News News

• Prime Minister Jan Fischer has said that the Czech Republic is prepared to offer its assistance in mediating disputes between Israel and its neighbours.  
• The State Prosecutor has filed charges of racially-motivated attempted murder in the case of last year’s Vítkov arson attack.  
• The Czech Police have announced new and supplemental measures to combat extremism in the country.  

Czech PM pledges diplomatic assistance in Near East

Prime Minister Jan Fischer said Tuesday that the Czech Republic is prepared to offer its assistance in mediating disputes between Israel and its neighbours in the Middle East. Speaking at a conference marking the 20th anniversary of the renewal of diplomatic relations between the Czech and Jewish states, Mr Fischer said that the Czech Republic’s experience and good relations with the countries of the Middle East could help aid international relations there. He also said that having a clear stance towards Israel would be one of the main tasks of any integrated foreign policy in the European Union, and that his country would help in building one. Relations between Czechoslovakia and Israel were frosty between the early 1950s and the fall of the Iron Curtain, since which time the two countries have developed strong economic, scientific and technological cooperation.

Charges filed in Vítkov arson case

The State Prosecutor filed charges with the District Court of Ostrava on Tuesday in the case of last year’s Vítkov arson attack, which left members of a Romani family severely injured and a two-year-old child with burns on 80% of her body. The prosecutor’s office said that four right-wing radicals were charged with multiple counts of attempted racially-motivated murder and that the hearings would likely begin by the spring, until which time the judge would be studying a 3000-page case file. While several of the accused have expressed regret over the crime, which took place in April of 2009, the prosecutor’s office noted that only one had actually aided the investigation and given evidence. If convicted they may serve up to 15 years, a special sentence or life imprisonment.

Police announce new, additional measures to counter extremism

In related news, the Czech Police have announced new and additional measures to combat extremism in the country. The head of the riot police, Petr Sehnoutka, told reporters Tuesday that units would be receiving additional training, public order squads would be used more frequently, and new, heavy-armour units will be added in the Ústecký and Moravskoslezský regions. The police said that the further specialisation of the units was in reaction to the greater specialisation of extremist groups themselves, which Sehnoutka said are becoming more aggressive, better organised and embracing new methods. The two regions in which the new units are to be placed were chosen due to their being what the police called major bases for extremists. Currently only Prague and Brno riot police have such heavy-armour squads.

MPs meet for first of four special sessions

Parliamentarians have begun the first in a series of four special sessions of Parliament convened because January’s session ended in deadlock. Tuesday’s session was called by the Social Democratic Party in order to debate amendments to the Income Tax Act and the Criminal Code. Members will also be discussing proposals to cancel ceilings on social insurance payments and the government’s anti-corruption package. The coming days’ debates will involve primarily hot election topics, such as the left’s aim to increase maternal benefits and a call by Civic Democrats to confront allegations of corruption in the purchase of Gripen fighter jets from Sweden.

Czech Foreign Minister wants talks with Ukraine election winner

Czech Foreign Minister Jan Kohout has praised the Ukrainian elections as being in line with international standards and norms. He said that the Czech Republic was ready to talk with Kiev about issues such as energy security, the future of the EU’s Eastern Partnership accords, security issues and the integration of Ukraine in Euro-Atlantic structures with the incoming president. Viktor Yanukovych gained a slim victory in the second round presidential election vote with 48.83 percent of votes. His main rival, Yulia Tymoshenko, had 45.59 percent.

Christian Democrat deputy resigns for family reasons

Deputy chairman of the Christian Democratic Party, David Macek, has resigned from his position for family reasons. Party chairman Cyril Svoboda has called upon the regional offices to propose a replacement. Mr Macek said Tuesday that he would remain in the party background, but that he was seeking more time and energy for his family and church than the time constraints of his position allowed for. He is currently expecting a second child. Mr Macek, who has been a deputy chairman since 2006, will in his own view likely be replaced by a representative from the party’s strongest office in the region of South Bohemia.

Václav Havel cancels engagements due to health problems

Former Czech President Václav Havel has cancelled his engagements for the next two weeks, as he will be treated at home after taking ill with a lung infection. Mr Havel’s spokeswoman said his doctors has prescribed him antibiotics. Havel was due on Monday to take part in a press conference of a new book by journalist Karel Hvižd’ala which includes interviews with Havel and fellow communist era dissident Pavel Landovský. Mr Havel, a former heavy smoker whose health suffered during imprisonment under the Communist regime, had part of his right lung removed in the late 1990’s when cancer was diagnosed, and was in serious condition in hospital with a lung ailment a year ago.

Heavy smog in Prague as blight continues in east of country

After several days of heavy smog in the far east of the Czech Republic, conditions have worsened in the capital as well. Prague monitoring stations on Tuesday moved the air-quality rating to five on a scale of six, with inversion preventing an improvement. 14 out of 15 stations in Prague reported that flue dust levels had exceeded the limit as of Tuesday evening. Meanwhile, a station in the industrial area of Třinec has recorded flue dust levels of seven times the limit, which is 50 micrograms per cubic metre; polluters in that region were ordered to reduce production. Senior citizens, children and the chronically ill have been advised to restrict their time out of doors in the areas in question.

Poll asks Czechs who they would not want as neighbours

A poll published by the agency Factum Invenio suggests strong biases among many Czechs against sharing a neighbourhood with people of specific ethnicities. In response to the question “who would you not want as a neighbour”, 76% of respondents replied “definitely not” or “maybe not” in regards to a hypothetical Romani neighbour. Such responses were also high in regards to Arabs (60%) and respondents were mostly split when asked about Ukrainians and Vietnamese. 40% said they would not want an Israeli as a neighbour, while 18% said they would not want a Jew. The study, which was released at Tuesday’s conference marking the 20 years of diplomatic ties with Israel, suggested that 70% of Czechs had a positive attitude towards Jewish cultural heritage, while 53% perceived Israeli culture positively.

New radar result builds anticipation of St. Agnes find

New radar scans conducted in the Church of St. Haštal in Prague have ignited anticipation that a hole in the floor near the altar may hold the lost remains of St. Agnes of Bohemia. The scans showed a crevice bearing a slab that corresponds to the dimensions of the tomb being sought, though the surveyor emphasised that the result was in no way conclusive of anything definite. Interest in the church became intense in November of last year, when an initial radar scan was said to show a casket beneath the altar. The current scan showed similar results, though in a slightly different location. The respective parish has said it would like the part of the floor in question to be raised as soon as possible so as to clear up the speculation. The remains of the 13th century saint were allegedly hidden during the Hussite Wars and have never been found. St. Agnes was canonised by Pope John Paul II just before the Velvet Revolution, and is considered a symbol of that event.

Weather

Conditions over the coming days will be overcast with scattered snow and fog and daytime lows of -6 to -2°C.