Institute Director Receives Two Honorary Awards this Fall
Prague, October 27, 2009 – On the eve of the state holiday commemorating the Czechoslovak nation’s declaration of independence in 1918, Director of the Institute for the Study of Totalitarian Regimes Pavel Žáček became one of the recipients of the “Honorary Commemorative Medal on the 90th anniversary of the founding of the Czechoslovak Republic,” presented by the Czech Minister of Defense Martin Barták in the Pantheon of the National Museum in Prague on October 27. The award is bestowed upon soldiers, members of the security services, and other citizens of the Czech Republic and foreigners who have contributed significantly or are contributing to the development of the nation. Historian Jaroslav Čvančara, who has long occupied himself with the history of the Second World War and the period of the Protectorate, and who is also an Institute employee, was recognized with an award, as well. In addition to the commemorative medals, the Minister of Defense also awarded military departmental decorations; Zdena Mašínová was among the recipients.
One month prior, on September 30, Director Žáček was among this year’s recipients of the Commemorative Medal of St. Wenceslas, which was conferred by Cardinal Miloslav Vlk, Chairman of the Ecumenical Council of Churches of the Czech Republic Pavel Černý, and Chairwoman of the Confederation of Political Prisoners of the Czech Republic Naděžda Kavalírová in the Cathedral of Saints Vít, Václav and Vojtěch at Prague Castle.
This 11th year of the award’s bestowal was dedicated to the struggle against totalitarianism, evil and violence. Leading representatives of prominent institutions, whose activities and personal engagement have provided long-term support for non-commercial projects whose aim is to remind and make public the legacy of victims and heroes of the contemporary era of history – political prisoners – were awarded. Pavel Žáček took this rare opportunity to state publicly that the award was not conferred only for his personal contribution in the field of coming to terms with the totalitarian past after 1989, but also for the work of the entire collective that has established the Institute for the Study of Totalitarian Regimes and Security Services Archive. He and other laureates – President of the International Association of Former Political Prisoners of post-communist countries (Inter-ASSO) Jure Knežovič, Mayor of the Capital City of Prague Pavel Bém, and Rector of Charles University Václav Hampl – also ceremonially signed a memorandum agreeing to cooperate towards the organizing of next year’s anti-totalitarian festival Mene Tekel.