To the Government of the Czech Republic

CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

of the Conference held in Prague as part of the Week of Expatriate Czechs

September 28 to October 4, 2003

LEGISLATIVE, POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC SECTION  

Resolution No. 1 : Development of Overall Relations and Cooperation Between Expatriate Czechs and the Czech Republic

1. The Conference finds that the situation in the area of development of overall relations has seen continued improvement in quality over the past three years, especially thanks to the initiative and work of the Standing Senate Commission on Expatriate Czechs of the Parliament of the Czech Republic (further referred to only as Standing Commission), the Subcommittee of the Foreign Committee of the Members’ Assembly of the Parliament of the Czech Republic for Relations with Expatriate Czechs (further referred to only as Subcommittee for Relations with Expatriate Czechs), and the Department of Cultural Relations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic (further referred to only as Department of Cultural Relations).
   
2. The Conference calls on groups and organizations abroad to improve the quality of their work in the area of cooperation with the above institutions and to provide even greater support for the activity of the Standing Commission’s Consultative Council.
   
3. The Conference recommends that these organizations and groups start more intense communication with Czech media. At the same time it recommends that the Czech Parliament and Government better inform the public about the lives, activities contributions and needs of expatriate communities in the world.
   
4. The Conference pointed out legal, social and economic differences between communities in traditional democracies on the one hand, and communities in countries which are only building democratic societies, on the other. For these reasons the Conference recommends the creation of a foundation, with the participation of the Czech Government and the prospering communities, which would serve to bring about specific projects by the less prosperous communities.
   
5. The Conference asks the Parliament of the Czech Republic to see to it that the Standing Commission and the Subcommittee for Relations with Expatriate Czechs do not include members of the Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia. The Conference also considers it undesirable for members of the Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia to be included in delegations that visit Czech communities abroad, or to participate in activities where representatives of ethnic communities are being invited. The same request is being raised by the Conference in the matter of visits and participation by representatives of fascist and extremist organizations.
   
6. The Conference recommends that, due to growing demands on the content and organizational activity of the problems of Czechs abroad, the Parliament and the Government of the Czech Republic secure corresponding staff increases at the appropriate level.
   
7. The Conference asks the Government of the Czech Republic to consider increasing financial support for the activities and projects of the groups and organizations aboard.
   
8. The Conference asks the International Coordinating Committee of Expatriate Czechs - in cooperation with other entities which take part in the preparation of the Week of Expatriate Czechs – to incorporate the issue of improved cooperation with the younger generation into the program.
   
9. The Conference asks the International Coordinating Committee, Department of Cultural Relations and the Standing Commission, to jointly prepare a list of all bodies whose work is related to Czechs living abroad.

Resolution No. 2:Dealing with Specific Issues of Relations and Cooperation

Legal-Standing of Czechs Abroad

1. The Conference asks for the amendment of Act 40/1993 and/or other immediately related amendments, to remove existing discrimination of expatriate Czechs as follows:
• Upon acquiring foreign citizenship, a Czech national should not automatically lose Czech citizenship;
• Remove the deficiency in the law which at present still does not allow all groups of Czechs living in Slovakia to obtain Czech citizenship.
• Persons, former Czech citizens, who lost their citizenship, should not face any legal obstacles or limitations when they seek to regain it.
• Persons living in the Slovak Republic whose one parent has Czech citizenship should not face any legal obstacles or limitations when they seek to regain Czech citizenship.
• Persons of Czech origin should be guaranteed a simplified means of obtaining Czech citizenship and the existing time-limit should be shortened.
  
2. The Conference asks the Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs to initiate bilateral negations with countries whose legislation doese Czech Internal Affairs Ministry and the Czech Foreign Affairs Ministry to initiate negotiations and take necessary steps to remove the visa requirement from Czechs living abroad. not allow dual citizenship, the goal being that Czechs living abroad do not lose the citizenship of the said country by once again becoming Czech citizens as per Act 193/1999.
   
3. The Conference asks all organizations of expatriate Czechs to promptly present to the Czech Internal Affairs Ministry and to the Standing Committee – in collaboration with diplomatic missions of the Czech Republic – a list of problems connected to obtaining Czech citizenship relative to the situation in their country of residence.
   
4. The Conference asks the Czech Internal Affairs Ministry and the Czech Foreign Affairs Ministry to initiate negotiations and take necessary steps to remove the visa requirement from Czechs living abroad.

Right to Vote

1. The Conference asks for an election law amendment which would ensure that the right to vote could be exercised by correspondence, so that Czech citizens abroad may vote for Members of the Czech Assembly, the Senate of the Czech Republic, and participate effectively in other elections or referenda which may be held in the Czech Republic.

