Paroubek said it was a study and information visit and there were no conclusions or memorandums concerning it. "We are preparing for the role of government.
We want to learn the thinking of the people who are not our political friends," Paroubek said. Although the Social Democrats visited Syria on the invitation of the Syrian ruling Arab Socialist Baath Party, Paroubek said that the Social Democrats would not cooperate with Baath. "We have never considered it," he said. However, Prime Minister Mirek Risk of terrorist attack growing-Czech government ...
Czechs consider organised crime biggest threat-poll ...
Number of foreigners working in CzechRep record high in 2007 ...
Czech Social Democrats propose Dienstbier to Senate ...
Lebanese MPs delay vote again ... Topolanek (senior ruling Civic Democrats, ODS) described the visit as regrettable and running contrary to Czech foreign policy interests. Czech MEP Jana Hybaskova said the visit contradicted European foreign policy. The Social Democrats today rejected the allegations. Paroubek said Hybaskova's statement threatened his meeting with Syrian President Bashar al-Asad. He again stressed that he called on Asad to make a humanitarian gesture towards imprisoned dissident Riyad Saif. "We planned to discuss human rights with the Syrian president from the very beginning," Paroubek said. "The statement that we acted contrary to EU policy is untrue," Zaoralek said. Paroubek said that the media speculations that he had met with terrorists would be taken to court The Czech Republic can have good relations with Arab countries and excellent relations with Israel, Zaoralek said. Paroubek said that when the CSSD would be in power the Czech Republic would be able to play a historic role in the Middle East. Paroubek pointed out that the delegation had opened a path to business circles. In may, Finance Minister Miroslav Kalousek (junior governing Christian Democrats, KDU-CSL) will visit Syria with a group of Czech businessmen. The criticism of the Social Democrats' visit was designed to divert the attention from Topolanek's visit to the USA, Paroubek said. He said that Topolanek had no mandate to negotiate about the stationing of a U.S. radar base in the Czech Republic. The Social Democrats will propose a method for the ratification of the agreement on the radar installations probably next Wednesday, Paroubek said.
(Ceske Noviny)
more info >>
<< Back