Czech leader defends 'public' criticism of Lisbon Treaty
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Thursday November 13 2008
CZECH President Vaclav Klaus expressed bewilderment yesterday after his criticism of the Lisbon Treaty sparked a diplomatic storm.
Foreign Affairs Minister Micheal Martin yesterday said the comments were "an inappropriate intervention" by the Czech president.
Denouncing the Treaty, Mr Klaus claimed that it would not help to enhance freedom and democracy.
Government officials are also deeply unhappy at the manner in which Mr Klaus chose to lionise Libertas founder Declan Ganley, who led the opposition to the treaty.
Mr Klaus -- who had dinner with Mr Ganley -- hailed the Libertas official for his campaign to highlight individual freedoms and the need to protect the democratic process.
Mr Klaus denied it was a breach of protocol for him to have had a private dinner with Mr Ganley during an official State visit.
Bemused
Yesterday, during a visit to Cork, Mr Klaus appeared bemused by the diplomatic storm. He also stressed that he did not hear Mr Martin's interview in relation to his comments.
"I didn't hear anything like that. I do not want to exaggerate the reaction and counter reactions," Mr Klaus said as he visited Cork's English Market.
Mr Klaus seemed taken aback that Mr Martin should regard his comments as unacceptable in any way.
"Inappropriate as regards to what -- as regards to the freedom? Excuse me (but) I did not visit someone who is against the State. I visited someone who is just opposing the Government," he said.
Mr Martin said that every welcome was extended to Mr Klaus on his state visit to Ireland.
The minister said there was a private dimension to every state visit, but the clear political comments by the president were an inappropriate intervention at a time when the Irish Government was engaging with the EU on its future.
"We regret the fact he has been so political and so public in his engagement," he said.
The Government was aware in advance that Mr Klaus had controversial views, he said.
Fine Gael wants the minister to register an official complaint with his Czech counterpart.
But Libertas defended Mr Klaus, saying he was right not to just meet with representatives of the 'Yes' campaign, which lost the referendum.
"It's a bit rich of the minister given President Klaus is the incoming president of the EU," a Libertas spokesman said.
"He took it upon himself to talk with all sides in the Lisbon Treaty debate. He is to be congratulated for the foresight and responsibility."
The growing sensitivity over the issue was borne out by the Irish reporters being denied access to the Czech president when he was formally greeted at Cork City Hall.
Meanwhile, the Oireachtas sub-committee on Lisbon has confirmed that it is in discussions with Libertas about the appearance of the group.
"We can confirm that we have invited them and we are having discussions with them in including them in the final part of this programme," said its chairman, Fine Gael Senator Pascal Donohoe.
He was responding to Fianna Fail TD Thomas Byrne, who said that a Libertas representative had claimed they had not been invited to attend.
Mr Byrne also raised two of the claims made by Libertas during the Lisbon Treaty campaign -- that the EU could forcefully imprison three-year-old children for educational purposes; and that the death penalty will be re-introduced in all countries in Europe.
Professor William Binchy, who had campaigned against the Lisbon Treaty, said both claims struck him as "remarkably odd".
- Ralph Riegel, Fionnan Sheahan and Michael Brennan
