Czech News 20.03.2014 -13.03.2014

CR: 20.03.2014

Czech PM says higher level of sanctions against Russia unlikely at this stage

Czech Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka says the EU is unlikely to go beyond the framework of targeted sanctions against Russian officials in response to the country’s aggression in Ukraine. Arriving at a two-day summit of EU leaders in Brussels on Thursday, Mr. Sobotka said he did not expect the alliance to reach agreement on a higher level of sanctions, be it economic sanctions or an arms embargo which some EU members have been pushing for. The Czech prime minister said he himself did not consider the time to be ripe for an arms embargo. The strength of the EU’s response to developments in Ukraine have divided the alliance with some urging strong measures while others advocating a more prudent policy.

Pro-Russian civic movement leader Medvedchuk says EU opening its doors to neo-fascist tendencies

The pro-Russian civic group leader Viktor Medvedchuk has said that by opening its doors to present-day Ukraine the EU is opening the way for the spread of neo-fascist tendencies in Europe. Mr. Medvedchuk, who heads the civic movement Ukraine’s Choice said the Czech EU Commissioner for Enlargement Stefan Fule, who has led talks with Kiev on an association agreement with the EU, should be aware of his personal responsibility in this matter. The attack comes just hours before the Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk is due to sign the political chapter of Ukraine’s association agreement with the EU.

Czech president says association agreement with EU best way to help Ukraine

An association agreement with the EU is the only way for Ukraine to become an equal partner for Russia, Czech President Miloš Zeman said in an interview for the news site aktualne.cz. The president said Russia had cold-bloodedly abused the weakness of Ukraine and the Ukrainian government and mainly the unfortunate language law which had predictably fueled protests. It is now our duty to help strengthen Ukraine and I firmly believe that an association agreement with the EU is the best way to do that, Mr. Zeman said. The Czech president also expressed the view that the Ukrainian government should get rid of "fascist extremists" and federalize the country.

Czech Foreign Ministry to send team to Ukraine to assess situation of Czech expatriates

The Czech Foreign Ministry will send a monitoring team to western Ukraine to assess the situation of close to a hundred expatriates who have requested to be repatriated to their old homeland. The Czech cabinet this week agreed to comply with their request saying the authorities would proceed as fast as possible in arranging residence permits. The team, led by Karel Kühnl, the Czech Foreign Ministry’s special commissioner for Czechs living abroad, is to map the expats’ living circumstances, the security situation and their immediate needs which would enable the authorities to provide targeted assistance and give them a better idea of how many Czech expats might request to be repatriated. There are currently around 20,000 Czechs living in Ukraine.

Lower house approves parliamentary commission on Opencard case

The lower house of Parliament has approved the setting up of a special parliamentary commission which would supervise the investigation of alleged dubious tenders for Prague’s controversial multi-purpose Opencard project. Stanislav Huml,the Social Democrat deputy who tabled the proposal, said the commission would not in any way interfere with the work of the police and judiciary but would monitor their progress on the grounds of the evidence collected. The closely watched Opencard case involves charges of abuse of office and manipulation of public tenders against a dozen councilors, as well as the former and current mayors of Prague, Bohuslav Svoboda and Tomáš Hudeček. Verdicts against a number of suspects have already been passed, though they are not legally binding. The 9-member parliamentary commission should be set up next week.

Christian Democrats say time to reopen debate on bringing back hospital fees

The Christian Democrats, a junior party in the centre-left government, say the government should reopen debate on bringing back hospital fees. Hospital fees were scrapped as of the start of this year by a ruling of the Constitutional Court which upheld a complaint that they were unconstitutional in view of the fact that patients are already paying health insurance. However hospitals argue that the money was used for food and accommodation services unrelated to health care and say the fall out is proving a massive financial burden. While the 100-crown fee per day was in force, hospitals collected about 2.1 billion crowns annually from patients for these expenditures. The government is now considering ways of making up for the loss. A proposal that the money should come from government reserves has not won broad approval.

Czech Post fined for failing to deliver mail

The Czech Telecommunications Office has slapped Czech Post with a record 1.4 million crown fine for failing to deliver hundreds of items of mail to customers’ home addresses. Audits in several Prague suburbs revealed that postal employees often made no attempt to deliver letters and packages in person as they should, merely leaving a note in people’s mailboxes that the respective delivery could be picked up at the local post office. The audits were made on the grounds of numerous complaints. Czech Post has 3,300 outlets around the country and makes approximately half a billion deliveries annually.

South Moravia makes bid for Amazon investment deal

Councilors of the south Moravian region on Thursday approved a sales offer of land to the company Amazon which is seeking to locate several warehouses in the country. Details of the offer have not been released. Regional governor Michal Hašek said the local authorities were ready to enter into negotiations with both Amazon and the agency CzechInvest in view of securing the lucrative investment deal. The offer comes just hours after the city of Brno definitively rejected Amazon’s offer of a three-billion crown investment project which would have secured around 1,500 new jobs. The prime minister said he was very disappointed by Brno’s decision.

