Archive: Foreign policy | Czech-British relations Czech-British relations
Margaret Thatcher remembered
Margaret Thatcher, the prime minister of Great Britain for 11 years and
iconic 20th century politician, is being remembered worldwide, following
her death on Monday at the age of 87. A largely polarising political figure
at home, Thatcher was nevertheless highly-regarded by many abroad, not
least opponents of communism who ranked her in importance alongside US
president Ronald Reagan or Pope John Paul II. Radio Prague reports on how
Mrs Thatcher is being remembered in Prague. More
Publisher Alexander Tomsky: Margaret Thatcher had an avid interest in East European affairs
Publisher Alexander Tomsky is an expert on East European affairs who fled
Czechoslovakia after the 1968 Russian-led invasion. He spent many years of
his life in Great Britain where he lectured at London’s Keston College in
the years between 1979 and 1986, heading its Central European Affairs
department. It was there that he met the former British Prime Minister
Margaret Thatcher in person. In a brief phone interview for Radio Prague he
recalled the late Mrs. Thatcher’s interest in Central and East European
affairs. More
Czech Republic and Britain alone withhold signatures from EU treaty
Twenty-five of 27 EU member states signed the European Union’s new fiscal
compact in Brussels on Friday - but the Czechs were not among them. Prime
Minister Petr Nečas together with British Prime Minister David Cameron
have opted not to support the treaty, which is aimed at enforcing budget
discipline in the union and prevent meltdowns within the eurozone as was
seen with Greece. More
Czech, British leaders discuss Greek vows ahead of European Council
British Prime Minister David Cameron arrived in Prague on Thursday for a
brief working visit. Mr Cameron met with the Czech head of government, Petr
Nečas, to discuss their countries’ positions on a planned new bailout
for Greece, ahead of a key EU summit in Brussels. Both leaders agreed that
the planned rescue package should be put together by members of the
eurozone, rather than the whole of the EU. More
British Prime Minister David Cameron’s special Czech relationship
The British Conservatives under leader David Cameron have won power after
13 years in the political wilderness. The newly installed British Prime
Minister has been a frequent visitor to Prague in recent years to forge
closer relations with the Conservatives’ Czech sister party – the Civic
Democrats. David Cameron says he feels a special, personal relationship
with the Czech Republic.
More
Prince Charles to return to Czech Republic for four-day visit
Britain’s Prince Charles will be arriving in the Czech Republic at the
weekend, as he and his wife Camilla continue a trip through Central Europe.
In addition to visiting sights of his choosing around the country, Charles
will likely be checking in on the legacy he has left in the country from
several previous trips.
More
British PM Brown supports Czech EU presidency priorities
Czech PM Mirek Topolánek met with the head of the British government
Gordon Brown in London on Thursday in the final stop of his tour of
European capitals ahead of the Czech presidency of the European Union.
After the meeting, Mr Brown said Britain endorsed the Czech EU presidency
priorities, and said it was going to be in good hands.
More
Czech students enjoy a taste of Westminster in Prague
One thing that was not cultivated in communist Czechoslovakia was the art
of public speaking. Anyone of a certain age will remember the endless
monologues of party secretaries, but twenty years on, there is a growing
awareness of the importance of public debate. Many young Czechs with an
interest in politics have followed with fascination the political sparring
that goes on in Britain’s parliament, and with this in mind, the British
Chamber of Commerce in Prague recently organized a debate, taking the
British parliament as its model. It was the brainchild of the chamber’s
James de Candole: More
President tells BBC he expects US radar will eventually be stationed on Czech soil
In an interview for BBC television, Czech President Vaclav Klaus has said
that he expects a radar base proposed by the US will one day be a reality
on Czech territory, although he stressed it would not be “tomorrow” or
in the nearest future. Mr Klaus was asked about missile defense on the
BBC’s HardTalk programme: while reluctant to speculate over the necessity
of a missile shield regarding rogue states, the president did indicate
Prague’s support for the US was a show of solidarity in keeping with
transatlantic relations.
More
President Klaus meets royals and senior politicians on UK visit
Over the last three days, the Czech president, Vaclav Klaus, has been on a
state visit to the United Kingdom. In the course of his stay, Mr Klaus has
paid visits to Buckingham Palace, Brookwood military cemetery, and Downing
Street - and found time for a lecture on global warming as well. Czech
Radio's correspondent in the United Kingdom, Milan Kocourek, has been
accompanying the president on his whistle-stop tour. He talked to Radio
Prague earlier today about the president's programme:
More
+1
