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Current AffairsAir force predicts bright future despite brain drain
The Czech air force has been substantially scaled down over the last decade - from around 1,000 trained pilots in 1993 to 400 today. The reduction is part of a general package of reform, but many pilots have taken the decision to leave themselves, disillusioned with deteriorating conditions and frequent reorganisation. A new study commissioned by the force makes depressing reading - last year alone 60 pilots chose to go. Most of them were older and more experienced - just the sort of people the air force cannot afford to lose. So why the brain drain? A question my colleague Rob Cameron put to Major Petr Sykora, the spokesman for the Czech air force command.
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Current AffairsUS General assesses plans for the reform of Czech armed forces
As a NATO member, the Czech Republic needs balanced armed forces which would both fulfil the needs of the country itself and meet the requirements of the Alliance concerning its quality, inter-operability and deployment.
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Business NewsSenate rejects financing of new fighter jets
The upper house of the Czech parliament, the Senate, rejected on Friday a financing plan for the purchase of 24 new fighter jets for the Czech Air Force, which is the biggest military deal in Czech history, amounting to nearly 2 billion USD.
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Business NewsFinancing of new fighter jets approved
The lower house of the Czech parliament has approved spending revenues from privatisation of state assets on the purchase of 24 new fighter jets for the Czech Air Force, which is the country's biggest military contract to date. The measure has yet to be approved by the Senate, and ratified by President Vaclav Havel.
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Current AffairsLower house rejects government bonds for military campaigns
A financial dispute pitting the Social Democrat government against parliament has raised questions about the Czech Republic's ability to finance its contribution to the U.S.-led "war on terrorism." The government is asking parliament to approve a 35 million-dollar funding package to pay for deploying a Czech army field hospital in Afghanistan and a chemical warfare unit in Kuwait, as requested by the United States and Britain. But earlier this week the lower house rejected the plan to finance the missions through the issuing of state-backed bonds. Rob Cameron has more.
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Current Affairs Blair: Benes decrees will not hinder Czech bid to join EU
The British Prime Minister Tony Blair touched down in Prague on Monday for a brief visit to the Czech Republic, holding talks with Czech officials on his way home from the United States. Top of the agenda in Prague was the crisis in the Middle East - a Czech anti-chemical unit was recently deployed in Kuwait to protect the U.S. command headquarters in Kuwait City. But Mr Blair also found time to praise the Czech Republic for progress towards joining the EU, adding there was still room for co-operation within Europe on a "nation state" level.
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Current AffairsWill young men with health problems be forced into the army?
As in most European countries, military service is compulsory here in the Czech Republic. All young men have to spend a year in the army, and those who choose to do civil duty instead have to do it for 18 months. The only way to avoid military service completely is to have a doctor's certificate proving you have serious health problems. However, a bill on reforming the army may mean that even people with incurable illnesses could be forced to do military service. prepared this report.
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Business NewsGrippen deal near signing
The Czech army is about to conclude perhaps the biggest deal in its history - to buy a fleet of 24 third-generation supersonic multi-role JAS-39 Gripen combat aircraft from the British-Swedish consortium of BAE Systems/Saab. The project has not only significant military but also economic implications as the supplier has offered the Czech Republic generous investment projects.
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