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The Green Party has called on Czech
President Vaclav Klaus to reconsider his denial of man-made climate
change.
Speaking as Klaus continues his official visit to Ireland,
Foreign Affairs Spokesperson Ciarán Cuffe TD expressed
unease at the Czech President's contrarian views.
"It is hard to find someone who denies climate change on the
national stage these days, but President Klaus is in a league of his
own. It is telling, to say the least that the Russian oil company
Luxoil is paying to translate, publish and promote Klaus' book on
climate change, 'Blue Planet, Not Green.'
"President Klaus's ultra-conservative
views extend beyond climate change-denial to encompass an
anti-European homophobic outlook. It is a matter of deep concern
that such antediluvian views can still be held by a European
president and former Prime Minister," said Deputy Cuffe.
Green Party European candidate for
Dublin Deirdre de Burca also questioned the appropriateness of
President Klaus's meeting today with founder of Libertas, Declan
Ganley, during his visit to Ireland.
Senator Deirdre de Burca said:
"In January, the Czech Republic will begin its six month Presidency
of the European Union, and will be representing all of the European
Member States on the international stage. I believe that President
Klaus should set aside his own personal and deeply eurosceptic views
at this point in time, especially in the context of preparations for
the EU's ambitious climate change package and an international
climate change deal that will replace the Kyoto agreement following
negotiations in Poznan and Copenhagen.
"In fact I would go so far as to say
that his arrangement to meet a high-profile opponent of the Lisbon
Treaty during his Irish visit may undermine the potential
effectiveness of the Czech Presidency of the EU during the first six
months of next year," Senator de Burca concluded. |
