Summary of newsmakers of the previous day – 6.10.2006

Vicenová started dialog with district marshals

Today afternoon the Ministress of Agriculture, Milena Vicenová, met with district marshals of all fourteen districts in frame of negotiation of the Association of CR districts in Karlsbad. A communication director of the Ministry of Agriculture CR, Hugo Roldán, informed on it and added that this meeting means a real break-through in communication among the chief of agricultural resort and management of districts. In past ministers of agriculture were in a certain contact with particular marshals, nevertheless, as late as today such meeting will be realized “arealy” to which the Ministress Milena Vicenová attaches importance of principal.

SPLH: billion arbitral procedure against CR is prepared

Selective procedures or contracts for forest works shorter than one year are an absolute nonsense. Forest management is not planned for a year but for tens and hundreds of years. And if Lesy CR are serious about its momental intention and want announce tenders for less than one-year contracts, as the general manager František Koníček presented it, so such procedure does not have analogy in Europe. It will mean a huge wave of accusations and arbitrations which can reach the height of 5 milliard crowns“, said the chairman of Association of entrepreneurs in forest management (SPLH) at the Agrarian Chamber, Miloš Balák.

Districts want to intervene in activity of state forests and rivers basin

Districts want to have much bigger surveillance over activity of state forests and rivers basin than till now and to intervene in it. In spite of their forest and water-management activities, e.g. of Lesy CR, concern directly, according to their representatives they have no chance in practice to influence them. Nevertheless, the districts are responsible by law for many things connected with forestry and water-management activity. After negotiation of a council of the Association of districts of the Czech Republic the Moravian-Silesian marshal Evžen Tošenovský (ODS) said it to journalists.

Government office got rid of council for sustainable development

Mirek Topolánek’s government shifted the Council of Government for Sustainable Development (RVUT) in the Ministry of Environment (MŽP) at the end of September. According to information from the Ministry a proposal of a complete cancellation of the Council was heard at the government meeting on the 20th September. The Minister of Environment Petr Jan Kalaš was against it, so a week later the Council was transferred with agreement of all present ministers from the Government office to the MŽP to the 1st October. The Council of Government for Sustainable Development was established in August 2003. Its task was according to a government resolution mainly to “strengthen a strategic dimension in state management”. It should propose measures for “harmonization of long-term intentions and aims with middle-term and short-term aims and programs conformable with principles of sustainable development.

Source: Agris, 07.10.2006