Press Releases

25. 4. 20089:52

April 25, 2008: Premier Mirek Topolánek Ensured Provision of Historically Unique Support - Voluntary Firemen To Receive 300 Million CZK

Prime Minister Mirek Topolánek together with Interior Minister Ivan Langer today met officials of the Association of the Firemen of Bohemia, Moravia and Silesia. After the talks the Premier announced at a press briefing the decision to provide a unique financial support to voluntary firemen. By presenting the Prime Minister’s ribbon and hanging it on to the central standard of the Association of the Firemen of Bohemia, Moravia and Silesia, the Czech Premier conveyed symbolic thanks for the dedicated work members of the Association do for their fellow citizens.

The Premier announced the decision to provide 300 million CZK for the equipment of the country’s 33,330 voluntary firemen. As a result, members of voluntary fire brigades in as many as 5,550 communities in the Czech Republic will receive special clothing and protective footwear. The Czech Government will provide this historically unique support even to the smallest communities which have not yet received from the state any financial support for their commendable work.

Czech Interior Minister Ivan Langer has also expressed his thanks to voluntary firemen, saying in part that thanks to this financial support the General Directorate of the Fire Rescue Corps will be in a position to buy each year 40 new fire engines. Thanks to a bulk purchase the price of one car will be reduced by 2 million CZK. After 5-year use of the equipment by professional firemen the cars will be given to voluntary firemen. Mr. Karel Richter, Head of the Association of the Firemen of Bohemia, Moravia and Silesia, presented Premier M. Topolánek with a commander’s sword and thanked for the decision to support voluntary firemen. Speaking on behalf of the citizens of the Czech Republic, the Premier thanked the representatives of the Association for their activities, which are - more than work - a genuine calling.

The Press Department of the Office of the Government of the Czech Republic