Deputy Foreign Minister Hynek Kmonicek gave yesterday a note of protest to the Cuban charge d'affaires in Prague David Paulovich in reaction to the way the Cuban authorities have treated ex-minister Ivan Pilip and fellow Czech citizen Jan Bubenik.
The Czech Foreign Ministry will transfer CZK 1 million to a special account set up by the El Salvadorean embassy in Washington in aid to the victims of the devastating quake in El Salvador on Saturday and ADRA will provide 100,000 for the same purpose.
Finance Minister Pavel Mertlík said that he would prefer rather import surcharges than interest rate hike to curb excessive imports threatening external balance.
The Czech central state budget recorded a preliminary 38.2 billion deficit in 2000, above the CZK 35.2 billion target, and the Finance Ministry said the final figure could reach about CZK 45.6 billion.
The Czech koruna was traded in a narrow range on Monday as the market awaited end-2000 state budget data. In late afternoon trading the currency was at 35.255/285 against the euro, from 35.20/24 in the morning and 35.29/35 late on Friday. The koruna/dollar was at 37.400/420 from 37.23/29 in early trade and 37.18/21 late Friday.
The longest state 6.40/10 up 35 bps at 96.80/10, yielding 6.87/6.83 percent. The state 6.75/05 was 10 bps at 101.30/60, yielding 6.37/29.
(David Marek)