UZSI's Creed

The Office for Foreign Relations and Information (Úřad pro zahraniční styky a informace, UZSI) as the security service of the Czech Republic, respecting democratic values, the constitution and law and preserving human dignity and integrity while complying with the rule of law as much as possible, pledge to effectively provide the legislative and executive bodies with prompt, impartial and high quality intelligence with the objective to serve national interests of the country and to protect the society. UZSI intends to preserve and develop the high level of ethics and professionalism, it intents to be an elite intelligence service. UZSI serves the state and not any particular entities.

In UZSI's emblem there is Tacitus' quotation "Sine ira et studio". This motto indicates an order for impartiality and objectivity; it is a metaphor of freedom from prejudice, of prudent judgement and relevance. In accordance with loyalty to the country and adherence to the shared basic values it is a challenge to professionalism. Our activity has to be executed without hatred and partiality, without anger and bias and without prejudice and passions.

UZSI perceives the task to provide intelligence - while preserving security in all its aspects - as the principal and fundamental task. The other UZSI activities are secondary, supporting and providing service.

Ethical Code of UZSI Officers

1. UZSI officer and its employee (hereinafter referred to as "worker") act in accordance with the law of the Czech Republic with a special emphasis on the purpose of the oath of office. UZSI worker is loyal to democratic ideas of a democratic state respecting the rule of law and is loyal to his country. He recognizes the need for an intelligence service in a free society and agrees to UZSI mission. UZSI worker cannot pledge his loyalty to other organisations or groups which could contradict his loyalty to UZSI. UZSI worker aims to increase his professional knowledge.
2. UZSI worker is aware of the fact that UZSI activity as a whole, the image of UZSI in the eyes of the external world and his individual fate are mutually connected. UZSI worker knowingly and voluntarily agrees to the fact that working in an elite organization of a special type such as the intelligence service of a democratic state partially restricts his civil rights and liberties or their enforcement. Hence he does not express in public his political views and opinions of general social issues which could be considered political. UZSI worker subordinates his natural ambition of public recognition or public satisfaction to the discipline, the need for confidentiality and the need for not being in the centre of public attention. UZSI worker is aware of the fact that for security reasons UZSI is entitled to adequately examine his private sphere.
3. UZSI worker is aware of the fact that his conduct - even in privacy - can have an impact on UZSI as well, hence especially while acting on behalf of UZSI and representing UZSI he acts in accordance with the law, requirements for decency and public morals as well as in accordance with unwritten rules of etiquette. Tactlessness, biased or arrogant behaviour towards workers of other public administration organizations or to citizens is regarded as a serious misconduct.
4. UZSI worker avoids all situations which could lead to a suspicion of conflict of interests. He intends to avoid such behaviour which could discredit UZSI. UZSI worker keeps service funds and service property separately from his private ones and disposes of the service property economically. Unless he is given a special approval, he is not obliged to enter into business or private relations with persons or companies with which he work within the performance of his service duties and cannot accept presents or reciprocal services from them.
5. UZSI worker conforms to the need-to-know principle, which means that a person who does not need particular information for his work is not allowed to know it; and vice versa a person who needs this information for the performance of his work must know it to the full extent.
6. UZSI worker is permanently aware of the fact that when being off duty he is obliged to maintain confidentiality regarding UZSI internal information even if it is not explicitly marked as classified. (It comprises contacts with all unauthorized persons - including the closest persons, former UZSI workers and official contacts within the state administration.)
7. UZSI worker is aware of the fact that spreading unsubstantiated statements (gossips, rumours etc.) - even inside the organization - is considered as serious misconduct contradicting ethical and security rules.
8. UZSI worker is aware of the fact that when not complying with the above mentioned rules he becomes a burden for UZSI.