Lecture at Harvard Kennedy School

President Pavel drew on Václav Havel’s 1995 Harvard speech about the responsibility of democracies in the changing world. President Pavel emphasized that responsibility today is not only a moral imperative but also a matter of survival and security. He underlined that democratic nations are natural allies and that the United States remains a key security partner for both the Czechia and Europe.

A significant part of his remarks focused on Russia’s aggression against Ukraine. He highlighted the broad Czech support for Ukraine — from supplying heavy military equipment and ammunition to providing humanitarian and financial aid. He noted that supporting Ukraine is not charity but an investment in shared security. Democracies must be ready to keep supplying weapons, strengthen sanctions against Russia, and provide lasting security for Ukraine after the war.

He concluded by pointing out that authoritarian regimes often speak the language of peace and sovereignty while acting in direct contradiction to those ideals. Democracies, therefore, must respond with unity and a clear vision to ensure the protection of democratic values. Following the lecture, there was a moderated discussion with Professor Grzegorz Ekiert, as well as a Q&A session with the audience. The event drew more than 500 attendees from among Harvard’s students and faculty members.

Meetings at Harvard and CES

President Pavel also visited the Center for European Studies, where he held talks with university representatives. Among those present were Katherine O’Dair, Harvard’s University Marshal, Mark Elliott, Vice Provost for International Affairs, Professor Grzegorz Ekiert, , and CES Executive Director Elaine Papoulias. Their discussions centered on Europe’s current role in transatlantic relations and opportunities for future cooperation. President Pavel also signed Harvard’s guest book and took the customary photo by the statue of John Harvard.

Meeting with the Czech Community and Students

The visit was concluded with an informal gathering of members of the Czech community and Czech students at Harvard. The students presented the President with a Harvard T-shirt as a symbolic memento. President Pavel expressed his gratitude for their academic and community contributions in the United States.

The Václav Havel Lecture Series

The Václav Havel Lecture series was established at the Minda de Gunzburg Center for European Studies thanks to a gift from the Sekyra Foundation, founded by Czech entrepreneur Luděk Sekyra. The lecture series honors Havel’s legacy and seeks to foster dialogue among scholars, activists, and political leaders on issues such as freedom, democracy, and human rights.