The interview was shot in Prague in late June and is to be broadcast on Friday evening. Havel, 71, also said he would elect Democratic candidate Barack Obama in the U.S.
presidential elections and that he wished Hillary Clinton became his vice-president. Havel said the existence of "a more sophisticated" dictatorship in Russia must be openly discussed. "We cannot turn a blind eye on it and pretend it does not exist. This new system is completely strange and it is at the same time connected with Russia Moves to Recognize Abkhazia as Troops Drag Their Heels ...
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Europe should rehabilitate its immaterial values - Havel ... certain expansionism. It is not a mere coincidence when Putin says the split of the Soviet Union was a disaster and that he would like this whole to be restored in another way," Havel said. He added that Putin cannot cope with the loss of the whole sphere of interest that existed under the Warsaw Pact. "This system is based on a certain kind of cohesion between political and economic power," said Havel. Havel also pointed out that friendly relations with Russia, accompanied by sincerity, must be preserved. He added that Russia has no right to meddle in the decisions about what countries can become NATO and EU members. This would be a catastrophe for humankind, the policy of "appeasement" that has led to tens of millions of victims in the 20th century, said Havel, playwright, thinker and former leading dissident, who was Czechoslovak president in 1989-92 and Czech president in 1993-2003. On the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the Soviet-led invasion of Czechoslovakia on August 21, 1968, Havel said it was very improbable that thousands of tanks would invade some EU country. He, however, stressed that security must be constantly kept in mind and defence systems must be built. Commenting on the U.S. plan to build a radar base on Czech soil, Havel said Prague should behave as a true ally and help Washington with the project. "The radar will be an expression of our bilateral union with the United States. I know nothing about whether the radar has a real sense, whether it will work well or not, or whether it [the United States] will thereby achieve its goals or not. I do not think it is up to me or us, the Czechs, to be able to assess it," Havel said. Speaking about the European Union, Havel expressed the opinion that most Czechs are satisfied in the EU though it is in their national character to tend to grumble. He said he does not think Euroscepticism prevails in Czech opinions. Asked about current President Vaclav Klaus's reserved relation to the EU, Havel said Klaus likes to provoke. However, it is not up to Klaus to stipulate whether the Lisbon treaty's ratification process has ceased or not, Havel added.
(Ceske Noviny)
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