Czech army signs 36-milion deal to buy new uniforms

The Czech army has signed a deal with the Czech producer Blažek to buy new uniforms, a spokesman for the Ministry of Defence said. The military will buy over 57,000 summer tunics and trousers in beige and green for around 36 million crowns. Three firms took part in the tender; one of them, Koutný, last year won a 28.8 million contract to supply all-year uniforms for the military.

Plzeň face uphill task against Lyon in Europa League

Viktoria Plzeň are preparing to welcome the French club Olympic Lyonnais in the second leg of their Europa League round-of-16 tie on Thursday night. The Czech champions face an uphill task; after having lost 1:4 in Lyon last week, they need to win by at least three goals without conceding to win on aggregate. Plzeň manager Dušan Uhrin said his team made trivial mistakes in the first game, and must improve their tactics to keep their chances of advancing alive.

19.03.2014

Czech Foreign Ministry condemns Russia’s actions in Crimea

The Czech Foreign Ministry has condemned Russia’s steps towards annexation of Crimea. In a statement released on Wednesday, the ministry said Russia’s approach was an unprecedented breach of international law, and a threat to peaceful coexistence of nations in Europe. The ministry noted that due to its own history of the 1930s, the Czech Republic was very sensitive to Russia’s actions, and would never consent to undermining Ukraine’s territorial integrity and annexation of Crimea.

PM Sobotka: Czech Republic “reserved” on possible blanket anti-Russia sanctions

The Czech Republic has a reserved stance towards the EU’s possible blanket economic sanctions against Russia over its actions in Crimea, Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka told the European Affairs Committee of the Czech lower house. Mr Sobotka also said he did not expect an agreement on sanctions to be reached at an EU summit to be held in Brussels on Thursday or Friday. The Czech prime minister reiterated that his country would not impose any sanctions of its own as they could undermine trade with Russia and hurt the Czech economy.

Lower house speaker: Government ready to address situation of Ukraine’s Czech community

The Czech government is ready to address the situation of Ukraine’s Czech community, speaker of the lower house Jan Hamáček of the coalition Social Democrats told reporters on Wednesday. Speaking after a meeting with the head of a Czech association in the Zhytomyr region in western Ukraine, Mr Hamáček said the situation was complex and required swift action. Representatives of the Czech community in Ukraine, whose origins go back to the 1860s, have approached Czech authorities requesting assistance with their relocation to the Czech Republic. Earlier this week, the Czech Foreign Ministry said expats could apply for fast-track residency permits; however, Mr Hamáček suggested the government should also provide financial help.

Finance Ministry plans third VAT rate in 2015

The Finance Ministry is planning to introduce a third rate of value added tax in 2015, Finance Minister Andrej Babiš said. The rate, whose level has not yet been determined, should be lower than the existing rates of 21 and 15 percent, respectively, and should apply to drugs, books, and baby food. The Finance Ministry also wants to make tax collection more effective by establishing a central registry of bank accounts and retail receipts. Details of the Finance Ministry’s plans are yet to be debated within the coalition parties; for its part, the opposition said they would increase the overall tax burden and would make tax evasion easier.

South Moravia region to make Amazon new offer after Brno rejects distribution centre plans

The South Moravian region will make a new offer to the US-based online retailer Amazon, the region’s governor, Michal Hašek told a news conference in Brno on Wednesday. The announcement comes a day after Brno’s municipal assembly rejected Amazon’s plan to build a distribution centre outside the city. Mr Hašek, of the Social Democrats, did not mention a specific location but said if accepted by the retailer, the project would be approved by regional authorities. The state CzechInvest agency also said it would offer the company alternative locations. Amazon’s planned 2.7 billion crown investment in Brno was rejected over problems with altering the city’s zoning plans. A similar distribution centre for Amazon will be built outside Prague.

Coalition ANO party emerges in lead in new voter support survey

The coalition ANO party emerged in lead in a new survey of voter preferences by the CVVM agency released on Wednesday. The party, headed by Finance Minister Andrej Babis, would receive 28 percent of the vote. The Social Democrats would come second with 24 percent, followed by the Communists with 14 percent. The TOP 09, the Civic Democrats, the Christian Democrats and Dawn parties would also won seats in the lower house, according to the poll. In October's general election, the Social Democrats came first followed by ANO and the Communists.

Bulgaria moves to revoke Czech power distributors’ licences

The authorities in Bulgaria on Wednesday started a process to revoke operating licences of three foreign power distributors including the Czech firms ČEZ and Energo Pro. The move by the Bulgarian energy regulator comes after the companies, along with Austria’s EVN, failed to settle an alleged debt of over 226 million US dollars to the state power produced NEK, a debt contested by the firms. The regulator gave the foreign-owned distributors two weeks to submit comments on the decision before it addresses the issue again on April 7, the news agency ČTK reported quoting Bulgaria’s news site sofiaglobe.com.

