Velvet Revolution @ 30: A Legacy to Uphold

The Embassy of the Czech Republic and the Embassy of the Slovak Republic, in collaboration with Georgetown University’s Walsh School of Foreign Service, will hold the panel discussion Velvet Revolution @ 30: A Legacy to Uphold with former United States Secretary of State Madeleine Albright as the keynote speaker at Georgetown University on November 12, 2019, at 9:00 am.

Ambassador of the Czech Republic Hynek Kmoníček and Ambassador of the Slovak Republic Ivan Korčok will open the discussions, marking the 30th anniversary of the Velvet Revolution which brought freedom and democracy back to Czechoslovakia in 1989. Reflecting on the past and the future, two distinguished panels will include those who courageously led the way during the demonstrations and those who continue to lead the society into the years to come. Join us in commemorating and reflecting on this turning point in history.

EVENT DETAILS:
Date/Time: November 12, 2019, at 9 am (check-in begins at 8:30 am)

Venue: Georgetown University
Riggs Library (located in the south tower of Healy Hall)
37th and O Streets, NW, Washington, DC 20057

RSVP
https://velvetpanel.eventbrite.com

SCHEDULE:
8:30 am - Arrival & Check-in

9:00 am - Welcome Remarks
Joel Hellman, Dean of the Walsh School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University
H.E. Hynek Kmoníček, Ambassador of the Czech Republic to the US
H.E. Ivan Korčok, Ambassador of the Slovak Republic to the US

9:15 am - Keynote Address by former US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright
Conversation between Secretary Albright and former Ambassador of the Czech Republic to the US Martin Palouš

10:10 am - Panel I: My November 1989: Testimony on How the Velvet Revolution Changed Our World

Panelists:
Šimon Pánek, Executive Director of People in Need & student leader during the Velvet Revolution

Martin Bútora, former Ambassador of the Slovak Republic to the US & co-founder of Public Against Violence

Angela Stent, Director of the Center for Eurasian, Russian and East European Studies and Professor of Government and Foreign Service at Georgetown University

Moderator: Jamie Fly, President of Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty

11:10 am - Break

11:30 am - Panel II: Fight for Freedom Never Ends: Velvet Revolution’s Legacy for Today and Tomorrow

Panelists:
Katarína Cséfalvayová, Chairwoman of the Foreign Relations Committee, National Council of the Slovak
Republic

Václav Bartuška, Ambassador-at-Large for Energy Security of the Czech Republic & student leader during the Velvet Revolution

Ed Royce, former Chairman of the House Foreign Relations Committee

Moderator: František Šebej, former Member of the National Council of the Slovak Republic / Slovak politician and publicist

12:30 pm - Buffet Lunch

PARKING:
Georgetown University has limited metered street parking.

Guests can park in the Southwest Parking Garage.
(Use 3611 Canal Road as the address for directions using GPS.)
Hourly Parking Rate: $5/hour | Daily Parking Rate: $25/day

For additional parking information, please visit:
https://transportation.georgetown.edu/driving-and-parking/

Photo: ©Radek Bajgar