Fischer's govt not to deal with Czech-Vatican treaty

Pope Benedict XVI received Fischer earlier today.

Fischer said Bertone expressed understanding for the stance of the current Czech cabinet on the Vatican treaty.

Consequently, only the government that will emerge from the regular general election to be held next spring will deal with the document that is yet to be approved by Czech parliament.

"I have clearly declared that it is beyond the possibilities of this government's mandate, both in terms of time and mainly contents, to complete the ratification process (of the Vatican treaty). My counterpart (Bertone) has taken it into consideration with understanding," Fischer said.

The Vatican is still waiting for ratification of the treaty that is to define the position of the Catholic Church in the Czech Republic.

Czech and Vatican representatives agreed on the treaty in the late 1990s. The treaty was signed in July 2002 by then papal nuncio Josef Erwin Ender and Czech foreign minister Cyril Svoboda, current leader of the Christian Democrats (KDU-CSL).

But the Chamber of Deputies, lower house of Czech parliament, rejected the treaty in May 2003. Since then parliament has not returned to the document.

The Vatican does not intend to change the text of the original treaty and expects the Czech Republic to ratify it.

Autor: ČTK
www.ctk.cz