Czech News Agency (CTK)
CTK National News Wire
May 4, 2005

Klaus talks with Turkish President on phone

KVA

ANKARA, May 4 (CTK)

Czech President Vaclav Klaus, who participated in the Forum Istanbul
2005 in Turkey since Tuesday, spoke to Turkish President Ahmet
Necdet Sezer on the phone today, Klaus’ spokesman Petr Hajek told
CTK without elaborating.

Czech-Turkish relations have been good since the fall of Communism
in the country in 1989. Moreover, Klaus unconditionally supports
Turkey’s accession to the European Union.

According to Hajek, when asked about the Armenian genocide, Klaus
said it is necessary to reconcile oneself with the past and not to
misuse it for current political games.

The EU has not made the acknowledgement of the Turkish massacres of
Armenians in 1915 a condition for the Turkey’s EU membership. Turkey
categorically refuses to label this tragic chapter of Turkish-Armenian
history genocide.

Klaus will meet Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan Recipem
on Thursday.

Klaus had a speech at the forum and he also presented his book on
the Czech road from communism to democracy, which has been published
in Turkish.