Summary of newsmakers of the previous day – 28. 6. 2007

Third finding of deadly virus. Swan from Lednice has H5N1

A chief of Reginal Veterinary Administration in Brno Jaroslav Salava confirmed that virus of bird flu of type H5N1 is also in a body of swan which was found dead at a pond near Lednice yesterday. Today's laboratory test showed it. The virus which for the present every time have brought havoc for poultry breeders but never health problems for people in the Czech Republic has got in other region. After East Bohemia veterinarians had to impose stiff measures in South Moravia.

Gandalovič succumbed to forestry firms

A first big bottle of Petr Gandalovič (ODS) in a function of Minister of Agriculture ended up in defeat yesterday. But grave. After months of tug-of-war, nowhere leading negotiations and mutual maligning the minister reconcile with private forestry firms yesterday afternoon. “I believe that a period of uncertainty, contentions, various legal action, suggestion to offices and so on end”, Gandalovič said yesterday.

Agricultural billions have new chief Révész

The government heard a proposal of the Ministry of Agriculture Petr Gandalovič yesterday and made a change at the highest post of the State Agricultural Intervention Fund (SZIF). Today withdrawn Vladimír Eck who has been a chief since last year October will be replaced by a new director Tomáš Révész. He will mainly decide where billion subsidies for farmers will go. The change was announced by the Ministry of Agriculture. “Regarding the start of Rural Development Program and a necessity to look for savings we need a man with experience of Mr. Révész”, Gandalovič said to the personal change and added that the new chief of the fund has experience in banking and communication. In Gandalovič's opinion SZIF needs new impulses and revival of activity.

Bird flu will close poultry under roof

Extraordinary protective measures owing to occurrence of bird flu will be valid on entire territory of the Czech Republic. In entrepreneurial breedings poultry will not be allowed to be in free run. Markets and shows of poultry and birds will be banned. However, locally appropriate regional veterinary administration can give an exception from these measures. A central director of the State Veterinary Administration Milan Malena said it and announced that the measures will be imposed on Thursday. He specified information of the Minister of Agriculture Petr Gandalovič who said to Czech broadcast (Český rozhlas) that extraordinary measures upon legislative frame has been already imposed on entire territory of the Czech Republic.