Insight Central Europe News
Kwasniewski rejects allegations he told Merkel to be tough on Poland
Former Polish President Aleksander Kwasniewski has rejected accusations in the Polish media that he had urged German Chancellor Angela Merkel to take a tougher line towards Poland. The allegations arose from an interview in the German edition of Vanity Fair. In the interview Mr Kwasniewski criticised the Prime Minister and President's policy towards Germany. However he said the allegations he had urged Germany to take a tough line towards Poland were "unjust and untrue."
Czech government seeks support for US radar base - offers incentives
The Czech government has promised to invest in the region where the United States wants to build a missile-shield radar station. In a move aimed at winning local support for the plan Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek and his cabinet met mayors from the area to offer investment in infrastructure and tourism projects. Opinion polls show a majority of Czechs oppose hosting the site.
Slovak PM Robert Fico criticises US missile-shield plans
Slovakia's Prime Minister Robert Fico last week criticised the United States over its plan to deploy a missile defence system in central Europe. Fico, speaking to journalists in Bratislava, called the project "an adventure" and said the US should have discussed any such project with its partners in NATO. Washington is negotiating with Poland and the Czech Republic, on installing interceptor missiles and a radar base on their soil as a protection against attacks by what it calls rogue states. Austria's defence minister Norbert Darabos has also criticised the plans.
Slovene leader appoints new Cabinet ministers
The Slovene Prime Minister Janez Jansa last week appointed new Cabinet ministers for transportation and health after their predecessors voluntarily resigned. A new Minister for Science and Higher Education is yet to be named. Zofija Mazej Kukovic, a computer and electronics expert from Prime Minister Janez Jansa's center-right Slovenian Democrats, was named the new health minister. Radovan Zerjav, from Jansa's ally, the People's Party, will be the new transport minister.
Experts: Austrian pollution of Hungarian river now stopped
Environmental experts on the Hungarian-Austrian border say new filters, installed at a leather tannery, have reduced pollution in the Raab River. Hungary has long complained to Austria over the foaming of water downstream from the tannery on the Austrian side of the border. The experts say the first three months with the filters installed have cleaned the water of pollution.