Coalition parties at loggerheads over healthcare funding

The two main parties in the coalition government are at loggerheads on where to find funding to stabilise the country’s health service. Finance Minister Andrej Babiš, who heads ANO, is opposed to the Social Democrats’ plan to raise money for healthcare by increasing the state health insurer’s fees. Mr. Babiš insists the funding can be found if the Ministry of Health makes economies in other areas. Health Minister Svatopluk Němeček wants to free up CZK 2 billion for hospitals, partly to compensate for a drop in their income linked to the abolition of fees for hospital stays. The cabinet is due to discuss the issue at one of its next meetings.

Czech president backs Slovak presidential candidate Fico

Czech president backs Slovak presidential candidate Fico

Czech President Miloš Zeman has backed Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico in his bid to become the country’s president. Mr Zeman told reporters that for him as a left-wing politician, it was natural to express support for a left-leaning candidate. However, the president said he was in no way interfering with Slovakia’s affairs. Mr Fico came first in a first round of voting for the new Slovak head of state last weekend; he faces businessman Andrej Kiska in the run-off to take place on March 29.

Memorial service for late actor Otakar Brousek staged at Prague theatre

Memorial service for late actor Otakar Brousek staged at Prague theatre

Hundreds of people came to pay their last respects to the late actor Otakar Brousek at Prague’s Na Vinohradech Theatre on Wednesday. Otakar Brousek passed away last week at the age of 89. He appeared in nearly 140 roles on stage of the theatre he joined in 1959; he also collaborated with Czech Radio for nearly 70 years. He last appeared on stage last May as Rand in the play Being There.

Clean sheet for Čech in 100th Champions League game helps Chelsea advance

Czech goalkeeper Petr Čech made his 100th appearance in soccer’s Champions League with Chelsea on Tuesday night. The 31-year-old kept a clean sheet as the Londoners beat Turkish club Galatasaray 2:0 for a 3:1 aggregate victory in the round of 16 tie. Čech’s penalty saves in a shootout at the end of the 2012 Champions League final helped Chelsea lift the club football’s most prestigious trophy for the first time ever.

18.03.2014 

PM: Russia’s treatment of Ukraine unacceptable but no risk for Czech Republic at present

The Czech prime minister, Bohuslav Sobotka, has described Russia’s actions in connection with Ukraine as unacceptable. In an interview for the Czech News Agency, Mr. Sobotka said he believed sanctions could be imposed on Russia but added that he was not currently in favour of them. The PM said he and the other members of the leadership of the state’s Security Council had considered possible risks stemming from the situation in Crimea and concluded that for now no special measures needed to be taken. Mr. Sobotka said the only positive step the Russians had taken was not advancing beyond Crimea further into southeastern and eastern Ukraine.

Ethnic Czechs in Volyn province ask Czech Republic for help

Several dozen ethnic Czech families from the Volyn province in Ukraine have asked the Czech Interior and Foreign ministries for help in repatriation to the Czech Republic. The so-called Volyn Czechs expressed concern over tension between Ukraine and Russia which has escalated in recent weeks, leading up to the possible annexation of Crimea. The Interior Ministry confirmed it had received a request for aid. Ethnic Czechs settled in the Volyn area in the second half of the 19th century; some returned to Czechoslovakia after WW II, most often to areas of the Sudetenland formerly inhabited by ethnic Germans who were expelled after the war. Others returned after the fall of communism in Czechoslovakia after 1989.

Official calls for removal of new memorial to fallen Russian soldiers at Prague graveyard

A Czech official has called for the removal of a memorial to fallen Soviet soldiers that was unveiled at Prague’s Olšany Cemetery last month, the news website echo24.cz reported on Tuesday. Igor Zolotarev, who is deputy chair of the government’s council for national minorities, said the sign, which is in Cyrillic script, was a mockery and a desecration of the nearby graves of those who had fled the Bolsheviks. The memorial pays tribute to fallen “internationalists”, which Mr. Zolotarev said was a term that also included Russian soldiers who had provided “international brotherly assistance” to Czechoslovakia by invading the country in 1968. The Russian Centre of Science and Culture in Prague, which is behind the sign, says it was supported by the Czech Defence Ministry, the Senate and Prague Town Hall, but all three have distanced themselves from this claim.

PM Sobotka promises Council of Europe to address discrimination against Roma

The Czech prime minister, Bohuslav Sobotka, has promised that his cabinet will deal with the issue of discrimination against the Roma minority in the Czech Republic, the news site novinky.cz reported. Mr. Sobotka made the pledge in a reply to a letter the government received from the Council of Europe’s commissioner for human rights, Nils Muižnieks, who called for action to halt a growing number of anti-Roma demonstrations. The Czech leader said his cabinet would stand up to all forms of violence, hostility and discrimination, including “anti-gypsyism”. Mr. Sobotka said the government was preparing a national strategy on Roma integration that would be in place until 2020.

