Insight Central Europe News
Israeli President Polish heritage lives on in Israeli culture
Israeli President Shimon Peres has attended a special sitting of Poland's parliament, the Sejm, as part of a visit to mark the 65th anniversary of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising against the Nazis. Speaking about the common history of Jews and Poles, Peres said the heritage of Polish Jews will influence the Jewish nation for many generations. He said this heritage will live on in contemporary Israeli culture. The four day visit by Peres included visits to holocaust memorials and meetings with political leaders.
Hungarian air force jet crashes
A Hungarian air force military jet crashed in Central Hungary last week. The accident occurred while the Mig 29 was on approach to land. Officials say the pilot ejected to safety the plane bounced across a main highway before coming to a halt. There were no vehicles on the highway at the time. The pilot was taken to hospital for observation.
EU bans Slovak pig exports after outbreak of swine fever
The European Commission has banned exports of pigs from Slovakia after two outbreaks of swine fever in the past week. Slovak veterinary authorities say 12,000 pigs have been slaughtered at one farm and about 7,000 at another. Both farms belong to a Danish company.
Slovenia lays out options for resolving border dispute with Croatia
Slovenia has put forward three options for resolving its long running border disputes with neighbouring Croatia. The parliamentary foreign affairs committee says Slovenia would accept mediation by the International Court of Justice in The Hague, the Arbitration Board in The Hague or an ad-hoc court. Legal experts from both countries are expected to soon begin talks on a common legal framework for resolving the dispute.
Visegrad 4 discuss new EU Technology Institute
The European Union's planned Technology and Research Institute will be discussed by a meeting of scientists from the four Visegrad countries in Budapest next week. Delegates from the Science Academies in Hungary, the Czech Republic, Poland and Slovakia will focus on the role of the Visegrad 4 in Europe- wide research projects. Three of the four countries are vying with each other to host the headquarters of the new institute.
Austria sends experts on Kosovo – EU mission
Austria is sending six experts to take part in the European Union Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo. They were given their brief on Thursday by justice minister Maria Berger. The team includes two civil court judges. Mrs. Berger said the EULEX mission would lead to stronger political stability in the region. The six Austrians will service in Kosovo, which recently declared its independence from Serbia, for a period of one year.
Czechs put crown jewels on display
The Czech Republic's most precious treasure - the medieval crown jewels - are to be displayed for the first time in five years. The priceless objects, including the St Wenceslas crown, will be exhibited at Prague Castle from April 19th to 29th to mark the 90th anniversary of the independent Czechoslovak state. The jewels have been kept inside a chamber at Prague's St. Vitus cathedral since 1791.
