Insight Central Europe News
Polish anger over Russian-German pipeline
Poland's President Aleksander Kwasniewski has said that the Russian-German plan to build a Baltic gas pipeline may have a political dimension. Germany and Russia signed a deal on Thursday to building a gas pipeline under the Baltic Sea, that will by-pass both Poland and the Baltic states. Kwasniewski said that the step, taken without consultation with Warsaw, may be aimed at diminishing the role of Poland and the Baltic states in the European energy system. Both the Polish government and the opposition have condemned the deal.
Lebanese explosives may have come from Slovakia
Slovak officials have said they are checking reports that the explosives used in the killing of the former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik al-Hariri may have been obtained from a Slovak firm. The claim was made by the French server, Intelligence Online, quoting a Syrian intelligence officer as its source. Twenty-one people died in the explosion in Beirut in February. The Slovak Intelligence Service said checks were being made of firms with a licence to export arms.
Germans to investigate cable car accident
German prosecutors say they have opened their own criminal investigation into a cable car accident in Sölden in the western Austrian province of Tyrol that killed nine German skiers. The investigation is focused on the operators of a helicopter which dropped a 700-kilogram container onto the cable car. Six of those who died in the accident on Monday were under the age of fifteen.
Russia and Poland say events in Ukraine should not be over-dramatized
Ukraine's neighbours Russia and Poland have both said that the sacking on the government in Kiev should not be over-dramatised. The Polish President Aleksander Kwasniewski, who is a close ally of Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko, said he was convinced that the changes would not reverse the process that began with the so-called Orange Revolution.
Hungary to keep nuclear plant in operation
The Hungarian government has agreed "in principle" to extend the operating life the nuclear power plant at Paks by 20 years. A government spokeswoman said a number of investigations by different organisations had all concluded that the safety conditions for continued operation of the plant had been met. In 2003 the Paks nuclear plant suffered an accident in which radio active gas was released and fuel rods damaged.
Czech archaeologists unearth unique statuette of Persian goddess
Czech archaeologists have made a unique discovery near Prague: a statuette of a Persian fertility goddess known as Anahita. The item is believed to date back to the 4th century or earlier, and is likely to have originally reached Bohemia either through an ancient trade route or through military contacts along the northern border of the Roman Empire.
