Czech politicians condemn Chirac outburst over Iraq

French President Jacques Chirac's furious and very undiplomatic outburst at the EU candidate countries of Central Europe has elicited an equally furious reaction from the countries themselves. Poland, Slovakia, Hungary and the Czech Republic have all hit back at Mr Chirac, saying that France has no right to dictate the foreign policy of other countries. But Czech officials, while clearly rattled at Mr Chirac's fit of pique, have also expressed dismay at the divisions in Europe over the Iraq crisis. Rob Cameron has more.

Mr Chirac caused outrage earlier this week with his stinging criticism of the Czech Republic and other EU candidates, which have recently sided with the United States instead of France and Germany over Iraq. The French leader accused the candidates of "childish and irresponsible behaviour", saying they had missed a good opportunity to keep quiet. He also issued an implicit warning to the candidates - saying their position could be "dangerous" because EU enlargement had not yet been ratified by the member countries.

Jacques Chirac and Gerhard Schroder, photo: CTK

In the Czech Republic Mr Chirac's heavy-handed tone has been condemned by both government and opposition alike. Petr Necas is the deputy leader of the opposition Civic Democrats.

"I was disappointed by this declaration: such words are a new version of Brezhnev's doctrine of limited sovereignty. It would be very bad for Europe to try to say that the opinion of one member country - for example France - must be the opinion of the European Union as a whole. This is the reason why a similar approach is unacceptable."

Vladimir Spidla and Cyril Svoboda (right), photo: CTK

Prime Minister Vladimir Spidla, a well-known Francophile, said the French president's comments were "neither balanced nor correct", although he was keen to stress the affair had not damaged French-Czech relations. The foreign minister, Cyril Svoboda, pointed out that the original letter of support for U.S. policy over Iraq - a letter which caused so much anger in Paris and Berlin - was signed by five EU members, one third of the EU, as well as three candidate countries.

Mr Svoboda said he was dismayed at the widening gulf between France, Germany and Belgium on one hand and the rest of Europe on the other. "Any dividing of Europe is not good" he told Czech Radio, calling for such disputes to be resolved in Brussels. The EU did reach a compromise over Iraq on Monday, but observers say any future outbursts by Mr Chirac will not do much for European unity - East or West.