The International Conference “Czech-Baltic Century”, dedicated to the one hundredth anniversary of the Czechoslovak de jure recognition of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania is taking place on March 30, 2022, in the Patriotic Hall in the Karolinum in Prague. The Embassies of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania organize this event together with Charles University and Masaryk University.
The conference will be opened by the Vice Rector of Charles University Prof. Markéta Křížová, the President of the Senate of the Czech Republic H. E. Miloš Vystrčil, the President of the Chamber of Deputies of the Parliament of the Czech Republic H. E. Markéta Pekarová Adamová, the President of the Riigikogu of the Republic of Estonia H. E. Jüri Ratas, the Speaker of Saeima of the Republic of Latvia H E. Ināra Mūrniece, and the Speaker of the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania H. E. Viktorija Čmilytė-Nielsen.
The conference serves as an occasion to highlight the important relations between the Czech Republic and the Baltic states in the past, present and future. It explores the various historical, political, cultural, geographical, philological and other aspects of the relations.
The conference is divided into four sections. In the first section, historians from the Czech Republic, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania will discuss the historical circumstances and conditions of the Czechoslovak recognition of the Baltic states, their relations in 1938, as well as the perception of the Baltic states in today’s Czech society.
In the second section, experts from the Prague Linguistic Circle and Charles University will discuss the methodological approaches of doing research on the Baltic region, two historical topics related to the activities of the Lithuanian Grand Duke Butautas-Henry and the Belarusian-Lithuanian intellectual František Skorina in Prague, as well as the Baltic region’s relationship with the Central Europe.
In the third section, the representatives of Czech-Estonian Club and Czech-Latvian Society will analyse the past and the present activities of these organizations, focusing on the support of the Czech friends to the Baltic states in their restoration of independence in 1990-1991.
A representative from Masaryk University will speak about the Baltic studies in the Czech Republic, one of the few countries in the world, where the Baltic languages, Lithuanian and Latvian, can be studied at masters’ level in two universities, - in Prague and Brno.
The final section of conference will present the Lithuanian language courses at Charles University, and the evaluation of the Baltic Studies and research from the students’ viewpoint.
An outdoor exhibition “Czech-Baltic Century” is a part of the conference, and it is displayed at the Karolinum entrance square.
Anniversary: |
100 years of Czechoslovakian recognition de jure of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania |
Organizers: |
Embassies of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, Charles University, Masaryk University |
Date: |
30 March 2022 |
Place: |
Patriotic Hall in Karolinum of the Charles University |
Language: |
Czech, English – simultaneous translation |
08:00 Registration of conference participants
09:00 Official opening: host – Michal Švec, Chairperson of the Scandinavian House, Curator of the exhibition “Czech-Baltic Century”
Prof. Markéta Křížová, Ph.D., Vice Rector for International Affairs of the Charles University
H. E. Mr Miloš Vystrčil, President of the Senate of the Parliament of the Czech Republic
H.E. Ms Markéta Pekarová Adamová, President of the Chamber of Deputies of the Parliament of the Czech Republic
H.E. Mr Jüri Ratas, President of the Riigikogu of the Republic of Estonia
H.E. Ms Ināra Mūrniece, Speaker of the Saeima of the Republic of Latvia
H.E. Ms Viktorija Čmilytė-Nielsen, Speaker of the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania
Doc. PhDr. Luboš Švec, CSc., Faculty of Social Sciences, Charles University; Czech-Latvian Society “Czechoslovakia and the Baltic States in 1921 and 1991: Actors, International and Internal Factors”
09:50 Coffee break
Family photo of the Guests of Honour at the outdoor exhibition “Czech-Baltic Century” at the Karolinum entrance square
10:05 1. Section: in English, host – Luboš Švec, CSc., Faculty of Social Sciences, Charles University; Czech-Latvian Society
09:50 Doc. Dr. hist. Dalia Bukelevičiūtė, Faculty of History, Vilnius University
Lithuania's Long-awaited Recognition de facto and de jure from Czechoslovakia in 1922
10:10 Doc. Dr. hist. Magnus Ilmjärv, School of Humanities, Tallinn University
The Baltic States and Czechoslovak Crisis, 1938
10:30 Doc. Dr. hist. Kristīne Ante, Faculty of Arts, Charles University; Faculty of Arts, Masaryk University; Czech-Latvian Society
Reception of the Baltic States in Today’s Czech Society
10:50 Discussion
11:00 Coffee break
11:15 2. Section: host – Tomáš Hoskovec
11:15 Doc. RNDr. Tomáš Hoskovec, CSc., Prague Linguistic Circle
New Methodology for Scientific Research in Cultural-historical Phenomena: A Czech Contribution Illustrated on Baltic Material
11:35 Doc. PhDr. Ilja Lemeškin, Ph.D., Faculty of Arts, Charles University; Institute of the Lithuanian Language in Vilnius
The First “Lithuanian Ambassador”: The Grand Duke Butautas-Henry in the Service of Charles IV
11:55 Mgr. Aliaksandr Parshankou, Faculty of Arts, Charles University
F. Skorina: a Name, Common for Czech and Lithuanian Cultures
12:15 Mgr. Josef Miškovský, Ph.D., Czech-Latvian Society
The Baltic States and Regional Concepts of the Central Europe
12:35 Discussion
12:45 Free time
14:30 3. Section: host – Vaidas Šeferis, Faculty of Arts, Masaryk University in Brno
14:30 PhDr. Iivi Zájedová, Ph.D., Faculty of Social Sciences, Charles University; Czech-Estonian Club
Inspiration Creating the “Soul” of the Czech-Estonian Relations: Baltic Union and Czech-Estonian Club
14:50 Mgr. Pavel Štoll, Ph.D., Faculty of Arts, Charles University; Czech-Latvian Society
Civil Activities of the Czech Friends of Latvia and Lithuania after 1990
15:10 Doc. Dr. phil. Vaidas Šeferis, Faculty of Arts, Masaryk University in Brno
Contemporary Baltic Studies in the Czech Republic: Institutions, Connections, Development
15:30 Discussion
15:40 Coffee break
15:50 4. Section: host – Pavel Štoll
15:50 Mgr. Geda Montvilaitė, Ph.D., Faculty of Arts, Charles University
Lithuanian Lectureship and Teaching of Lithuanian at the Faculty of Arts, Charles University
16:10 Mgr. Naďa Vaverová, Faculty of Arts, Charles University; Czech-Latvian Society
Baltic Mythology and Folklore Studies in the Czech Republic
16:30 Bc. Anna Sedláčková, Faculty of Arts, Charles University; Czech-Latvian Society
A Student’s Perspective on Baltic studies – Challenges and Future
16:50 Discussion
17:00 Reception