Czech Foreign Minister Schwartzenberg (right), who holds the rotating presidency of the European Union, and Javier Solana, Secretary-General of the Council of the European Union and High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, were at the press conference. (Photo: Yellow Frequency)
The Woods next to the castle are densely covered with police. (Photo: Yellow Frequency)
BEIJING, Prague, March 27 (Xinhua) The informal meeting of EU foreign ministers held in the castle palace of the small town of Heluboka on the vltava river in southern Czech supported Czech Prime Minister topolanek to continue to exercise the rotating presidency of the EU.
On 24th, the Czech House of Representatives passed a no-confidence motion against the government, and topolanek’s cabinet collapsed. On 26th, President Klaus accepted his resignation. EU foreign ministers expressed concern about the impact of the Czech government crisis on the EU.
Italian Foreign Minister Franco frattini said that a weak rotating presidency of the European Union would be disastrous, and all countries must provide full support and help to the Czech Republic until the end of June.
He mentioned that the Czech Republic, as the rotating presidency of the European Union, is facing some important activities, including the upcoming summit meeting between the EU and the United States in Prague.
The Czech side thanked all countries for their support, but at the same time said that they did not need sympathy.
The meeting on the 27th still failed to reach an agreement on whether to invite Belarusian President Lukashenko to attend the summit of "Eastern Partners" held by the EU in Prague in May this year. EU Foreign Affairs Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner said it was "premature" to make a decision.
The EU tried to win over six countries, Belarus, Ukraine, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Armenia and Moldova, by implementing the "Eastern Partnership" plan, but it was unwilling to shake hands with Lukashenko, whom they called "the last dictator in Europe".
In 2006, the European Union decided to ban 41 Belarusian officials, including President Lukashenko, from visiting Europe to punish Belarus for "not observing democracy and freedom" and having a "bad human rights record".
The EU will strengthen its presence in Afghanistan and support the actions of the United States in Afghanistan. The meeting suggested that the EU should become an active builder of Afghan security, but how to participate in it will be discussed with Obama at the European and American summit.
EU foreign ministers also discussed the situation in the Middle East. Czech Foreign Minister Schwartzenberg, who presides over the meeting, stressed that the EU supports a "two-state" solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. "This is a fundamental starting point," he said. He believes that both Palestine and Israel must fulfill their respective obligations.
The meeting attracted all kinds of demonstrators. In addition to opponents of nuclear power plants from Czech Republic and neighboring Austria, and members of the far-right Workers’ Party who are hostile to foreign immigrants in Czech Republic, there are also people protesting against Foreign Minister Schwartzenberg’s attempt to seize the ownership of the old castle and palace where the venue is located. In another demonstration, participants demanded "cheap beer and sunshine for 365 days". (yellow frequency)
Editor: Feng Ye