President Klaus awards state honours

On the occasion of the 94th anniversary of the founding of Czechoslovakia on Sunday, President Václav Klaus decorated 22 individuals in recognition of their merit to the state at a ceremony at Prague Castle. The highest Czech decoration, the Order of the White Lion, was awarded to two WWII veterans, Alexander Beer and Vasil Korolov; the president awarded the Order of Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk to former political prisoners Leopold Färber, Mons. Karel Jaroslav Fořt, Jaromír Jarmara and others, while the Medal of Merit was handed out to, among others, scientists Jiří Drahoš and Václav Havlíček. The president also decorated former footballer Ivo Viktor and javelin champion Barbora Špotáková.

Author: Jan Velinger