A Word of Thanks for all those who helped Czechoslovakia in August 1968
A statement by the Czech Ambassador to London
Jan Čulík
Britské listy
August 20th, 1998
Dear Sir,
Thirty years ago, in the early hours of August 21, the armies of five Warsaw Pact member states occupied former Czechoslovakia. According to their propaganda, the invasion constituted international aid against the "counter-revolution". Only after the Wall came down in Europe at the end of 1989 did the five states acknowledge that their move had actually been an armed intervention into Czechoslovak internal affairs.
In the first week after the invasion, eight two Czechoslovak citizens were killed and over 800 injured. The nation as a whole sustained an injury that has still not completely healed. According to official estimates today, over 70 000 refugees fled the country. Many found help and asylum in Britain.
On behalf of the Czech Government I wish to extend my gratitude to all individuals, institutions and offices of the United Kingdom for the support they expressed with the plight of former Czechoslovakia in 1968. I also want to thank all those who offered moral and material help to Czechoslovak citizens seeking freedom and new lives in this country.
Pavel Seifter
Ambassador
Embassy of the Czech Republic, London