Visit of Iraqi minister to the Institute and the Archive
Prague, 19 July 2011 – The Institute for the study of the totalitarian regimes and the Security Services Archive were visited by a delegation led by Minister for Human Rights, His Excellency Mohammed S. Al-Sudaney. Among the members of the delegation were also Mr. Adel Khudhair Abbas, Director General of the International Relations of the Ministry, Mr. Haidar Hussein Al-Ugaili, Director General of the Legal Affairs of the Ministry and Mr. Saad Gatu’Dakhel, Head of the Centre of Documentation of the Former Regime Crimes and Mr. Khalid AlKhero, Minister Plenipotentiary of the Embassy of Republic of Iraq in Prague. The delegation visited the Czech Republic in order to observe the methods and practices of investigating and dealing with crimes of communism and activities of ISTR, SSA and other archive and remembrance organisations in the Czech Republic.
The Delegation was informed about establishment and activities of the ISTR and SSA, with special highlight on the dealing with legacy of communism, educational activities and legislative background of workings of the institutions by Chairman of Advisory Board of Director of ISTR, Mr. Miroslav Lehký, 1st Deputy Director PhDr. Jan Kalous PhD., 1st Deputy Director of SSA PhDr. Zlatuše Kukánová, Mgr. et Mgr. Lubomír Augustín and Head of Education Department Mgr. Jaroslav Pinkas.
His Excellency Minister Al-Sudaney has described the activities and responsibilities of his ministry and the specific tasks and methods of the Centre for documentation of the Former Regime Crimes (the Saddam Hussein Baathists regime took place from 1968 to 2003). The Iraqis have to deal with painful legacy of the former regime – among the Ministry’s giant tasks are identification of victims and perpetrators of crimes, which have directly and violently afflicted millions of persons and families. The sharing of experiences with ISTR and SSA was the main goal of visit in the Czech Republic.
A special attention was given to visit of specialised workplaces – the digitalisation of documents, their restoration and storage were closely observed by the delegation members. The Study Room and Archive depository were shown by Mgr. Pavel Navrátil, who has also introduced the visitors to a selection of archive documents showing the interest and activities of the former Czechoslovak intelligence on Iraq.
