Gov't, churches finalise property settlement deal

Prague, Aug 25 (CTK) - Representatives of the Czech government and churches yesterday agreed on a 17-year transitional period leading to the separation of churches from the state, Culture Minister Jiri Besser announced.

The length of the transitional period was the last point that remained unsolved. Agreeing on it, the negotiations between the representatives of the government and churches have ended.

The proposal will be submitted to the government that is likely to hand it to the parliament. The relevant law might take effect as from 2013.

In the first three years of the transitional period, the state will fully cover the costs of the clergy's pay, or about 1.4 billion crowns a year. After this, the sum covered by the state will be annually reduced by 5 percent, Besser said yesterday.

The government commission and church dignitaries agreed at their previous meeting that churches will be returned 56 percent of their former property confiscated by the communists, worth 75 billion crowns, and given 59 billion crowns in compensation for the rest over a period of 30 years.

The junior ruling Public Affairs (VV) has objections to the proposal that is to redress the property wrongs done to churches under the communist regime.

The opposition Social Democrats (CSSD) and Communists (KSCM) reject it. CSSD leader Bohuslav Sobotka said the state currently cannot afford to pay so high a compensation.

The original plan worked by the former government of Mirek Topolanek (Civic Democrats, ODS) counted with the return of 39 percent of property and the payment of 83 billion crowns over a period of 60 years.

The sum would climb to 270 billion crowns with interests while the value of the original property of churches and religious communities was put at 134 billion crowns.

($1=16.968 crowns)