Restitution laws

After February 25, 1948, i.e. when the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia seized power, came extensive arrests and liquidation of communism’s opponents. This included the confiscation of their property. These confiscations also applied to persons who managed to leave the country in the period of 1948 to 1990.

In connection with restitutions a law was passed in Czechoslovakia in 1990 (119/1990) about court rehabilitations. Its preamble states: This law seeks to cancel those court verdicts for deeds which were considered to be punishable offences by law, in violation of the principles of democratic societies respecting civic rights and freedoms guaranteed by the constitution and expressed in international documents and international legal standards.

Par. 2 of this legislation states that: All further rulings in the same criminal matter are cancelled effective the date of issue. By this the cancellation of all sentences is understood, as well as the cancellation of the confiscation orders effective the date issued. Hence, they must be viewed as if they had never existed.

Restitutions must abide by Act 119/1990 and the approving legislators’ intent, which was quite clear: Cancel all political verdicts from the period of February 1948 through January 1, 1990, together with all pertinent sentences. It is this original legislation which represents the founding restitution law. For the true intent of this law to be fulfilled, corresponding orders allowing for its execution must be worked out.

On the basis of the above facts, with the aim of removing existing discrimination of Czechs abroad, the Conference requests:

1. The Conference requests that the effect of Act 39/2000 on the one-time payment also be extended to those war veterans and prisoners who are now citizens of other nations. The Conference requests that this category include members of the Czechoslovak Army from the pre-war Republic, as well as members of the national liberation army of Yugoslavia.
   
2. The Conference asks appropriate government institutions to express recognition in a dignified manner to all former members of the Czechoslovak and allied armies.
   
3. The Conference asks appropriate state institutions to:
   

   • express recognition to all Czech and Slovak fighters against the Nazi armed forces, as well as to all those who became victims of Nazi violence in the period of May 4 to 1, 1945;
   • reimburse these fighters regardless of permanent residence and present citizenship;
   • reimburse surviving widows and orphans, if the above persons are no longer living.
     
     

   The Conference recommends to the appropriate Czech authorities that they preparewith the help of expatriate organizations - a survey of graves of Czech and Slovak legionaries of W.W. II., at home as well as abroad, and secure their dignified repairs and upkeep.

   Economy and Commerce

In an effort to contribute to the analysis of possibilities of the creation of a broader scope and concrete forms of activities of expatriate Czechs for the benefit of the Czech Republic, the Conference recommends the following to Czech expatriate groups, organizations and individuals:

SOCIAL SECTION

Resolution No. 3: Resettlement and Repatriation, Social Assistance to Returnees, Social Assistance to Czechs Living Abroad  

1. The Conference requests, with the help of new legal amendment, the conception and realization of the resettlement of expatriates and their families to the Czech Republic. It recommends that the untenable situation of Czechs (persons of Czech descent) living in economically unstable or war-torn countries (for example countries of the former USSR, Yugoslavia, Romania, Bulgaria, etc.) be taken into consideration. The Conference recommends that those concerned contact the appropriate Czech Ministries for help.
   
2. The Conference recommends that the appropriate Czech state authorities pay greater attention to the matter of resettling Czech citizens from the Slovak Republic and handle related issues (such as temporary housing, granting state guaranteed loans, home ownership loans, etc.) The Conference recommends that those concerned contact the Czech government.
   
3. The Conference supports the establishment of a home for expatriates-seniors and appeals to the Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Social Affairs and HR for help.
   
4. The Conference requests that the issue of solving social problems of persons who are not Czech citizens, be included in the requested law on expatriate Czechs. This should include issues such as temporary and long-term employment, social insurance, health insurance, spa treatment, right to old age and disability benefits, the option to buy additional retirement insurance, and removing discrimination caused by the permanent residence requirement.
   
5. The Conference recommends that the Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Social Affairs and HR display or publish on their web pages information on how to apply for pensions, health insurance coverage, housing or retirement home placement, as well as the lists and forms of necessary documents.
   
6. The Conference requests that soldiers of the Czechoslovak armies which fought abroad, and political prisoners of the former political regime, who no longer have Czech citizenship and resident status, have the right to access treatment in hospitals and spa facilities in the Czech Republic. In this matter the Conference is appealing to the said government departments and other applicable state authorities.  

SCHOOL SECTION

Resolution No. 4: Broadening the Education of Czechs Living Abroad, Providing for Better Teaching of the Czech Language

The Conference recommends that the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other appropriate government and non-government organizations provide a short intensive Czech language course in the Czech Republic to those expatriates who need excellent knowledge of Czech for their profession (journalists, teachers, etc.).

• The Conference recommends that the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other appropriate government and non-government organizations enable teachers from the expatriate communities to come for short-term stays in the Czech Republic with the option to participate directly in the instruction process in Czech schools.
  
