Max van der Stoel, who was the Dutch foreign minister at that time, met on March 1st 1977 with Jan Patočka, philosopher and spokesperson for Charter 77. This historic encounter was a turning point for the anti-Communist movement. As the first Western minister to engage with organized dissent in Czechoslovakia, Van der Stoel’s bold move gave Charter 77, previously unknown in the West, publicity and international recognition.
After a second term as Foreign Minister (1981-1982), Van der Stoel became Ambassador to the United Nations from 1983 to 1986. He then served as a Member of the Council of State until January 1993. In December 1992, he was appointed as the first OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities, a role he held until July 1, 2001. Also after his formal retirement, Van der Stoel remained active as a UN diplomat and human rights expert, furthering his commitment to international justice. In 1996, he received the Order of Masaryk from President Havel.
Frans Timmermans served as van der Stoel’s Senior Advisor and Private Secretary since 1995. Max van der Stoel was his mentor and a role model. Timmermans followed in his footsteps, becoming the Netherlands’ Minister of Foreign Affairs (2012–2014). Later he assumed a position of the State Secretary for European Affairs (2007–2010) and an EU Commissioner and Vice-President. He is now leading the opposition in the Dutch parliament as leader of the GroenLinks-PvdA party. Frans Timmermans was present at the unveiling of the Max van der Stoel Memorial in Prague that took place in 2017.
Frans Timmermans captured van der Stoel’s impact in 2011:
"No Dutchman has played a greater role in international diplomacy since World War II. He always put the cause above himself—only the result mattered, never appearances."
The discussion will be moderated by Martin Palouš, a former Czech diplomat, spokesman of Charter 77, and one of the important figures in the country’s democratic transition. As a former Czech Ambassador to the United States and Permanent Representative to the UN, Palouš brings deep insight into the legacy of dissident movements and their relevance today. During his long career, his path repeatedly crossed with Van der Stoel’s. One such occasion was a joint visit to former Yougoslavia, in the middle of the civil war.
• The evening will be held in cooperation with the of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in the Czech Republic.
• The discussion will be conducted in English without interpretation.
