Paris, 04/12/2008 (Agence Europe) - On Wednesday 3 December, the Czech ambassador to France Pavel Fischer declared that “crises are not in short supply, but crises are also summersaults…A crisis is an excellent opportunity to redefine priorities”. Fischer was addressing members of the European Security and Defence Assembly of the Western European Union (ESDA/WEU). Mr Fischer provided assurances that the Czech Republic would lead a conciliatory presidency of the EU based on “consensus”. He also affirmed that “we are aware that the role of the presidency is not putting forward its own interests but facilitating synergies and compromises”. The ambassador stated that “we have a six month presidency, which will be affected by the election campaign” and which will impact on both the European Commission and European Parliament. He then emphasised that this would require a meeting that was important for European dynamics. According to Fischer, “the EU cannot remain a soft power” and must develop its specific advantages. This requires a European Security and Defence Policy (ESDP). Prague will attempt to pursue initiatives that are already underway, as well as seek “complementarities with NATO, particularly in areas not covered by NATO, such as civil-military cooperation”. Mr Fischer stressed to MEPs that “France and the United Kingdom had defined the cooperation framework” at the Saint-Malo meeting, which had had also allowed for the existing framework to be strengthened. Fischer asserted that “the Czech Republic will not be orchestrating big meetings that are not in the interest of the big countries, but I assure you that it will not block new initiatives”. He also explained that both Paris and London had affirmed that mind-sets were not sufficiently evolved for the next Saint-Malo meeting. In reply to MEPs, Mr Fischer stated that it would be important to “give a European perspective not just to the Balkans (Western) but to Georgia and Ukraine”, given that without this “institutional horizon” these countries will find it difficult to respond to current challenges in the world. Mr Fischer averred that it would be easier to bring them closer via NATO, given that “the EU is not ready to extend enlargement”. Nonetheless, he did say that the EU should outline a “horizon” so that a political and democratic elite could emerge in these countries. (A.By./transl.rh)