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October 31st, 2007 issue

NHL dreams
Prague is the obvious choice in terms of sheer hockey knowledge and enthusiasm for the NHL to consider in trying to broaden its attention outside of North America (“Open season,” Sports, Oct. 17–23).
But the teams should be established teams that can function well wherever they are. Tampa Bay and Pittsburgh are both financially troubled teams, which have been rumored to be moving if they can find new homes. Ottawa, while more stable now, and frequently a league leader over the past several seasons, is not always the best draw.
I would recommend that the Rangers of New York should face the Red Wings of Detroit: Both teams are well acquainted with Czech and European players and both have long storied histories with the NHL.
Tampa and Ottawa are only about 20 years old, by comparison, having entered the league in the 1980s.
Mark L. Kahnt
Kingston, Ontario, Canada
EU funds
The question of whether the Czech government proceeds to allow the installation of the proposed U.S. radar base on Czech territory is primarily a matter for the people.
The fact that some European members of NATO do not consider the missiles and radar base a necessary or integral contribution to the security of Europe is a matter for the Green Party to reflect on.
The question as to whether the issue should go to public referendum, or whether, as the government, and local mayor Čížek, argues, the opinions of the residents of the affected areas are irrelevant, is again a matter for the people, and I presume they will hold their government to account in the usual way.
However, I want to correct the impression given in The Prague Post editorial (“Brdy residents deserve more than promises,” Postview, Oct. 17–23) that as much as 1 billion Kč of European Union funds could be invested in the affected areas.
This is not remotely true.
EU funds are awarded on the basis of operational programs, agreed between the European Commission and the member state and reflecting particular social and economic development priorities. They cannot be used for political purposes in the manner suggested. Furthermore, to qualify for those structural funds, the Czech Republic would have to provide matching funding that could be several multiples of the EU funds. Are other regions of the Czech Republic, equally in need of investment, happy to lose out? The European Commission frankly will not allow it.
So let us continue the discussion on the facts, not on fairy tales.
Sean O’Sullivan
Prague
   


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