Czech president’s statement unbelievable – Lithuania’s Adamkus
May 21, 2009 at 7:52 pm 7 comments
Lithuanian President Adamkus finds it difficult to believe that his Czech counterpart could have said that the focus should be made on Russia rather than European Union (EU) member-states, such as Lithuania or Estonia as the BNS writes.
Adamkus told journalists on 21 May that every EU nation should be equally important in the community and, in his words, this was the case until now.
“Therefore it is difficult to believe the Czech president’s statement because in official summits the Czech Republic has been respectful towards Lithuania. It is difficult to comment without seeing full text. It is unbelievable that such statement was made,” said the Lithuanian leader and the BNS informs.
Vaclav Klaus, president of EU’s presidency the Czech Republic, told a daily newspaper Lidove Noviny in Siberia before the EU-Russia summit that he did not view Russia as a threat but as a large, strong and ambitious country that needed more attention than EU’s members, such as Lithuania or Estonia.
Klaus is known for his Euro-skeptical views and statements that draw controversial comments on the international arena.
Entry filed under: Baltic States, Central Europe, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Northern Europe, Politics, Russia.
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1.
Jan | May 22, 2009 at 12:10 pm
Vaclav Klaus’s comments are known to be controversial and paying more attention to him is exactly what he wants and it encourages him to make some more comments. One can only remember his support to Milosevic and his regime during the NATO bombing of Yugoslavia, admiration remarks about Vladimir Putin and so on. As a Czech citizen I find it preposterous that our head of state makes statements that are not representing our Government’s views and foreign policies but hey… we didn’t elect him. We just have to suffer couple more years of his self-centered and provocative quotes…
2.
Ludwig von Mise | May 22, 2009 at 2:51 pm
This is all great misunderstanding. English translation is WRONG! Klaus said: „…já vidím Rusko jako velký, silný, ambiciózní stát a určitě je třeba být více na pozoru vůči takovému velkému, silnému, ambicióznímu státu než vůči – abych plácnul – malému Estonsku nebo Litvě.“
This means:„…I see Russia as a big, strong, ambitious state, and, for sure, we should be more afraid of this big, strong, ambitious state rather than, let´s say, of small Estonia or Lithuania.“
This was the correct meaning of his words!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
3.
Ludwig von Mise | May 22, 2009 at 3:01 pm
“more afraid” or “more beware of” should be more precise…
4.
Jan | May 22, 2009 at 3:05 pm
I wasn’t familiar with the original. In that case, the correct meaning is “I see Russia as a big, strong, ambitious state and, for sure, we should take more heed of this big, strong, ambitious state rather than, let´s say, of small Estonia or Lithuania.“ Czech phrase “mít se na pozoru” means “take heed of” or “be upon the watch”, in sense of paying more attention towards someone potentially hostile…
5.
Jan | May 22, 2009 at 3:06 pm
Yes, “beware of” is perhaps the best translation, too.
6.
Ruslanas Iržikevičius | May 22, 2009 at 4:07 pm
Thank you all for your remarks!!!
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