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During talks in Prague on Thursday President Vaclav Havel and his Slovak counterpart Rudolf Schuster stated that their countries enjoyed a special relationship. The two neighboring states, which spent over 70 years in a federation and divorced amicably in 1993, are believed to have the closest bilateral relations in Europe. At present, the Czech Republic firmly supports Slovakia's bid to join the EU and NATO as soon as possible, both for political and economic reasons. After their divorce in 1993 the two countries set up a customs union in

An exhibition called Photographic Prague opened in the Old Town Hall this week. was there for the event.

Earlier this week, the Lower House of Parliament passed a new law that for the first time will guarantee long-term witness protection programs. According to the government, the new law is similar to laws in place in many western countries. It includes relocation, the creation of new identities, and even plastic surgery in cases where witnesses' lives could be at risk after testifying. Radio Prague's has this report.

For the 43rd time the town of Litomysl will host a music festival, which has been around for fifty two years now and has won much international acclaim. reports:

Last week's visit to Prague by NATO Secretary General George Robertson brought both praise and criticism: praise for the bravery and professionalism of Czech soldiers serving in the Balkans; criticism for the slow pace of modernisation and plans to spend billions on up to three dozen new supersonic jet fighters, money which Lord Robertson said should not be spent to the detriment of the rest of the Czech armed forces. This week the Czech Army's Chief-of-Staff, General Jiri Sedivy, held a press conference at the Defence Ministry in Prague to answer

The Ministry of Health has approved clinical trials of what is considered a possible breakthrough in cancer treatment. But while the general public has great expectations from tests, medical experts warn that many problems connected with the treatment are still unresolved and that its effects have yet to be proven. has the story.

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"A 1991 employment law bans discrimination on the basis of sex; however, in practice employers have remained free to consider sex, age, or even attractiveness when making hiring decisions." That statement refers to the Czech Republic and is taken from a report on human rights in the Czech Republic published by the US State Department earlier this week. reports.

For the second time in just over a month, the Constitutional Court has upheld objections to laws passed by the country's two main parties, the ruling Social Democrats and the opposition Civic Democrats. In both cases, the laws concerned constitutional amendments on the Czech election system and the way in which political parties are funded. It has been hailed as a defeat for the larger parties and a victory for President Vaclav Havel, who brought the matter to the Constitutional Court. has the details...