Straw addresses Czech ambassadors, meets senior politicians

The British foreign secretary, Jack Straw, held talks with his Czech counterpart, Cyril Svoboda, on a visit to Prague on Tuesday. Mr Straw, in the Czech capital to address a meeting of Czech ambassadors, said fears of problems in the UK with immigration from new member states after European Union enlargement had proved unfounded. He also said the Union should open accession talks with Turkey; Czech Prime Minister Stanislav Gross has said he is in favour of closer links with Turkey, and possibly its membership of the EU.

As well as meeting Mr Svoboda and Mr Gross, Britain's foreign secretary held talks with Czech President Vaclav Klaus and future European commissioner Vladimir Spidla.