Minister fires official over handing out of gold as gifts

Finance Minister Andrej Babiš has dismissed the director of the State Printer of Securities, Richard Bulíček. In a news release issued on Tuesday, the minister said he and Mr. Bulíček had diverging views on efficiency and thrift when it came to substantial gifts. The newspaper Lidové noviny last week reported that in the last five years given out as presents 10g gold ingots worth some CZK 4.7 million. Mr. Babiš had previously questioned why Mr. Bulíček had been unable to furnish him with a list of those who had received the ingots.

Police uncover large amount of metal believed stolen from Czech rail system

Czech police uncovered nearly 3,800kg of metal that they believe was stolen from the country’s rail system in a nationwide operation aimed at combatting such theft, spokesperson Martin Hrinko said on Tuesday. Twelve people were arrested. The metal found by the police was taken from tracks, stabled carriages and even the interiors of trains, officer Hrinko said, adding that scrap merchants in many cases deliberately had premises adjacent to railway depots.

Poll suggests third of Czechs believe 1989 changes did not “pay off”

A third of Czechs believe that the change of political system in 1989 did not “pay off”, suggests the results of a survey conducted by the CVVM agency quoted by the news website iDnes.cz. Sixty-three percent of respondents agreed with the statement that the replacement of the Communist government had “paid off”. Thirty-four percent of those surveyed said the changes had brought about more benefits than losses; a quarter of respondents expressed the opposite view. Over 1,000 people were questioned for the opinion poll last month.

Mayor Hudeček will head TOP 09 candidates list in Prague communal elections

Prague Mayor Tomáš Hudeček will head the candidates list for the centre-right TOP 09 in communal elections in the autumn, the party’s leadership announced on Monday. Hudeček edged the head of the party’s Prague branch Jiří Vávra by three votes. The decision on who to nominate was preceded by heated debate, the Czech News Agency reported; the 1st spot on the list, if successful in the election, would deliver Mr Hudeček the mayoral seat. In recent days, some TOP 09 members pushed for national party leader Karel Schwarzenberg to head the list, but the former presidential candidate and former foreign minister declined.

Joan Baez set for Prague return with Lucerna show

Joan Baez will perform at the Grand Hall at Prague’s Lucerna on October 16, the promoter of the concert has announced. The US folk singer, who is 73, has performed several times in the city since the fall of Communism. She has a number of connections with this part of the world, including a long-term friendship with the late president Václav Havel, whom she first visited in 1988, and was a vocal supporter of Czechoslovak dissidents.

Czechs to host US in soccer friendly ahead of Euro 2016 campaign

The Czech Republic will host the United States in a friendly soccer international in Prague on September 3. It will be the Czechs’ last warm-up game for their qualifying campaign for the 2016 European Championship in France, which begins against the Netherlands six days later, also in the Czech capital. Manager Pavel Vrba said he had chosen the US because Jurgen Klinsmann’s side played a similar attacking style to the Dutch.

17.03.2014

Prime Minister Sobotka reiterates that Czech Republic does not accept Crimean referendum result

The Czech Republic does not recognize the result of Crimea’s referendum Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka reiterated on Monday, saying the result went against Ukraine’s constitution and against the 1994 treaty guaranteeing Ukraine’s modern borders. The referendum, he stressed, was irregular, not allowing international observers and having taken place under a marked Russian military presence. The result has likewise been rejected by the European Union and the United States, who agreed to impose sanctions. On Monday, the Czech government expressed agreement that part of the EU association agreement be signed with Ukraine by the end of the week.

Czech president says Crimean referendum contravenes Ukraine’s constitution

Czech President Miloš Zeman reacted on Monday to Crimea’s referendum, saying the vote contravened Ukraine’s constitution but suggesting the result should lead to the greater autonomy of Crimea, spokesman Jiří Ovčáček said. The spokesman pointed out the president's view on Crimea's autonomy was similar to that of former US secretary of state Henry Kissinger (who oulined his position in a recent Washington Post opinion piece). In the referendum result on Sunday, the vast majority of Crimean voters chose the option to rejoin Russia. The Crimean Parliament on Monday formally declared Crimea’s independence, asking to join the Russian Federation. The US and the European Union have called the referendum illegal and have agreed to impose sanctions against Russia for intervening in Ukraine.

Committee named to oversee church property restitution

The government on Monday named a new committee to monitor and oversee church property restitution. Instead of the previously expected five members, the commission will have six, including Justice Minister Helena Válková. The committee is to report to the government every three months, the prime minister confirmed. Other members of the team will include the finance and interior ministers. Representatives from institutions affected by property restitution, such as the National Gallery or the state-owned forestry firm Lesy ČR, will also regularly attend committee meetings.

Former US ambassador testifies in Barták case

Former US ambassador to Prague and chairman of the supervisory board at Tatra trucks William Cabaniss testified in court on Monday in the case of former defence minister Martin Barták and arms dealer Michal Smrž charged with corruption in the purchase of Tatra trucks for the Czech army. The prosecution suspects Mr Barták in his capacity as deputy defence minister in 2008 asked the truck maker’s supervisory board head for a five-million dollar bribe. Mr Barták has denied any wrongdoing. In his testimony on Monday, Mr Cabaniss said he did not remember the exact amount asked for (or the currency) but said he found the offer highly inappropriate, suggesting he was completely caught off guard. If convicted, former defence minister Barták faces up to 12 years in prison.

