Chief-of-staff Picek to leave military next year

Prague, Oct 22 (CTK) - Czech chief-of-staff Vlastimil Picek, 54, has said he does not want to continue his military career and will leave the army for the civilian sector after his contract expires in October next year, daily Lidove noviny (LN) writes Saturday.

Picek's departure was speculated about last year when Alexandr Vondra (Civic Democrats, ODS) became defence minister. Nevertheless, Vondra kept Picek in the post saying he needed him to help complete the Defence White Paper, the military's outlook for the years to come.

"I assess my cooperation with Vlastimil Picek positively," Vondra told LN.

Vondra will have to seek a new candidate for the post of Czech chief-of-staff, the daily writes.

"I'll propose a new chief-of-staff to the government after consulting the president. We definitely have generals with the relevant required experience," Vondra is quoted as saying.

Soldiers reportedly speculate that one of Picek's four deputies may replace him at the staff's helm.

Under an unwritten rule, a candidate can be proposed by Picek himself. "I have a favourite in my mind, but I would not tell you his name," Picek told the paper.

He said he is not going to retire. He wants to work, he added without elaborating.

Vlastimil Picek graduated from the Military Academy in Brno. Then he worked with the signal corps and at the General Staff. President Vaclav Klaus appointed him chief-of-staff in March 2007.