On May 17, 2005, Radio Praha (
visit link) reported the following:
"A memorial to the second Czechoslovak President Edvard Benes was unveiled on Monday in front of the Foreign Ministry headquarters near the Prague Castle. President Benes is not as widely popular today as his predecessor, Tomas Garigue Masaryk. But he is still very much respected among many Czechs, who see Edvard Benes as a champion of democracy and fighter against Nazism. Their view is, however, not shared by the Sudeten Germans — ethnic Germans expelled after World War II —who blame President Benes for their plight.
The unveiling ceremony was widely attended by a number of politicians, including the Prime Minister Jiri Paroubek, but above all by many Czech veterans, members of the anti-fascist resistance movement, and of the patriotic association Sokol.
The speakers stressed President Edvard Benes's merits, especially his leadership of the London-based government in exile during the Second World War, and his fight against Nazism.
The Chairman of the Lower House of Parliament, Lubomir Zaoralek:
"Right now, after we have discussed the events of the Second Ward War on the occasion of its 60th anniversary, it seems to me it is the right time to speak about our history. You know that Benes was one of the greatest fighters on the side of Churchill, Queen Wilhelmina, De Gaulle.....He is a part of the gallery of the great fighters of the Second World War. In the war against cruel Nazi regime he was on the side of democracy freedom and justice."
Joy Kadeckova from Great Britain has served in RAF, the Royal Air Force, during the war. She married a Czech pilot and worked for the Benes' government in exile during the war. She found the installation of the memorial to Benes deeply satisfying.
"I think he represents Czechoslovakia of that time. He did his job well in London, everybody held him in great respect. I think he deserves this very belated honour which has been bestowed of him. To make it now 65 years after is too late." "