Czech press survey - Februar 22

After the storm over the Benes decrees, sanctioning the transfer of ethnic Germans after World War Two, that occurred in the recent Czech presidential race, Necas had to behave very cautiously, Palata writes.

He did so in a politically very clever manner when inventing nothing in the passage in which he excused himself for the expulsion of the Germans, only quoting one paragraph from the Czech-German Declaration from 1997, he adds.

In Necas' Bavarian speech, Czechs with a positive approach have gone to the limits of the possible. Now it would be suitable if the ice were also moved on the side of our "former fellow citizens."

This may happen in the form of an apology for the collaboration with the Nazi regime and contribution to the destruction of the democratic Czechoslovakia, Palata writes.

There is only little time and Communists are looking forward to the seats in the government, he adds.

Necas has drawn attention in Bavaria and new president Milos Zeman can follow this up, Jakub Eberle and Vit Dostal write in Mlada fronta Dnes.

Necas has shown that not all Czech politicians are of the same thinking as displayed by Zeman and President Vaclav Klaus during the presidential campaign as he received standing ovations by Bavarian deputies as well as evidently moved Sudeten German representative Bernd Posselt, Eberle and Dostal write.

It is good that a Czech prime minister sets the example and interprets history without stereotypes and simplifications, they add.

After the vulgar campaign relating to Sudeten Germans during the Czech presidential election, this is a piece of good news, Eberle and Dostal write.

The next step should be perhaps made by the new Czech president. Paying respect for the victims of the "wild transfer," also condemned by the Czech-German Declaration and signed by Klaus when he was the prime minister, would be another right step towards the elimination of historical complexes, they added.

Immediately after voicing regret at the crimes during the expulsion of Sudeten Germans, one could hear dark tones from the Prague Castle, seat of Czech heads of state, as if the Wehrmacht were about to break through the Czech border, Petr Honzejk writes in Hospodarske noviny.

However, Necas said nothing else than what is written in the Czech-German Declaration, signed by Klaus 16 years ago, he adds.

The place of the speech and personal dimensions were the only novelties, Honzejk writes.

With his speech, Necas has helped Czech self-reflection and also self-confidence. If something will survive his rather confused tenure, it will be this speech, he adds.

Author: ČTK
www.ctk.cz