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Eight Cuban dissidents and former political prisoners arrived in Prague on Sunday to meet politicians and other Czech personalities supporting human rights around the world. The Cubans will meet with former Czech president and dissident Vaclav Havel, Senate Chairman Petr Pithart, members of the Czech Parliament, and had lunch with Deputy Foreign Minister Pavel Vosalik. According to Mr Vosalik, the Czech Republic is willing to finance a campaign that would promote democracy in Cuba from the foreign ministry budget meant for international help. After a meeting with the Chairman of the main opposition Civic Democrats, Miroslav Topolanek, the group was assured that the Czech Republic would continue to support its cause, even if a new government headed by the right-of-centre Civic Democrats was formed. Among the dissidents are three former political prisoners. They were invited to Prague by the Czech humanitarian organisation People in Need, which has been supporting human rights activists fighting against the totalitarian Castro regime in Cuba.

The week-end celebrations commemorating the famous Czech composer Antonin Dvorak on the one hundredth anniversary of his death culminated on Sunday with a series of concerts in Prague. At five different venues, four of Prague's best orchestras and a number of soloists pay homage to Antonin Dvorak, who died on May 1, 1904, at the age of 62 years.

An exhibition in Prague's Rudolfinum Gallery also celebrates the life and works of the Czech composer, giving visitors the one-time opportunity to view the original score of Dvorak's New World Symphony on Sunday. The manuscript is usually stored in a safe. Dvorak, whose music has reached many, partly thanks to his incorporation of folk music into his works, wrote his "New World Symphony" (Symphony No. 9: From the New World) in the United States. Many classical music lovers argue it is his most recognizable work.

Prague's Municipal House also opened an exhibition on Sunday called the Sacred Works of Antonin Dvorak, featuring him as a Christian and the author of spiritual works. The exhibition is part of the "Tribute to Antonín Dvo"ák 2004" project and was launched by a concert featuring his Stabat Mater called "Dvo"ák Spiritual", which will be held in Smetana Hall. Among the main exhibits are several restored original music scores, both handwritten sketches and finalized versions. Other exhibits include the first editions of some of Dvo"ák's works published by Simrock in Berlin and Novello in London, examples of his correspondence, reviews, period photographs and pieces of art illustrating the spiritual climate of the period. The exhibition is under the patronage of Catholic Church Primate and Prague Archbishop, Cardinal Miloslav Vlk.

The world-famous Gypsy Kings hold a concert at Prague's T-Mobile arena on Sunday, as the last band to perform at the United Islands of Prague music festival. The four-day festival began on Thursday and saw 130 bands from 19 countries perform at ten islands and various other venues in Prague. Visitors were able to enjoy folk, rock, blues, jazz, techno, and world music. Participating artists included Finland's Leningrad Cowboys, Britain's Levellers, and Spain's world music performer Mercedes Peon. With the exception of the Gypsy Kings concerts, tickets to all activities cost a symbolic 1 Euro, or 33 Czech crowns, in celebration of EU enlargement.

Czech President Vaclav Klaus and Prime Minister Vladimir Spidla both addressed the nation on the eve of accession. The Prime Minister assured Czechs that the country would benefit from EU entry and urged them to avail themselves of the opportunities opening up. "We are not abandoning our homeland or replacing it - of our own free will we have chosen to become a part of the European community," Mr. Spidla said. "We have much to offer and a great deal to benefit from, I am convinced that the Czech Republic will not be lost in the EU," he concluded.

President Klaus said EU membership was something that this country had striven for over the past 14 years, and that it would end half a century of isolation, one-sided orientation towards the East and years of disrespect for basic values embraced by the democratic world. Yet he warned Czechs not to get carried away by sentiment, saying that it was vital for the country to learn to move within the framework of EU structures, to make the best of its pre-negotiated position within the union in order to take up its rightful place within the community. The Czech nation must preserve its identity and we must make sure that the balance of advantages and disadvantages of EU membership is in our favour, the President said, adding that he was optimistic that the Czech Republic was ready for the challenge.