CYIL 2011

But even from the more general perspective of a cross-border dialogue between international lawyers, forming a kind of epistemic community, the present Yearbook may be of value. Mindful of the fact that Czech (as well as Slovak) international lawyers do not yet seem to be sufficiently represented in foreign journals and other publications on international law, this volume includes mostly contributions by Czech authors. For the same reason, we are also presenting the Survey of Czech international law bibliography and reviews of several books recently published in the Czech Republic. Moreover, and for the first time, the Yearbook brings practice oriented information on Czech courts and international law, as well as on Czech treaty practice. This Czech Yearbook has no need to feign the support of or profess collaboration with any academic institutions. Firstly, it is a publication that clearly stems from an academic background. Secondly, the authors and editors do represent the leading Czech institutions with expertise in the field: three out of four Czech Faculties of Law, i.e. Charles University in Prague, Palacky University in Olomouc, West-Bohemian University in Pilsen, the Institute of Law of the Czech Academy of Sciences, the University of Economics in Prague, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and its Institute of International Relations, the Ministry of Environment, as well as the Paneuropean University in Bratislava. At the same time, however, we do and will keep the Czech Yearbook open to foreign authors and Czechs working abroad. Two articles were written by foreign authors, another two by authors affiliated with institutions outside the Czech Republic. Over the longer-term, the Yearbook intends to become a fairly international, though Czech or Prague-based, platform for dialogue of scholars and practitioners of international law in Central Europe and beyond. We hope that Volume 2 of the Czech Yearbook will find many interested readers both in the printed and electronic versions (www.cyil.eu). We are looking forward to any comments and to new authors and new contributions for the next volume.

Prof. Pavel Šturma Editor-in-Chief

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