Czech PM calls for calm and consistent response from EU to Crimea referendum

The Czech prime minister, Bohuslav Sobotka, has called for a uniform, calm and consistent response from the European Union to the result of the referendum in Crimea. Speaking in Monday’s edition of the German newspaper Handelsblatt, Mr. Sobotka said Europe should above all not react hysterically to the result of the referendum, in which more than 95% of Crimean voters were reported to have backed joining Russia. The Czech leader emphasised that his country and its European partners regarded the vote as unlawful and in contravention of Ukraine’s constitution; he said the only solution could be if Russia and Ukraine sat down at the negotiating table.

Former police president now in charge of regional force

Former Czech police president Martin Červíček began his first day on the job on Monday as the head of the regional police force in Hradec Králové. The force there and in other regions such as Pardubice, south Bohemia and the Czech-Moravian Highlands have all seen broad changes in leadership, according to plans going back several years. Martin Červíček was police president for over a year but was replaced following the return of his predecessor Petr Lessy, after a court threw out charges against him of slander and abuse of office.

Court says Prague villa belonged to wanted fugitive and his wife both

A Prague district court on Monday refused to strike from legal proceedings an abandoned Prague villa belonging to fugitive businessman Radovan Krejčíř, being sued by a company which says it was owed 50 million crowns. Krejčíř evaded justice in the Czech Republic in 2005; today, he faces criminal charges in South Africa. His wife, Kateřina, had argued the Prague villa was hers alone, allegedly bought for 23 million crowns from funds provided by her father-in-law. The court maintained the property, which could be sold in an auction, belonged to both the husband and wife and was paid for from their own earnings. The villa has reportedly fallen into disrepair since 2005; experts estimated the property as being worth some 400 million crowns.

One injured in gas explosion in Plzeň apartment building

Residents were evacuated from an apartment building in the West Bohemian city of Plzeň on Sunday night following a gas explosion, a spokesperson for the local fire service told the Czech News Agency. One person was hospitalised after being injured in the blast, the cause of which is as yet unknown. Local authorities have organised temporary housing for 14 people who were forced to leave their homes and are now awaiting the result of an examination of the building by engineers.

Record number of films sent for Zlín Film Festival

A record 3,000 films – an increase of 100 percent say organisers – were entered for this year’s Zlín Film Festival focusing on children and youth. A selection of only around one-tenth will be chosen for screening, the festival’s spokesman Martin Pášma said. More films than previously were reportedly sent from countries in South America. The festival takes place from May 30 to June 5 and is in its 54th year; last year some 95,000 people attended.

16.03.2014

Russia wishes to split EU and latter must take unified position, says Czech industry minister

The minister of industry and trade, Jan Mládek, says the Czech government wishes to see the European Union take a unified position on Russia after its military incursion into Ukraine’s Crimea region. Speaking on a TV debate show on Sunday, Mr. Mládek said the worst alternative would be for the EU to adopt a radical policy pushed by some states but then not to adhere to it; Russia wishes to see a split between European states, he said. The minister also said he saw a parallel between the situation surrounding Crimea and Kosovo’s split from Serbia; this view is opposed by Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka, who is also chair of Mr. Mládek’s party the Social Democrats.

West’s good will policy towards Russia a failure, says TOP 09’s Kalousek

Miroslav Kalousek of the opposition TOP 09 says the West’s hitherto policy of good will towards Russia had definitively failed following the latter’s military intervention in Ukraine’s Crimea region. Speaking on a TV debate show on Sunday, the former finance minister said that the Czech Republic ought to push for the toughest possible policy toward Russia within the framework of the European Union and NATO. The country should act in concert against the “aggressor” with the other Visegrad Four states, which fall within Russia’s imperial interests, Mr. Kalousek said.

Nečas says police chief was about to be sacked before ordering operation that led to his downfall as PM

Former prime minister and Civic Democrats chairman Petr Nečas says that the head of the police’s organised crime unit, Robert Šlachta, was about to be sacked shortly before he ordered an operation that included a raid on the office of the government and precipitated Mr. Nečas’s downfall. He told the weekly Euro that Mr. Šlachta was facing the axe for failing to combat the trade in illegally produced alcohol. Mr. Nečas said the organised crime unit had become chiefly interested in hounding politicians. For his part, Mr. Šlachta describes Mr. Nečas’s comments as completely untrue.

Last June members of the unit arrested on bribe-taking charges three former Civic Democrat MPs who had received lucrative posts at semi-state enterprises after agreeing not to bring down Mr. Nečas’s government. They have since been exonerated but Mr. Nečas himself is still facing bribery charges, as are his former chief aide and current spouse Jana Nagyová and a number of others.

