By: Jan Velinger
* Slovakia's foreign minister has said that Russia has repeated
warnings it will aim missiles at US installations if they are based in
Poland and the Czech Republic.
* Police have broken-up a gang producing the methamphetamine pervetin
for the British black market.
* Jaromir Jagr's New York Rangers defeated the Islanders on Thursday to
secure a spot in the Stanley Cup playoffs.
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Slovak foreign minister: Russia will aim missiles at US installations
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Slovakia's Foreign Minister Jan Kubis said on Friday that Russia has
repeated warnings it will aim missiles at US installations planned in
the Czech Republic and neighbouring Poland - part of a broader defense
shield. Mr Kubis revealed the news after meeting with Russia's Foreign
Minister Sergei Lavrov in Bucharest. He added that while Moscow clearly
continues to oppose the system, it was apparent Russia would search for
ways to accept the project. At the NATO Summit on Thursday it was
announced that the US had reached agreement with the Czech Republic on
the siting of its radar base on Czech soil. NATO countries also fully
backed the US plan, saying the project would be integrated into a
future NATO system.
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Radar base, US missile defense, not addressed in Putin speech
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In related news, Russia's outgoing President Vladimir Putin made no
mention of the planned US radar base or missile defense during a
much-anticipated speech at the NATO summit on Friday. Czech President
Vaclav Klaus called the omission "fairly surprising". Russia has
continually expressed strong opposition to US plans.
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National security council to discuss SOFA agreement
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Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek has confirmed that next Tuesday the
country's National Security Council will discuss the Czech-US SOFA
(Status of Forces) agreement, defining the status of US troops on Czech
soil in connection with the planned radar base. A new round of
bilateral talks between the US and the Czech Republic is then to
continue on Wednesday, with a final agreement expected by April 11.
Defence Minister Vlasta Parkanova said on Thursday that the Security
Council should now decide whether to preserve the mandate of Czech
negotiators or make modifications. Besides covering the legal status of
US soldiers, the SOFA also deals with environmental and transport
issues as well as other factors including controls by authorities over
construction and taxation.
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Police break-up British-led gang
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Czech police have broken up a British-led gang producing the
methamphetamine pervetin for the British black market. Police said on
Friday the gang's lab was one of the largest uncovered in recent years,
producing an estimated half-kilo of the drug per week. Five were
arrested in the round up, there of them Czechs; if found guilty they
could face up to 15 years in prison. According to officials, the
pervetin was produced using store-bought medicines; the lab itself was
uncovered in a Prague garage. Last year more than 2,000 individuals
were reportedly arrested in the Czech Republic for involvement in
drug-related crimes - the vast majority of them Czech nationals. Some
130 were foreigners, officials say.
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Supreme Court upholds sentence in bribery case
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The Supreme Court has confirmed an earlier 20-month suspended prison
sentence for Pavel Srytr for attempting to bribe Social Democrat MP and
Olympic medallist Pavel Ploc two years ago. The MP was offered the
bribe as enticement for switching Parliamentary parties shortly after
the 2006 election ended in deadlock. Lower instance courts in east
Bohemia ruled on the sentence in 2007. The Supreme Court rejected Mr
Srytr's appeal last year, but the announcement was only just released.
In the past Pavel Srytr, a former bodyguard, admitted meeting with MP
Ploc but denied any wrongdoing.
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New documents on Masins found
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The head of the Institute for the Study of Totalitarian Regimes, Pavel
Zacek, has revealed the finding of new documents pertaining to the
Masin brothers - members of an anti-communist resistance group who shot
their way out of Communist Czechoslovakia. The documents reportedly
date to the interrogation of family member Ctibor Novak, later executed
by the regime. The documents suggest that under questioning Mr Novak
admitted that the Masins had planned to abduct Communist Defence
Minister Alexej Cepicka as well to conduct acts of sabotage. It is
plausible the statements were made under the threat of violence by the
secret police. Not long ago the Masins, along with resistance group
member Milan Paumer, were recognised by Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek
for their willingness to fight against the Communist regime in the
1950s.
