• Green party would like NATO replaced by new European defence system
    04/20/2006

    The Czech Green Party says in its election programme that at some point in the future it would like to see NATO replaced by a new European defence system. This new system should be made up not only of combat units but also include police units, firemen and emergency forces in order to meet the needs of the present day, predominantly the threat of terrorism. The response to the idea on the Czech political scene has been generally negative. The opposition Civic Democrats dismissed it as utterly naïve, while the ruling Social Democrats pointed out that Europe already had a well functioning defence system.
    Author: Daniela Lazarová

  • Six people charged in connection with illegal waste imports
    04/20/2006

    The police have charged six people, including a German citizen, over illegal imports of German waste to the Czech Republic. They are believed to be behind the illegal waste dumps which have appeared in several north Bohemian villages. Some of the dumps were repeatedly set on fire in order to get rid of the evidence. The problem has strained Czech German relations in recent months and been addressed at the highest level. Since the beginning of the year, an estimated 20 thousand tons of German waste has been dumped in the Czech border areas.
    Author: Daniela Lazarová

  • IMF growth forecast
    04/20/2006

    The IMF in its World Economic Outlook has forecast that economic growth in the Czech Republic will be the 2nd fastest among Central European countries this year - projected at 5.5 percent. Only Slovakia's growth is expected to accelerate faster. The IMF release indicates that GDP growth in "emerging Europe" has been underpinned by factors including generally strong domestic demand and solid export growth. The Czech economy - in particular - has benefited from exports fueled by sizeable investment by foreign companies.
    Author: Daniela Lazarová

  • Ten Czech officers to participate in NATO's rapid reaction force
    04/20/2006

    The Senate has approved the participation of ten Czech officers in NATO's rapid reaction force from July of this year to January 15th of 2007. Defence Minister Karel Kuhnl said the Czech Republic had opted to participate symbolically in the upcoming period since it would have a leading role in the 8th rotation of the rapid reaction forces in the first half of 2007, contributing 400 troops. The ten officers will most likely remain in the Czech Republic during their mission.
    Author: Daniela Lazarová

  • Higher fine for abusing state symbols
    04/20/2006

    The Senate has approved a bill which should triple the fine for abusing or deliberately damaging the state symbols of the Czech Republic. The fine for such an act could be 10,000 crowns. The bill, which has yet to be signed by the president, would also enable the authorities to fine institutions which fail to hoist the state flag on state holidays.
    Author: Daniela Lazarová

  • Souckova pleads not guilty
    04/20/2006

    Former health minister Marie Souckova who appeared before a Prague court on Thursday on charges of breach of trust and abuse of power has pleaded not guilty. The former minister is alleged to have signed a highly disadvantageous contract for the services of a lawyer which cost Czech taxpayers millions of crowns. Mrs. Souckova challenged the authenticity of the document, telling the court it was forged. Marie Souckova is the second former cabinet minister to face trial. Ivo Svoboda, a former finance minister, is now serving a five year sentence for embezzling funds from a private company.
    Author: Daniela Lazarová

  • Police searching for missing truck driver
    04/20/2006

    The police are searching for a missing Czech truck driver who disappeared somewhere in Spain last week en route to delivering car parts to a company in Portugal. The forty one year old truck driver last contacted his company on April 16th from Spain. He was to delver the goods on the 18th but failed to turn up. The car parts he was transporting were worth several million crowns.
    Author: Daniela Lazarová

  • Czech centre opens in Prague
    04/20/2006

    A Czech information centre was opened in Prague's Rytirska street on Thursday. It is part of a network of non-profit, non-political centres located around the world whose aim is to actively promote the Czech Republic abroad. The Prague centre should function as a home-base, providing information about Czech-related events abroad and strengthening cooperation and an exchange of ideas within the network.
    Author: Daniela Lazarová

  • Czech Republic expels Cuban attache
    04/19/2006

    The Czech Republic has expelled the Cuban attaché to Prague, refusing to extend his visa. Havana did the same to Czech diplomat Stanislav Kazecky last week. Mr Kazecky was accused of subversive activities and work for the USA, by the Castro regime. The Czech Foreign Ministry has dismissed the accusation. The expelling of the Cuban attaché leaves the number of Cuban diplomats in Prague at two. Likewise, two Czech diplomats have remained in Cuba since Mr Kazecky's departure.
    Author: Jan Velinger

  • Public to gain access to hospital and health insurance information and statistics
    04/19/2006

    The Chamber of Deputies has passed a bill that will allow the public to access information and statistics from health insurance companies as well as hospitals. Under the legislation individuals will be able to gain information about, for example, the cost of treatment of illnesses as well as the number of operations performed by hospitals and length of patients' stay. Under the law, health insurance companies will be bound to inform patients in cases where doctors have made mistakes - as well as to publish their own statistics. The bill will now come up in the Senate and must be passed there as well as signed by the president before taking effect.
    Author: Jan Velinger

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