Minister Kalousek open to negotiation on church property bill

Finance Minister Miroslav Kalousek of the Christian Democrats has said he would be prepared to accept some changes to the proposed bill on a settlement between the state and churches if it was unacceptable to part of the Civic Democratic party in its present form. However Mr. Kalousek said the changes would have to be discussed with church representatives. Under the proposed bill, which would compensate churches for property lost under the communist regime, the state would have to pay close to 270 billion crowns in restitution money plus interest over the next 60 years.