12/11/2008

Lisbon Treaty Gets A Reality Czech

The Government's Lisbon woes took a further blow yesterday as the Czech Republic's President claimed the Lisbon Treaty would not enhance freedom and democracy, during his state visit.

President Václav Klaus made the comments following a meeting with the leader of the anti-Lisbon group Libertas, Declan Ganley.

The Irish Minister for Foreign Affairs, Michael Martin, has since described President Klaus' comments as inappropriate and said every welcome had been extended to the Czech President.

Fine Gael has also criticised the comments, with their Foreign Affairs Spokesman Billy Timmins describing the outburst as "inappropriate behaviour" and have called on the Government to register a complaint against the Czech leader.

Following the announcement of the referendum's defeat in June, Czech president Vaclav Klaus, who is known to be staunchly eurosceptic, called the Irish referendum vote a "victory of freedom and reason" and said "ratification cannot continue".

The Czech Republic has suspended ratification of the treaty pending a ruling by the country's Constitutional Court to determine whether it is in line with the Czech Constitution.

The ruling is expected on 25 November, and without it the treaty could face abandonment.

(DW)

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