Azerbaijan, Baku, Jan. 20 / corr. Trend P.Kasamanski /
Exclusive interview: Trend European Department speaks with EU Chairman, Czech Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek
Trend : Bearing in mind the Czech President Vaclav Klaus's negative feelings about the Lisbon Treaty, how will your EU chairmanship affect the adoption of a reforms treaty?
Czech Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek: There is no direct link between the Czech chairmanship and the ratification of the Lisbon Treaty. I signed the Lisbon Treaty, and it is now up to parliament to ratify it.
I have no intention of making any intrusion on this ratification process.
Q: What steps does the Czech Republic plan to take to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict considering both Hamas' and Israel's unwillingness to accept EU proposals? Does the Czech Republic intend to cooperate with the Arab League to find a solution to the conflict?
A: The Czech chairmanship does not have the ambition to solve a conflict that has lasted for the past 60 years. It is clear that this is, first of all, in the hands of Middle Eastern countries. As concerns economic growth, the EU can and will cooperate. This issue has been considered by Czech diplomats, too.
Q: Europe suffers from gas shortages due to the gas dispute between Russia and Ukraine. Do you think Europe has been too slow in building alternative gas pipelines? What measures should be taken to intensify the diversification of gas supplies to Europe? For instance, the commissioning of the Nabucco pipeline is scheduled for 2013. But this means European energy security will depend on how events unfold between Russia and Ukraine for at least four years.
A: As you probably know, energy security is one of our 3E priorities. Unfortunately, recent events have proven my words true that Europe started looking for solutions 5 minutes after midnight. It is obvious that genuine energy security is linked to both the independence of the supplying and transiting countries. Except for solving the current crisis, the Czech chairmanship's working program includes meetings on the following issue - Nabucco and an Eastern partnership with the Caucasus and Caspian states.
Q: What are the Czech Republic's plans to further establish relations with Russia bearing in mind the country's negative response to the deployment of the U.S. missile defense system in Eastern Europe and threats to station Iskander missiles in Kaliningrad?
A: You have to consider two separate factors - historical experience and current politics.
We only have good historical experience with the U.S. They helped us creating our first republic, Czechoslovakia. They freed us in 1945. They helped us fight against Communist totalitarianism. They helped us integrate into Nato...
Russia also helped us in 1945, but this positive point does not discard the fact that Russia dominated and militarily occupied our country at the time. The last Russian tank left this country only 17 years ago and I would say time has not yet healed these old wounds...
Even today, my government considers transatlantic cooperation, particularly with the U.S., as the basis of the Czech security policy. However, from this angle, it is clear that we wish to have the best possible relations with Russia, which is geographically a natural partner for the EU - at least in terms of business. I think my Saturday negotiations with Prime Minister Vladimir Putin proved that you cannot talk about "cold relations" or "fights."
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