We fight to rebuild - Airmen’s contribution to recognition of the government in exile

Author(s): Ladislav Kudrna / Language(s): English Publication Year: 0

In the turbulent summer of 1940, the Czechoslovak airmen were among the greatest assets of the foreign resistance movement. A shocking defeat of France and the loneliness of Great Britain affirmed their privileged position. What was highlighted in the difficult negotiations with the British side was the strength of the air force, as well as the success of fighter pilots in the Battle of France. Recognition of the Czechoslovak provisional government could be described as a diplomatic miracle, thanks to a significant contribution by the aviation staff.

The story of a dilatory informer - Robert Sylten – State Security Service (StB) collaborator in Israel

Author(s): Jan Dvořák / Language(s): English Publication Year: 0

Robert Sylten was never a publicly known or important person. His actions did not make a significant mark on history either. Yet his story certainly cannot be described as commonplace – it dramatically reflected the turbulent history of the 20th century. When watching the fateful twists of Sylten’s life, we can also clearly see some practices of totalitarian regimes.

Escape by tunnel from the Nikolaj camp

Author(s): Jan Horník / Language(s): English Publication Year: 0

It is Sunday afternoon, 6 November 1955. A raw autumn day. Anton Tomík’s hand has just touched the back of a wooden fence separating the guards’ barracks and the prisoners’ camp. The boarded fence runs roughly in the middle of the Nikolaj camp. Nikolaj lies one kilometre north of the town of Jáchymov in the Krušné Mountains, in the area of which prisoners extract uranium ore to be exported to the USSR.

Karel Vaš in the USSR - A prisoner and collaborator of the people’s commissariat for internal affairs

Author(s): Adam Hradilek / Language(s): English Publication Year: 0

Investigation file No. 29064 on Karel Vaš was preserved in the State Archives of the Transcarpathian Region. It contains a large amount of interesting information about his activities in the inter-war period as well as his internment in the USSR. The presented edition of documents from the file is supplemented by the transcription of an interview with Karel Vaš on this topic.

Coming to Terms With the 20th Century Totalitarian Past

Author(s): Author Not Specified / Language(s): English Publication Year: 0

Cautious Preparations for the Černínský Palace Revolution - February 1948 and persecution of employees of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Author(s): Ivana Koutská / Language(s): English Publication Year: 0

The Communists quickly won control over key ministries after World War II to prepare an eventual bid for power. The Foreign Ministry held out against their traditional methods but could not defy the tide.

Country Report - Serbia - Crimes of the communist regimes – the case of Serbia

Author(s): Marina Jelić / Language(s): English Publication Year: 0

My name is Marina Jelic and I’m from the Republic of Serbia. In my case the information where I come from is not irrelevant to the subject of this meeting in general. Because, as you may be aware, the country that I come from was, until the beginning of 1990s, part of a larger administrative territory – the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. It is interesting to note that collapse of that complex country coincides with the fall of Berlin Wall, or collapse of communist systems in countries of Central and Eastern Europe. From the previously mentioned it is given to conclude that the communist regime can be only discussed in context of Yugoslavia (not Serbia). Serbia, which, aft er the collapse of federal country, went into wars, was in a particular way totalitarian organized state (as the most of former Yugoslav republics), which was in a way logical given the situation of open (or covert) war that prevailed in those newly created countries. It is not possible, however, to talk about classic communist model of government. (One party system, state ownership of property and materials for production, lack of freedom of press, total enclosed mass media, and so on…)

Milan Zver, Slovenia

Author(s): Milan Zver / Language(s): English Publication Year: 0

My intention is not to intimidate but rather to warn or remind all of us of the “fragility”, weaknesses and vulnerabilities of the newly established democracies in Europe and beyond, although – I have to stress right at the beginning – I do not agree with H. P Martin (former MEP), who produced the thesis of the End of (EU) democracy. However, let me present you with some facts and expectations from 20 years ago – which I would argue are important to explain my point of view. Well, what happened at the end of the eighties? Firstly: Democracy triumphed in Europe. At that time the third wave of the spread Democracy took place in Europe and in the world and so it seemed the end of totalitarian regimes in Europe had finally materialized. Secondly: Even more, some talked about the Triumph of Western Civilisation over the rest of the world, with the domination of its culture and market economy. The End of Ideologies and History is Fukuyama’s famous thesis. Thirdly: On that basis a rapid and successful transition to a democratic system was predicted by mass movements and new elites. The phenomenon of a new democratic culture seemed at the time to be unstoppable.

