Press review

Tuesday's papers bring no relief for the many thousands of readers who are still shivering with cold in their homes in north-eastern Bohemia following the weekend collapse of a regional heating plant. "No end of this trial in sight " says Mlada Fronta Dnes, reporting that the problem is far more serious than anticipated, and fixing the heating plant may take weeks.

With many schools, offices and hospitals closed, the government has given this crisis top priority, says Lidove Noviny. All the papers carry snapshots of the Prime Minister Vladimir Spidla, wearing a bright red safety helmet, as he tours the damaged plant, having cancelled all prior engagements.

The Prime Minister has asked to be informed about daily progress made in repair work, reports Pravo, and he is considering measures which would provide an alternative source of heating for the area in future.

The papers have also given plenty of space to the news that as of next year the price of electricity is expected to go down by as much as 9% in some parts of the country, while the price of gas is expected to rise. According to Mlada Fronta Dnes the rise in crude oil prices on world markets and the depreciation of the crown against the US dollar are responsible.

The upcoming NATO summit in Prague is a widely debated topic. Pravo reports that "advance teams" of anti-globalization protesters are already in Prague mapping out the terrain. The country's intelligence service is monitoring this process but has made no move to prevent it, Pravo says. After all, it is not illegal for foreign tourists to visit certain areas and take note of the location of street cameras and side streets, the paper says.

Lidove Noviny has focussed on a political aspect of the upcoming summit today, and speculates that a reconciliation between US President George Bush and German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder is likely to take place here in Prague.

It has been confirmed that a one on one meeting will take place, says Lidove Noviny, recalling that the US and German leaders have not spoken since a former German minister likened the US President to Adolf Hitler in connection with his military plans against Iraq.

Mlada Fronta Dnes reports on the ongoing reform of the Czech armed forces.

As the project to establish a fully professional army continues, the number of soldiers drafted for compulsory military service next year is to be cut by half. But who will be the lucky ones to get out of serving military duty, Mlada Fronta Dnes asks.

According to Army Chief of Staff general Jiri Sedivy the army will use two basic criteria in drafting new servicemen - their state of health and their social standing. If a family member is dependent on their income then that will be considered reason enough not to draft them, Sedivy told the paper.

Mlada Fronta Dnes notes that no matter how well the army has prepared this selection process, the number of 18 year olds who want to get out of serving in the army is so overwhelming that it is certain to fuel corruption. The Czech Republic is to have a fully professional army in 2007.

And finally, Pravo carries an attention grabbing snapshot of the Czech Republic's most popular singer Lucie Bila in her wedding dress. Bila, who recently got married amidst a storm of publicity, is doing something no other Czech singer has done before - she is auctioning her wedding dress for UNICEF. Asked whether she is not going to miss it in later years, Bila quipped " I'll happily part with the dress as long as I can keep the groom."