The Star Freshman Of NATO

Vaclav Havel, the current president of the Czech Republic, first made his name as a prolific playwright.

Havel is a man NATO members have cheered for years as he stood up to communism. This weekend, at his country's first NATO summit and the organization's 50th anniversary celebration, he officially became one of them, reports CBS News Correspondent Phil Jones.

"To my country, this is one of the most important moments in its long and dramatic history," Havel told NATO members.

In an interview with CBS News, President Havel made the events of this weekend even more personal.

"This is really moving for me," he said. "If I didn't do anything else for my country, this is enough I think."

But Havel has been fighting to save Czechoslovakia from communism all his life. He became such a thorn in the Soviets' side that he was put in prison. However, Havel survived to see all the symbols of communist tyranny fall.

But as the Czech president joins in the dialogue of his first NATO summit, there is some discomfort.

NATO is bombing Serbia daily. Historically, the Serbs and Czechs have been friends and allies. But on the bombings, Havel stands firmly at NATO's side.

But does he believe in his heart that Yugoslav president Slobodan Milosevic is a war criminal?

"I'm sure," Havel said.

There are visions and memories of another dictator -- Joseph Stalin -- when Havel talks about Milosevic.

"What he makes in his country and you compare with Stalin made for former Soviet Union, it's the same," he says. "Only worlds are different, only flags are different, but it's the same."

Now that Czechoslovakia is under the umbrella of NATO, Havel feels more protected.

"I feel safer andÂ…my people in my country [do] also," he said.

In addition to the Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland have also become members of NATO.