CZECH AND ZAMBIA DIALOGUE OVER DETAINED CITIZENS

The Czech republic has ruled out calling for European Union sanctions against Zambia over its citizens detained in Lusaka and charged with espionage offences.

A senior official in the Czech government has been quoted saying the two countries are working through the diplomatic row, which has raised the spectre of the EU.

The issue involves the detention of Jan Coufal, Jiri Cetel and Michal Vebr, who face espionage charges with a maximum sentence of 25 years in jail.

The trio, who last  appeared in court on October 21, were arrested on October 12, for taking pictures of a vintage Czech-made plane displayed in front of the Zambia Air Force base near the Kenneth Kaunda international airport.

They were also alleged to have made sketches of a military barracks.

The accused’s cameras and passports have been confiscated by Zambian military police but they have since been granted bail of 2,000 dollars each and ordered not to leave the country.

Matters came to a head on November 16 when two Czech members of the European Parliament, Jan Brezina and Evzen Tosenovsky, called on EU commission President, Jose Manuel Barroso, and the EU foreign affairs chief, Catherine Ashton, to use all available means to secure the release of the three.

And speaking in Strasbourg, France, they hinted at the possibility of EU economic sanctions against Zambia over the matter.

But Zambian Foreign Minister, Chishimba Kambwili has described as unfortunate talk of EU sanctions.

Mr Chishimba has however said that the matter is before the courts of law and that government has little leeway for intervention but that it is open to dialogue.