Czech Republic will have to return CZK 60 billion in EU subsidies next year, says minister

The Czech Republic will have to return around CZK 60 billion in European Union subsidies next year, the weekly Euro reported, quoting the minister for regional development, Věra Jourová. Her ministry is therefore drawing up an inventory of projects that are failing to draw properly on EU funds in an effort to increase efficiency. Ms. Jourová said it was becoming more likely that fears of potential funding going to waste would come true. Last year CZK 10 billion was not accessed, while this year the figure will evidently be CZK 24 billion and next year even higher at CZK 26 billion, the minister said.

Halík to donate much of Templeton Prize windfall to initiatives promoting dialogue

The Czech priest and academic Tomáš Halík says he will put most of the CZK 36 million he received this week with Templeton Prize into initiatives involved in interfaith dialogue and dialogue between believers and atheists. His involvement in such discourse was one reason that he received the religious award. Speaking to reporters on Sunday, Monsignor Halík said he had a concrete project in mind to donate the money to. He will also give some of the monetary award to charity. Previous winners of the Templeton Prize include the Dalai Lama and Bishop Desmond Tutu.

Strong winds cause disruptions around Czech Republic

Strong winds have caused disruptions around the Czech Republic, with the North Bohemia region particularly badly hit. Gales have knocked down trees in several places, interrupting service on a number of railway lines. Ski resorts have also been affected, with the final day of the Ski Flying World Championships in Harrachov having to be abandoned. Forecasters said the winds should ease by around 8PM on Sunday.

Sparta extend league lead with win over Příbram

Sparta Prague have extended their lead at the top of the Czech soccer league after a 1:0 away win over Příbram on Saturday evening. The leaders found the net 10 minutes from time when captain David Lafata converted a penalty. It was the striker’s 133rd goal in the Czech top flight, equalling a record set by Sparta legend Horst Seigl. However, Seigl scored a total 176 goals if his career in the previous Czechoslovak league is also counted. With 10 games remaining, Sparta are now 11 points clear of second-placed Viktoria Plzeň, who take on Slovácko on Sunday.

15.03.2014

PM Sobotka rejects ex-ministers’ call for sanctions against Russia over Crimea

Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka has rejected a call from three former ministers for the Czech Republic to impose sanctions on Russia until it withdraws its troops from Ukraine’s Crimea region. The demand was made by Martin Bursík, Michael Kocáb and Luboš Dobrovský, all of whom served in right-wing governments. Mr. Sobotka said the current Czech cabinet would not under any circumstances impose unilateral sanctions. However, he and his colleagues were prepared to back a joint EU position on the matter, he said. Mr. Sobotka added that the Czech Republic had significant links with the Russian market and blanket sanctions would threaten jobs.

Hundreds in Czech Republic protest Russian intervention in Crimea

Hundreds of people participated in demonstrations in the Czech Republic on Saturday in protest at Russia’s military incursion into Crimea, where a referendum on the Ukrainian region’s future is being held on Sunday. The biggest gathering took place by a statute of TG Masaryk at Prague Castle, where around 150 people condemned Moscow’s actions. Among a number of speakers were pro-European demonstrators from the Ukrainian capital who have received medical treatment in the Czech Republic.

Social Democrats to put candidate selection method to party referendum

The leadership of the Social Democrats plans to put changes to how the party is run to a referendum of members by June, the prime minister and party chairman Bohuslav Sobotka said on Saturday. One issue that will be put to the vote is whether to introduce a system of primaries so that the establishment of lists of electoral candidates is no longer in the hands of local party bosses, he said after the Social Democrats’ first ever conference specifically dedicated to drawing up reforms. Mr. Sobotka also told reporters the party wished to become more attractive to specialists in various fields in a bid to boost their appeal.

Czech arrested in Spain after 670g of cocaine found in luggage

Police in the Spanish city of Bilbao have arrested a 53-year-old Czech man who they say was carrying 670 grammes of cocaine in his luggage. A Spanish news site said the man, who had arrived this week from Sao Paulo in Brazil, had attempted to hide the drug in four shampoo bottles. Police said the high-quality cocaine was probably destined for sale in Madrid. Spain is among the countries with the highest number of Czech citizens in its prisons; at the end of 2010 there were 102.

Kutná Hora’s 14th century “bone church” set for major renovation

A 14th century “bone church” by the Central Bohemian town of Kutná Hora is due to undergo extensive renovation, according to an official from the local parish of Sedlec. The first phase of the renovation, focusing on the roof of the medieval ossuary, will begin in July and last about a year and a half. In a later phase, its four pyramids formed of the bones of 40,000 people who died in the plague and the Hussite wars will be reinforced.

Sunday expected to see strong winds around Czech Republic

Gale warnings have been issued for almost the entire Czech Republic on Sunday. Winds of up to 90km an hour are expected between 3 AM and 8 PM, with wind speeds of up to 108km an hour likely in mountainous areas, the Czech Hyrdo-Meteorological Institute said on Saturday. Motorists have been warned to exercise caution on the country’s roads.

