• EU Commissioner Mandelson praises Czech economy
    02/07/2006

    Later at the Ministry of Industry and Trade the commissioner praised the performance of the Czech economy and the country's approach to the issues of free trade and internal competition. Mr Mandelson also commended the Czech Republic's low unemployment in comparison with neighbouring states and relatively low public debt.
    Author: Ian Willoughby

  • Romanies lose discrimination case against Czech state in Strasbourg
    02/07/2006

    A group of Romanies who said they had suffered discrimination at the hands of the Czech education authorities have lost a case against the Czech state at the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg. Eighteen Romanies from north Moravia said the fact they had been sent to a so-called special school constituted a violation of their human rights. Their claims had previously been dismissed by the Czech Constitutional Court.
    Author: Ian Willoughby

  • Minister Rath wants to meet doctors before planned protest
    02/07/2006

    Health Minister David Rath has called on doctors leaders to meet him before a large demonstration against his policies due to take place in Prague on February 24. Private doctors, dentists and pharmacists have called to changes to the system of payments for treatment, and want a halt to bills currently being prepared. For his part Mr Rath says the doctors have no reason to protest, and says the opposition Civic Democrats are behind the dispute.
    Author: Ian Willoughby

  • Sacked Supreme Court chairwoman now suing whole government over sacking
    02/07/2006

    The sacked chairwoman of the Supreme Court, Iva Brozova, has filed a lawsuit challenging her dismissal against the whole of the Czech government. She had previously filed suits against President Vaclav Klaus and Prime Minister Jiri Paroubek. Mr Klaus dismissed Ms Brozova last week at the request of the minister of justice, who said the Supreme Court was not fulfilling its duties.
    Author: Ian Willoughby

  • Elias called up for Olympics ice hockey squad
    02/07/2006

    Star ice hockey winger Patrik Elias has been called up for the Czech squad for the Winter Olympics in Turin, after Petr Prucha was ruled out after spraining his ankle. Elias, who plays for New Jersey Devils, returned from a long injury after the original squad was named by coach Alois Hadamczik. The Czech team play their first game against Germany on Wednesday week.
    Author: Ian Willoughby

  • Czechs heighten security at diplomatic mission in West Bank
    02/06/2006

    The Czech Republic's diplomatic mission in Ramallah has heightened security measures in connection with ongoing attacks on European embassies in various Arab countries, a spokesman for the Czech Foreign Ministry has said. Western governments are stepping up security measures at their embassies in Arab countries as demonstrations continue against cartoons satirising the Prophet Muhammad published in a newspaper in Denmark and elsewhere in Europe.
    Author: Pavla Horáková

  • Interior Minister to meet Muslim community
    02/06/2006

    The Interior Minister, Frantisek Bublan, is planning to meet representatives of six Muslim organisations in the Czech Republic next Monday, the ministry's spokeswoman said. They are to discuss the attacks on Danish and Norwegian embassies in the Middle East provoked by the printing of cartoons of the Prophet Mohammad in Danish and other European papers. Czech Muslim organisations said in a joint statement on Monday that the publication of the cartoons was a sign of hatred and Islamophobia. They called on personalities from the political, religious and cultural spheres to stand up against its signs and support understanding and dialogue.
    Author: Pavla Horáková

  • Klaus insists on dismissal of Supreme Court chairwoman
    02/06/2006

    President Vaclav Klaus said on Monday that the legal and constitutional complaints, filed by Iva Brozova, who was dismissed as the chairwoman of the Supreme Court last week, only strengthened the prevailing opinion about her performance in the post. Mr Klaus said he was not going to change his decision about her dismissal. President Klaus dismissed Ms Brozova at the request of Justice Minister Pavel Nemec who had repeatedly complained about the state of the Supreme Court.
    Author: Pavla Horáková

  • Klaus not satisfied with registered partnerships bill
    02/06/2006

    President Vaclav Klaus also told reporters on Monday he was not satisfied with the final version of the bill on registered partnerships of same-sex couples passed by both houses of the Czech Parliament. The president has until next Thursday to either sign or veto the bill. In case he does not do either, the bill will become law anyway.
    Author: Pavla Horáková

  • Culture minister dismisses advisory council
    02/06/2006

    The Culture Minister, Vitezslav Jandak, has decided to dismiss his advisory council for state monument preservation. A spokeswoman for the ministry said the reason for the dismissal was a finding that the council's activities lead to non-transparent distribution of state money for the renovation of monuments.
    Author: Pavla Horáková

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