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Policy statement
The Czech cabinet has approved its policy statement, which is to be
submitted to the government on the 18th August for a vote of
confidence. Pauline Newman has more.
Speaking at a Press conference after a government session on
Wednesday, Milos Zeman told journalists that he was very pleased, the
policy statement had been approved. He said that the most important
points coincide with Social Democrat pre-election promises while at
the same time, being more what he called: "Technological and
concrete".
One of the main foreign policy priorities for the new government, will
be the entry of the Czech Republic into NATO and the European Union.
Some of the more concrete measures, are Zeman's proposals to increase
child benefits and create a long term, stable budget. Concrete
domestic policies focus on fighting economic and organised crime.
The cabinet has consulted the Civic Democratic Party, the ODS over the
policy statement or at least its first version. The Social Democrats
are dependent on the support of the ODS, if they want to stay in
power. Political observers say the government will survive the first
hurdle on the 18th August, if members of the ODS walk out of the room
while the vote of confidence is taking place. Zeman said on Wednesday,
that both parties need to be informed so they know what to expect from
one another. When asked how the ODS reacted to the cabinet manifesto,
he refused to comment.
Economists have given a positive reaction to the policy statement,
praising the clause on faster tax deduction policies in the industrial
sector. They were not so sure, however, about cabinet intentions to
postpone price deregulation until the year 2002. One specialist from
Komercni Banka, said this would hold up the growth of the economy. All
in all though, economists agreed that the policy statement was in the
end more or less what they expected. An economist from Zivnobanka,
commented that the government will have to make compromises on its
statement, in order to gain the support of the Civic Democratic Party.
"What is more important right now, is the government's next step in
implementing this manifesto" he concluded.
Lansky Interview
The new Deputy Prime Minister, responsible for foreign affairs, Egon Lansky, was appointed on Wednesday to chair two key government committees - which are repsponsible for coordinating the Czech Republic's integration into NATO and the European Union - at a crucial period, when the Czech Republic looks to be just months away from joining the North Atlantic Alliance. In an interview with David Vaughan, Mr. Lansky criticised previous Czech governments, claiming that they had done nothing to put the committees work into practice and promising to bring rapid change.
 Streaming RA / RA Download
Cycling Paths
The centre of Prague in the summer is a cacophony of trams, cars and tourists but if you jump on your bike you can get away from it all in no time at all.... as Catherine Miller found out.
Just fifteen minutes from the bustling town centre on the banks of the Vltava river is a haven of countryside which few of the thousands of tourists who visit the city ever discover. But this week a new stretch of cycle path has opened it up to the increasing number of Prague's inhabitants who are taking to their bikes to find a moment of peace and quiet away from hectic city life. I went down to the opening of the track to breathe a little fresh air and find out what it's all about. First of all, I caught up with Dr Hejmar, the vice mayor of Prague 4 district who is the inspiration behind the project. I asked him how he came up with the idea of building the cycle paths:
Streaming RA / RA Download
As well as the local officials, young and old cyclists were taking advantage of the new track on a variety of machines ranging from the latest in high-tech mountain bikes to rather more dilapidated contraptions which had to negotiate the roller-bladers who were whizzing by. Amongst those enjoying the summer sunshine was Petr Prejdinger, the architect who researched the project:
Streaming RA / RA Download
You can pick up the new cycle trail from Vysehrad or take trams 3, 16 or 17 to Nadrazi Branik and join it from there.
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