PM Topolánek visiting Austria

On a one-day working visit to Vienna, Prime Minister Mirek Topolánek on Monday met for talks with his Austrian counterpart Chancellor Alfred Gusenbauer. The cabinet leaders discussed a number of outstanding issues in Czech-Austrian relations, including the enlargement of the Schengen zone of free travel and the safety of the Czech nuclear power plant in Temelín, South Bohemia. They agreed on the need to intensify police cooperation in the border regions in order to curb illegal migration and protect citizens on both sides of the border. Mr Topolánek denied reports which have appeared in the Austrian press that the Czech Republic is planning to expand the Temelín nuclear plant. The Czech PM also said that the Czech government would continue negotiating with the Austrian arms producer Steyr on the delivery of armoured vehicles for the Czech Army which was cancelled in December.