In the News 25.8.08

Written by Naďa Straková
Aktuálně.cz CzechNews

STILL IN THE HEADLINES AND ON PEOPLE´S MINDS. Largely one topic occupied all Czech media last week – Warsaw Pact troops invading Czechoslovakiaon August 21, 1968.

Curiously, most of the people tend to say Soviet troops´ occupation, thus leaving out the Polish soldiers who came along as well. East German soldiers were halted at the last minute, though, as their uniforms reminded of the Nazi uniforms that much, the Soviet authorities were afraid of creating mayhem among the Czechoslovaks.

Well, they did anyway, as many pictures chronicling the ominous August summer daysshow us today, Josef Koudelka´s among them. His riveting photographs of the turmoilin the streets of Prague are displayed in the Old Town Gallery until September 13.

Among those is the story of Karel Hoffmanwho headed the Central Communications Authority and who willingly cooperated with the Soviets in August 1968. The sad fact remains, though, that none of themhas been ever punished but one.

1968 IN GEORGIA (?). Apart from Czechs and visitors to Prague, it is also Georgians who can inspect the 1968 photographs. The Georgian parliament building is currently holding an exhibit of photographs depictingthe Warsaw Pact troops’ invasion of Czechoslovakia on August 21, 1968 as well as pictures from the present war between Georgia and Russia that erupted two weeks ago. The juxtaposition of these two events is more than clear.

Some draw direct parallelsbetween the 1968 invasion and the current Russian-led intervention in Georgia, some try to defy it, arguing we had no problems with secessionist ethnic minorities. Whoever is closer to the truth, any tanks trying to move around in a city cause destruction. Of the road, sidewalks, buildings and people’s hearts and minds.

SOVIET ARMY IN CZECH NATURE. Russian troops stayed in what was then Communist Czechoslovakia for 23 years, the last Soviet soldier left only in June 1991.

Though, from the Czech environment´s point of view, the Red Army is still present in a way.

The 1968 year’s turbulent events are linked above all to one name – Alexandr Dubček, Slovak politician who spearheaded the reform process of which he has become an icon.

Alexandr Dubček’s son Pavol spoke to readers of Aktuálne.sk, a Slovak “sister” of the Czech online daily Aktuálně.cz online, about his father´s mysterious death, Russia´s Stalinist elite and courage.

JUST LIKE BROTHERS AGAIN. The two nations became brothers again. Czech President Václav Klaus visited his Slovak counterpart Gazparovič in Bratislava and together, shoulder by shoulder, they visited an exhibit of photographs of the 1968 invasion of Bratislava, as China Daily reports.

RISKING THEIR LIVES. While in the heart of the Soviet monolith power Soviet apparatchiks were hotly discussing the issue and perhaps the future of Czechoslovakia, eight brave people gathered at Moscow’scentral Red Square, just a few steps from the Kremlin, to rally against the Soviet Union-led invasion of Czechoslovakia by the armies of five Warsaw Pact countries.

In an interview for Aktuálně.cz Litvinovnot only looks back at the event which directly affected his entire life, but also explains why the so called Prague Spring was of big importance to Soviet dissidents and why it is not possible to compare the latest Russian military action against Georgia with the invasion of Czechoslovakia in 1968.

BEATING THE RUSSIAN. Some were quick to air their joy over Špotáková´s Olympic women´s javelin goldwhich she won exactly on August 21. The event was all the more emotional, as Špotáková´s biggest rival was Russian Maria Abakumova, who was leading the event until Špotáková´s last-round throw.

Money buys success or success buys money? Olympic success certainly brings athletes plentiful opportunities once they are back home. See here which ones Barbora Špotáková and other medal winning athletes may enjoy soon.

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WOMEN AND FOOTBALL. Czech football referee Dagmar Damková, who made history five years ago as the first female ref to officiate a game in the Czech football league, added another notch to her belt of accomplishments: she was chosen as the main referee for the final game of the women’s football tournamentat the Beijing Olympics.

It was the second Olympics she took part in and getting the honor to officiate the final match of the tournament undoubtedly represents the pinnacle of her career.

KIDS OUT OF SOCIAL CARE HOME. The Czech Republic is one of the leading countries in the number of childrenthat are growing up in social care homes. However, the new amendment to the civil code should change that.

One clear rule will be set for both – judges as well as social workers – first comes the family, or foster care, then the social care home.

This is good news also for the overcrowded prisonsand police, as it has been proved many times in past that institutional carefails children, for majority of them is bound to have a conflict with law once they are on their own.

SPLIT DOWN THE MIDDLE. The issue of the fighting in Georgia split the Czech lawmakers right in the middle. While the Civic Democrats largely backed Georgia and its territorial integrity, putting all the blame on Russia, the Social Democrats were hesitant to point their finger only at one side, condemning Michail Sakaashvili´s recalcitrant approach to secessionist provinces of South Ossetia and Abkhazia.  

Despite the split, the government decided to send an aid of CZK 150 million(EUR 6 million) to Georgia in order to help the Caucasian country affected by fierce fighting between the Georgian and Russian forces.

NICE AND RICH RUSSIAN SPONSORS. Russians will certainly appreciate President Klaus´s sober approach to the conflict, and perhaps it will win him a few additional readers, as his latest book Blue, not green planet will be published in Russian with the help the oil giant Lukoil.

HAPPILY REMARRIED. Johannes Nepomuk Josef Norbert Friedrich Antonius Wratislaw Mena von Schwarzenberg remarried (secretly) his estranged wife, Countess Therese Hardegg, nearly twenty years after their separation.

If you do not know who is ´hiding´ behind this long aristocratic name, here is a hint: he speaks several languages, smokes a pipe and was deported from Cuba. You can see the answer here.

Aktuáně.cz is the first full-fledged online daily in the Czech Republic operating without the support of a major traditional media outlet. It covers all aspects of life in and outside the Czech Republic, from political, social, economic and sports news to arts and culture. Its main language is Czech, but it has an English language section called CzechNews where the most interesting and relevant articles appear on daily basis.

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