Zambian government will not interfere in case of three Czech nationals

The Zambian government has described as unfortunate the efforts of the Czech government to involve the EU in trying to secure the release of three Czech nationals who face trial in Lusaka over spying charges. Minister of Foreign Affairs Chishimba Kambwili said Czech efforts to persuade the European Union to impose sanctions against Zambia if the country does not release the suspects was not conducive to good relations and that his country would not be threatened. Mr. Kambwili said the matter was in the courts and the Zambian government would not interfere with the ongoing legal proceedings. However it said it remained open to dialogue with Prague.

The Czech Foreign Ministry is sending a special envoy to Zambia in connection with the case and MEP Jan Březina recently asked the European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton to use all available means to help release the Czech citizens. Meanwhile Luděk Zahradníček, Czech ambassador to Zimbabwe who represents the Czech Republic in Zambia, has denied allegations that his country had threatened Zambia with sanctions and expressed hope that the case would soon be resolved.