Bill Clinton paid tribute to Madeleine Albright in Smíchov as a new boulevard bears her name

As part of his visit to Prague, former US president Bill Clinton visited the newly developed Smíchov boulevard, which was named in honour of Madeleine Albright, a prominent American politician of Czech descent. The boulevard is part of the Smíchov City project, built by Sekyra Group on a former railway brownfield site.

Former US president Bill Clinton arrived in Prague for the ‘Our Security Cannot Be Taken for Granted’ conference, which will mark the 25th anniversary of the Czech Republic becoming a member of NATO. It was Madeleine Albright who played a major role in the Czech Republic’s admission and she and Bill Clinton were very close allies. During his first term (1993-1997) she was US Ambassador to the United Nations. When he was elected president for the second time (1997-2001), he made Albright his Secretary of State.

“She was a unique Secretary of State, an exceptional ambassador to the UN, a respected professor, and above all an amazing human being,” wrote Bill Clinton two years ago in an obituary he published shortly after the announcement of Albright's death. He added that she earned a reputation as a passionate advocate of freedom, democracy, and human rights. When walking down the Smíchov boulevard named after her, Bill Clinton remarked: “It is an honour that this magnificent new boulevard will be named after Madeleine Albright, who was born here.”

Bill Clinton was also accompanied by Madeleine’s daughter, Katie Albright, the founder of Sekyra Group and Sekyra Foundation, Luděk Sekyra, and Michael Žantovský, a former ambassador to the US and close friend of Madeleine. “Madeleine Albright made an important contribution to the freedom and security of the Czech Republic as well as the rest of Europe after the end of the Cold War. She was proud of her birthplace and helped us open the door to many other countries. She was truly exceptional, just like Václav Havel, who considered her a close friend, ally, and foreign policy mentor,” said Michael Žantovský, who was the director of the Václav Havel Library until last year.

“Our family is deeply honoured and grateful that the new boulevard bears our mother’s name. It is even located in the part of Prague where she was born. And although she lived here only briefly as a child, she used to travel back all the time. Sometimes officially, but more often for pleasure,” said Katie Albright, who was thrilled to visit the boulevard, adding that she would bring the rest of her family so that they could all see the street named after her mother.

Prague’s Smíchov native

Albright was born in Prague to a Jewish family in Smíchov and emigrated to the United States in 1948. Besides the Madeleine Albright Boulevard, there will be other streets in the Smíchov City project named after prominent women who contributed to the fight against totalitarianism in the 20th and 21st centuries. “It is a tribute to their heroic stances and stories. We wanted to commemorate the women who devoted their lives to fighting for freedom, democracy, and against totalitarianism. Madeleine Albright is without doubt one of our most famous natives,” said Luděk Sekyra.

The pedestrian boulevard will cross a street named after her friend and neighbour from Georgetown, Washington, Meda Mládková, a well-known art patron and collector. Another important street, which runs parallel to the pedestrian boulevard, will be named after one of the bravest women in modern Czech history – the historian and imprisoned dissident, Růžena Vacková. Another street will be named after one of the first Czech feminists, dissident Jiřina Šiklová, and one after the painter Toyen. There will also be parks named after philosophers Hannah Arendt and Alice and Anna Masaryková.

Smíchov City is the largest development project in central Prague’s modern history. More than 12,000 people are expected to work and live in the new neighbourhood. The total cost of the project is estimated to be over 30 billion CZK. Smíchov City is divided into two parts: northern and southern. These are being gradually developed in four stages. The whole project is expected to be completed by 2032.

The northern and southern part of Smíchov City will be connected by the Madeleine Albright boulevard, which will also serve as an important meeting point and a place for community activities. Furthermore, the boulevard will be lined with greenery. In total, the project is to feature close to 10,000 m² of green space. On the opposite, southern side of the pedestrian boulevard, there will be a whole new commercial district, including a campus for Česká spořitelna bank.

The project also includes significant infrastructure and transport investments. The city of Prague will build a new car park (Park & Ride) in the vicinity of Smíchov train station, which will accommodate buses, plus more than a thousand cars and a thousand bicycles, where today's Knížecí street traffic will be rerouted. At the same time, the national railway administration (SŽ) is carrying out a major modernisation project of Smíchov train station and its surroundings. The Smíchov Terminal will become the first truly modern train station in Prague and will fully integrate all modes of transport.