Czechs mark Czechoslovakia's 94th anniversary

Prague, Oct 28 (CTK) - Czech President Vaclav Klaus took part in the military ceremonial events held on the national holiday commemorating the establishment of independent Czechoslovakia 94 years ago yesterday.

At the Vitkov memorial in Prague this morning, Klaus presented battle standards to four units of the Czech military.

Later on, Klaus listened the oaths taken by new soldiers and he named three generals at the Hradcany Square near the Prague Castle.

Defence Minister Alexandr Vondra and chief-of-staff Petr Pavel participated in both events, too.

Oaths were taken by 446 six new soldiers, including 53 women.

The military officers promoted to the rank of general are deputy chief-of-staff Bohuslav Dvorak, deputy defence minister Pavel Bulant and military healthcare service chief Bozetech Jurenka.

Klaus also met representatives of the Czech diplomatic corps at the Prague Castle, which is the seat of Czech presidents.

He told the diplomats that the first Czechoslovak president Tomas Garrigue Masaryk (1850-1937) was an inspiration for the renewal of democracy after the fall of the communist regime.

"This is why I wish to see Europe as a community of democratic states. States that cooperate, without any rule over them or among them," said Klaus, well-known for his Eurosceptic views.

Speakers at another commemorative event, organised by Czech Association of Freedom Fighters, also mentioned president Masaryk.

The association's head Jaroslav Vodicka said Czech society has moved too far from the principles declared by Masaryk and purely formal respect is paid to Masaryk.

"Let us admit that have made no big progress in developing democracy after 20 years," Vodicka said.

Senate chairman Milan Stech (opposition Social Democrats, CSSD) also said people talk of Masaryk's legacy but they do not act according to it.

Stech said links between business and politics, often not only against good morals but also against law, is a total rejection of Masaryk's ideas.

Chamber of Deputies chairwoman Miroslava Nemcova (government Civic Democrats, ODS) said the Czechoslovak state headed by Masaryk between the two world wars is similar to the present zech Republic in many ways. She made a parallel between the 1930s economic crisis accompanied by increase in dangerous extremist political forces and the current crisis.

The Czech Crown group organised its traditional march in support of the restoration of monarchy in the country yesterday.