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Film by Estonian director to receive top prize at Febiofest
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"Magnus" by Estonian director Kadri Koussar has been chosen as top film
at the Czech Republic's Febiofest film festival. The director is to be
awarded the prize - which includes a cheque for 5,000 euros (the
equivalent of about 7,800 US dollars) - on the festival's closing
night. The prize will be awarded by Czech-British architect and jury
head Jan Kaplicky. "Magnus" is said to tell the story of a teen who,
having overcome serious illness in childhood, is unable to give up an
obsession with suicide, leading a family member to try and intervene.
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NHL action: Jagr's Rangers secure Stanley Cup playoff spot
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In the NHL on Thursday Jaromir Jagr's New York Rangers defeated local
rivals the New York Islanders 3-0 to secure a spot in this year's
Stanley Cup playoffs. Jagr - the Ranger's captain - scored twice in the
1st period, while compatriot Martin Straka added a third. The Rangers
have one game left to play in the regular season, against the New
Jersey Devils. A win would push the Rangers into the 4th spot in the
Eastern Conference - giving them home ice advantage in the playoffs.
In other action on Thursday, the Nashville Predators secured the final
spot in the Western Conference by downing St Louis 3-2. Jan Hlavac
assisted on all three goals, seeing him named 1st star.
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Weather
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Partly cloudy skies are expected into the weekend. Daytime temperatures
should reach highs of around 10 degrees Celsius. Sunday is to see an
increasing chance of rain.
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Articles posted on www.radio.cz today
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Business News
Business News 4.4.2008
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In Business News this week: the Czech finance minister puts forward
plans for a radically simplified "super tax"; the Czech tractor maker
Zetor sees a 14-percent rise in sales; the Ministry of Agriculture
launches a huge organic food promotion campaign; there is speculation
the country's biggest search engine could go on the block; and a Czech
travel agency is offering flights in space on Virgin Galactic.
http://www.radio.cz/en/article/102675
Current Affairs
Students prefer Prague
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Apparently Prague is not just a favourite destination for the millions
of tourists who descend on the city each year, but also for the
majority of students in the Czech Republic, who have rated it as the
most popular place to study in the country. A report co-sponsored by
Prague's School of Economics found that the capital is the preferred
choice, for reasons ranging from increased employment possibilities, a
livelier cultural and social scene to the fact that more courses are
offered than elsewhere. The report looked at 24 towns and all 14 of the
country's regions, and Prague was found to score consistently strongly.
Jamie Brindley spoke to several students from different academic
institutions in Prague, to get their opinions on life and studying in
the city.
http://www.radio.cz/en/article/102671
Current Affairs
Czech Deputy Prime Minister Alexandr Vondra hails Czech-US agreement as
a big success
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The United States and the Czech Republic announced at a NATO summit in
Bucharest on Thursday they had reached an agreement on building a
missile-defense radar on Czech soil. The announcement came after months
of complicated negotiations and vehement opposition from Russia, as
well as a number of EU member states who did not like the idea of a
bilateral defense deal between Prague and Washington. But the Bucharest
summit produced a breakthrough, with NATO leaders agreeing to endorse
Washington's missile defense plans after it promised to explore ways of
making the radar base an integral part of any future NATO missile
defense architecture. Radio Prague's Alex Rosenzweig was at the summit
and spoke to the Czech Deputy Prime Minister for European Affairs
Alexandr Vondra about the agreement and its chances of winning approval
in Parliament.
http://www.radio.cz/en/article/102670
Current Affairs
Greens ultimately to decide whether radar base gets green light or not
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How likely is it that the parliament will approve the stationing of the
radar base on Czech soil - a crucial prerequisite? Where are the
potential pitfalls? We analyse what lies ahead for Mirek Topolanek's
centre-right coalition.
http://www.radio.cz/en/article/102669
Arts
Bohemian bagpipe tradition focus of documentary Call of Dudy
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Dudy is the Czech word for the bagpipes and Call of Dudy is the title
of a documentary film focused on the Bohemian piping tradition.
Featuring lots of great music and interesting interviews, it takes
viewers to the instrument's traditional strongholds in south and west
Bohemia, and over the border into Bavaria.
http://www.radio.cz/en/article/102657
ICE - news
Prague and Washington agree on radar bases - NATO backs US missile
shieldHungary's Socialists to face first "minority" challenge on health
reformCzechs come out under quota on carbon emissionsAustria and
Slovakia in joint bid for new EU research institutePoles petition their
PM to tackle human rights in TibetPlans for major Slovenian gambling
complex may collapse
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