German chancellor Schroeder, in Prague, confirms he will not back Sudeten property lawsuits

German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder in Prague for a day of talks with Czech President Vaclav Klaus and Prime Minister Stanislav Gross, confirmed he would not back property lawsuits filed by Sudeten Germans at the Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg. Speaking after meeting with the prime minister on Monday Mr Schroeder said that past issues should not hinder Germany and the Czech Republic's relations in the European Union. Earlier, on a visit to Poland in August, the German chancellor made a similar statement saying the German government disagreed with claims for compensation raised by ethnic Germans expelled from regions in Central and Eastern Europe after World War II.