About the Institute for the Study of Totalitarian Regimes

Author(s): Author Not Specified / Language(s): English Publication Year: 0

The Institute was founded based on Act No. 181/2007 Coll. passed by the Parliament of the Czech Republic. It assumed work on 1 February, 2008. Its mission includes the study and evaluation of the period of Nazi occupation and communist rule in former Czechoslovakia, the anti-democratic and criminal activities of the state, especially its security services, and of the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia; the analysis and documentation of the reasons for the liquidation of the democratic regime, and of the active support for and resistance against the dictatorships, as well as the documentation of Nazi and communist crimes. Through and together with its subordinate entity, the Security Services Archive which administers over 18 km of files, the Institute acquires relevant documents, ensures their digitisation and makes them accessible to the public. The Institute’s further mission is to raise awareness, disseminate information and educate the public, in cooperation with like-minded institutions and persons at home and abroad.

Structure of the State Administration Authorities Acting in International Relations and European Affairs

Author(s): Martin Firák / Language(s): English Publication Year: 0

Slovak-Hungarian Relations: What Next?

Author(s): Kálmán Petőcz / Language(s): English Publication Year: 0

The spring 2006 – spring 2007 period of Slovak-Hungarian relations was packed with issues that had the potential to quickly catch the attention of the media. In spite of the fact, that these included a few constructive and positive moments indeed, the media and public showed interest mainly in the conflicting events. Thus, in the memory of an independent observer, the previous year rests as a year of deterioration of Slovak-Hungarian relations and at the same time as a year, when open questions and unresolved problems in mutual relations became a tool of a domestic political fight on both sides of the border.

Slovakia and its foreign and European policy in 2016

Author(s): Miroslav Lajčák / Language(s): English Publication Year: 0

This is the seventh occasion on which I have had the opportunity to present my thoughts to you in this forum. Taking stock of our foreign and European policy here has never been dull – the recent years, with both their successes and complications,have been dynamic, and often dramatic. I do not tend to use superlatives or exaggerate needlessly, but in assessing 2016 I can openly say that it was one of the most dynamic and significant years since Slovakia became independent. At the same time,it is clear that we are witnessing an extraordinarily hectic and complicated period of our modern history.

Structure of the state administration authorities acting in international and European affairs in 2016

Author(s): Tomáš Madleňák / Language(s): English Publication Year: 0

Slovensko-maďarské vzťahy: ako ďalej?

Author(s): Kálmán Petőcz / Language(s): Slovak Publication Year: 0

The spring 2006 – spring 2007 period of Slovak-Hungarian relations was packed with issues that had the potential to quickly catch the attention of the media. In spite of the fact, that these included a few constructive and positive moments indeed, the media and public showed interest mainly in the conflicting events. Thus, in the memory of an independent observer, the previous year rests as a year of deterioration of Slovak-Hungarian relations and at the same time as a year, when open questions and unresolved problems in mutual relations became a tool of a domestic political fight on both sides of the border.

Štruktúra orgánov štátnej správy pôsobiacich v oblasti medzinárodných vzťahov a európskej integrácie

Author(s): Marek Kalma / Language(s): Slovak Publication Year: 0

Štruktúra orgánov štátnej správy pôsobiacich v oblasti medzinárodných vzťahov a európskej integrácie

Author(s): Marek Kalma / Language(s): Slovak Publication Year: 0

Treba li BiH jedan vrhovni sud?

Author(s): Edin Šarčević / Language(s): Bosnian Publication Year: 0

Pitanje iz naslova bi se u svakoj evropskoj državi shvatilo kao lakrdijaška pravna dosjetka. U Bosni ono ne stvara reflekse osmijeha; pitanje je ozbiljno i prate ga dramatična upozorenja. Tema je unekoliko izlizana političkim parolama i medijskim eskponiranjem političkih pozicija. No, stručni krugovi (sudije, tužioci, advokati i državni službenici) i akademska zajednica (saradnici univerzitetskih insitucija i naučno-istraživačkih instituta) imaju jasno artikulirine stavove o ovom pitanju. Oni nisu apodiktičke prirode, nego počivaju na analizi pravnog ustrojstva BiH i iznalaze argumente u uporednom pravu, jursidikciji Ustavnog suda BiH i u pozitivnom ustavnom pravu.

