Our American Supporters
"I am very pleased to offer my support to your project to raise a statue to Tomas Masaryk in Washington...I am reminded of the many Czech and Slovak immigrants who helped build this country and who continue to play a vital role in our success as a democracy."
George W. Bush,
President of the United States
"It is my great pleasure to join Peter Rafaeli and the other members of the AFoCR leadership team. I deeply treasure my Czech heritage. My grandfather was born in Krasna Hora Bohemia, and I grew up in the Czech enclaves of Berwyn and Cicero, Illinois. I have served on the Board of AFoCR since the mid-1990's under Milt Cerny's outstanding leadership. In 2000, I chaired the AFoCR gala honoring Vaclav Havel and Madeleine Albright at the Plaza Hotel in New York, and I, myself, have been honored by this fine organization. The organization has accomplished much, but there is so much more to do. With the help of the members and the leadership I know we can rise to the challenge. Fred Malek AFoCR Director biography: http://www.afocr.org/bio-malek.html and Fred Malek blogs at http://www.fredmalekblog.com/
Fred Malek,
AFoCR, Chairman of the Board Chairman, Thayer Capital Partners Former
Advisor to Presidents Nixon, Reagan and G.H.W. Bush
"In my opinion, the personality of Tomas Garrigue Masaryk deserves genuine regard…(I) wish the project every success and I promise that I will follow its progress attentively and support it with all my power."
Vaclav Havel,
President of the Czech Republic
Vaclav Havel,
President of the Czech Republic
"Nothing could be more appropriate than a monument to Masaryk, one of history's foremost democrats, in the capital of the world's leading democracy."
Madeleine K. Albright,
Former U.S. Secretary of State
"The prominent site in downtown Washington signifies the importance we, as Americans, place on President Masaryk's contributions to modern democratic political thought and to the importance of our relationship with the Czech people."
Craig R. Stapleton,
U.S. Ambassador to the Czech Republic
"As the states of Central Europe have regained their democracy and full independence, it is good to be reminded of the humanist and modernist contribution of President Tomas G. Masaryk."
James D. Wolfensohn,
President of the World Bank
"Tomas Garrigue Masaryk is an undisputable figure of our common history and legacy. Slovaks always considered him as a statesman, without whose substantial contribution they would not have won their struggle for national survival."
Martin Butora,
Ambassador of the Slovak Republic
"The proposed unveiling of this statue holds great importance for the Czech Republic, and for our relations with a trusted ally."
Colin L. Powell,
U.S. Secretary of State
An American Voice of Support
The American Friends of the Czech Republic (AFoCR) was founded to educate government leaders, media and other opinion makers across America about the goals and aspirations of the Czech people. AFoCR fosters closer ties between the United States and the Czech Republic in the areas of business, trade, culture, law reform and education. Since its founding in 1995, AFoCR has been a voice for the American constituency in support of the Czech Republic.
AFoCR sponsors events that promote interest in the Czech Republic, facilitating programs in a variety of fields. In 1998, AFoCR chaired the Executive Committee that produced the 80th anniversary celebration of the creation of Czechoslovakia. In 1999, it coordinated the 10th anniversary of the Velvet Revolution. Other sponsored programs of note include the first Civil Society Award Dinner, honoring Former U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine K. Albright, in New York City. Most recently, AFoCR hosted Czech Cultural Minister Pavel Dostal and Lord Mayor of Prague, Jan Kasl, Prime Ministers Vladimir Spidla and Milos Zeman on increasing security and trade opportunities. AFoCR has arranged contacts for Czech government officials with United States congressional leaders such as Senator Richard Lugar and Senator Joseph Lieberman.
