CYIL 2014

PRINCIPLES OF PUBLIC INTERNATIONAL LAW law are not only “paraphrased or retailed” but also honestly scientifically (historically, comparatively, synthetically) analyzed in an understandable, well-founded and currently processed interpretation. From this perspective, the Slovak edition of Brownlie certainly is a groundbreaking achievement.” I dare not evaluate the precision and accuracy of the Slovak translation − I’m neither a professional translator nor interpreter (rather a user), and, in addition, Slovak is not my native language. In any case I would not like to downplay the present work − on the contrary, it is necessary to emphasize the tremendous importance of the translation of this publication in a language understandable to both nations. (I can only express regret for the younger Czech generation for whom the Slovak language is now more a foreign language than for those who remember the common state where both languages were commonly spoken). Anyway, this publication is not an easy one to read − it requires prior acquaintance with the basics of law, in particular the theory of state and law ( inter alia the difference between the world systems of law, the differences between municipal law, public international law, private international law, international business law, and other concepts of law). The intensive study of such crucial publications remains of current value (and the need for this is possibly increasingly growing), because the fundamental political situation of today’s world is quite often judged and interpreted inconsistently by sometimes imperfectly educated presenters (politicians, journalists, political analysts etc.). And this is an additional contribution of the translation and publication of the famous Ian Brownlie’s „Principles of Public International Law“. Finally let me congratulate and thank our Slovak colleagues on this respectable and worth writing undertaking.

Štefan Viedenský*

* Štefan Viedenský is a Senior lecturer of International law at the University College of International and Public Relations, Prague, and at the Faculty of Law of the Pan European University Bratislava (Prague branch). Previously he served as a diplomat and as a lawyer in various state and private institutions.

491