In his opening statement, Deputy Martin Smolek commemorated this year´s anniversary of the conclusion the Environmental Protocol. „The Protocol was concluded in Madrid after many years, when the international community agreed on the need of the protection of the environment of this unique continent and prohibited any activity relating to mineral resources, other than scientific research.“ In this regard Deputy Smolek highlighted the activities of the Czech polar scientists and the construction of the Czech research polar station Johann Gregor Mendel on the James Ross Island.

The Deputy Smolek futher stated in his speech that in connection with the construction of the Czech scientific research station in Antarctica, the Czech Republic consultative status,
a higher institutional status which entitles the Czech Republic to participate actively in the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting with a right to vote and to jointly take part in decisions on the regulation of the use of Antarctica and its future, was recognized two years ago, effective on 1 April 2014. The Deputy Smolek stressed the uniqueness of the legal regime of this continent which is based on its complete demilitarization and denuclearization and which is subject to the regime of international control.

At the Seminar, which was moderated by Petr Válek, director of the International Law Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, were the following speakers: Martina Filippiová from the International Law Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Přemysl Štěpánek from the Department of International Relations of the Ministry of Environment, Ondřej Vícha from the Faculty of Law of Palacký University in Olomouc, Professor Pavel Prošek from the Masaryk University in Brno, Pavel Kapler form the Masaryk University in Brno and Pavel Sladký from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.