Press Review
The New Zealand premiere of the third and final film in the Lord of the Rings series is very much in the spotlight with photos of actress Liv Tyler gracing most of the front pages. The papers offer details and gossip relating to the film and remind Czech fans that its premiere in the Czech Republic is scheduled for January 15th.
On the domestic scene, the papers report on the recommendation of a special commission which has given Sweden's Gripen fighter jets the edge over four other rivals in a bid to replace the Czech Republic's fleet of aging MIG 21s. Gripen has won the first round, writes Martin Denemark in today's Hospodarske Noviny. However, with so many aspects to be considered, it is hard to say whether this recommendation will secure its victory, he adds.
Whatever the outcome Denemark says, we will be sure to learn the reasons behind the government's decision sooner or later, because nothing remains a secret for long in the Czech Republic. In Pravo, commentator Pavel Verner writes that the final decision remains in the hands of the government and its political criteria could change the entire picture.
Will the government want to strengthen European ties or trans-Atlantic ones? Verner asks. In the years to come the Czech government will sign hundreds of deals, political agreements and financial transactions - and it is now up to the Cabinet to weigh its options carefully and choose in a manner which will be advantageous for the Czech Republic long term, Verner says.
On a different topic, Mlada Fronta Dnes reports that the Czech Republic has offered to send a special anti-terrorist unit to Afghanistan. When Prime Minister Spidla offered to send the unit to Afghanistan a year ago he had to withdraw the offer almost immediately, since it was painfully obvious that the unit was unprepared for such a mission, Mlada Fronta Dnes writes.
It was a major embarrassment at the time, but it was a lesson well learnt, the paper says. Today the 150 member unit is in top form, fully equipped for conditions in that part of the world and ready for action.
And finally the same paper claims that a man wanted by the FBI is living a life of luxury in the Czech Republic. Vladimir Janko, who is believed to have assisted in the murder of his business partner in Florida, escaped from the US several years ago and remains on the FBI's wanted list. Mlada Fronta Dnes claims that its reporter found the 27 year old Vladimir Janko and his family living in a luxury villa near Ceske Budejovice.
