Czech PM pledges diplomatic assistance in Near East

Prime Minister Jan Fischer said Tuesday that the Czech Republic is prepared to offer its assistance in mediating disputes between Israel and its neighbours in the Middle East. Speaking at a conference marking the 20th anniversary of the renewal of diplomatic relations between the Czech and Jewish states, Mr Fischer said that the Czech Republic’s experience and good relations with the countries of the Middle East could help aid international relations there. He also said that having a clear stance towards Israel would be one of the main tasks of any integrated foreign policy in the European Union, and that his country would help in building one. Relations between Czechoslovakia and Israel were frosty between the early 1950s and the fall of the Iron Curtain, since which time the two countries have developed strong economic, scientific and technological cooperation.