Wednesday News Briefing

Prime Minister Petr Nečas and Russian parliament's upper house head Valentina Matviyenko discussed the continuing Czech production of military equipment and weapons with licenses from the former Soviet Union March 19. Such cooperation must have "a civilized framework," Matviyenko said. Nečas said Prague was open to expert negotiations about the issue. Matviyenko also met President Miloš Zeman, whose office has not released any details about the meeting. Russians officials their proposals to amend the legal status quo to Prague at a meeting of the inter-government commission for economic, industrial and scientific cooperation last November. The Czech military uses versions of MI-17 and MI-24 helicopters, all originally Soviet-made.  

Separately, the Chamber of Deputies supported a government amendment tightening conditions of arms and ammunition exports and imports in trading with EU countries and outside the EU, in first reading today. The amendment reacts to a new regulation of the European Parliament concerning illegal production of firearms and ammunition and trading in this material.  

Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister Vladimír Galuška will go to Pakistan to hand over a letter that Czech President Miloš Zeman has written to his Pakistani counterpart Asif Ali Zardari over the kidnapping of two Czech women. Galuška, who will hand over the letter to Zardari's office, is to further actions by the two countries. Two young Czech tourists were kidnapped in the Pakistani province of Balochistan last Wednesday. Authorities do not yet have any information on them. The kidnappers have not contacted anyone. It may take months before they establish contact with any authority. Sources in Pakistan told The Prague Post the country's upcoming general election may distract authorities from the case, which has been underreported by local media.

News Desk can be reached at
news@praguepost.com