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Hvížďala, Karel
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3 articles of this author have been cited in the European Press Review so far.
Czech journalists attacked by mafia
In the Czech city of Chomutov Jan Rödling, an investigative journalist, has been attacked at his home. The attacker warned the journalist to stop researching and reporting on the local mafia scene. Journalist Karel Hvížďala expresses his disgust on his blog for aktualne.cz: "A similar attack was carried out in North Bohemia in 2004 against the chief editor of the weekly Respect at the time. The latter had published an article about a gang of blackmailers. Although one of the attackers was caught, he was released by a court of appeal a few years later for lack of evidence. As a former journalist Interior Minister Radek John should make sure the case is thoroughly investigated and cleared up. In old Europe we fortunately hear little about such practices against journalists. We're more used to hearing about such cases in the former Soviet Union or in South America, where drug lords behave like this towards journalists."
» full article (external link, Czech)
More from the press review on the subject » Print media, » Crime, » Czech Republic
Karel Hvížďala on the letter to Obama from ex-leaders in Central and Eastern Europe
In a blog published on the news portal Aktualne.cz the journalist Karel Hvížďala says he believes the main reason for the letter from the ex-leaders of Central and Eastern European states to US President Barack Obama is their differing perceptions of the world order and their differing historical experiences: "As the sole superpower the United States takes a global perspective on the world. From this perspective Central Europe is just one problem, and not even a very big one. Washington's main concerns are North Korea, Iran and Pakistan - states whose arsenal of nuclear weapons may pose a threat to the world. Obama wants to tackle these problems together with Russia and to find common trade and defence interests that will make a new beginning possible. It is certainly not about friendship, but simply an attempt not to be afraid of one another, not to bare their teeth at one another and to take a concerted approach to insecurity. From their blinkered viewpoint Central Europe and the Czech Republic see Russia's efforts as a continuation of the same way it has behaved since its talk of so-called spheres of influence began."
» full article (external link, Czech)
More from the press review on the subject » International Relations, » Security Policy / Crises / War, » Russia, » Central Europe, » Eastern Europe, » U.S.
Karel Hvížďala on Helmut Schmidt
In the Prague newspaper Pražský deník, journalist and writer Karel Hvížďala describes former German Chancellor Helmut Schmidt on his 90th birthday as "the most popular German of the moment". In the battle against the terrorists of the Red Army Faction (RAF) Schmidt became the "nation's darling. He gave Germans the opportunity to fully identify with their democratic state. Schmidt was chancellor from 1974 until 1982 - not that long really. He didn't strengthen ties with the West, as Adenauer did; he was not the architect of Ostpolitik like Brandt, nor did he reunite Germany, like Helmut Kohl. Yet he still commanded great respect. Current Chancellor Angela Merkel has said of him that he always inspired trust in people. This is the best compliment you can pay a politician. ... One of Schmidt's rules is still valid: 'Any solution to a crisis must be simple so that people understand it.' This ties in with the current belief that it is necessary to dispel the negative mood in society in a crisis, to instil a new sense of optimism and bring people together instead of splitting them up."
» more information (external link, Czech)
More from the press review on the subject » History, » Germany
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