• Environmentalists take motorway complaint to European Commission
    06/02/2003

    Three Czech environmental organisations have filed a complaint against a planned motorway with the European Commission. The groups say the D8 motorway could cause serious damage to the environment in the Krusne hory mountains in north Bohemia. For their part, police in the region have called for the motorway to be built as soon as possible in order to deal with severe traffic delays.
    Author: Ian Willoughby

  • Jakes collapses at trial of other former communist official
    06/02/2003

    Former top communist Milos Jakes collapsed in a Prague court on Monday while giving evidence at the trial of another party official. Mr Jakes, secretary-general of the Communist Party from 1985 to 1989, was testifying in the case of Karel Hoffman, accused of treason for his part in the silencing of radio broadcasts during the 1968 Soviet-led invasion. Mr Hoffman's trial follows the acquittal last September of Mr Jakes and former prime minister Jozef Lenart on charges related to the 1968 invasion.
    Author: Ian Willoughby

  • Presidents Klaus and Bush meet in "friendly atmosphere"
    06/01/2003

    Czech President Vaclav Klaus met briefly with US president George W. Bush on Sunday to discus mutual relations between their countries. They met in St. Petersburg where they attended official celebrations marking the 300th anniversary of the city. Czech press has speculated lately that relations between the White House and the Prague Castle cooled down due to the Mr. Klaus's reserved stance on the US-led invasion of Iraq. However, Czech presidential spokesman Tomas Klvana said the meeting between Mr. Klaus and Mr Bush was in a very friendly atmosphere. President Klaus is planning to visit the United States in the near future.
    Author: Vladimír Tax

  • Jihlava district hit by local floods
    06/01/2003

    Local floods caused by thunderstorms and torrential rains hit the district of Jihlava on Saturday night. In the town of Jihlava and a number of other towns and villages, water and mud flooded cellars and ground floors of houses, and blocked roads. Firemen and volunteers have been helping in the affected areas. Damage caused by the floods has not yet been established. A few days ago, local-scale floods hit the central-Moravian district of Blansko.
    Author: Vladimír Tax

  • Government pro-EU campaign enters final stage
    06/01/2003

    The government's pro-EU campaign enters the final stage. This week, all Czechs eligible to vote will receive information about the upcoming historic referendum on the country's accession to the EU. Information about various aspects of EU membership will be distributed to all mailboxes throughout the country. The first referendum in Czech history will take place on June 13 and 14. Turnout in Czech elections has been very low in the recent years but the government believes its campaign will attract people to vote in the referendum.
    Author: Vladimír Tax

  • Number of prisoners decreases
    06/01/2003

    The number of prisoners in the Czech Republic has decreased over the past three years. While in the year 2000, the Czech Republic had 24000 prisoners, this year it is 7000 less. The change is due to an amendment to the penal code in 2002 which introduced various alternative punishments. Czech prisons have been suffering from overcrowding for years. While the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture recommends 6 square metres of floor space for every prisoner, in the Czech Republic, it was just over half the area before 2002.
    Author: Vladimír Tax

  • Czech Catholic Church joins Central European Catholic Days
    06/01/2003

    The Catholic Church in Czech Republic has joined eight other nations in what is called the Central European Catholic Days. This will be a series of events running until May 2004, when the participating countries are expected to join the EU. The Church believes that the message of Gospel can help improve the common Europe, to make the economy benefit all and help political decision-making be wise and responsible.
    Author: Vladimír Tax

  • Klaus planning to official visit Russia, China
    05/31/2003

    Czech president Vaclav Klaus is attending a landmark Russian-EU summit in St. Petersburg, expected to overcome differences between European nations that emerged due to the war in Iraq. Czech president Vaclav Klaus said he would like to officially visit the Russian Federation in the future to become the first Czech president to do so after 1993. He has also accepted invitation to visit China. Mr. Klaus is representing his country at the Russian-EU summit, attended by leaders of the 15 EU nations, candidate countries and Russia. The summit is taking place in St. Petersburg as part of celebrations marking the 300th anniversary of the city.
    Author: Vladimír Tax

  • Spidla looking for new defence minister
    05/31/2003

    Prime Minister Vladimir Spidla has been looking for a new defence minister. Although he has a few suitable candidates, he declined to reveal them. Defence Minister Jaroslav Tvrdik resigned on Friday over spending cuts that he said jeopardised efforts to bring the Czech forces up to standards set by NATO. President Klaus is expected to decide whether he will accept the resignation later on Sunday.
    Author: Vladimír Tax

  • Health care workers go on strike alert
    05/31/2003

    Trade unions in the health care sector have announced they were going on a strike alert because of the planned reform of state finances. Health care workers joined other trade union organisations which are ready to go on strike should the planned reforms seriously affect their members. Besides other things, the reforms envisage a slower wage growth in the public sector, a tax hike and major changes in the health insurance and pension systems.
    Author: Vladimír Tax

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