Brussels, 19/09/2003 (Agence Europe) - Political divergences on the representation of the Czech Republic at the opening of the Intergovernmental Conference (IGC) on 4 October in Rome appeared on Thursday when Czech President Vaclav Klaus (known for his Eurosceptisism) announced that he wanted to lead the Czech delegation at the Italian capital. Prime Minister Vladimir Spidla (very pro-European) also let it be known that he "had no problem with Mr Klaus' participation" but that he should only take part as an "honorary member" of the Czech delegation led by Mr Spidla himself. Similar frictions between the government and President had already appeared at the Czech Republic accession treaty signing ceremony in Athens last April. At the time, Mr Klaus took part in the Czech delegation but his presence caused a lot of political tension with the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Cyril Svodoba. The Czech Republic is an ordinary parliamentary democracy where the President has only limited political powers. Nonetheless, the Czech constitution outlines that the President has the remit to negotiate and ratify international treaties.
Meanwhile, still with a view of preparing the next IGC, the Polish President, Aleksander Kwasniewski was in Rome on Friday to defend the Polish position in discussions with the Prime Minister and current President of the European Council, Silvio Berlusconi and President Carlo Azeglio Ciampi. It is well known that Poland is sticking to its demand to keep to the institutional part of the treaty of Nice, notably in that concerning votes on the Council at qualified majority.