MR. DUBCEK WALKING IN ANKARA (SIX SHOTS)




Initials PH/VS/PN/BB



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: FORMER CZECHOSLOVAK PARTY CHIEF, MR. ALEXANDER DUBCEK, FACES FURTHER POLITICAL RESTRICTIONS FOR HIS ROLE AT THE HEAD OF THE 1968 REFORMIST MOVEMENT.

NEWS THAT THE FRESHLY RE-ORGANISED PRAGUE LEADERSHIP IS STILL NOT FINISHED WITH MR. DUBCEK -- DESPITE HIS DEFIANT RESIGNATION FROM THE PARTY CENTRAL COMMITTEE LAST WEEK -- WAS ANNOUNCED YESTERDAY (JANUARY 31) BY COMMITTEE SPOKESMAN JOSEF HAVLIN.

MR. HAVLIN SAID AN ASSESSMENT OF THE ROLE OF MR. DUBCEK WOULD BE GIVEN AT A FUTURE SESSION OF THE PARTY PLENARY MEETING. HE CHARGED THAT THE FORMER CZECH LEADER'S FAILINGS BROUGHT THE PARTY TO BANKRUPTCY, AND SAID "IT IS NECESSARY TO GIVE HIM WHAT IS HIS DUE".

SINCE THE SOVIET-LED INTERVENTION IN AUGUST 1968, MR. DUBCEK'S PARTY POSTS HAVE GRADUALLY BEEN TAKEN FROM HIM. HE WAS REPLACED BY DOCTOR GUSTAV HUSAK AS PARTY CHIEF IN APRIL LAST YEAR AND A FEW MONTHS LATER WAS DROPPED AS A PRESIDIUM MEMBER.

MR. DUBCEK TOOK UP HIS NEW JOB ONLY LAST WEEK IN ANKARA AS AMBASSADOR TO TURKEY, AND AT THE SAME TIME, ANNOUNCED HIS RESIGNATION FROM THE PARTY CENTRAL COMMITTEE.