December 9, 1988: A breakfast that made history

Source: ČT24

Thirty five years ago, then French president Francois Mitterrand met with a group of Czech dissidents, led by Václav Havel.

Mitterrand was the first French president to visit Prague since the collapse of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. He set down a firm condition for the visit- that Czechoslovakia’s communist leaders would allow him to meet with dissidents.

Mitterrand made public this condition in an interview for Czechoslovak Radio on the eve of his visit. “I will meet with various representatives of your society, including representatives of public life and including members of the opposition. I will express myself freely and with the respect due to the state and the people,” the French president said.

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Source: Český rozhlas