Havel: Czechs "must reproach their Slovak colleagues"

Czech President Václav Havel, speaking on August 28 during his trip to eastern Bohemia, stressed his support for the leader of the Czech Social Democrats, Miloš Zeman, who during his recent visit to Slovakia criticized what he saw as the Slovak government's poor policy toward minorities, abuse of secret services, and restrictions on freedom of speech. Havel argued that if the Czech Republic wants to have good relations with Slovakia, Czech politicians "must be able to reproach their Slovak colleagues for their mistakes." Some Slovak politicians criticized Havel for meddling in Slovak domestic affairs and adopting a paternalistic attitude toward Slovakia.