Schwarzenberg, an unaffiliated minister nominated by the junior ruling SZ, called Kuchtova's words "a big mistake." He said even in spite of the resistance of a part of the senior ruling Civic Democrats (ODS) he has been Georgian crisis testing EU - Czech foreign minister ...
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missile defence radar base on Czech soil in NATO structures. Schwarzenberg also mentioned his ministry's activities in the area of human rights protection. Schwarzenberg protested against his critics at a press conference of the four SZ ministers today, at which they summed up their work results in the first half of their government term. The ministers met journalists three days ahead of the SZ's extraordinary national congress where Kuchtova will challenge Martin Bursik as SZ chairperson. Bursik said the Greens, with 6 deputies in the 200-seat Chamber of Deputies, have pushed through 58 points from their programme. Bursik, who is environment minister, and Ondrej Liska, the SZ's education minister, presented as a success the closure by their ministries of the negotiations on the operational programmes for drawing EU subsidies. Bursik said the SZ's failure are the two presidential vetoes by which President Vaclav Klaus blocked the SZ-initiated anti-discrimination bill and the bill on chemical substances control. Schwarzenberg said he regrets his failure to have the development aid budget increased. Liska said he has unfortunately failed to gain more money to finance teaching aids in regional schools. Bursik, Liska and Schwarzenberg said the largest task of the second half of the government's mandate will be the Czech EU presidency in January-June 2009, when Prague will negotiate the budgets of agriculture, science and research on the EU's behalf, and also the situation in Georgia. Schwarzenberg said his ministry is planning to prepare a bill on foreign service. Bursik said his successes include the completed negotiations about the Czech position on the European climate and energy package, the introduction of environmental taxes and the state subsidies for people switching to environment-friendly methods of heating. "We've had good results in the area of transport as well, we've negotiated 90 road bypasses of towns," Bursik said. He said an agreement restricting the trucks traffic at weekends will be signed in a few hours. Liska said he has managed to negotiate an increase in teachers' pay and complete the discussion on state-controlled secondary school leaving exams. He said he has opened a debate on university education with the aim to push through a reform of the area's financing. The Education Ministry is preparing a system of student loans, grants and education savings, Liska said. The fourth minister for the SZ, Dzamila Stehlikova, said she is the ever first minister in charge of human rights and minorities. The post has proved necessary as it has moved human rights protection to a level corresponding to a modern state, she said. As her successes Stehlikova named the establishment of the agency for integration of Romany locality inhabitants and the preparation of the anti-discrimination law.
(Ceske Noviny)
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