Agreement on cooperation with Slovenian partner

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Ljubljana, 3 June 2011 – The delegation led by Directors of the Institute for the study of the totalitarian regimes (ISTR) and of the Security Services Archive (SSA) Mgr. Daniel Herman and Mgr. Jana Poddaná Ph.D. has concluded an Agreement on cooperation in fields of research and educational and remembrance projects with the Slovenian Study Centre for National Reconciliation (Centre) during their visit in Slovenia on 2-3 June 2011.

The guests from the Czech Republic have introduced Czech experience with publishing and easing of access to archives of the former State security on a seminar on 2 June. Following the greeting by Mr. Herman has Mr. Žáček spoken to an audience of professionals and interested public as well as the Slovenian media about Czech legislation on archiving and access to the documents, especially to Czech and international general public. The following debate has highlighted the need of specific cooperation and it has mirrored the on-going debate on forthcoming referendum in Slovenia. This concerned among other things the vote on proposal of a new law on archives, which has hindered access to various documents by postponing the date of declassification by several decades. The law was rejected by 71% of voters on Sunday 5 June.

The programme of visit continued on 3 June by speech of Czech ambassador in Slovenia, Mr. Petr Voznica, which was followed by speeches by Mr. Daniel Herman and the Directress of the Centre Mrs. Andreja Valić. Mr. Žáček and the Director of SSA Mrs. Poddaná have then given a lecture on legislative framework and research activities of the ISTR and SSA.

The members of audience were interested especially in the Czech “lustration law” and praised the Czech Republic role as “source for learning about dealing with the communist past.”

The visit was concluded by visit of Memorials reminding of tragic history of Slovenia in company with Director of Foundation for inestigation of the mass graves, Mr. jože Dežman. The visited location was the chapel and mine Barbara, place of uncovering of a mass grave of at least 800 persons, mainly Croats and Slovenes, discovered in 2008 and Teharje park, which served as a concentration, POW and political prisoners camp during the Second world war and after its end (when were up to 5 000 persons executed during summer 1945).