Czech press survey - December 21

Prague - No condolence on the death of former president Vaclav Havel has come from Beijing and that from Moscow has only arrived in an extremely limited form, which could be expected, but it is still rather embarrassing, Adam Cerny writes in Hospodarske noviny.

The list and content of the condolences can be read not only as a reflection of Havel's personality, but also as a perception of the Czech Republic in the world, Cerny writes.

In this respect, Chinese and Russian official messages seem to be quite understandable, he adds.

As far as Czechs are concerned, it should be equally understandable to them that if in the future they stopped highlighting human rights abuses in these countries, this would run counter to their values as well as their own interests, Cerny writes.

As a small country, the Czech Republic should seek to it that the largest possible number of countries share the universal values such as observation of human rights and fair elections, he adds.

If Havel had been a more outspoken critic of the North Korean regime, it could be perhaps said that its leader Kim Jong Il died as a form of revenge, to steal the show for himself, Milan Vodicka writes in Mlada fronta Dnes.

For the world, Havel is a great memory, while North Korea with its atomic weapons it is a great danger, Vodicka writes.

Those in the think-tanks are speaking about Havel, but they are thinking of what will be after Kim, he adds.

Havel, a lover of absurd theatre, would certainly enjoy the situation. He, now the most celebrated icon of freedom in the world, is robbed of the headlines and public attention by the man who embodies the most repugnant evil against which Havel had fought, Vodicka writes.

The organisation of former president Vaclav Havel's funeral does not look like a preparation to pay the last respects to him, Petr Sabata writes in Hospodarske noviny.

One can see a duel over who will attract the attention that only belongs to Havel himself, Sabata writes.

To be sure, this can be called an absurd piece in Havel's style. However, this theatre is certainly not funny, impressive or dignified, he adds.

Havel was a playwright and director with a sense of humour. But he would be astonished to see what malicious amateurish actors are trying to steal the show, Sabata writes.

Besides, where was the condolence from Moscow lost? he asks.

pv/t Author: CTK
www.ctk.cz

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