Klaus in Bratislava awarded by Slovak businessmen, criticises EU

The ZPS said the award goes to Klaus as a mastermind of the then Czechoslovakia´s post-1989 switch from the central-directed economy to the free market economy.

"Without Klaus, the economic transformation would be less direct. He is a symbol of the transformation from which Slovakia benefited as well," ZPS head Jan Oravec said.

Klaus masterminded the then economic reforms as Czechoslovak finance minister (1989-1992) and Czech prime minister (1992-1997).

Oravec also appreciated Klaus for challenging the efforts at centralising the EU and criticising states´ intervention in their economies.

Klaus said it seems to him that those holding this view are a minority in society.

He said the EU is no longer a symbol of prosperity and the present time is the era of "post-democracy."

Klaus dismissed the apprehensions of possible negative impacts in case a member country left the euro zone.

It were the Czech Republic and Slovakia that proved, after the split of their joint state in late 1992, that a currency separation is feasible.

"We showed that this is feasible, on condition that it is a controlled step," Klaus said.

Klaus arrived for a visit to Slovakia on Tuesday, a few days before his second and last possible presidential mandate expires.

He will be replaced in the post by Milos Zeman, a former socialist prime minister, who previously said his first foreign trip as president will be to Slovakia.

Author: ČTK
www.ctk.cz