Bursik says president's anti-environmentalist views may hurt Czech interests

The head of the Czech Green Party Martin Bursik has criticized President Klaus' intention to make a strong anti-environmentalist speech at the United Nations. Mr. Bursik, who is the country's environment minister, said that the Czech president's intention to re-launch his attacks on environmentalists could seriously jeopardize Czech chances of winning a non-permanent seat on the United Nation's Security Council in 2008 and 2009. He said the Czech president's views on climate change were so singular they could not be taken seriously and shamed the Czech Republic in diplomatic circles. President Klaus said earlier that he would hold his own council on this matter and make an "energetic" speech at the UN-organized conference on climate change which is to take place at the end of September.