“Václav Havel Airport” initiative gaining support

Nearly 12,000 people have signed a petition to rename Prague’s international airport after president Havel. The initiative, started by film producer Fero Fenič on Monday, has already received the support of numerous Czech celebrities, among them Jiří Bartoška, Marek Eben and Zdeněk Svěrák, and singers Marta Kubišová and Hany Hegerová. Prague Mayor Bohuslav Svoboda said Tuesday that the City Council would certainly support the proposal, but noted that the Ruzyně Airport was not city but state property. The website for the initiative notes that Mr Havel’s journey had taken him from the prison in Ruzyně to the whole world, and argues that many countries have airports named after their great leaders in their major cities.