Stivín not to play at concert in honour of Klaus

Prague, Feb 19 (CTK) - Czech jazz flutist Jiri Stivin Tuesday refused to play at a private concert that is to be titled Thanks Not Only for Jazz, Mr President that will be held at Prague Castle on March 3, a few days before the presidential mandate of Vaclav Klaus expires.

Stivin said he would not participate in the concert because he disagreed with Klaus's recent stances, namely his criticism of late president Vaclav Havel and the controversial extensive amnesty Klaus declared on New Year's Day.

"I would look like I approved it," Stivin told CTK about his participation in the concert.

Stivin said his jazz quartet originally was to play at the final concert of the Jazz at Prague Castle music cycle that was held under Klaus's auspices for nine years. Stivin performed several times within the jazz cycle.

"However, I was told yesterday that it is a concert for Klaus as a way of saying thank you to him for everything he did. But I don't agree with it," Stivin said.

The last 90th concert of the Jazz at Prague Castle series was organised on February 18.

Klaus told Polish weekly Do Rzeczy last week that he considers Havel an extreme left-winger who destroyed the existing human order. He insisted on his words in reaction to critical voices.

Klaus and Havel had not been on good terms from the 1990s when Havel was president and Klaus prime minister. They often held opposing views.

Klaus's amnesty was widely criticised mostly because it applied also to big cases of corruption and economic fraud.

The farewell concert in honour of Klaus is to be broadcast by the public Czech Television (CT). Jazz pianist Emil Viklicky and pop singer Lucie Bila will play at the concert.

Viklicky confirmed his participation in the concert to CTK.

Bila has been known for supporting Klaus in his election campaigns in the past.