Czech Foreign Minister Schwarzenberg Addresses AJC Global Forum

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Jun 02, 2013, 08:19 ET

WASHINGTON, June 2, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Czech Republic Foreign Minister Karel Schwarzenberg, addressing the AJC Global Forum tonight, expressed strong support for the State of Israel. He also warned of shifting attitudes in Europe regarding the peace process that, without a strenuous response, could challenge the solidity of that backing over time.

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"The Czech Republic has consistently, sometimes against the current of majority opinion, promoted an unbiased and nuanced understanding of issues and challenges related to the peace process," said Schwarzenberg, adding that his country has stood with Israel in the United Nations and European Union.

Last November, AJC praised the Czech Republic for voting against the UN General Assembly resolution upgrading the status of the Palestinian delegation at the world body. The Czech Republic was the only EU country to vote "no."

Schwarzenberg addressed an audience of more than 1,500 at the opening plenary session of AJC's Global Forum. The foreign ministers of Azerbaijan and Poland also spoke.

The Czech Republic's "political partnership with Israel" is based on a "long-standing public recognition and respect in our country for Israel as a state which, throughout the many wars and other violent challenges of its dramatic history, has tenaciously preserved not only a stable democratic political system, but also a vibrant and colorful artistic scene and many areas of world-class academic and scientific achievement," said Schwarzenberg.

But the Czech foreign minister also expressed deep concern about European public opinion. He called on AJC to join him in "helping to contain and reverse the serious damage that is being done to Israel's image in Europe."

Such advocacy is not limited to Europe, he explained, but would also be directed at Israeli leaders regarding "the peace process and future Palestinian statehood."

But he also cited the "chronic inability of the Palestinians to overcome their internal political instability" as a factor inhibiting the achievement of peace with Israel.

Yet, while Schwarzenberg expressed dismay with the lack of progress in the Israeli-Palestinian peace process, he stated clearly that "the Czech Republic will continue to firmly stand behind the government of Israel in its responsibility to provide basic security for its citizens, no matter how high or low the hopes for a political solution to provide a lasting peace."

He also expressed empathy for how Israel is dealing with the "current wave of political upheaval sweeping the Middle East," the so-called Arab Spring.

"We appreciate and admire the restraint and sensitivity with which Israeli democracy is navigating the challenge of responding to these events, which in many cases touch on Israel's vital security interests," he said.

"AJC has been engaged with what was then Czechoslovakia since the brave defiance of the Communist regime by Charter 77," said AJC Executive Director David Harris. "Moreover, we are ever mindful of the long history of support for Zionism and the creation of the State of Israel, dating back nearly a century to the country's very first president, the legendary Tomas Masaryk.

"Foreign Minister Schwarzenberg exemplifies that laudable tradition. And we are proud of AJC's record of engagement with the Czech Republic, which, for example, was publicly praised early on by then President Vaclav Havel at an event hosted in the White House by President Bill Clinton."

SOURCE American Jewish Committee