Czech News Daily

Last week’s political tremors in the Czech Republic increased concerns in some parts of the EU that the new member states are simply not capable of responsibly leading such a large and elite club. We spoke to Czech foreign minister Karl Schwarzenberg about this and about what the EU Presidency could do following the fall of the government.

Did you get calls from your European colleagues at the instant the government fell, wanting to know what was happening here?
Nothing exceptional. It cheered me up that the first person to call me was the Polish foreign minister Sikorski. He had an idea of how I might be feeling and wanted me so know that he was prepared to help in any way he could.

Has this altered your agenda at all in the coming weeks? Will you have to defer some of your plans?
Everything is running on as normal for the moment. It’s like with death. We don’t know the day or the hour. The vote of no-confidence has been declared, the Prime Minister has been to the castle, but as yet we don’t know who will be entrusted with the forming of a new government. It’s necessary to note here, that the social democrats and Paroubek wanted Topolánek’s head, but didn’t want to assume responsibility during the time of crisis. They want to come to power once the situation has improved. That’s why they’re talking about holding elections in February or later. The surprise of ČSSD when they succeeded in the vote of no-confidence against the government, was evident. Of course, the ongoing task of the opposition is to try to overthrow the government and to strive for power, but it’s irresponsible to overthrow the government during the EU Presidency, - to attempt to disgrace the government and then maintain: I’m not going to take your place. That is what really upset me, not the fact that I’ll no longer be minister. Whether it’s myself or someone else there doesn’t matter to me.

Will this weaken our position in Europe?
Truly speaking we still don’t know. It doesn’t necessarily have to harm us. The program of the EU Presidency is clear. Our task is to facilitate discussion, and that’s possible even in our current state of demise. The problem could be if Europeans were to loose confidence in us.

Is this the end of the American Radar project?
I don’t know. The Americans will in my opinion want it to continue. They’re negotiating with Iran at the moment, but we all know that Iran isn’t the only threat. We don’t know what will happen in Pakistan, or what could happen in China. So the anti-missile defence system may one day be advantageous.  With regards to support at home its not possible to judge whether it will happen.

And what about the problems with the Lisbon Treaty?
We have to wait for nerves to settle. I don’t know if the ODS hard-liners, who have backing in the Senate, and were the only real obstacle for Vondra and Topolánek, will agree to help. I don’t know all of the Senators, but I fear that it won’t be straightforward.

What could it mean for us if the Treaty wasn’t ratified?
We could become isolated. We could be cast out because Ireland will definitely ratify the Treaty the second time around.  It’s necessary to realise that we’re not an island, but that we lie between Germany, Austria and other EU states. So in that case, God help us, we could to a certain extent find ourselves deprived of our voice.

New governments with regards to foreign policy have more or less concurred so far with previous governments. Now for the first time experts fear that we’re reaching a turning point in foreign policy arising from the unprecedented voting from ČSSD against the mission in Afghanistan. Do you share this view?
I fear that the decline in the sense of responsibility for the fate of the nation is too strong. I’ll repeat that it doesn’t matter to me if I stay in the government or not. But to overthrow the government and not want to take their place is irresponsible. If this kind of irresponsibility is going to spread (and it looks that way) and if populism is going to spread further, then I’m concerned for foreign policy.

Would you accept a position in an administrative government?
Naturally it’s important who would be at the head of government. But fundamentally, it’s about whether or not I would really be able to function as foreign minister. You see I’ve known Vondra for years and all the same we’ve clashed a few times. But we know how to reach an agreement and we manage to do that. If however there was someone else in his place, someone who didn’t know how to negotiate, then I wouldn’t wish that. It is however only a hypothetical question because the moment this government finishes the greens will become irrelevant for other parties because other forces will be vying for power. And the foreign minister has that advantage that apart from the Prime Minister, he’s the one most seen on television. It’s evident how he meets with various personalities, politicians, presenters etc, and that entices every ambitious politician. So the question of me participating in another government I perceive to be completely unrealistic. It’s probably like asking me whether I’m going to set off and conquer Mount Everest.

