The Czech Republic, while not directly confronted with terrorist attacks, however, stung by the events in neighbouring countries. Paris, nice, London… in an attack on a Christmas market in Berlin killed a Czech citizen… an explosion in a subway filled Czech media messages, comments, eyewitness accounts, information from the Consulate of the Czech Republic in Saint-Petersburg passed the “Czech Radio” and TV channels online.
“In connection with the attack in Russia, I primarily would like to Express sympathy to the relatives of those killed during the terrorist attack. I also want to Express solidarity with the Russian government. Attacks of this kind, as practice shows, can occur within the boundaries of any state, so it is very important the solidarity and support between countries. And strongly condemn this terrorist act,” — said in his statement to reporters, Prime Minister of the Czech Republic Bohuslav Sobotka (Bohuslav Sobotka).
A telegram of condolences to President Vladimir Putin has written to his Czech counterpart Milos Zeman (Miloš Zeman). “With sorrow and anger I am stating that the terrorist attacks against innocent people cannot be justified. Please accept my assurances that I fully support your resolve not to yield to the forces that want to destroy the values of our democratic civilization” — emphasizes the Czech President.
The relationship between the EU and Russia in recent years, remain tense. Is it possible in this situation to effectively combine the efforts? “The fight against extremism and terrorism, which selects its victims from among the innocent people among the civilian population, is what unites us, even in many issues, we are with Russia on opposite sides, we may not always come to an understanding, however, it is clear that the enemy we share,” — said the diplomat, who believes that Western and Russian intelligence agencies are obliged for the sake of the common struggle against the terrorist threat in a timely manner to exchange information.
Why is this not always? “There are some difficulties, because we are “not in the same boat,” and Russia sees us as their enemy, it is difficult to expect from the security services deep cooperation”, — said the diplomat.
In the Second world war the West and the Soviet Union were able to unite against a common enemy
It is difficult to deny that the relationship between the EU and Russia considerably affected by the sanctions imposed by the West. “Sanctions were imposed in connection with other aspects that we can’t close eyes. We know that the sanctions we have imposed for themselves, and that the question of how they actually affect the Russian economy. However, we take them to prove we have at least something common that there are actions that are unacceptable to us, against which we can jointly advocate. And it always. We cannot close our eyes to what Russia has done in Ukraine, and before that in Georgia. On the other hand, and the coalition during the Second world war was created to fight the common enemy, although the values of the Soviet Union and the West were different, however, for the sake of a common enemy they were able to agree together to win,” recalls Peter kolář (Kolář Petr).
As in Russia, Czech Republic wondering, “Why did this happen in St. Petersburg?” After all, before the Russian city attacks avoided… “Petersburg as a goal equivalent to Moscow, and if the attack occurred in some other city, this would not have caused such a public outcry,” said the former Consul of the Czech Republic in St. Petersburg, a specialist on security issues Volodymyr Votapek (Vladimír Votápek).
“Of course, the first thing everyone thought is the message that this day in St. Petersburg was Vladimir Putin. This information was not secret, it can learn any. On the other hand, in the time of the explosion, Putin was far away from the city center, so maybe it was an accident. Petersburg — second capital. However, indeed, in the subway attacks occurred only in Moscow”, — said the journalist edition of Lidové noviny Petra procházková (Petra Procházková), for many years specializing in Russia.
As in Russia, many Czech commentators wonder who could be behind the attack. “Before these attacks were made by the Chechens, Dagestanis, Ingush, now it may be that so backfired on Putin’s actions in Syria,” — said the commentator “Czech Radio” LIBOR dvořák (Dvořák Libor).
Although the interior Minister of the Czech Republic Milan khovanets (Milan Chovanec) said that “due to the terrorist attack in St. Petersburg do not need to strengthen security measures in the Czech Republic”, Recalling that Russia is not part of the Schengen area, and “far more dangerous are the attacks taking place in close proximity to the territory of the country”, all understand this could happen anywhere, and in Prague, too, there is the subway…
To fully protect Metropolitan’s impossible
General Andor Sandor (Andor Šándor), former head of the Czech intelligence services, assessing the safety in the metro, and questions which he directly engaged. Ready the Prague metro to similar situations?
“From a technological point of view, the Prague metro is very well trained. To counter the attacks they set a system to counter the use of toxic substances. It is installed in all stations, but is present on all junctions and quite effective. However, to prevent actions of the person who decided to carry to one of the stations, any sort of explosive to blast it in the car may not be ready no metro in the world, including Prague. This is impossible to prevent. A subway serves the purpose of providing transport in Prague. And either will serve the purpose with which it was created, but then the security is there to ensure that it will be difficult, or will be absolutely safe, but in this case you will not be able to perform their tasks — that is, uninterrupted to transport people. It is impossible at each entrance to put the metal detector, through which will pass all passengers, metro likewise. Today’s reality is that if terrorists want to strike on the metro, as we have seen, they succeed,” said the intelligence officer, General Andor Sandor.
