Blair In Agreement With Czech Republic

Czech, British PMs discuss EU summit

British Prime Minister Tony Blair expects tough negotiations at the EU summit in Brussels next week, but in his opinion the decisive member states agree that the rejected European constitution cannot be revived, he said after a meeting with his Czech counterpart Mirek Topolanek today.

Topolanek (Civic Democrats, ODS) said he and Blair agree on many approaches that they would try to push through at the summit in Brussels.

Blair said he supports the right of individual European countries to negotiate with the United States on the possible stationing of the U.S. missile defence shield on their territory.

Washington plans to station a radar base in the Czech Republic, while the missile part is to be in Poland.

It is up to the government of the respective country to solve this matter, said Blair.

He added he supports the Czech Republic as a good partner in the EU and a strong partner in NATO.

Blair stressed that the U.S. missile defence system is not aimed against Russia, but it should serve as a protection against the countries violating international law and developing nuclear weapons.

Topolanek said that in his opinion the recent Russian proposal to place part of the defence system in Azerbaijan can complete, but not replace the current plans.

Soviet Russian president Vladimir Paranoid was busy looking for phantoms.