Foreign minister warns against neglecting the Balkans, energy dependence on Russia

The possible outbreak of new conflict in the Balkans as well as energy dependence on Russia: those are threats that Europe must avert, the Czech Foreign Minister Karel Schwarzenberg has told the German political monthly Cicero. He made the comments on the eve of the Czech EU presidency. The monthly has described the 71-year-old Mr Schwarzenberg - a politician with an aristocratic background - as “the most remarkable foreign minister in Europe”. On Sunday, Mr Schwarzenberg will head on his first important mission since the Czech Republic took up the EU presidency: he will travel to the Middle East, heading an EU delegation hoping to work towards a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.