Czech PM invites Obama to beer pub, Klaus for dinner

Obama has not yet decided for what opportunity he will opt. It cannot be ruled out that he will use both invitations. The offices of the Czech president and prime minister have provided no information on Obama's programme so far.

Everything indicates that Topolanek and Klaus are discussing the division of the host role at present.

Topolanek is expected to welcome Obama and his wife Michelle at the airport when Obama arrives in Prague on Saturday evening of April 4. Immediately after his arrival Obama will probably leave for Prague Castle to have bilateral talks with Klaus.

Topolanek is also to attend the talks.

Obama will stay in Prague until April 5 when an EU-USA summit the Czech Republic is organising as the current EU president will take place.

Klaus will probably be the main host at the Czech-U.S. part of Obama's visit while Topolanek, as chairman of the EU Council, will be his main host on the second, "EU" day, of his visit.

Sunday's summit and probably also a dinner of the EU representatives and Obama will take place in Prague's Congress Centre where a meeting with journalists will be held.

Later, Obama, the 44th U.S. president, intends to deliver an address in the old Prague environment. The areas outside the Rudolfinum Hall, Old Town Square and Prague Castle are being considered as the venues for Obama's speech.

The decision will be made by Obama's newt preparatory team that will arrive in Prague around March 24.

The speculation that Obama will have a breakfast with former president Vaclav Havel was not confirmed to CTK by Havel's office today.

On his Prague visit Obama will be accompanied by U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton while the participation of Defense Secretary Robert Gates is not certain.

Obama's delegation will comprise 500 people, including 150 journalists who report on White House events.

The Air Force One, special presidential aircraft on board of which Obama will arrive in Prague will be one of the three U.S. planes to arrive in Prague.

The second one will bring part of Obama's team and representatives of the U.S. media will arrive on board the third plane.

Ms Obama's special programme is not yet known. It is clear that Klaus's wife Livia Klausova could be her host while the situation is unclear in the case of Topolanek since he does not live with his wife Pavla.

Obama will probably come to Prague without his two daughters because they must attend school.

While the hotel in which American journalists will sleep is known (it will be Marriott as during former U.S. president George Bush's visit to Prague in 2007), the place where the presidential couple will sleep is not known.

It could be either one of Prague's luxury hotels or the residence of the U.S. ambassador to the Czech Republic in Prague's residential area Bubenec.

U.S. Democratic President Obama will visit the Czech Republic within his first tour of Europe.

Before coming to Prague, Obama will attend a meeting of the economic summit G20 in London on April 2 and a NATO summit in Strasbourg and Kehl on April 4.

From Prague, Obama will probably leave for home but there are also speculations that he might then visit Turkey.

Author: ČTK
www.ctk.cz