Sen. Rubio to Introduce Resolution Honoring Václav Havel

U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Miami, will introduce a resolution to honor former Czech Republic president and human rights leader Vlav Havel.

Rubio has posted on his website a copy of the resolution that will be introduced when the Senate reconvenes after the holidays.

Whereas under the leadership of Vlav Havel, the Czech Republic became a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) on March 12, 1999, and today remains a valuable ally of the United States, the resolution states.

Whereas during his lifetime, Vlav Havel received praise as one of the world's great democratic leaders and (was) awarded many international prizes recognizing his commitment to peace and democratic principles.

Havel, who died Dec. 18, grew from being a playwright into a leading dissident after the 1968 Prague Spring. He was a key figure in the 1989 Velvet Revolution, the peaceful overthrow of the communist government in Czechoslovakia. In 2003, he received a Presidential Medal of Freedom from President George W. Bush.

Read the entire resolution here.