The Hague, 17 October 2003
Number 26
 
Press Release

VÁCLAV HAVEL HONOURED IN OPCW PHOTO EXHIBITION

To celebrate the career of one of the most influential and cherished figures in recent Czech history, Václav Havel, OPCW Director-General, Mr Rogelio Pfirter, and the Chairman of the OPCW Executive Council, H.E. Peter Kubernát, Permanent Representative of the Czech Republic to the OPCW, are co-hosting an exhibition of photographs devoted to the life of Václav Havel, writer, dissident and first president of the Czech Republic.

The photographs capture some of the most important moments in Havel’s life in the period from 1974 to 2002. They are the work of leading documentary photographer Alan Pajer, one of Havel´s official photographers and friends.

These photographs provide a fascinating and frank picture of the former President of the Czech Republic on state visits in many countries, meeting important figures in politics and the arts, with friends and fellow former dissidents, as well as members of his family.

The exhibition was opened today at the OPCW headquarters in The Hague.


The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) came into existence on 29 April 1997. Its deed of foundation—the Chemical Weapons Convention—aims to achieve four principal objectives: the elimination of chemical weapons and of the capacity to develop them, the verification of non-proliferation, international assistance and protection in the event of the use or threat of use of chemical weapons, and international cooperation and assistance in the peaceful use of chemistry.

For further information, please contact the Media and Public Affairs Branch at: +31 70 416-3300,

or e-mail to: media@opcw.org

Media and Public Affairs Branch
OPCW Technical Secretariat, Johan de Wittlaan 32, 2517 JR The Hague, The Netherlands

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