my fingers crossed while listening to Václav Havel’s speeches an our Czech and Slovak friends would succeed. We also cannot forget about the role of univer transition of 1989. I can boldly state that the changes of 1989 could not have taken place University, the University of Warsaw and many others. Professors and especially students w first to stand up to the regime, despite fears that the regime would take its revenge if t successful. Today we can proudly say: Yes, we did it! Congratulations on the 30th annivers Revolution! Maciej Duszczyk Vice-Rector University of Copenhagen I grew up in post-war Europe. During my childhood, the division of Europe in two blocs, Ea a fact. It was just the way things were. The Cold War, and especially the fear of a devast war, was a common theme in adult conversations. But it was also implicitly understood that was not how “things used to be”. During my student years at university, I visited several Central and Eastern European coun differences between our systems were striking, but so were the similarities between our pe shared cultural heritage. In September 1989, one year into my PhD, I attended my first scientific conference. It was Solidarity-led government had just taken office a few weeks earlier. It was an overwhelmin meet young scientists from Poland, who were both exhilarated and anxious. A reunited Europ possibility, but it could not yet be taken for granted. However, a few months later, thank Revolution in the Czech Republic and the fall of the Berlin Wall, it was clear to all that irreversible (…) The universities of Europe have always been interconnected, even during their time of sepa like a family. We were established with the same purpose and we share the same basic ideas and research-based education are essential for the development of people and societies. We by mutual organisational inspiration; the University of Copenhagen was initially formed by Charles University. So, in the bigger picture, we are tied to each other like siblings. Du War, these ties weakened, but like real siblings, who were separated by destiny and then r quickly found each other in fruitful cooperation within the EU. I am thrilled that with th of our new partnership 4EU+, we will grow an even deeper and more mutually valuable collab benefit of European society at large. Henrik C. Wegener Rector Sorbonne University The Velvet Revolution was a wondrous display of liberty. It was a relief after the terribl It was a triumph for values we hold dear: democracy, human rights, free-thinking, and free It started with student protests, an amazing and humbling reminder of our role in society: places for ideas to grow, for the youth to challenge the status quo – and we should keep n drive in our communities. It evoked our collective European spirit, harkening back to the Age of Enlightenment, and for a united Europe, founded on solidarity and harmonious cooperation among peers. Univers forefront of this project. Indeed, the memory of the Velvet Revolution should inspire us all – as institutions and in keep fighting, together, for the values we share. Serge Fdida Vice-President Heidelberg University On the 30th anniversary of the “Velvet Revolution”, Heidelberg University most warmly cong University and expresses its solidarity with her Czech partners. The significance and implications of this historical event which began as a student revolu in the peaceful transition of power in what was then Czechoslovakia, are particularly well Heidelberg and Germany as a whole. Indeed, in November, Germany will also be celebrating one of the most important events in the peaceful fall of the Berlin Wall on 9 November 1989. Just one week before the “Velvet set in a very similar political context, the fall of the Berlin Wall marked the beginning Germany. Heidelberg University is honoured to share with Charles University not only a similar rece but also a bright common future, especially as partners in the recently founded 4EU+ Europ Alliance. Marc-Philippe Weller Vice-Rector University of Milan The 1989 Velvet Revolution, with its twofold character of strength but also moderation, ha among Italians a positive image of Prague and its artistic, cultural and political heritag of a poet, writer, and philosopher like Václav Havel as a guide of the Czechoslovak Republ was perceived in Italy and in Europe as a major signal that a new era was beginning, marke dialogue and cooperation. Our rector, Elio Franzini, emphasizes that our university, over the last 30 years, has con dedicated conferences and lectures to different moments in Czech history. As an example, a entitled “The Fall of the Walls: Twenty Years Later”, was organized at the University of M bringing together scholars and some of the main protagonists of those events, such as Václ Wałesa. The rector is also glad to announce that today, in order to remember the Velvet Revolution profound cultural impact (starting with Havel’s legacy) the University of Milan will insta Havel bench” in its main building. The artwork will be composed by two wooden armchairs al table next to a tree. The initiative, part of a large commemorative project launched all o represents an invitation to further dialogue and shared reflection. We would indeed like t path of educational and scientific collaboration, at every possible level, made possible b EU framework of projects and agreements as well as by the input of our respective universi by the idea of combining tradition and innovation in a creative way. Antonella Baldi Vice-Rector