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Attempts to weaken Russia fraught with unforgivable risk - former Czech president

“I do not understand America, and part of Western Europe and Poland, who wish to see a weak Russia and its return ten years back. This is a major, unforgivable risk,” Klaus told

The Czech Republic’s former president, Vaclav Klaus ITAR-TASS/Valery Sharifulin

The Czech Republic’s former president, Vaclav Klaus

© ITAR-TASS/Valery Sharifulin

WARSAW, January 8. /TASS/. The Czech Republic’s former president, Vaclav Klaus, has warned that attempts to weaken Russia and slow down its development would be fraught with major risks.

“I do not understand why some people are so blind regarding the root causes of the Ukrainian crisis,” Klaus told the Polish news agency in an interview. “I do not understand America, and part of Western Europe and Poland, who wish to see a weak Russia and its return ten years back. This is a major, unforgivable risk.”

Asked about the future of the Visegrad Group, incorporating Hungary, Poland, Slovakia and the Czech Republic, Klaus said that the bonds within the group of four had never been particularly strong.

“To a certain extent the Visegrad Group was a sort of game. I am not saying that the four countries have never had common or similar interests, but regrettably the group has never addressed them in earnest,” he said. The Visegrad quartet lacks the courage to resist mistakes being committed by Western Europe, Klaus added.

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