New chairman of the NATO Military Commitee

General Petr Pavel elected chairman of the NATO Military Commitee
The Chief of the General Staff of the Czech Army, General Petr Pavel, will be the new chairman of the NATO Military Committee, according to information obtained by the Czech News Agency. General Pavel was elected to the post at the committee meeting in Vilnius on Saturday. He will replace the present committee head, Danish General Knud Bartels, next year. General Pavel is the first representative of a NATO east European member country to hold the senior post. In the vote, committee members chose the Czech over rival candidates from Italy and Greece. His mandate will last three years and can be prolonged.
The Military Committee chairman is NATO´s highest military authority and chief military adviser to NATO secretary general. In this respect, Pavel will cooperate with Norwegian Jens Stoltenberg, who will take up the post of secretary general next month. The Military Committee is the supreme military body of NATO. It can submit proposals and recommendations to the North Atlantic Council, the Defence Planning Committee and the Nuclear Planning Group.
by Radio Prague - the international service of Czech Radio

Second anniversary of death of Václav Havel marked

Czechs have marked the second anniversary of the death of the country’s first post-communist president, Václav Havel. President Miloš Zeman laid a wreath at his tomb at Prague’s Vyšehrad cemetery, while Cardinal Dominik Duka was due to celebrate a requiem mass in his memory. Other events were organised around the country, including a concert at the capital’s Archa Theatre celebrating the late statesman’s friendship with US musician Lou Reed, who died this year. A playwright and dissident, Mr. Havel led 1989’s Velvet Revolution and was president for over 12 years.
(Radio Prague - the international service of Czech Radio)

Misik rejects

Rock singer Vladimir Misik rejects state decoration
In related news, the rock singer and songwriter Vladimir Misik has rejected a state decoration over his growing discontent with recent decisions by President Milos Zeman.. In a press release, the 66-year-old artist said he informed the president's office of his decision. Vladimir Misik, whose rose to popularity and critical acclaim in the late 1960s and has put out 13 albums, is one of the most respected Czech rock musicians.
(by Radio Prague - the international service of Czech Radio)
It seems to me as one of the January president ellection and this weekend's general election resume...