PM: It is natural that Zeman will visit cabinet after inauguration

Prague, Feb 5 (CTK) - Czech Prime Minister Petr Necas (Civic Democrats, ODS) considers it natural that Milos Zeman will attend the first cabinet meeting following his March 8 inauguration as Czech president, he said after meeting Zeman Tuesday.

He described the two-hour meetings in the office of Zeman, the president-elect, as "correct."

Shortly after winning the direct presidential polls in late January, Zeman said Necas's centre-right government leaning of deputies from the LIDEM party should end and early general elections should be held.

Necas Tuesday said it is necessary to distinguish statements made within the election campaign from "a realistic conduct of a high constitutional official."

He said early elections are not wished by him as prime minister and, he believes, not by the president-elect either.

Necas described his talks with Zeman as "long, correct and of a working character."

They focused on basic issues of the Czech foreign and domestic policies, Necas said, without elaborating.

"There were no evident points of conflict," he added.

Necas said he is convinced that a difference of views on various issues between the president and the prime minister is a natural part of the way the political system functions in a democracy.

A dialogue between them is a matter-of-course aspect of a well-functioning constitutional system, therefore their meeting Tuesday was not the last one, Necas said.

He dismissed speculations about the Czech Republic's "two-track" foreign policy in the past, at present or in future.

However, observers point to discords that repeatedly flared out between now outgoing President Vaclav Klaus and the Foreign Ministry, over EU-related issues for example.

No details concerning possible next Zeman-Necas meetings have been agreed as yet. "Of course, I must take into account that president-elect Zeman applies brutal methods against me, he smokes for example," Necas said, smiling.

He said this, too, is a question that must be solved.

Zeman will be sworn-in as president on March 8, one day after his predecessor Klaus's second term expires.

Zeman met Klaus earlier Tuesday.

Later this week he is to have separate meetings with the heads of all parties in parliament except for LIDEM chairwoman and Deputy PM Karolina Peake.