Czech lawmakers pass Czech-Russian social agreement

The Czech Chamber of Deputies on Thursday passed a Czech-Russian agreement on social security that relates to health and social insurance, industrial accidents and occupational diseases benefits, funeral allowances and child benefits. The Senate had supported the agreement and it is now to be signed by President Vaclav Klaus. The agreement guarantees equal treatment of citizens of both states. It replaces an outdated document from the socialist era that the Czech Republic terminated in 2008.