ÚZSVM wants to sell Štiřín, there is no room for negotiation, said the mayor of Kamenice

Prague - The Office for the Representation of the State in Property Affairs (ÚZSVM) plans to sell the Štiřín castle complex as a whole in order to maximize revenue for the state. Pavel Čermák, the mayor of Kamenice (independent), said this to ČTK after today's meeting with representatives of ÚZSVM and the Ministry of Finance regarding the future of the castle. Kamenice is interested in cooperating with the state in the use of the complex, but according to Čermák, there is currently likely little room for further negotiations. This could open up if the auction of Štiřín is unsuccessful.

ÚZSVM recently took over the Štiřín castle from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which no longer needs the complex. No state institution expressed interest in the property within the specified timeframe, so the property office began preparing for the sale of the castle.

Kamenice disagrees with the sale, arguing that the complex could be utilized for the benefit of local people and the state. In an open letter to Minister of Finance Zbyněk Stanjura (ODS), Čermák suggested that Kamenice could use some of the buildings for medical offices, which are lacking in the region, and part of the complex for preschool facilities. Together with its partners, Kamenice would cover all operating costs so that the state would not have to invest a single penny in maintenance. The state could use the castle as a health resort for soldiers, police, or firefighters, or for international conferences.

At today's meeting, representatives of ÚZSVM, according to Čermák, reiterated that no state entity has shown interest in Štiřín, so the property office will continue preparations for the sale with the aim of maximizing profit. This is also connected to selling the castle as a whole, as transferring part of the complex to self-governance would lower the price.

"There is probably no room for further negotiations at this moment," Čermák said. According to him, room could open up if the castle could not be sold at auction and it would be necessary to lower the price. He also sees a chance if any state institution changes its mind and expresses interest in the complex.

In the past, there have been several discussions about selling the complex, which also includes a golf course and ponds. When Karel Schwarzenberg (TOP 09) was Minister of Foreign Affairs, these considerations arose due to austerity measures. Later, privatization was suggested by Andrej Babiš (ANO) while he was Minister of Finance. Subsequently, when he held the position of Prime Minister, he withdrew from the intention, reasoning that the number of events held at Štiřín had significantly increased and it was also open to the public year-round. At the end of the previous electoral term of the Chamber of Deputies, the effort to transfer the establishing function of the contributory organization Castle Štiřín from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to the Chamber of Deputies ultimately failed, although it had the support of a majority of deputies.