News of Radio Prague
Lenert not protected by parliamentary immunity
The Czech Supreme Court decided on Monday not to grant Jozef Lenert, a former Communist Party official who has been charged with treason, parliamentary immunity. Mr Lenert was accused of having gone secretly to the Russian embassy after the Soviet-led invasion of Czechoslovakia in 1968 to negotiate the establishment of a so-called workers' and peasants' government, which would give the invasion a legal foothold. However, until the court's decision, legal proceeding against him were blocked as he was still enjoying parliamentary immunity.
Terezin director takes steps to prevent memorial's use in pornographic movie
The director of the Terezin concentration camp memorial, Jan Munk, has prohibited the shooting of videos in the area after receiving reports that the site where thousands died will be used to film a pornographic movie. Over the weekend, the Czech tabloid Super claimed that the porn star and producer Robert Rosenberg planned to film a movie at Terezin about Nazi officials raping female prisoners. The movie allegedly targets the German market. Although Mr Munk and the mayor of Terezin, Ruzena Cechova, expressed outrage over the news, it is yet unsure what legal steps can be taken to prevent the production of such a movie.
EC representative calls for speedy steel sector restructuring
The EC negotiator for the Czech Republic, Rutger Wissels said on Monday that the closing of the economic competition chapter during EU accession talks may be hampered by the Czech Republic's failure to speed up the restructuring of the steel sector. According to Mr Wissels, Prague is reluctant to realise that restructuring is necessary in order for the Czech steel industry to survive. He added that talks with the Trade and Industry Ministry were not going forward and that his colleagues were upset that the Czech side viewed the EC's proposed methods of solution as harmful.
Belarussian minority protests against political situation at home
Some 25 members of the Belarussian minority in the Czech Republic gathered in front of the Belarussian embassy in Prague on Monday to express their dissatisfaction with the political situation in their country. Wearing T-shirts with photographs of the Belarussian president Alexander Lukashenko beside Osama bin Laden - the man believed to have been the mastermind behind the September 11th terrorist attacks on the United States, they recited patriotic poetry and called for their president to step down. Accusing president Lukashenko of violating democratic principles, the Belarussian minority had also collected money for Mr Lukashenko to travel to the international tribunal in the Hague. Two protesters who set the Belarussian flag on fire were immediately detained by the Czech police for disturbing the peace but were released soon afterwards.
Czech-Brazilian relations intensifying
Brazil's Senate Chairman Ramez Tebet, is currently on an official trip to Prague. Since the Czech Republic's foundation in 1993, Mr Tebet is the first representative of Brazil to pay the country an official visit. According to his Czech counterpart, Petr Pithart, the visit is the start of more intensive bilateral relations. Besides co-operation in business and trade, the two Senators also talked about the Czech-born Joscelino Kubicek who was Brazil's president from 1956 to 1961, saying that the former president, known as a strong personality with a grand vision for the future, is still respected by many Brazilians today.
Weather
And finally a quick look at the weather forecast. Monday night will have overcast to cloudy skies with occasional snow and temperatures between 0 and -4 degrees Celsius. Tuesday is expected to have partially clear skies with rain and temperatures ranging from 3 to 7 degrees Celsius.
