Press release

AFR Danish Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen to meet Czech Prime Minister Vladimír Špidla on Monday 9 September 2002

06.09.02

Czech Prime Minister Vladimír Špidla will visit Denmark on 9 September. The Danish Prime Minister will have a meeting and afterwards lunch with the Czech Prime Minister at Marienborg.

The Czech Republic is currently negotiating the country's accession to the EU. Together with Poland and Hungary, the Czech Republic became a NATO member in 1999.

On the occasion of the visit, Danish Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen states:

“I am looking forward to the meeting with Czech Prime Minister Vladimír Špidla. I have placed great importance on meeting all my colleagues from the candidate countries. The meeting with the Czech Prime Minister will be the last of this series of meetings.

Obviously, the negotiations of the Czech Republic on accession to the EU will have a central position in our talks. I look forward to an account of the negotiations as seen by the Czech Republic. The Danish EU Presidency hopes to be able to complete the enlargement negotiations with up to ten countries at the Summit in December. The Czech Republic is one of the countries which I hope and expect will be among those countries.

Among the other subjects for our discussion are the future of the EU and the work of the Convention on this issue. In addition, we shall discuss the enlargement of NATO.”

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Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen's talk with Prime Minister Špidla will take place from 10:30 AM to 11:30 AM at Marienborg, Nybrovej 410, Lyngby.

There will be a press conference at 11:30 AM at Marienborg (in the courtyard, weather permitting, otherwise indoors).

There will also be a photo opportunity in connection with Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen's reception of Prime Minister Špidla at Marienborg at 10:25 AM.

Press cards must be visible.

Jesper Fersløv Andersen, phone: +45 33 92 22 35