Czech press surveyed by Jan Jarab

Daily newspapers surveyed (in alphabetical order): Cesky denik, Lidova demokracie, Lidove noviny, Mlada fronta Dnes, Prace, Rude pravo, Svobodne slovo, Telegraf. Weekly: Reflex, Respekt.

CESKY DENIK (right-wing). On page 3, CD analyses the "Disagreements in Czech Foreign Policy". Foreign Minister Zieleniec (member of the ruling party, ODS) has claimed that there are now serious disagreements, writes ODS, and that the differences between the Premier, the President and the Minister are attributable only to different "rhetoric". "If the president appeals to the international community to take a stronger stand against the aggressor in Bosnia and the Prime Minister immediately reacts by saying that it is not even sure who is the aggressor, then both...damage the credit of Czech foreign policy," says CD.

LIDOVE NOVINY (liberal). "Czech Slovaks Would Welcome the Possibility of Dual Citizenship". The article quotes Mr.Celko, Director of Prague's House of Slovak Culture as saying: "As a Slovak who has been living in Prague for 30 years I find it absurd that I should ask to be "released" from Slovak citizenship before applying for the Czech one." Celko was offended by the statement of Foreign Minister Jozef Zieleniec, who recently said that he "can imagine dual citizenship of CR and New Zealand, but not CR and Slovakia." Czechs living in Slovakia prior to Jan.1,1993 (the date when the federation was split) - and vice versa - should automatically receive dual citizenship, says Celko. He also criticizes the low quota for exchange students - 80 per year. In past years, thousands of Slovak students studied on Czech universities, and vice versa.

PRACE (trade-union) writes that more than 70 000 Slovaks living in the Czech Republic have already applied for Czech citizenship. (It is not mentioned that many of these "Slovaks" might be other Slovak citizens, i.e. especially Gypsies.)

RUDE PRAVO (left-wing, ex-Communist) headline "Dukovany Operators Demand Resignation of CEZ Management" concerns the resignation of 51 highly qualified operators from the nuclear power plant in Dukovany, who demand resignation of the management of the monopolized Czech energy producer, CEZ. Austrian Greens have expressed doubt about safety of the plant in case these workers leave.

SVOBODNE SLOVO (centrist) quotes R.Anschober, Austrian Green deputy, as saying that Austria should consider the "toughest possible sanctions" against the Czech Republic if negotiations about the existing nuclear plant in Dukovany and the one in Temelin (currently under construction) should bring no results.

RESPEKT (independent, with emphasis on human rights) publishes a full-page report by V.Brabenec, former member of the legendary band Plastic People of the Universe, on the decision of the Government of British Columbia to clear-cut the Clayoquot Forest, and the opposition of environmentalists and Indians against it.

Another article, "The Sacrifice of Tibet", writes that the most-favoured-nation status for China will hurt especially Tibet.

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SURVEY OF SLOVAK PRESS by CTK News Agency

BRATISLAVA, June 8 (ÇTK) - Slovak dailies today comment on

yesterday's decision of parliamentary opposition parties to

support Josef Stank of the Democratic Left Party (SDL) for the

post of director of the Supreme Control Office.

The tabloid +Nový ças+ regards the agreement as proof that

Slovak Premier Vladimír Meçiar was wrong when he alleged on the

Sunday television program +Kroky+ that the opposition is not

able to agree on something. At the same time the author stresses

that the SDL managed to push through their candidate when not

long ago the right-wing parties could hardly imagine the

candidate of the left in this function.

+Nový ças+ points out, however, that the ruling Movement for

a Democratic Slovakia (HZDS) will still try to force through

their own candidate.

"Today it is difficult to tell whether it will succeed or

not," +Nový ças+ writes.

+Slovenský denník,+ close to the opposition Christian

Democratic Movement (KDH), evaluates the agreement of the

parliamentary opposition as "rational," which contributes to

limiting the power-hungry expansionism of the HZDS. The author

points to the fact that the Slovak National Party (SNS), the

KDH, the SDL, Milan Kńaćko's Alliance of Democrats, and the

Hungarian parties rejected a bill on a National Security Council

and a government draft law for television and radio

broadcasting, and it supported the validity of the mandates of

the members of the Club of Independent Deputies. +Slovenský

denník+ sees this development as increasing the possibilities of

controlling the government. The fact that these parties regard

the parliament as functional also implies that the opposition

would manage to oppose the government functionally and look

after "government castling and at an appropriate time take over

government responsibility."

The pro-government daily +Smena+ carries a short interview

with the presdient of the Hospitals Association of Slovakia,

Marián Bençat, who was recently recalled from his position of

director of the Faculty Hospital in Martin, central Slovakia.

Bençat alleges that there is a political background to his

firing by Health Minister Viliam Sobońa.

"This is obviously the liquidation of those who criticise

him," Bençat said. Bençat claims that on the day he was

recalled, a ministry inspection gave his hospital a clean bill

of health, including in its finances.

The Congress of Slovak Intelligentsia does not have the

right to speak universally for all "intellectuals" of the Slovak

republic, writes the independent daily +Narodná obroda.+ The

measure of illegence is not "that someone pounds his breast,

'Who is the greater Slovak?'" The author stresses that open

attempts to defend Slovakness from the alleged criticism of the

"anti-Slovak" mass media will not help the country.

"This recalls a witch-hunt, in the form of anti-communist or

anti-American activities too much," writes +Narodná obroda+.

The trade union daily +Práca+ carries an interview with

parliament deputy čubomír Foga (SDL). The guarantee of the

parliament will not be necessary for the acceptance of the

Slovak Republic into the Council of Europe, Foga believes.

Documents presented by Slovak Foreign Minister Josef Moravçík

were prepared with the cooperation of parliament members, who

are representatives in the Parliamentary assembly of the

Council. Foga says he is satisfied that Slovakia was taking

steps that respond to the criteria of democratic legal codes.

This fact leads to the supposition of a positive response to

Slovakia's request for membership, Foga tells +Práca.+

mm/dr/vv