Final Word from Friday, December 31, 2004
Václav Klaus criticized Foreign Minister Cyril Svoboda in early-Dec. in Týden magazine for dropping out of sight. Svoboda told the BBC a few days later that he doesn't feel the need to open the newspapers every day and look at himself. Svoboda has been everywhere in the media this week, though, along with his namesake, Deputy Foreign Minister Pavel Svoboda. While Klaus and Stanislav Gross were being photographed on the ski slopes, the two Svobodas were busy helping to coordinate the return of Czech tourists from Southeast Asia and sending aid. Gross didn't return to Prague until MFD criticized him for coldness. Klaus hasn't issued any statement on the Asian catastrophe. The disaster is turning out to be a bigger crisis than first imagined, with 104 Czechs still missing. The two Svobodas were busy doing their job when it counted most. [Czech Republic tsunami tidal waves earthquake Thailand Sri Lanka Indonesia MF Dnes]