MfD: Mikulov mayor refuses to meet delegation from Israel

Prague, Sept 6 (CTK) - Rostislav Kostial (Civic Democratic Party, ODS), mayor of the South Moravian town of Mikulov, caused a big, international scandal when not meeting the delegation from the Israeli town of Katzrin in August, daily Mlada fronta Dnes (MfD) writes yesterday, referring to his critics.

The delegation was composed of students, mayor of Qatzrin, Czech Chief Rabbi Karol Sidon, Israeli ambassador to the Czech Republic Yaakov Levy and some Czech senators and members of the Chamber of Deputies, MfD writes.

The visit of the delegation that spent a week in Mikulov had been planned for a long time. It was also supported by Czech ambassador to Israel Tomas Pojar, it adds.

Paradoxically, Mikulov has been the only twin town of Qatzrin, located on the Golan Heights, for fourteen years, MfD writes.

"As no one announced the visit to me officially, I had no reason to receive it," Kostial is quoted a saying.

Kostial said as there was now a complicated situation in the relations between Qatzrin and Mikulov, he had an expert report drawn up on them.

"From the human viewpoint, I cannot understand such a behaviour," Robin Boehnisch, a member of the Chamber of Deputies, said.

"In the Israelis' eyes, this does not cast a good shadow on Mikulov's representatives," Boehnisch added.

Boehnisch spent one day with the delegation by showing it round the Czech Senate and Prague heritage sites, MfD writes,