Suchergebnisse

The article analyses state security as harmonious functioning of the constitutional system without interference of any outside forces, protection of territorial integrity and undisturbed functioning of a state in all public spheres. The state security in the broadest sense is strengthened by the factors of foreign and home policy. The security is based not only on strong, well trained armed forces, equipped with modern guns but also on the entire potential of a state: the approval of citizens for armament and the willingness to defend the country; economic stability, functioning of democratic principles, positive contribution of national communities into the welfare of the society, harmonious agreement of national communities, loyalty to the Constitution of the Republic of Lithuania and the competence of the Department of State Security to neutralise the forces willing to harm the consolidation of the State; they penetrate into the governmental institutions, instigate slanderous moods against the leaders or institutions of the state via mass media. The history reminds us that the West often used to betray nations; thus the question may arise whether the NATO will succeed in defending the Baltic countries according to the binding provision of Article 5 that obligates the parties for collective defence. Therefore, Lithuania urgently needs an augmented distribution of NATO toops in the Baltics. Further strategy requires insightful diplomatic steps in oreder to preserve peace and establish friendly alliances, e. g. a stronger military cooperation with Scandinavian states, brotherhood with Latvians and Estonians and approval of the dispositions of the Polish President to create a union "from the sea to the sea". Conclusive thoughts are based on the arguments of serious political observers, sociological research, official statistics and verified data. The aim of this article is to describe the strategy of Lithuanian Republic in the field of security in the beginning of the 21st century. The object of the article is the analysis of the ways and measures for preservation of Lithuanian statehood. The author referred to the most recent media and provided political analysis of geopolitical and historical context.

The first chapter of the present article gives analysis of the causes of the development of the EU and the conditions for entry of new candidate states; the second chapter tackles upon the situation in the membership negotiations between Turkey and the EU; the article ends with conclusions and the bibliography. The state willing to get entry into the EU should have a democratic system of government. Before entry, the candidate state has to conduct negotiations in 35 sections, covering all spheres of political, economical, public and legal life. The country is accepted in the Union when it concludes the negotiations in all 35 sections with unanimous approval of all member states of the EU. A certain level of the maturity of the candidate state is needed: harmonization of the national laws with the legislative basis of the EU; proper economic development; and respect for basic human values and rights. The terms and conditions are the same for all candidates. Road of Turkey to the European Union has been rough and complicated up to now. This country is eager to collaborate with the EU (and it does that) and willing to comply with European standards and norms of public life. The negotiations have been going on with fits and starts; there is evident progress in the economy of Turkey, but the country lags behind in protecting human rights. Other obstacles impeding the course of negotiations are occupation of Cyprus and pending issue of the Kurds. External obstacles to Turkish membership are associated with negative approach of some European leaders and fears of the citizens. Nevertheless, recent course of events gives valid hope that sooner or later Turkey will get a membership card to the European Union. One has every reason to think that in a global world liberal democratic system is more appealing and more profitable to every nation and they are to seek for prosperity by shared efforts.

EU has reached enormous progress in economy and politics. It is a union of nations on the basis of legal, democratic grounds. A feature of each democracy is the protection of human rights. The test-paper showing a real freedom is depicted by the regulations of a state. These regulations delineate the freedom of religious belief, the relation of churches and religious communities with a state. EU already has a formed European model of relations between Church and a state. It leaves such traditions and a legal base in each state that has been formed by the people of the nation during long decades. There are three models: the status of "state religion" but it does not do any harm to democratic attitudes. It does not discriminate persons who do not belong to the main religion; the second, a model of cooperation of Church and a state, the third is more strict, separation of Church. EU Lisbon Treaty is much more favourable to religious communities than EU Constitution used to be. As EU member states belong to European Council, the regulations of which on religion were remarkably perfect than those of EU Agreements, EU leaders had to be more precise with the position of the Holy See in Nice Agreement of the Charter of Human Rights. Unfortunately, some people from European continent are devoted to the flow of secularised society which is not able to measure the heritage of Christianity. Due to this misunderstandings and cases appear in the European Court of Human Rights concerning religious practise in public institutions.

