President Clinton revisits Reduta jazz club in Prague where he famously jammed in 1994
Former US President Bill Clinton is in Prague for a conference commemorating the 25th anniversary of Czechia’s admission to NATO. On Sunday night he visited Prague's Reduta jazz club, where he celebrated the country’s admission to Western structures together with then president Vaclav Havel and US secretary of state Madeleine Albright a quarter of a century ago.
On January 11, 1994 then US President Bill Clinton was recorded live at the Reduta Jazz Club in Prague, playing Summertime on the saxophone with Czech jazz musicians. Next to him was the icon of the Velvet Revolution Vaclav Havel and then US secretary of state Madeleine Albright, who significantly contributed to the fact that just five years after the fall of communism the Czech Republic was being taken into the Western fold of nations. Symbolically, the popular music venue Reduta is located on Narodní třída, where the communist secret police cracked down on an unarmed student demonstration sparking protests that led to the regime’s downfall.
In Prague for celebrations of Czechia’s NATO membership a quarter of a century later, President Clinton was clearly moved by memories of the time. He arrived on Saturday night and revisited some of the places he was taken to by the late Czech president in 1994, taking a walk across Charles Bridge and later attending an informal event at the Reduta Jazz Club where he was greeted by the present head of state, Petr Pavel and his wife Eva. The club was packed with politicians, artists and former associates of Vaclav Havel, as well as some of the musicians that Mr. Clinton jammed with 25 years ago.
Leaving the club, an hour and a half later President Clinton summed up his feelings in an exclusive interview for CNN Prima News.
“It is wonderful to be back. It was one of the most memorable trips in my life. I miss Vaclav Havel. We were good friends. I was glad to see Dagmar, his wife and her daughter here tonight, and a lot of other good friends. The music was great as always. It is my third trip here and they have all been great.”
Speaking to CNN Prima News, President Clinton highlighted the significance of NATOs expansion in 1994 and in the present day, in light of the war in Ukraine and Russia’s expansionist ambitions.
“We are here to celebrate 25 years of Czech membership in NATO. They were the first country we voted to take in. And it was the right thing to do. NATOs expansion was right and we should all support it now because people in this part of the world remember what happens if you do not stand up for freedom and democracy. So, I feel good about it. I am glad to be here.”
The former US president will be the keynote speaker at a conference at Prague Castle on Tuesday, titled Our Security Cannot be Taken for Granted, commemorating 25 years of Czech membership in NATO. Other speakers include the former NATO secretary general, Javier Solana and the former NAT0 chief Lord Robertson, who will both be delivering a video message.
