PM says his party has not lost sight of its goal

Prime Minister Mirek Topolánek has rejected claims that his ruling Civic Democratic party had betrayed its policy programme. Speaking at a weekend party conference devoted to policy matters, the prime minister said the Civic Democrats had not lost sight of their goal, although they had had to modify their plans in order to accommodate their partners in government. Mr. Topolánek said that in his view the goal justified the means and that his party was determined to fulfil its goal. He said that if his party won the next general elections he would guarantee that in ten years' time the Czech Republic would figure among the top ten EU countries.