Klaus recorded and has posted meeting with EU Parl heads

[jimmyfour]

Website of the Czech President: Václav Klaus

New report on the meeting: Czech eurosceptic president "goes mad" at meeting MEPs - Czechnews - Aktuáln?

Transcript Part 1: http://aktualne.centrum.cz/czechnews...91;]=3225040,0

Transcript Part 2: http://aktualne.centrum.cz/czechnews...91;]=3225042,0

Klaus:

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

Can't find the recording though. Interesting stuff! Our own suggestions on keeping a commissioner, etc., will probably go down a lot better now they have a new bad guy!

[He3]

Website of the Czech President: Václav Klaus

New report on the meeting: Czech eurosceptic president "goes mad" at meeting MEPs - Czechnews - Aktuáln?

Transcript Part 1: =3225040,0]Czech eurosceptic president "goes mad" at meeting MEPs - Diskusní fórum - Czechnews - Aktuáln?.cz - Víte, co se práv? d?je

Transcript Part 2: =3225042,0]Czech eurosceptic president "goes mad" at meeting MEPs - Diskusní fórum - Czechnews - Aktuáln?.cz - Víte, co se práv? d?je

Klaus:


Can't find the recording though. Interesting stuff! Our own suggestions on keeping a commissioner, etc., will probably go down a lot better now they have a new bad guy!

Fascinating to read, and to compare what was said, with what was reported. Flags and emblems feature strongly. This part begins with Danny Cohn-Bendit wrapping the Blue EU Flag around him:

Excerpts -

'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.'

Fans of our tribunals on corruption will appreciate this next bit:

'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 Poettering: 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 Poettering: Brian Crowley, please.'

Mr Crowley whips out a metaphorical Green Flag. He seems confused about the result of our referendum but let's see ...

'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 loosing 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.'

Mr Crowley is not convinced -


'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. . .

...

The EP President introduces a flash of humour

Hans-Gert Poettering: ... 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 naive.

President Vaclav Klaus: I did not compare you with the Soviet Union, I did not mention the word "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.'

[jpc]

Wow spin, slur, and slapstick.

[droghedasouth]

[FONT=Arial][SIZE=2]President Klaus is no doubt an interesting character.[/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Arial][SIZE=2]Seems like he is quite keen to dish it out but can't take it when someone stands up to him.[/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Arial][SIZE=2]Looks to me that democracy is alive and well and that we have a few MEPs worth voting for, even FF ones like Crowley.[/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Arial][SIZE=2][/SIZE][/FONT]

[FutureTaoiseach]

Releasing the recording shows a desire for transparency that is to be welcomed. Only those opposed to transparency would oppose its release. Cohn-Bendit comes across as a real political bully in this affair - telling the president of a country what he must do. It underlines the democratic-deficit in the EU when Eurocrats run around Europe bullying nation states into doing something they (either in the form of their peoples or politicians) don't want to do. Once anti-Establishment, Cohn-Bendit is now assimilated by the Establishment Borg.

[jpc]

Releasing the recording shows a desire for transparency that is to be welcomed. Only those opposed to transparency would oppose its release. Cohn-Bendit comes across as a real political bully in this affair - telling the president of a country what he must do. It underlines the democratic-deficit in the EU when Eurocrats run around Europe bullying nation states into doing something they (either in the form of their peoples or politicians) don't want to do.

It also illustrates why cabinet confidentiality and the obstacles put in the way of the FOI act need to be repealed.
If anything this excercise will lead to more veils and curtains in the name of allowing unhindered debate

[Trampas]

Cohn-Bendit comes across as a real political bully in this affair

......and Crowley as a pompous plonker.

[jimmyfour]

......and Crowley as a pompous plonker.

Yup, the "I'm a paddy that fought the British" crap is from some other era. Aren't there people who don't need to spin out that old **************************************** in EU politics? It's sort of embarassing.

[jpc]

Yup, the "I'm a paddy that fought the British" crap is from some other era. Aren't there people who don't need to spin out that old **************************************** in EU politics? It's sort of embarassing.

Its that ol' default fallback position.
Wrap the green flag round me boys.

[cantenaccio]

I would consider myself pro European,internationalist in outlook.I voted no to L***** on the basis that a democratic deficit existed alongside a patrionizing hypricrosy blurted out by Barosso and others in the EU.I did not vote no to prevent the legalisation of abortion,to prevent mass conscription,or to prevent other crap that was pedalled by the Yes side subsequently to "explain" why we voted no.I simply voted no because France and the Netherlands voted no to the constitutional treaty and yet we go served a legalistic overload version of the same thing a couple of years later,in many parliaments bypassing referenda in various member states(because they could not be passed).My favourite part
of Lisbon 2008 was listening to Barosso on tv in the aftermath saying how the Comission regrets the decision of the Irish people and that we would have to have another go,it's laughable.In school in the 90's we learnt how the EU was decent,something to be proud for Ireland to be a part of.Now it's a sham and Lisbon MK II is doomed,because the government is fooling itself about the reasons we voted no.Add the fact that
it's deeping insulting to be acted to vote again because you didn't vote right the first time.Long live democracy Barosso style