Source: Respekt 14/2009

A speech by Mirek Topolánek in the European Parliament in which he sharply criticised measures by the US to deal with the financial crisis shocked diplomats across the world. His statements made the front page of the UK Financial Times newspaper and were even commented by US President Barack Obama. Topolánek has jumped on the brakes in a letter to the Times trying to justify his position. ‘I believe that I don’t have to point out that the Czech Republic and the United States remain long term allies,’ wrote Topolánek.

Topolánek in a speech on Wednesday said that huge financial injections into the economy are a journey to hell, equating them to the repetition of mistakes made in the 1930’s. According to him some of the measures taken by the USA have raised alarm in the European Union.

The Prime Ministers words didn’t remain unanswered for long. Which is why in today’s edition of the British daily ‘The Times’ he has responded with a letter attempting to temper his assertions. ‘I expected that my words wouldn’t remain unanswered for long. But I didn’t expect that this legitimate note of caution, which seemed to me as natural as warning a friend on an uneven path that they could trip over, would be thrown out on-principle, and taken as a criticism of the American administration,’ wrote the Prime Minister.

The Czech Prime Minister apparently appreciates the differences between the European and American economies and this is why the rescue packages must also differ. He reminded that the strong social system in Europe works as an automatic stabiliser, which protects against acute falls in consumer demand. ‘This means that Europe doesn’t need such an extensive financial stimulus like the USA, which doesn’t have a similar system of social support,’ writes Topolánek in The Times. He further reminded that the European states are committed to a strategy of growth and stability which limits the size of national debt.

Even though Topolánek may have conveyed the opinions of regions of the EU in his speech, his words have mainly caused a diplomatic storm. ‘Even though many member states my in principle agree with him, none of them would ever put it in those terms,’ writes Honor Mahonyová for the EUObserver. The foreign daily also reminded that the relationship between Topolánek and the United States greatly cooled over the re-appraisal of the stance on the planned American radar base on Czech soil.

Following overthrow of the Czech Government there is worry across Europe about a weakened EU leadership and the failure of the Lisbon agreement. Analysts and politicians agree that the failure of Topalánek’s government didn’t come at an opportune moment with words like regret, sadness, annoyance being frequently heard from European politicians. In spite of this all believe that the Czech’s should see the EU Presidency through to the end of it’s term.

Leader of the socialists in the European Parliament Martin Schulz advised that he wouldn’t comment on internal matters of the Czech government. ‘We hope however that the Presidency will be smoothly continued, as will the process of the ratification of the Lisbon Agreement in the Czech Republic’. Indications from within the fractured government is that the socialists are not at all happy with the steps taken by the opposition yesterday. They’re worried about the increasing influence of Václav Klaus on the fate of the country, and in particular the fact that the chance of smooth passage of the Lisbon Agreement through the Senate has now shrunk to a minimum.

‘Frankly speaking it’s a shame for the whole of Europe, that in this key moment, we will have at a non-functioning government the head of the European Union’, said German member of the European parliament Bernd Posselt. He warned that the decision didn’t come at an advantageous time, when Europe is fighting the effects of a global economic crisis and requires strong leadership.

The weakened government will have a narrower influence

‘I’m disappointed. I think that the government was actually quite successful to date. This wasn’t a very responsible decision’, said German European member of parliament Elmar Brok. In her opinion European States will indeed have to respect the Czech Presidency going forward, but it’s true that a government in demise doesn’t cut the same figure as a government which carries the trust of its parliament.

The Presidency will in any case continue, even though the political party has been diminished. This was the reaction of Brussels analyst Piotra Kaczyńského from the office of European political development. ‘Normal civic functions will of course run their course. At this level a vote of no confidence won’t have an immediate effect. The Presidency will continue to operate’, said Kaczyński.

Straight away however he added that on the other hand the decision of the Czech parliament will have a very strong, even harmful effect on the political representation of the Czech Republic in negotiations with other European and world politicians and leaders.

He also said that all member states which have weak government will have a more limited influence in the EU. Other statesmen have less appetite to listen and negotiate with these kind of politics. ‘As far as the current Presidency goes, it has huge consequences for it’s leadership charisma’, highlighted Kaczyńsk.

He recalled that next week the long awaited meeting of the worlds richest economies, the G20 will meet in London. The position of Mirek Topolánek, who will be representing the EU, will be undermined by yesterdays events.

