Czech PM: Committed to advancing EU ties with Israel
'Israel will always be able to rely on the support of the Czech Republic,' Czech PM tells President Peres during meeting in Jerusalem
President Shimon Peres met on Friday morning with visiting Czech Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek. Topolanek emphasized his country's commitment to advancing ties between Israel and the European Union.
The Czech Republic holds the current EU presidency, which rotates between its members. "We will work so that the voices in Europe calling to slow down or freeze the promotion of relations to Israel won't get what they're after," he said, adding that "Israel will always be able to rely on the support of the Czech Republic."
Topolanek assured Peres that his country will work to strengthen the ties between Israel and the European Union.
During the meeting the president spoke of the danger of nuclear weapons falling in the hands of extremist terror group on Iran and Pakistan, and stressed that Iran's attempts to obtain long-range missiles should also be put under scrutiny.
Commenting on negotiations with the Palestinians, Peres said: "The Middle East needs emotional gestures on the road too peace more than it needs written agreements. The region needs gestures like the one (Egyptian President Anwar) Sadat made when he came to Jerusalem and immediately changed history and did what dozens of mediators failed to do."
