CYIL 2012

PAVEL ŠTURMA CYIL 3 ȍ2012Ȏ became outdated with time, his critical approach including certain sociological aspects represents without any doubts an asset for the Czech doctrine. Professor Čepelka published several monographs and textbooks as well as many studies and articles on various areas of international law, mostly in Czech but also in English and French. His Habilitation work “Les conséquences juridiques du délit en droit international contemporain” (AUC Iuridica, Monographia III, Prague, 1965) has been largely cited abroad, including by the Special Rapporteur(s) of the UN International Law Commission with respect to the codification of State responsibility. Among his important publications are, for example, Treaty and Custom in International Law (AUC Monographia XLIII, 1984), two commentaries on draft Articles on State responsibility and the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties (respectively in 1985 and 1986). The latter was reissued in 1999 and, in a largely amended version, as Law of International Treaties (in co-authorship with P. Šturma and V. Balaš) in 2011. Most of Professor Čepelka’s views were explained in two editions of his Introduction to (the Theory of ) International Law (1978, 1983). This theoretical book (in co-authorship with prof. Vladislav David) also became an alternative textbook used at the Faculty of Law in Brno and eventually in Prague and initiated a fruitful debate in the Czech doctrine of international law. More recent publications include, for example, Refugeehood and Asylum in International Law (1997) and International Responsibility (2003), both written together with D. Jílek and P. Šturma, and the new, comprehensive textbook Public International Law (with P. Šturma, 2003 and 2008). Professor Čepelka has also had research and lecture positions at various foreign universities, in particular Université Libre de Bruxelles, McGill University in Montreal and the Institut des Hautes Etudes Internationales, Université Paris 2 (Panthéon – Assas). As a legal expert he also took part in preparation of a position of the Czechoslovak federal government in the case Gabčíkovo-Nagymaros. Even after his retirement in 1993, Č. Čepelka remained active in the field of international law he loved so much. From 1991 he founded and chaired together with Prof. Michael Geistlinger (University of Salzburg) a regular summer seminar on human rights and international humanitarian law. This extremely stimulating cooperation lasted ten years and influenced a good number of young lawyers. In the second half of the 1990s Č. Čepelka also acted as visiting professor at the Faculty of Law of Masaryk University in Brno. At the beginning of the new century, he shortly came back to the Faculty of Law in Prague to help in renewing or launching several specialized courses, such as the Codification and Development of International Law and also the Theory and Practice of Asylum. Although he stopped lecturing at the age of 80, Professor Čepelka still keeps writing. He also supported the idea to establish this Czech Yearbook and became a member of its Advisory Board. His colleagues, friends and students wish sincerely to Professor Čepelka good health, happiness and relaxation in the circle of his family and at his country house and new achievements in writing on international law. Pavel Šturma

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