PM for human rights protection, Czechs to behave like EU states

He was reacting to the sharp words with which Foreign Minister Karel Schwarzenberg (TOP 09) denounced his statement at the International Engineering Trade Fair in Brno on Monday.

Necas said support to the Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama and the Russian activists Pussy Riot can threaten Czech exports.

Necas said he and Schwarzenberg did not talk about their dispute at today´s government meeting whose agenda was busy.

The government discussed the preparation of the 2013 state budget and measures to cope with a series of deaths of methyl alcohol intoxication, among others.

Necas said the critics of his Monday speech should read it whole.

"I clearly say that a swap of pro-export policy for the abandoning of the human rights protection policy is out of question," Necas said.

He said he wants the Czech Republic to be active in cases that are worth it.

Schwarzenberg said on Monday he was shocked by Necas´s words. "This statement is a bow to the (Chinese) regime," he said.

Schwarzenberg said Necas took over Chinese propaganda in his statement about Tibet.

Author: ČTK
www.ctk.cz