Final Word from Tuesday, June 5, 2007
Whatever the protocol, the failure of either Pres. Václav Klaus or PM Mirek Topolánek to meet George W. Bush on the tarmac in Prague last night raises questions about how cozy this transatlantic relationship truly is. The U.S. president was greeted by Foreign Minister Karel Schwarzenberg and Klaus's unelected chancellor, Jiří Weigl. Bush will meet jointly with Klaus and Topolánek today, while ČSSD Chair Jiří Paroubek - who opposes the radar in its proposed form - will get his own private face time with Bush. HN reported that the U.S. considers the meeting with Paroubek to be the most important item on Bush's Prague agenda. Czech officials who support the radar are putting their approval ratings at risk and expect at least a visa waiver in return. Unless Bush delivers on visas, he might find that his "close allies" in Prague are no longer so eager to deliver on radar either.[Czech Republic United States of American missile defense]