• The Conference recommends that the government of the Czech Republic make it possible for the younger generations of expatriates to study tuition free at Czech secondary schools.
  
• The Conference recommends to the Government of the Czech Republic to continue to fully support Czech students from abroad who study at Czech universities.
  
• The Conference recommends that the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other appropriate government and non-government organizations support Czech language instruction within expatriate communities fully and in a greater measure than they have been doing.
  
• The Conference recommends that the government of the Czech Republic welcome the professional experiences which expatriate Czechs have gained at universities and scientific institutions in foreign countries, and support their application in the Czech Republic.
  
• The Conference recommends that the Government of the Czech Republic consider methodical assistance to expatriate groups in the area of Czech language instruction, by sending professionals or by providing audiovisual aids.
  
• The Conference asks the government of the Czech Republic for modern Czech language textbooks for nursery and elementary schools in larger quantities, and for their support of libraries with Czech literature.
  
• The Conference recommends the initiation of negotiations with the appropriate government departments, to have university education obtained by Czechs aboard, recognized during employment search.

CULTURAL SECTION

 Resolution 5: Preserving Czech Cultural Heritage Abroad

 The Organizations and groups represented at the Conference pledge to:

• Discuss with their members immediate steps to preserve archive documents pertaining to the activities of Czech groups and organizations aboard, or to renowned people abroad.
  
• Discuss with their members the question of completing archive materials pertaining to the history and activity of said groups and famous persons, and make further effort to save such materials, especially if in private hands.
  
• Discuss with their members the question of donating (or depositing) such obtained archive materials to institutes in the Czech Republic (State Central Archive, the Naprstek Museum, the Libri Prohibiti Library, etc.) or to similar institutions in their country of residence.
  
• In the event that the groups and organizations already own lists and catalogues of their archive collections, send their copies immediately to the State Central Archive in Prague, the purpose being the creation or updating of a new central computer database.
  
• Systematically map Czech cultural monuments in the country in question (memorials, churches, community buildings, graves of famous Czechs and fallen soldiers, places connected to significant events or persons who had a significant impact on Czech history and Czech communities aboard, and to send this list to the various bodies discussed.
  
• Start work on documenting the activities of well known Czech personalities abroad.

Resolution 6: Methods of Cultural Cooperation of Expatriate Groups and Organizations with Government and Non-Government Institutes in the Czech Republic

• The Conference highly appreciates the work done by Radio Prague and by the Czech Radio for abroad.
  
• The Conference asks the appropriate government bodies of the Czechs Republic to consider more intensive work in the area of providing professional, organizational, material and financial help and counseling to expatriate groups and organizations.
  
• The Conference recommends all groups and organizations consider providing more significant support for publishing activity dealing with the life of Czech communities in the world, and the activities of individual groups, organizations and personalities.
  
• The Conference asks all groups and organizations to discuss immediately financial support for the Libri Prohibiti Library, and to commit to send to the Library copies of all publications resulting from their activities (books, periodicals, magazines, posters, resolutions, etc.)
  
• Groups and organizations represented at the Conference pledge to provide greater information about their activity to the Czech Republic by advising the Department of Cultural Relations, the Standing Commission, Czech radio and magazine editors which deal with these issues, and last the International Coordinating Committee of Expatriate Czechs.
  
• The Conference recommends to government and non-government institutes in the Czech Republic to consider the realization of projects like short-term exchange programs for children in expatriate communities and the Czech Republic, as well as projects such as study programs and meetings of young people from expatriate communities and the Czech Republic.
  
• The Conference invites all groups and organizations to support projects of regional as well as world-wide literary, art, music and science competitions for young expatriate Czech and young people from the Czech Republic.
  
• The Conference requests that expatriate groups and organizations send to the Standing Commission detailed information by December 31, 2003 about television reporting in their country of residence, dealing with the life and problem of its own citizens living elsewhere, and on ethnic minorities in the said country. The Conference asks the Standing Commission, the Department of Cultural Relations and the International Coordinating Committee of Expatriate Czechs, to use this information to prepare suggestions how to improve reporting about Czechs aboard, and submit them to the Czech Television for comment, as well as to other interested institutes by February 29, 2004.
  
• Czech Television broadcasting has fundamental significance for expatriate communities in surrounding countries, especially the younger generations, for the purpose of preserving and development of the Czech language. Therefore the Conference asks Czech Television to take appropriate steps to secure undisrupted reception of Czech television broadcasts abroad, through non-coded satellite or cable. At the same time the Conference asks the Czech Government to provide Czech Television with a donation for this purpose.
  
  
• The Conference recommends that Czech Television allows for more frequent broadcasts dealing with the crimes of communism.