euro|topics - Viliam Buchert

20/11/2008

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Buchert, Viliam

3 articles of this author have been cited in the European Press Review so far.

Mladá fronta DNES - Czech Republic | 25/06/2007

The EU's new treaty

The EU continues to be a "project of the elites" which ignores the general public, comments Viliam Buchert on the summit. "The remarks of the heads of government at the summit show that it is becoming increasingly difficult and complicated to reach a consensus in Europe. The ideal of profound integration is unconvincing. Although the old continent is not yet experiencing stagnation, there is frustration and uncertainty about which direction to take. How long should this be allowed to continue? Until we finally realise that the Americans, the Chinese or the Indian 'express trains' are surging ahead?"

Mladá fronta DNES - Czech Republic | 20/02/2007

The US missile defence system and Russia

At a meeting in Warsaw the Czech and Polish heads of government, Mirek Topolanek and Jaroslaw Kaczynski, voiced their approval of US plans to set up part of its missile defence system in their countries. The Commander in Chief of Russia's Strategic Rocket Forces, Nikolay Solovtzov, has responded with threats. Viliam Buchert advises calm: "It's understandable that the Russians don't like the US missile defence system. However, Moscow should also understand that neither the Americans nor NATO are threatening or have any intention of threatening Russia. Today's Russia is not an enemy of the Czech Republic, even though its recent reactions to the radar system make it appear so. Nor, however, is Russia our strategic partner. Nonetheless it must be consulted. And this is precisely what Vaclav Klaus [Czech president] intends to do in April when he visits Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin. He should tell Putin that whether the Czech Republic allows the US to set up a radar system in the Czech Republic's is its decision and no one else's."

Mladá fronta DNES - Czech Republic | 15/08/2006

Europe discusses Grass's admission

Viliam Buchert argues that although Günter Grass may have lost his halo by admitting to having served with the Waffen-SS, it was still an important step. Buchert examines Grass's admission in the context of the Czech Republic's communist past. "Many people refuse to admit to having collaborated with the state security service. Now that Grass has made his confession, we must ask ourselves what is to be done with those who collaborated with National Socialism or communism. Those who are guilty should openly admit it. You don't have to be religious to see that repentance and clarification should be rewarded with forgiveness. But as usual, the Czechs prefer to turn a blind eye on their past… Günter Grass's confession has made it clear how far we are from having come to terms with our past. We refuse to confront the past simply because we don't want to."

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