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Current AffairsPrague Deli: a Czech "institution" on Queen Street West
A Czech-speaking customer buys a chain of homemade sausages in a trendy
part of town. But, don't be fooled into thinking this is Prague: this is
in fact Toronto, fashionable Queen Street West, where a delicatessen,
known as the Prague Deli, has been preparing fine Czech foods since 1968.
Run by three generations in the Kral family, the deli is nothing less than
an "institution". Some would say: a "bite" of home away
from home. It's where almost all Czech Torontonians go to stock up on
schnitzel, cold-cuts, or even just desserts.
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SpotlightThe Bata Shoe Museum
Today's Spotlight is part of a new series of stories and reports about
Czechs in Canada airing on Radio Prague throughout the month of March. In
this edition Jan Velinger takes us to the exciting Bata Shoe Museum right
in the centre of Toronto. Among his guests: the founder of the museum
itself Sonja Bata, wife of famous Czech-born businessman Tomas Bata, whose
shoes are recognised world-wide.
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Current AffairsBureaucratic obstacles plague foreign residents
Prior to the revolution, foreigners were quite rare in this country. But
since 1989, immigration has risen significantly. That increase led to the
formation of the Committee for the Integration of Foreigners in 2000. It
aims to create long term legislation and practical measures for the
integration of foreigners. The committee recently had a special survey
conducted - and one thing is clear- the bureaucratic procedures involving
work and residency permits are a major obstacle for long term residents. More
Current AffairsForeigners unaware that Ombudsman is there for them too
On December 8th 1999, the Czech Parliament adopted a law which established
an Ombudsman or Public Defender of Rights. But while many Czechs have been
making use of this service, few foreigners are aware that they too have
the right to ask the ombudsman for assistance. To reach more foreigners
and inform them on what the ombudsman's office has done so far, a press
conference was held in Brno this week.
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Current AffairsForeign Minister Svoboda asks USA to waive visa requirement and relocated RFE/RL
The Czech Foreign Minister, Cyril Svoboda, is in the United States, and one
of his most ambitious missions has been to persuade the USA to waive visa
requirements for Czech citizens. Of the new EU members only Slovenia meets
the criteria set by the US authorities. The number of Czech illegal
workers in the States is still above the threshold set in the so-called
"visa waiver programme"; its estimated that tens of thousands of
Czechs have entered the United States on tourist visas and now live and
work there illegally. More
Current AffairsVaclav Havel receives 24th international award
A ceremony was held at the Canadian Official Residence in Prague on
Wednesday night, where former president Vaclav Havel received the Honorary
Companion of the Order of Canada, the highest honour to be appointed by
the country's Governor General Adrienne Clarkson. Mr. Havel is only the
third foreigner to receive this prestigious honour, after her Majesty
Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, and former South Africa President
Nelson Mandela.
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Current AffairsUS likely to retain visa requirements for Czech visitors despite calls for their removal
Despite being one of America's staunchest allies in Europe, Czech citizens
still need to apply for a visa to visit the United States. For many of
them, this can be a long and relatively expensive process. Some Czech
politicians are now calling for these visa requirements to be lifted.
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Press ReviewPress Review
Lidove Noviny writes that some MPs for the ruling Social Democrats want the
US authorities to abolish visas for Czech citizens in return for Czech
participation in US-led military missions. The head of the foreign affairs
committee in the lower house, Social Democrat Vladimir Lastuvka, tells
Lidove Noviny that the situation is unsustainable. According to him,
either the US should abolish visas for Czechs, or the Czech Republic
should introduce visas for Americans.
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