Prague - To preserve Georgia's territorial integrity and sovereignity and help rebuild the war-torn country. This is the mandate that the Czech government has granted today to the Czech delegation headed by PM Mirek Topolánek that is to attend a special EU summit in Brussels next Monday (September 1).
The meeting was called by French president Nicolas Sarkozy who brokered the ceasefire between Georgia and Russia.
"We want to focus on what to do in the following weeks and months regarding the conflict in Georgia," said Deputy Prime Minister Alexandr Vondra.
Read more: Czech govt to send aid to Georgia
President Václav Klaus was invited to join today's cabinet meeting but declined the offer following yesterday's meeting with PM Topolánek, Alexandr Vondra and Foreign Minister Karel Schwarzenberg, which once again ended up in diasgreement over the issue.
Klaus had said earlier he refuses to put the blame for the latest conflict in the Caucaus solely on Russia and absolve the actions taken by Georgia.
Focused on rebuilding the country
Foreign Minister stated that the Czech Republic's task is to defend Georgia's territorial integrity at the summit.
"We will seek a united EU´s stand on the plan of rebuilding the whole country, including Abkhazia and South Ossetia," said Foreign Minister.
The Czech Republic pledged CZK 150 million to help reconstruct Georgia´s destroyed infrastructure. Minister Schwarzenberg championed the idea of hosting an international donors' conference for the benefit of Georgia in Prague this fall.
Read more: Czech govt plans intl donor conference for Georgia
