Czech presence at Peres funeral was sufficient, says foreign minister

Criticism that the Czech Republic was represented "only" by its prime minister and foreign minister at the funeral of Israeli statesman Shimon Peres and "not the country's president" on Friday, was deflected by Foreign Minister Lubomír Zaorálek on a Sunday political debate programme on Czech TV. In the interview, the minister said that participation by himself and Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka had been sufficient. Mr Peres, a legendary figure in international politics, died last Wednesday at the age of 93. The funeral on Friday was attended by world leaders including the president of the United States, Barack Obama. Former Czech freign minister Karel Schwarzenberg suggested President Miloš Zeman should have attended instead of visiting a conference organised by a close ally of Vladimir Putin's in Rhodes.