Britannia Radio

Comment is almost superfluous! Suffice it to say that probably the
greatest democrat alive today in the whole of Europe, who faced down
the Conmmunists, is faced here by two disreputable creatures.

The one is the man who has brought the European parliament into a
complete farce having removed all power from members and transferred
it to the inner cabals of the big party groups and who has curtailed
not only the length of time that MEPs may speak but also, to a
certain degree, what they may say. No wonder he has been called a
Neo-Nazi.

The other is an anti-democrat ex-terrorist, who has now found a
congenial home amongst the Greens!! He is finding it easier to wreck
Europe by Green lies and exaggerations than by bombs!

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EUREFERENDUM 6.12.08

Which one's the democrat?

Excerpts from the transcript of a meeting between Václav Klaus,
President of the Czech Republic, and members of the Conference of the
Presidents of the European Parliament, Friday 5 December 2008, Prague
Castle.

Daniel Cohn-Bendit MEP: I brought you a flag, which - as we heard -
you have everywhere here at the Prague Castle. It is the flag of the
European Union, so I will place it here in front of you.

It will be a tough Presidency. The Czech Republic will have to deal
with the work directive and climate package. EU climate package
represents less than what our fraction would wish for. It will be
necessary to hold on to the minimum of that. I am certain that the
climate change represents not only a risk, but also a danger for the
future development of the planet. My view is based on scientific
views and majority approval of the EP and I know you disagree with
me. You can believe what you want, I don't believe, I know that
global warming is a reality.

Lisbon Treaty: I don't care about your opinions on it. I want to know
what you are going to do if the Czech Chamber of Deputies and the
Senate approve it. Will you respect the will of the representatives
of the people? You will have to sign it.

I want you to explain to me what is the level of your friendship with
Mr Ganley from Ireland. How can you meet a person whose funding is
unclear? You are not supposed to meet him in your function. It is a
man whose finances come from problematic sources and he wants to use
them to be funding his election campaign into the EP.

President Vaclav Klaus: I must say that nobody has talked to me in
such a style and tone for the past 6 years. You are not on the
barricades in Paris here. I thought that these manners ended for us
18 years ago but I see I was wrong. I would not dare to ask how the
activities of the Greens are funded. If you are concerned about a
rational discussion in this half an hour, which we have, please give
the floor to someone else, Mr Chairman.

EU Parliament President Hans-Gert Pöttering: No, we have plenty of
time. My colleague will continue, because anyone from the members of
the EP can ask you whatever he likes. (to Cohn-Bendit:) Please continue.

President Vaclav Klaus: This is incredible. I have never experienced
anything like this before.

Daniel Cohn-Bendit: Because you have not experienced me..

Pesident Vaclav Klaus: This is incredible.

Daniel Cohn-Bendit: We have always had good talks with President
Havel. And what will you tell me about your attitude towards the anti-
discrimination law? I will gladly inform you about our funding.

Hans-Gert Pöttering: Brian Crowley, please.

Brian Crowley MEP: I am from Ireland and I am a member of a party in
government. All his life my father fought against the British
domination. Many of my relatives lost their lives. That is why I dare
to say that the Irish wish for the Lisbon Treaty. It was an insult,
Mr. President, to me and to the Irish people what you said during
your state visit to Ireland. It was an insult that you met Declan
Ganley, a man with no elected mandate. This man has not proven the
sources from which his campaign was funded. I just want to inform you
what the Irish felt. I wish you that you get the programme of your
Presidency through and you will get through what European citizens
want to see.

President Vaclav Klaus: Thank you for this experience which I gained
from this meeting. I did not think anything like this is possible and
have not experienced anything like this for the past 19 years. I
thought it was a matter of the past that we live in democracy, but it
is post-democracy, really, which rules the EU.

You mentioned the European values. The most important value is
freedom and democracy. The citizens of the EU member states are
concerned about freedom and democracy, above all. But democracy and
freedom are losing ground in the EU today. It is necessary to strive
for them and fight for them.

I would like to emphasize, above all, what most citizens of the Czech
Republic feel, that for us the EU membership has no alternative. It
was me who submitted the EU application in the year 1996 and who
signed the Accession treaty in 2003. But the arrangements within the
EU have many alternatives. To take one of them as sacrosanct,
untouchable, about which it is not possible to doubt or criticize it,
is against the very nature of Europe.

As for the Lisbon Treaty, I would like to mention that it is not
ratified in Germany either. The Constitutional Treaty, which was
basically the same as the Lisbon Treaty, was refused in referendums
in other two countries. If Mr. Crowley speaks of an insult to the
Irish people, then I must say that the biggest insult to the Irish
people is not to accept the result of the Irish referendum. In
Ireland I met somebody who represents a majority in his country. You,
Mr. Crowley, represent a view which is in minority in Ireland. That
is a tangible result of the referendum.

Brian Crowley MEP: With all respect, Mr. President, you will not tell
me what the Irish think. As an Irishman, I know it best.

President Vaclav Klaus: I do not speculate about what the Irish
think. I state the only measurable data which were proved by the
referendum.

In our country the Lisbon Treaty is not ratified because our
parliament has not decided on it yet. It is not the President's
fault. Let's wait for the decision of both Chambers of the
Parliament, that is the current phase of the ratification process in
which the President plays no role whatsoever. I cannot sign the
Treaty today, it is not on my table, it is up to the parliament to
decide about it now. My role will come after the eventual approval of
the Treaty in the Parliament. . .

...

Hans-Gert Pöttering: ... In the conclusion - and I want to leave this
room in good terms - I would like to say that it is more than
unacceptable, if you compare us, compare us with the Soviet Union. We
are all deeply rooted in our countries and our constituencies. We are
concerned about freedom and reconciliation in Europe, we are good
willing, not naïve.

President Vaclav Klaus: I did not compare you with the Soviet Union,
I did not mention the word[s] "Soviet Union". I only said that I have
not experienced such an atmosphere, such style of debate in the past
19 years in the Czech Republic, really.
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My thanks to Anthony Coughlin for passing this on.
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Posted by Richard North