Insight Central Europe News
Polish experts confirm possibility of terrorist attack
Polish experts have confirmed that the Frenchman arrested in the western town of Swarzedz had been in contact with explosives. Mickael N. was arrested while taking photographs of a gas distribution centre and charged with preparing a terrorist attack. The 23-year-old Frenchman claims he is an artist and the photographs he was taking were meant as an artistic souvenir of his trip to Poland, although when he was detained he tried to destroy the film. He has been in custody since August 13th.
Peter Gyurcsany to succeed Peter Medgyessy in post of Hungarian Prime Minister
Hungary's main coalition party, the Socialists, elected Youth and Sports Minister Péter Gyurcsány as prime minister-designate, at an extraordinary congress behind closed doors on Wednesday. With the support of a majority of rank and file delegates, he got three times as many votes as Péter Kiss, the favourite candidate of the majority of party officials. When commissioned by President Ferenc Mádl and elected by Parliament, Gyurcsány was to replace Prime Minister Péter Medgyessy who resigned after a clash the junior coalition Free Democrats over a planned government reshuffle. Hungary now has a caretaker government.
Austrian defence ministry considering military intervention in Sudan
The Austrian defence ministry is considering the military, technical and tactical aspects of a possible intervention in Sudan. Austria holds the chairmanship of what is known as the UN "Shirbrig" forces, Stand by Forces - High Readiness Brigade, which can be called on for rapid intervention in crises. Defence Minister Günther Platter says there is no sign of any UN resolution authorising intervention, but that Austria as chair must participate if called on.
Leader of Czech opposition party questioned by police over allegations of attempted bribery
The leader of the main Czech opposition Civic Democrats, Mirek Topolanek, has been questioned over allegations his party tried to bribe a government MP. Zdenek Koristka of the Freedom Union says Mr Topolanek's party offered him 10 million crowns (over 300,000 euros) to bring down the government in a confidence vote. The Civic Democrat leader - who strongly denies the claim - was questioned by police on Thursday, two days after his party filed slander charges against Mr Koristka.
Slovenian Association of Kidney Patients organises "European Sports Games"
From August 29 to September 4, the Association of Kidney Patients of Slovenia is holding a large international event in Ljubljana, the 3rd European Sports games of dialyse patients and transplant patients. Some 350 participants from 20 countries are expected to come. Patients with transplanted kidney, heart, liver, bone marrow and others and 60 dialyse patients. One purpose of the games is to awaken the public to the great importance of donating and transplanting organs and tissues.
Environmentalists find GM organisms in Slovak supermarket
Environmental activists from the non-governmental organization Greenpeace discovered the first product containing genetically modified organisms on the Slovak market on Wednesday. Greenpeace stated that they have uncovered genetically modified Ceresol soya oil in two Tesco supermarkets in Bratislava. The oil is made from a mixture of sunflower and genetically modified soya oil according to labels on the cap. Greenpeace representatives have already informed the Office of Public Health about their findings since there is a suspicion that this genetically modified component is not permitted by the Health Ministry.
60th Anniversary of Slovak National Uprising
And staying with Slovakia, Sunday sees the 60th anniversary of the Slovak National Uprising. Although the wartime Slovak government allied itself to the Nazi regime, the Slovak National Uprising is today considered to be an important milestone in the history of the modern Slovak state. It demonstrated that ordinary people could rally together to defeat a common enemy, in spite of the fact that the enemy was a so called ally.