The Czech Presidency seemed to have a lot on it’s plate, said Katinka Barishová from the London office of European reform. She also admitted that any country holding the presidency during the current crisis would hardly find it easy.

Nonetheless it seems that the Czech Republic wasn’t as effective as others could have hoped and and larger countries had to work harder on co-operation and co-ordination to compensate. It’s terrible news right before the G20 summit, said Barishová. ‘Right now we could do without any further problems.’

According to Czech Artist David Černy it will be decided by the end of the week what will happen to his controversial plastic sculpture Entropa at the end of the current EU Presidency. Most likely it will end up in the recently opened Dox gallery in Holešovice.

There’s been all kinds of speculation about what will happen to the piece, including at one point interest from the National Theatre. ‘By the end of the week it will be clear what will happen. Right now we’re choosing between one of two places where the sculpture could be. There’s two possibilities, we’re in negotiation with two art institutions - Karlin Hall, and Dox, but it looks more likely to be Dox’, explained David Černý in an interview for Lidové noviny.

Does David Černy have any other surprises in store?

It’s not just about what will happen to the placement of the plastic sculpture after the end of the EU Presidency however, there’s also ongoing speculation about whether Černy will leave the work as it is. During a recent public debate about the Entropa sculpture in Brussels David Černy and another theorist from his team Tomáš Pospiszyl, fielded a question about whether the pipe-like sounds emanating from Ireland were chosen carefully or just by accident.

The inquirer turned out to be Irish and added: ‘My friends are into folk music and they told me that it’s a mix of Welsh and Scottish music. So it’s really British and not Irish. Was that your intention?’ Černy and Pospiszyl smiled at each other for a while before they came up with an answer. ‘Look, the work’s been hanging here six weeks and will hang until the end of July. Let it be, and you’ll see’, said Černy.

Tomáš Pospiszyl added: ‘Everything has it’s time. It’s possible that you’ll see Entropa differently in July to the way in which you see it now. It hasn’t had it’s last word yet.’ Whether Entropa is actually going to undergo some kind of transformation or whether this was just an obtuse answer no-one really knows. David Černý yesterday refused to comment. ‘It’s still open at the moment. We’ll have to wait and see’, he responded to a question on whether Entropa will actually change.

The gas crisis, which at the start of this year caused an interruption in the supply of gas from Russia, through the Ukraine to Europe, is permanent and could easily occur again tomorrow. That is according to Mirek Topolánek speaking at the beginning of a summit in Brussels.

According to him renewal of supply solved a short term interruption, the causes of which remain. ‘I think that the crisis is in fact permanent. It could happen again tomorrow’, said Topolánek. ‘We never said that the commencement of supply through Ukraine meant that the problem was solved. On the contrary. It was successful only from the point of view that we cleared up a short term supply disruption, but the causes remain”, said the Prime Minister.

In his opinion the causes of the problem regarding gas supply are solvable by means of a different supply route. There is currently however no agreement on this within the EU. The EU wants to allocate billions of Euros from its budget to various energy projects, but it’s not yet been possible to agree a definitive list.

‘I’m quietly confident that it will be possible to agree the energy package at today’s summit’, said the Czech Prime Minister. He added that the fine tuning of the list of energy projects has led to some intensive behind the scenes negotiations. The problem in large part revolves around the Nubucco pipeline which could carry gas to Europe from Asia, decreasing the EU’s dependence on Russia.

The European Commission originally proposed Nabucco would be undertaken at a cost of 250 million Euros. That amount however fell to 200 million and now it’s not even referred to as Nabocco but rather ‘the south corridor project’. Some member states  don’t like this and the negotiations over the energy project list will definitely be one of the most difficult items at the summit today.

Even the Russia which has grave reservations over the ambitious Nabucco project has noticed the discord. The Russian TV Station RT for example is referring to a Brussels source which is alleging that Nabucco already doesn’t figure in the EU’s list of energy priorities.

The voices of voters wanting see the Nabucco project included in the list of chosen projects can be heard for example in Warsaw. ‘I hope that that name (Nabucco) will be mentioned’, said Prime Minister Tusk before the negotiations. ‘I think that more countries support that idea’, he added.