5 Oct. 2004

Czech Prime Minister visits NATO News 04/10/04 - NATO Czech Prime Minister to visit NATO HQ Opinions 05/10/04 - NATO Transcript of the Press point with NATO Secretary General and the Czech Prime Minister Multimedia High resolution photos of the visit Audio file of the press point (MP3/6138kb) Stanislav Gross, the new Prime Minister of the Czech Republic, visited NATO HQ on Tuesday, 5 October 2004 for talks with NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer. The Secretary General and the Prime Minister discussed a wide range of issues on NATO’s current agenda and the Czech Republic's contribution. Mr. De Hoop Scheffer praised the Czech Republic for its role in NATO’s operations. He mentioned in particular the Czech Republic’s leading role in the first rotation of the Alliance’s Multinational Chemical Biological Radiological and Nuclear Defence Battalion. This was an important contribution to NATO’s assistance in the protection of the Olympic and Paralympic Games in Athens. In this context, the Secretary General did however voice concern about the way the defence budgets of some NATO member countries are developing. “ I think there is a tendency with many Allies that defence budgets are on the down slope, and that is not good if you see how much the demand to NATO increases, if you see what operations NATO is performing,” the Secretary General said at a joint press point with the Prime Minister. This was the first visit by Mr. Gross to NATO since he became Prime Minister.