Foreign minister dismisses Klaus's criticism of ČR's foreign policy

Sept 4 (CTK) - President Vaclav Klaus's criticism of the cCzech foreign policy concept cannot be taken seriously and Klaus's plans for his own political future are behind it, Foreign Minister Karel Schwarzenberg (TOP 09) said on a Czech Television (CT) discussion programme yesterday.

"The foreign policy is defined by the Czech government and formulated and represented by the foreign minister. It is my task and nobody else's," Schwarzenberg said.

He said Klaus's attack was a part of his political strategy: Klaus was preparing the ground for the establishment of a new nationalist, Eurosceptic party after his presidential mandate would expire in 2013.

If the Civic Democratic Party (ODS) of PM Petr Necas refused to put Klaus to its head again, he would found a new party, Schwarzenberg said.

He said Klaus probably attacked him because he tries hard to drive out any Czech party or politician who might be his rivals in the centre and on the right wing.

Schwarzenberg said earlier he was considering running for president in 2013.

At a meeting with Czech ambassadors earlier this week, Klaus criticised the foreign policy concept, recently approved by the government. He said the concept did not solve unfavourable trends and deal with real problems like the crisis of European integration or problematic aspects of the country's possible joining the eurozone.

Schwarzenberg said he was amused by Klaus's criticism at the formal meeting of Czech ambassadors with the president.

"It is his private opinion that he considers me incapable," he said about Klaus.

He said he did not consider Klaus's views on foreign policy important. "The concept has been approved by the government and we will stick to it," Schwarzenberg added.

Klaus should take into account his position of the head of state and not play the role of a provocateur in the world, though he sometimes is "a rather amusing provocateur," he said.

Schwarzenberg noted that Klaus attracts attention by his provocations all over the world.

Serious presidents of Austria, Italy or Portugal follow the unwritten rules and consequently they are not as well-known in the world as Klaus who is more often invited to lecture abroad due to his unusual statements and views, Schwarzenberg said on the Questions of Vaclav Moravec TV discussion programme.

Klaus said Schwarzenberg was not even able to react to his criticism immediately and face him in front of the ambassadors.

The opposition Social Democrats (CSSD) say it is very bad that it is not clear who is heading Czech diplomacy and that the country's representatives promote different stances abroad.

Schwarzenberg and Klaus have recently clashed over other issues, too, including a senior ministerial post for Ladislav Batora, head of the D.O.S.T. ultra-conservative group.

Schwarzenberg said "fascist-leaning" Batora occupied the post at the Education Ministry only thanks to support from Klaus.

D.O.S.T. is considered one of the groups, from which Klaus might build his possible new nationalist anti-EU party.

Political analyst Vladimira Dvorakova said a new far-right party may win up to 10 percent of the vote in the Czech Republic.

Klaus has been playing his own political game heading towards his future activities on the Czech political scene, Dvorakova said.

She said Klaus wants to get to the limelight and make the current centre-light government seem weak.