Sáblíková ends successful season with victory in World Cup

The Czech speed skater Martina Sáblíková ended her season on Saturday with fourth place in the 3000m in Heerenveen in the Netherlands, a result that gave her an eighth overall victory in her sport’s long-distance World Cup. Sáblíková will not take part in next week’s World Championships, also in Heerenveen, saying she is exhausted after the Winter Olympics in Sochi, where she picked up silver in the 3000m and gold in the 5000m to take her tally of Olympic medals to five.

14.03.2014

Czech government condemns rocket attacks from Gaza Strip

The Czech government has strongly condemned the recent wave of rocket attacks carried out by militant organizations in the Gaza Strip. The region has seen three days of escalated violence despite an Egyptian-brokered ceasefire. A statement published by the Czech Foreign Ministry on Friday says the Czech Republic supports the ongoing peace negotiations in the Middle East and the diplomatic efforts of US Secretary of State John Kerry. We are convinced that only direct negotiations can lead to a solution which would secure long-term peace and stability for both nations, the statement says.

Steep rise in applications for Czech citizenship

The Interior Ministry reports a steep rise in the number of foreigners applying for Czech citizenship, according to Friday’s edition of the daily Lidové Noviny. The rise is being attributed to the change of legislation which now allows dual citizenship. In January of this year the number of applicants was four times higher than in the same period last year and the February figure was eight times higher –at 1226 applicants. Last year the ministry granted citizenship requests to 947 Ukrainians, 176 Poles, 176 Vietnamese and 142 Russians.

Czech PM visits Plotzensee Memorial Centre

On a working visit to Germany, Czech Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka on Friday paid homage to 677 Czech Nazi resistence fighters who were executed in the Plotzensee jailhouse. Laying a wreath at the Plotzensee Memorial Centre the prime minister said it was important that the heroic deeds of resistance fighters should not be forgotten. Almost 3,000 executions were conducted in the Plotzensee jailhouse between 1933 and 1945.

The Czech prime minister is on a two-day working visit to Germany, his first since taking office. His talks with German Chancellor Angela Merkel and other top officials on Thursday focused on bilateral ties, European integration and the crisis in Ukraine. The Czech prime minister also visited the Volkswagen headquarters in Wolfsburg; the German firm owns the Czech carmaker Škoda Auto.

Man charged with Houska murder claims he did not know his victim

The man charged with the murder of influential businessman and Social Democratic Party regional politician Roman Houska claims he was unaware of the victim’s identity. The killer, who reportedly fired four shots at Houska at the height of a violent quarrel, turned himself in on Thursday. He told the police he only learnt of the victims’ identity from media reports. The police say there is no question that the man is the culprit since in his testimony he revealed facts that could only have been known to the murderer.

Police crack down on drug-smuggling ring

The police in south Bohemia are reported to have cracked down on a drug-smuggling ring operating at one of the Vietnamese open-air markets close to the border. A police spokeswoman said officers confiscated a kilogram of crystal methamphetamine with a street value of approximately one million crowns which was bound for Germany. The gang reportedly sold drugs to German and Austrian tourists and also smuggled drugs across the border themselves in small quantities. There is a nationwide search on for several members of the gang, but the gang leader – a woman – was reportedly detained in the crack-down.

Unknown protester rewrites names of Prague streets

An unknown protester has "renamed" several streets in Prague in reaction to the Russian invasion of Crimea, the CTK news agency reports. Street signs such as Ukraine, Crimea, Sevastopol, the Black Sea, or Estonia were plastered with red stickers bearing the inscription "Russian?" probably in order to indicate where Russia may focus its attention in the future. Several days ago someone similarly changed the name of a tram stop from "Crimea Street" to "Russia Street."

Ten children lightly injured in bus crash

A bus carrying a large group of school children to a sports event crashed near the west Bohemian town of Plzen around midday on Friday. Ten of the children suffered light injuries, mostly bumps and bruises and were taken to hospital for a check-up. According to police sources the accident happened when the bus driver drove too close to the side of the road to give an oncoming truck more space and overturned into a ditch. A Breathalyzer test proved negative.

Actor Otakar Brousek dies at 89

The popular and widely respected Czech actor Otakar Brousek has died at the age of 89. Mr. Brousek was a member of the prestigious Vinohrady Theatre in Prague which he joined in 1959. Despite his advanced age he still appeared in the Czech version of the play Yes, Mr. Prime Minister which premiered in 2005. In 1996 Otakar Brousek received an award for his contribution to Czech dubbing and a few years ago he received the Thalia prize for his lifelong contribution to Czech theatre.

Zeman to mark first anniversary with Prague Castle celebration

President Miloš Zeman will mark the first anniversary of his inauguration with a celebration at the Spanish Hall at Prague Castle on Friday. Over 250 people have been invited, including supporters of the head of state’s presidential campaign and figures from the spheres of public life and culture. However it is not an official state event and no politicians will be in attendance. Critics have questioned Mr. Zeman’s relatively broad interpretation of the powers of his office and interventions in party politics, though others credit him with an active and pro-European presidency.

