Opened in Czech Parliament Senate's building of Valdstejnsky Palace, Prague last March and April, the exhibition mapping the paths of NATO development and Czech nation and military forces accession is today available to see in the Faculty of Economics and Management building entrance hall. It is titled "NATO: Freedom and Responsibility" and opened till 16 April in 44, Kounicova Street.
The thirty-eight exhibition panels map Alliance's history from its roots till present days. Parts of the display show for example NATO countries national military uniforms. A rare piece is USAF captain Midkiff's jacket as he studied the Military Academy (a University of Defence predecessor school) in 1990's.
The exhibition, arranged by Military Historical Institute Prague and National Museum is opened to public every week day from 8AM till 6PM. It is University's of Defence tribute to remember the eleventh anniversary of Czech Republic accession to the North Atlantic Alliance.
The Czech Republic became a North Atlantic Alliance member on 12 March 1999. The country has grown into a reliable partner for the other member nations and its military forces has gained respect and recognition for professional performance particularly during deployment in overseas multinational missions.
The end of Warsaw Pact and Soviet Union breakdown brought a radical change into both European and global relations. The Warsaw Pact Organisation was dissolved on 1 July 1991 and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics terminated its existence on 26 December the same year being symbols of cold war era that had been determining international relations after the World War II.
Cold War ceased, the North Atlantic Alliance has remained an efficient organisation of member nations collective defence while it has proved its ability of responding to the new conditions. It is still the primary actor in both European and world safety.
Having established a space for the dialogue and safety cooperation in the widely understood Euro-Atlantic region the Alliance has formed a respected partner to the United Nations Organisation, European Union and all countries of international community.
Text and photo: Mgr. Zdeňka Dubová