Foreign Minister says Klaus ‘ignores Russia’s role’ in Georgian crisis

Foreign Minister Karel Schwarzenberg has indeed reacted to the president’s statements by saying that they ignore Moscow’s responsibility for the crisis. Mr Schwarzenberg added that it is a pity that government officials did not consult with each other before taking their views to the press. At a briefing on Monday afternoon, the foreign minister told journalists that he respected the president’s opinions, but that Mr Klaus’s views were at odds with the official standpoint of the Czech Foreign Ministry.