Insight Central Europe News
Powell: Hungary and other US-led coalition members must not become weak-kneed
U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell has said that Hungary and other members of the U.S.-led coalition in Iraq must not "get weak in the knees" and pull out in the face of a deadly campaign of kidnappings. Secretary Powell's remarks in Budapest were delivered after the Philippines met Iraqi kidnappers' demands to withdraw Filipino forces from Iraq, to spare the life of a Filipino national they held hostage. Acknowledging that the Iraq war was unpopular in much of Europe, Mr Powell thanked Hungary for contributing a 300-soldier transport battalion and likened its efforts to U.S. support for democracy when Central Europe laboured under Soviet domination, the Reuters news agency reported.
Polish soldier killed in Iraq mine explosion
Another Polish soldier stationed in Iraq has been killed, this time in a mine explosion on the road from Al Hilla to Baghdad. A further six Polish men suffered injuries. The soldier killed in the explosion was identified as Corporal Marcin Rutkowski. Four of the wounded soldiers were transported to hospital in Baghdad; two to Karbala. All are reportedly in stable condition. Polish casualties in Iraq to date include six soldiers, two former commandoes and two journalists.
Slovak villages declare flood danger following persistent rain
After persistent rain for the past few days in eastern Slovakia, the water level in rivers and streams has risen to dangerous levels. Fields, gardens and cellars are already flooded and large trees have fallen across roads. Quite often seemingly harmless small streams can pose a threat to the local population. The worst situation is in some villages in the Kosice region, where the Slovak flood commission has declared a third degree flood danger. Eleven people had to be evacuated, and some water wells have become unusable.
Senate approves European arrest warrant bill
The Senate has approved a bill on the adoption of a European arrest warrant in the Czech Republic. If signed by the President, the law would enable the Czech authorities to extradite Czech citizens to other EU counties which have issued arrest warrants and vice versa. Czech citizens could be sued abroad but still serve their sentences in the Czech Republic. The warrant aims to prevent people from committing a crime in one country, and then avoiding arrest by escaping to another jurisdiction. The measure is intended to help counteract terrorism and organised crime, and adopting it was a precondition for EU membership.
Slovenia's ambassador to Russia to become head of Public Research Agency
The Slovenian government has dismissed Franci Demsar as extraordinary and plenipotentiary Ambassador to Russia and appointed him head of the Public Research Agency. He will assume the office on 1 September for a five-year term, the government said after Thursday's session.
Slovaks may have state-run fund for minorities'
Deputy Prime Minister Pal Csaky has proposed setting up an office and state-run fund aimed at financing cultural activities of Slovakia's national minorities. The proposal is part of a draft bill on funding the development of national minority cultures. The office is due to open next year and will have 32 employees. Set-up costs are estimated at almost 100,000 Euros.
