Czech, Slovak leaders agree to maintain special relationship

The Czech Republic and Slovakia have signed a memorandum committing their countries to maintaining their special relationship within the European Union, which both joined at the beginning of May. The Czech Prime Minister Vladimir Spidla said the Czech Republic had not signed and would not sign such an agreement with any other country. During two days of talks in Prague the Slovak Prime Minister Mikulas Dzurinda met with President Klaus, Prime Minister Spidla and members of Parliament to debate various aspects of bilateral cooperation and changes brought about by the countries' entry to the EU.