Treba li Bosni i Hercegovini jedan vrhovni sud: prilog raspravi

Author(s): Goran Marković / Language(s): Serbian Publication Year: 0

U pravnoj literaturi i političkom životu u Bosni i Hercegovini često se ističe potreba osnivanja institucije sudske vlasti koja bi vršila funkciju državnog vrhovnog suda. Ovo pitanje je utoliko kompleksnije ukoliko se osnivanje Vrhovnog suda Bosne i Hercegovine povezuje sa procesom prenosa nadležnosti sa entiteta na državu. Ako se problem tako postavi, politički argumenti postaju dominantni, a pravne analize često služe samo za opravdanje određenog političkog stava. Očigledno je da rasprava o potrebi osnivanja ove institucije ima više aspekata: terminološki, koji se tiče samog naziva institucije; politički, koji je povezan sa političkim implikacijama njenog eventualnog osnivanja; pravni, gdje se postavljaju suštinska pitanja organizacije, sastava, načina izbora i, naravno, nadležnosti Vrhovnog suda. Osjetljivost problema je veća ukoliko se uzmu u obzir kontroverze koje su pratile i još uvijek prate osnivanje i rad Suda Bosne i Hercegovine.

Osnivanje Vrhovnog suda Bosne i Hercegovine kao uslov za članstvo u Evropskoj uniji

Author(s): Zlatan Meškić / Language(s): Bosnian Publication Year: 0

Nepostojanje Vrhovnog suda BiH u nauci se posmatra kao nedostatak pravosudnog sistema koji neposredno onemogućuje osiguranje ravnopravnosti subjekata i stvaranje jedinstvenog ekonomskog prostora, te ujednačenu primjenu prava na cjelokupnoj teritoriji BiH . Dok Vrhovni sudovi Federacije BiH (FBiH) i Republike Srpske (RS) ovu ulogu preuzimaju na nivou entiteta, te apelacioni sud Brčko distrikta na teritoriji Brčko distrikta, na državnom nivou zaštita postoji pred Ustavnim sudom putem apelacione nadležnosti, ali samo u okviru pitanja sadržanih u Ustavu BiH “kada ona postanu predmet spora zbog presude bilo kojeg suda u BiH” u skladu sa čl. VI/3b) Ustava. Apelaciona jurisdikcija Ustavnog suda unutar okvira čl. VI/2b) Ustava BiH je jedini pravni prostor u kojem se ostvaruje sudska piramida sve do državnog vrha, pa sudije Ustavnog suda u njoj vide sredstvo za djelomičnu nadoknadu nedostatka postojanja Vrhovnog suda na državnom nivou . Komisija je u izvještaju o napretku BiH u 2007. godini konstatovala da Ustavni sud zbog nepostojanja Vrhovnog suda BiH sve više djeluje kao apelacioni sud . Razlog zbog kojeg Ustav BiH nije predvidio Vrhovni sud na državnom nivou može se potražiti u podjeli nadležnosti između države i entiteta, izričito uređene čl. III Ustava BiH. Ustav BiH u svom čl. III/1 navodi isključive i pored njih u čl. III/5 određene dodatne nadležnosti države. Sve nadležnosti koje nisu izričito Ustavom povjerene državi u skladu sa čl. III/3a) u nadležnosti su entiteta. Pri tome čl. III/1 ne navodi državnu nadležnost u krivičnim i civilnim stvarima, što je rezultiralo donošenjem cjelokupnog seta propisa iz ovih oblasti na entitetskom nivou. Moglo bi se zaključiti da su uvjetovani podjelom nadležnosti iz čl. III Ustava BiH nastali samostalni entitetski pravni prostori u krivičnim i civilnim stvarima, pa bi i državni Vrhovni sud koji bi ujednačavao primjenu propisa u ovim oblastima izgubio svrhu postojanja. Do ovakvog zaključka došla je Venecijanska komisija u svom Mišljenju o potrebi za sudskim organom na nivou države BiH od 1998. godine , konstatujući da je nedostatak Vrhovnog suda na nivou BiH u skladu sa posebnostima podjele nadležnosti između države i entiteta prema Ustavu BiH. Tada je Venecijanska komisija ocijenila da prema Ustavu BiH treba biti uspostavljen sudski organ koji će imati nadležnosti u pogledu izbornih zakona i upravnih sporova, što se dogodilo uspostavom Suda BiH u 2000. godini, čija nadležnost je većinom ograničena na državne zakone .

Contesting Refugees in Turkey: Political Parties and the Syrian Refugees

Author(s): Aslı Ilgit,Fulya Memişoğlu / Language(s): English Publication Year: 0

Political parties and their attitudes towards Refugees and Syrian refugees in Turkey are examined in this chapter.