Beckstein called for the abolition of the decrees. He also said the Czech Republic had not yet sufficiently coped with history.

"It [Benes decrees] are in contradiction with international law, natural law, human rights and European law," Beckstein said.

"We must talk about such matters truly and clearly," he added.

The decrees, issued by former Czechoslovak president President Edvard Benes, provided for the confiscation of the property of collaborators, traitors, ethnic Germans and Hungarians, except for those who themselves suffered under the Nazis. They also formed a basis for the transfer of the former groups from Czechoslovakia.

A large part of the deported ethnic Germans then settled down in Bavaria.

Beckstein said the debate on the past had not yet been closed in the Czech Republic. He, however, expressed hope that this would change in the years to come.

"This process is necessary. We would like to contribute to it by open talks," Beckstein added. He, at the same time, stressed good Bavarian-Czech neighbouring relations.

The Bavarian government's stance on relations with the Czech Republic changed shortly before Beckstein replaced Edmund Stoiber.

Stoiber paid no official visit to the Czech Republic during his 14 years in office, while Beckstein visited Prague in September as designate PM and then interior minister .

During a meeting with Czech Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek, he called the Benes decrees "an open wound."

Beckstein did not rule out he would meet Topolanek during Wednesday's soccer qualifier between the Czech Republic and Germany in Munich.

In his speech, Beckstein also supported the controversial Centre against Expulsions that is to be established in Berlin upon the initiative of German expellees in memory of their suffering above all.

The project of a similar documentary centre is promoted by the current German coalition government. However, the cabinet wants such a centre to map circumstances of forced deportations of various nations and ethnic groups in the 20th century.