Prime Minister Paroubek hopes to come to compromise over St. Vitus Cathedral

Czech Prime Minister Jiri Paroubek met with Cardinal Miloslav Vlk on Friday evening in hopes of ending a 13 year long dispute between the Catholic Church and the state. Both claim to be the rightful owners of St. Vitus' Cathedral, one of Prague's main landmarks. Last week, a Prague district court ruled in favour of the church but the state plans to appeal the verdict.

The two-hour meeting between the prime minister and the cardinal failed to produce a compromise solution. Mr Paroubek proposed the Church declare the Cathedral is owned by the Czech nation but plays an important role in its management. The Catholic Church on the other hand recognised St Vitus' Cathedral as part of the cultural heritage of the Czech state and a symbol of Czech nationhood but insisted ownership rights be decided by a court.