Prime minister rules out new debate on Beneš decrees and Temelin

In an interview for the Austrian daily Kurier, the Czech prime minister, Petr Nečas, ruled out a renewed debate on two controversial issues in Czech-Austrian relations: the Benes decrees, sanctioning the expulsion of 2.5 million Sudeten Germans from post-war Czechoslovakia, and the Temelín nuclear power plant in south Bohemia. Mr. Nečas said both issues were closed and there was nothing further to add to the matter. Austria has long pushed for the Benes decrees to be rescinded and as a non-nuclear state, would like to see the Temelín nuclear power plant closed down.