Conference on Havel’s importance to Czech society begins

A conference on the importance of Václav Havel to modern history has begun in Prague. The one-day event, organised by the Institute of Contemporary History of the Academy of Sciences, is meant to examine and discuss Mr Havel’s impact as a publicly involved intellectual and will not deal with his literary works. Experts at the conference will attempt to agree on a factual and unbiased formulation of what the former president and human rights leader meant for Czech society and its history. Václav Havel died in mid-December at the age of 75.