• Deputy PM: if coalition collapses, CSSD will seek Communist support
    09/22/2002

    A deputy prime minister in the Social Democrat government has said if the present centre-left coalition falls, his party will include the Communist Party in talks on support for a minority government. Deputy Prime Minister Pavel Rychetsky said if the coalition was brought down by the right-of-centre Freedom Union, the Social Democrats would look for support among all parties in parliament, including the Communists. The Social Democrats passed a resolution several years ago banning co-operation with the Communists at national government level.
    Author: Rob Cameron

  • Renumbering of country's eleven million phones goes smoothly
    09/22/2002

    The Czech Republic's fixed-line and mobile phone operators say the renumbering of the country's eleven million telephone numbers went smoothly on Saturday evening, with no major problems reported. All fixed-line numbers in the Czech Republic now consist of nine digits, with the area code incorporated in the number and the zero dropped. There is no change for calling the Czech Republic from abroad - all numbers remain the same.
    Author: Rob Cameron

  • Governor of North Moravia to challenge Klaus for party leadership
    09/22/2002

    The governor of the North Moravia and Silesia region, Evzen Tosenovsky, has said he will challenge Vaclav Klaus for the leadership of the right-of-centre Civic Democrats at the party's national conference in December. Mr Tosenovsky said his candidature was a reaction to the party's poor showing at the June elections. Mr Klaus, prime minister in successive right-wing governments until 1997, came under pressure to resign as party leader following the elections, and said he would offer up his post at the party conference. Mr Tosenovsky is the first Civic Democrat member to say openly he will challenge Mr Klaus for the leadership.
    Author: Rob Cameron

  • Two hundred attend anti-war demonstration in Prague
    09/22/2002

    Around 200 people attended an anti-war demonstration in Prague on Saturday, organised by anarchist and far-left groups. Demonstrators listened to speeches against the forthcoming NATO summit in Prague. Police said the demonstration was peaceful, although two people were arrested for minor offences.
    Author: Rob Cameron

  • Havel meets Annan, calls for "clear demands" to Iraq
    09/21/2002

    President Vaclav Havel, currently on a six-day state visit to the United States, has met the U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan in New York. The two men stressed the importance of a U.N. Security Council resolution on Iraq. President Havel said any resolution on Iraq should lay down clear demands, but if such demands were rejected, the path to military action would be open. Mr Havel stressed that any action should be carried out by a broad international coalition, possibly involving NATO.
    Author: Rob Cameron

  • Two hundred attend anti-war demonstration in Prague
    09/21/2002

    Around 200 people have attended an anti-war demonstration in Prague, organised by anarchist groups. Demonstrators listened to speeches against the forthcoming NATO summit in Prague. Police said the demonstration was peaceful, although two people were arrested for minor offences.
    Author: Rob Cameron

  • President Havel visits site of World Trade Centre
    09/20/2002

    President Vaclav Havel, who is on a six-day official visit to the United States, has visited the site of the World Trade Center in New York. Mr Havel said that the September 11 attacks had been an attack not only on the United States but on the whole of humanity and civilisation. President Havel was also due to hold talks with the Secretary General of the United Nations, Kofi Annan. A reception is being held in Mr Havel's honour on Friday evening, and will feature a concert involving Placido Domingo, Lou Reed and former US president Bill Clinton.
    Author: Ian Willoughby

  • Britain deports 48 Czech asylum seekers
    09/20/2002

    Great Britain deported some 48 Czech asylum seekers on Friday and plans to deport more in the coming week, Ladislav Balaz of the Trans Europa Roma Federation told reporters. Meanwhile, the British Home Office said it had flown 28 Czech citizens home two weeks ago. The number of Czechs seeking asylum in Britain - most of whom are Romanies - is constantly increasing, according to UK authorities. The Romanies say they suffer violence and constant discrimination in the Czech Republic.
    Author: Ian Willoughby

  • Final depositions heard in trial of former high-ranking communist officials
    09/20/2002

    The final depositions have been heard in the trial of two former high-ranking communist officials. Milous Jakes, who is now 80, and Jozef Lenart, 79, face charges of assisting treason, for their part in the Soviet-led invasion of 1968. The two men attempted to 'legalise' the invasion by forming a 'workers' government. A verdict in the trial is expected on Monday.
    Author: Ian Willoughby

  • Senate passes bill on EU referendum
    09/19/2002

    The Czech senate has unanimously approved a bill that should allow Czechs to vote in a referendum next year to decide the Czech Republic's entry to the European Union. Submitted on Thursday by members of the Senate Commission for the Constitution, the draft amendment outlines the rules for Czech EU accession; under the bill, the referendum will be held 3 months following the signature of the Czech Republic's signing of the EU accession treaty, set to take place in the first half of 2003. Czech parliament must now also pass the bill; a failure to do so would leave the decision on EU accession up to parliament alone.
    Author: Jan Velinger

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