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Since 1997, the Czech Foreign Ministry has been bestowing the Jan Masaryk Gratias Agit award upon people and institutions in gratitude for their exceptional work in promoting the good name of the Czech Republic abroad.

Hundreds of Czechs spent Saturday afternoon watching an elaborate, realistic re-enactment of a Civil War Battle in Branik in the south of Prague. The battle was staged by the Czech American Civil War Association, which holds at least one or two of these events every year.

Just before eight o'clock on Monday morning, passengers on some public transport buses in Prague could hear the drivers talking to the control centre for longer than usual. They drivers were making last minute confirmations with the control centre whether or not they were going to take part in a planned 20-minute strike during the morning rush-hour.

So far the Euro 2004 football tournament couldn't be going better for the Czechs. On Saturday the Czech national squad faced the Netherlands, dangerous but traditional rivals by now: the Czechs fought Holland not only in qualification where they won the edge, but also faced them at the European Championships four years ago, where Holland contributed to the Czech Republic's early exit. Not so on Saturday. Despite taking control early in the game with two goals by the 19th minute, the Dutch would lose the match in spectacular fashion, though not for

The Czech government delegation to the EU summit in Brussels returned home to an ongoing domestic crisis. While other EU heads of government faced criticism over the adoption of the first European Constitution, the Czech Prime Minister Vladimir Spidla is literally fighting a battle for survival. Following a stormy debate over the weekend, he has decided to put not only his own future but that of the entire Cabinet on the line - by calling a vote of confidence in the three party governing coalition.

European Union leaders met again in Brussels on Friday after failing to choose a new EU president in talks the day before. Brian Kenety spoke with Radio Prague correspondent A.R., who is covering the EU summit, on the Czech agenda at the talks, the likely shape of the EU Commission, and whether Prime Minister Vladimir Spidla still has a "mandate" to negotiate after his party's poor showings in the recent EU elections.

Earlier this week, the US Department of State released its fourth annual "Trafficking in Persons Report". In its assessment, it stated the Czech Republic is a source, transit, and destination country for women trafficked for sexual exploitation. The report advises Czech authorities to use trafficking legislation to give stronger penalties to convicted trafficker as convictions and sentences remain low. But as Mark Fernandes reports, the Czech Republic is on the right track, getting a much needed boost this month to fight people trafficking. The

The Social Democrats, the senior members of the Czech Republic's coalition government, have found themselves in an increasingly difficult position following dismal results in recent elections in the European Parliament. Not only is the prime minister facing increased calls to step down as party chairman, he is also threatened by some within his party who would like to see the Social Democrats form a minority government - with tacit support from the Communists. But, that would bring the Communists closer to power than they've been in fourteen

For Prime Minister Vladimir Spidla it can't be easy: on the one hand acknowledging his party's numbing defeat in last week's European Parliament elections, on the other vowing to slog on as party chairman despite increased calls within Social Democrat ranks to step down.

On Thursday evening, Smetana's Litomysl International Opera Festival opens for the 46th time. Taking place in the little Bohemian town of Litomysl - the birthplace of Czech composer Bedrich Smetana - the festival has a special significance this year as it marks the 180th anniversary of the birth and the 120th anniversary of the death of the great composer of the Czech national revival.