Czech-Republic

CZECH-REPUBLIC


Facts about Czech-Republic
Population10,220,911 (July 2008 est
CapitalPrague
Time zoneUTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begin
Location Central Europe, southeast of Germany

General info about Czech-Republic
Following the First World War, the closely related Czechs and Slovaks of the former Austro-Hungarian Empire merged to form Czechoslovakia. During the interwar years, the new country's leaders were frequently preoccupied with meeting the demands of other ethnic minorities within the republic, most notably the Sudeten Germans and the Ruthenians (Ukrainians). After World War II, a truncated Czechoslovakia fell within the Soviet sphere of influence. In 1968, an invasion by Warsaw Pact troops ended the efforts of the country's leaders to liberalize Communist party rule and create "socialism with a human face." Anti-Soviet demonstrations the following year ushered in a period of harsh repression. With the collapse of Soviet authority in 1989, Czechoslovakia regained its freedom through a peaceful "Velvet Revolution." On 1 January 1993, the country underwent a "velvet divorce" into its two national components, the Czech Republic and Slovakia. The Czech Republic joined NATO in 1999 and the European Union in 2004.
Languages spoken
Czech 94.9%, Slovak 2%, other 2.3%, unidentified 0.8% (2001 census)
What about drugs?
transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin and minor transit point for Latin American cocaine to Western Europe; producer of synthetic drugs for local and regional markets; susceptible to money laundering related to drug trafficking, organized crime; significant consumer of ecstasy
Ethnic division
Czech 90.4%, Moravian 3.7%, Slovak 1.9%, other 4% (2001 census)
HIV/AIDS prevalence rate
less than 0.1% (2001 est.)
Climate
temperate; cool summers; cold, cloudy, humid winters
Resources
hard coal, soft coal, kaolin, clay, graphite, timber
Economy
The Czech Republic is one of the most stable and prosperous of the post-Communist states of Central and Eastern Europe. Growth in 2000-08 was supported by exports to the EU, primarily to Germany, and a strong recovery of foreign and domestic investment. Domestic demand is playing an ever more important role in underpinning growth as the availability of credit cards and mortgages increases. The current account deficit has declined to around 3% of GDP as demand for automotive and other products from the Czech Republic remains strong in the European Union. Rising inflation from higher food and energy prices are a risk to balanced economic growth. Significant increases in social spending in the run-up to June 2006 elections prevented the government from meeting its goal of reducing its budget deficit to 3% of GDP in 2007 and 2008. Negotiations on pension and additional healthcare reforms are continuing without clear prospects for agreement and implementation. Intensified restructuring among large enterprises, improvements in the financial sector, and effective use of available EU funds should strengthen output growth. The pro-business Civic Democratic Party-led government approved reforms in 2007 designed to cut spending on some social welfare benefits and reform the tax system with the aim of eventually reducing the budget deficit to 2.3% of GDP by 2010. Parliamentary approval for any additional reforms could prove difficult, however, because of the parliament's even split. The government withdrew a 2010 target date for euro adoption and instead aims to meet the eurozone criteria around 2012.
Environment
air and water pollution in areas of northwest Bohemia and in northern Moravia around Ostrava present health risks; acid rain damaging forests; efforts to bring industry up to EU code should improve domestic pollution

Cities in Czech-Republic


National airlines
Czech Airlinesairline website


Airports in Czech-Republic
Metropolitan AreaBRQ
TuranyBRQ
HolesovGTW
Karlovy VaryKLV
Marianske LazneMKA
OlomoucOLO
MosnovOSR
PardubicePED
RuzynePRG
PrerovPRV
Uherske HradisteUHE
Dolni BenesovZBE


Beer in Czech-Republic (0.33l)
Benatky Nad Jizerou~ 0.4 EUR
Brandýs Nad Labem~ 0.5 EUR
Breclav~ 0.5 EUR
Brno~ 0.5 EUR
Broumov~ 0.6 EUR
Bruntal~ 0.5 EUR
Ceske Budejovice~ 0.7 EUR
Cesky Krumlov~ 0.8 EUR
Chrudim~ 0.6 EUR
Chvaletice~ 0.7 EUR
Chvalsiny~ 0.4 EUR
Dobruska~ 0.5 EUR
Domazlice~ 1.7 EUR
Frýdek-Místek~ 0.5 EUR
Havirov~ 0.5 EUR
Hlucin~ 0.6 EUR
Hodonin~ 0.7 EUR
Hradec Kralove~ 0.5 EUR
Jablonec Nad Nisou~ 0.4 EUR
Jablonné Nad Orlicí~ 0.5 EUR
Jamné Nad Orlicí~ 0.4 EUR
Jarcova~ 0.4 EUR
Jihlava~ 0.4 EUR
Karlovy Vary~ 0.6 EUR
Karviná~ 0.3 EUR
Kolin~ 0.3 EUR
Letohrad~ 0.6 EUR
Liberec~ 0.5 EUR
Macourov~ 0.3 EUR
Marianske Lazne~ 0.6 EUR
Medenec~ 0.6 EUR
Michalovy Hory~ 0.4 EUR
Mirosovice~ 0.4 EUR
Mlada Boleslav~ 0.6 EUR
Náchod~ 0.1 EUR
Nova Role~ 0.4 EUR
OLOMOUC~ 0.5 EUR
Opava~ 0.5 EUR
Orlová~ 0.5 EUR
Ostrava~ 0.5 EUR
Ostrov~ 0.6 EUR
Pacov~ 0.5 EUR
Pardubice~ 0.6 EUR
Pilsen~ 0.5 EUR
Pisek~ 0.5 EUR
Prague~ 0.7 EUR
Prague~ 0.7 EUR
Praha~ 0.6 EUR
Radimovice U Zelce~ 0.2 EUR
Rakovník~ 0.5 EUR
Rokytnice Nad Jizerou~ 0.5 EUR
Roudnice Nad Labem~ 0.5 EUR
Stara Ves~ 0.4 EUR
Tabor~ 0.4 EUR
Tanvald~ 0.2 EUR
Trinec~ 0.5 EUR
Vamberk~ 0.4 EUR
Vimperk~ 1.8 EUR
Vranov~ 0.2 EUR
Vrchotovy Janovice~ 0.4 EUR
Zlín~ 0.5 EUR

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