Final Word from Monday, June 26, 2006
Judy Dempsey of the Int. Herald Tribune wrote that George W. Bush is looking for a new partner in Eastern Europe after Aleksander Kwasniewski's term in office ended in Dec. Like Western Europe, she said, Eastern Europe now has leaders who carry little weight internationally, with the possible exception of Angela Merkel. Ms. Dempsey might as well forget about getting an interview at Prague Castle; Václav Klaus won't appreciate being dismissed so out-of-hand. It's likely true, though, that when the U.S. wants something done in Prague, it'll turn instead to future Foreign Minister Alexandr Vondra. HN wrote today that Vondra will give the government of Mirek Topolánek a pro-U.S. image. Vondra proved very useful in Jan. 2003 when he persuaded Václav Havel to go against the Czech government and sign the Group of Eight letter in support of the U.S.'s Iraq policy.[Czech Republic United States European Union Germany Poland]