• Government to support EU accession negotiations with Turkey
    11/10/2004

    The government has decided that Czech diplomacy will support the launch of negotiations on Turkey's accession to the European Union. The Prime Minister Stanislav Gross will present the Czech stand at the EU summit in December which is to make a final decision on the start of the integration process with Turkey. However, the Czech government along with representatives of the European Commission stresses that Ankara must fulfil all membership criteria and there is no automatic guarantee that the talks will result in EU admission. Turkey has sought to become an EU member since 1963. Europe however criticises the country for its treatment of women and the Kurdish ethnic minority.
    Author: Pavla Horáková

  • Government approves flu emergency measures
    11/10/2004

    The government has approved a crisis plan for the eventuality of a global flu epidemic. Although no new virus strain has been detected, scientists are worried that a bird flu virus could mutate and spread on to humans. In case a new variety of the flu virus occurs, Czech doctors will distribute anti-viral drugs until a vaccine is developed for the mutated virus. Flu epidemics occur every year but every 30 to 40 years the virus changes to the extent that existing vaccines cannot prevent the illness. The last such epidemic was in 1968.
    Author: Pavla Horáková

  • Ombudsman's office reports forty new cases of alleged coercive sterilisation
    11/10/2004

    The office of the Czech ombudsman says it has evidence of 40 new cases of alleged coercive sterilisation of Roma women - more than a third of them performed before 1989. The office is now gathering documentation which will be handed over to the Health Ministry. The first reports of alleged cases of coercive sterilisation appeared in September. The ombudsman Otakar Motejl appointed an expert commission to look into the matter. It is now to assess whether the cases of sterilisation were in accordance with Czech law and medical ethics.
    Author: Pavla Horáková

  • Students to stage march in remembrance of November 17, 1989
    11/10/2004

    Prague university students who are - as they put it - disquieted by the current situation in society, mainly people's declining interest in public affairs, are going to stage a march on November 17 whose route will copy that of the student march 15 years ago, which triggered the anti-communist Velvet Revolution in Czechoslovakia. The organisers expect up to 10,000 people to join the event. Representatives of the student leaders of 1989 are expected to address the opening rally. The current students will read a declaration of their own, which will be available for the public to sign. Former anti-communist dissidents, including Catholic priest Tomas Halik and folk singer Jaroslav Hutka, will address the rally after the march ends on Prague's Wenceslas square.
    Author: Pavla Horáková

  • Culture Minister Dostal to stay in home care after pneumonia
    11/10/2004

    The Culture Minister Pavel Dostal has been released from hospital where was treated for pneumonia and is to stay in home care until the end of November, a spokeswoman for the Culture Ministry said. The 61-year-old minister is still recovering from a serious operation in September during which doctors removed a malignant tumour from his pancreas. According to the ministry's spokeswoman, Mr Dostal should return to his duties at the ministry and in the lower house in early December provided that his health condition allows it. Minister Dostal will undergo chemotherapy at the same time.
    Author: Pavla Horáková

  • Social Democrats tell voters to choose Communists ahead of Civic Democrats
    11/09/2004

    The Social Democrats have called on their supporters to vote against the right wing Civic Democratic Party, even if that means supporting the Communists, in the second round of elections to the Senate next weekend. The Civic Democrats have candidates in run-offs to 25 of 27 constituencies, while the Social Democrats have only three. Social Democrat leader Stanislav Gross said his party's aim was to prevent the Civic Democrats winning a sufficient majority in the Senate to be able to change the Constitution.
    Author: Daniela Lazarová

  • Police want to charge Sladek
    11/09/2004

    The police want to charge the former ultra right republican leader Miroslav Sladek with damaging creditors. During his years in office, Sladek indebted the party heavily, although according to the police, he must have known that the party would be unable to meet its obligations. It now owes more than 40 million crowns. If found guilty, Sladek could face up to 5 years in prison.
    Author: Daniela Lazarová

  • Czech rock group mark anniversary of fall of Berlin Wall with concert for Cuban opposition
    11/09/2004

    The Czech rock group Prazsky Vyber are playing a special concert in support of Cuba's opposition and to mark the 15th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall. The group - whose leader Michael Kocab was a dissident and oversaw the withdrawal of Soviet troops from Czechoslovakia - are performing in Florida and the concert is being broadcast to Cuba by the opposition TV station, Marti.
    Author: Daniela Lazarová

  • After 18 games without defeat Sparta Prague beaten by Mlada Boleslav
    11/09/2004

    The leaders of the Czech football league, Sparta Prague, have suffered a shock 1:0 home defeat to Mlada Boleslav, who won promotion to the first division last season. It was Sparta's first loss in 18 games and since the appointment of Frantisek Straka as manager. Sparta are three points ahead of second-placed Teplice.
    Author: Daniela Lazarová

  • Civic Democrats call for voter support in 25 of 27 Senate run-offs
    11/08/2004

    The opposition Civic Democrat Party has called on voters to go to the polls in next weekend's second round of elections to the Senate, especially in constituencies in which its candidate is facing a Communist Party opponent. The Civic Democrats have candidates in the run-offs in 25 of 27 constituencies. The party has already won one seat in the Senate, when its candidate took more than 50 percent of the vote in the first round.

    The Civic Democrats also won elections in 12 of the country's 13 regions at the weekend. They are expected to form coalitions with the Christian Democrats on most regional authorities.
    Author: Ian Willoughby

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