Plzeň lose 4:1 to Lyon in first leg of Europa League round of 16 tie

Viktoria Plzeň were beaten 4:1 by the French club Olympic Lyonnais on Thursday night in the first leg of their round of 16 tie in the Europa League, European soccer’s second tier club competition. Plzeň got off to a bright start when Tomáš Hořava opened the scoring after two minutes, but the hosts drew level soon afterwards and took the lead in the second half. The second leg takes place in West Bohemia next Thursday.

13.03.2014

Czechs want active role in debate on EU future, says Sobotka in Berlin

Speaking after talks with German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Berlin on Thursday, the Czech prime minister, Bohuslav Sobotka, said his government wished to play an active role in the discussion on the future of Europe. Mr. Sobotka said European integration was in the interests of the Czech Republic as the country lay in the centre of the continent and worked closely with Eurozone states. For her part, Mrs. Merkel said she welcomed the pro-EU orientation of the new Czech government. Mr. Sobotka also held a meeting with the German president Joachim Gauck. On Friday the Czech leader is due to visit the HQ of Volkswagen, which owns the Czech-based Škoda Auto.

Press: Creation of state enterprise to build new Temelín reactors being considered

The minister of industry and trade, Jan Mládek, is considering the creation of a state enterprise to build new reactors for the Temelín nuclear power station, Hospodářské noviny reported on Thursday. Mr. Mládek has refused to reveal details about the proposal. However, Hospodářské noviny said its sources indicated that Temelín’s owner, semi-state power company CEZ, would likely conclude a tender to complete the plant in the next few months without picking a winner. The construction project would then be hived off from CEZ, meaning it would be relieved of any risks linked to the investment.

Police charge man in connection with killing of regional political figure

The police have charged a man in connection with the murder of Roman Houska, an influential figure in the Social Democrats in Ústí nad Labem, north Bohemia. The suspect was arrested on Wednesday, the state attorney said. Mr. Houska was gunned down in front of his home in Chomutov in November in what appeared to be a contract killing. Media reports at the time described the businessman, who reportedly claimed to have compromising materials on opponents, as an eminence grise in politics in the region.

Two former influential Civic Democrats are being investigated over money laundering

The police’s anti-corruption unit are investigating jailed former senator Alexandr Novák and influential businessman Patrik Oulický on suspicion of money laundering, Czech Radio reported on Thursday. The two are suspected of covertly investing CZK 17 million in a casino, the station said. Mr. Novák is currently in prison after being found guilty of accepting a bribe of over CZK 40 million. Both he and Mr. Oulický were regarded as “godfathers” in the Civic Democrats in Ústí nad Labem but are no longer party members.

Czech priest and academic Tomáš Halík receives Templeton religious award

The Czech Roman Catholic priest and professor Tomáš Halík has received the 2014 Templeton Prize, a UK-based award for “progress toward research or discoveries about spiritual realities”. The organisers said Monsignor Halík, who is 65, had risked imprisonment for illegally advancing religious and cultural freedoms after the Soviet invasion of his country, and had since become a leading international advocate for dialogue among different faiths and non-believers. The Templeton Prize comes with a monetary award of about USD 1.8 million.

Smog alert remains in effect for Moravia-Silesia region

A smog alert remains in effect for parts of the Moravia-Silesia region in the northeast of the country, the Czech Hydrometeorological Institute said. The alert was declared on Wednesday over dust emission values that in some places twice exceed the permitted limits; the highest levels of pollution have been registered in the Karviná district, with 242 micrograms per cubic metre. The situation is not likely to improve on Thursday, meteorologists said. The Ostrava region is one of the most polluted in the country, with heavy industry, traffic and home heating among the major factors.

“Havel’s Place” memorial set for Prague’s Maltézské náměstí

A memorial to the late Czech president Václav Havel is likely to be erected at Maltézské náměstí by Prague’s Kampa district, the city’s mayor, Tomáš Hudeček, told the Czech News Agency. The “Havel’s Place” memorial features a circular table around a tree and two chairs and was designed by architect Bořek Šípek. Versions have already been unveiled in Washington, Dublin and Barcelona. The Prague one should appear this spring.

Prague exhibition highlights 1970s and ‘80s samizdat publications

An exhibition that opened on Thursday at Prague’s National Library highlights samizdat books and magazines produced in Czechoslovakia in the 1970s and 1980s. Entitled Samizdat: The Creative Power of Resistance, the show has been organised in conjunction with Libri prohibiti, a privately held library that possesses some 13,000 books produced illicitly in Czechoslovakia under communism. The exhibition is due to run at the Clementinum until April 18.

Plzeň preparing to face Lyon away in Europa League

Viktoria Plzeň are preparing to face the French club Olympique Lyonnais in the first leg of their Europa League round of 16 tie on Thursday evening. The second leg takes place in West Bohemia next week. Plzeň overcame the wealthy Ukrainian club Shakhtar Donetsk, who won the competition’s predecessor in 2010, in the previous round.