The collapse of the Soviet Union in a peaceful way was the hugest achievement of progressive forces. The author classifies 12 reasons which have slowly been damaging the political system based on Communist doctrine from inside. The essence of all these reasons is that there was no legal state and which has been ruled by one political party without any juridical logics. The Communist Party dictated legal principles, created Socialist culture in educating a human being to be without the concept of a Homeland, religion and national habits. These elements have contributed to the development of national movements and to the rebirth of religion among different nations. Yet, in the human history it is well-known that, beyond the objective causes, even subjective reasons turn out to play an important role, as for those that contributed to the fall of the Berlin Wall. In this context, it is also possible to include the action of Mikhail Gorbachev, who had the intention to reform the political system that, for the above mentioned reasons, was not able to cope anymore with the economic requirements of the State. (For this reason, a common say was also introduced: We, here in the Kremlin, launched a joke with the Perestroika, whereas they (the Western countries) have taken it very seriously). However, at the same time, it is important to remember that some personalities such as the Pope Johannes Paul II, Lech WaÅ'Ä™sa and the US President Ronald Reagan, demonstrated to be able to win the widespread sense of fear, inspiring millions of people to pursue the path toward a new life. Their strategy gives us the example that, nowadays, with great and inspired willpower it is still possible to tackle and cease any type of antagonism. The communism has failed its initial project only due to its own mistakes.Â

The author describes the forms of secularization and tries to understand the limits of distancing oneself from God. Under certain political circumstances secularization might become very dangerous. Secularization means a process when a human being tries to 'free oneself' from religious influence in the society, leaving the religion in a 'private corner'. The author bravely maintains that the highest liberation from the influence of God can be seen in the philosophy of Nietzsche: it simply 'killed' God. Nietzschean philosophy was adopted by Hitler and Europe was 'liberated in the best way' from Christian influence by death of million people. The author makes references to well-known historians, proving that both ideologies, rejecting the God, – Marxism and Leninism of Soviet Russia –collaborated with Nazism until the beginning of the World War Two. In short, secularisation can reach its expression in the most radical forms of totalitarian regimes, such as Marxism-Leninism and Nazism. The author has presented a review of godless systems, comparing similarities and differences of Nazism and Communism, and has analysed what lessons modern society can draw out of it.

This article helps to perceive the influence of the world globalisation to religion by proving that Church itself also has the features of globalisation. The end of the XX th century was dramatically marked by the movements of two trends. Nations fought for independence by creating national states. The states which "ran" away from the Soviet block made their own sovereign republics and there appeared 15 separate subjects of international law out of 15 states which made the Soviet Union. In order to keep independence the new states unite by new economical, political and military ties. European Union is nothing else than a form of new globalisation uniting already 28 European states and having over 500 million of inhabitants. It is obvious that national movements destroy globalisation and unite among each other by different forms. For the sake of freedom they have to be globalised. Catholic Church and other Christian communities brought a great contribution into the establishment of EU in uniting the nations by Christian culture. Concentrating on the object of "globalisation"we shall analyse the hypothesis how religion survives in the context of globalisation. Doe religion influence globalisation? Historical and analytical method will be used.

The concept of the capacities of the Holy Father and their divine origin. The overview of the institutions of the Curia of Rome: competences, hierarchy subordination and cooperation. The tasks and duties of the State Secretariat as the highest Church management institution. How do the Holy Popes manage Church via these institutions in the world? The relation of Vatican and the Holy See. The concept of General Meetings. Diplomatic relations between the Holy See and national governments of states, representation of the Holy Pope by local churches. The duties of the Nuncio.

The concept of the capacities of the Holy Father and their divine origin. The overview of the institutions of the Curia of Rome: competences, hierarchy subordination and cooperation. The tasks and duties of the State Secretariat as the highest Church management institution. How do the Holy Popes manage Church via these institutions in the world? The relation of Vatican and the Holy See. The concept of General Meetings. Diplomatic relations between the Holy See and national governments of states, representation of the Holy Pope by local churches. The duties of the Nuncio.

The concept of the capacities of the Holy Father and their divine origin. The overview of the institutions of the Curia of Rome: competences, hierarchy subordination and cooperation. The tasks and duties of the State Secretariat as the highest Church management institution. How do the Holy Popes manage Church via these institutions in the world? The relation of Vatican and the Holy See. The concept of General Meetings. Diplomatic relations between the Holy See and national governments of states, representation of the Holy Pope by local churches. The duties of the Nuncio.