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Czech president calls for lifting anti-Russian sanctions

Milos Zeman predicts the EU will lift its sanctions on Russia in a year
Czech President Milos Zeman  AP Photo/Petr David Josek
Czech President Milos Zeman
© AP Photo/Petr David Josek

PRAGUE, August 25 /TASS/. The Czech Republic should put in more effort to seek the lifting of the EU’s anti-Russian sanctions, Czech President Milos Zeman said in his opening speech at the annual agricultural "Mother Earth" fair in ·esk· Bud·jovice in the republic’s south.

"The sanctions are a sign of helplessness. The Czech Republic should clearly state its stance at the European Council and join the ranks of countries that want to see them [the anti-Russian sanctions] lifted," the Czech head of state said.

According to him, until recently the Czech Republic has been indecisive in demanding the sanctions relief. The approach of the government in Prague, which has refrained from expressing its negative attitude to the sanctions at the international level, is inflicting great damage to the Czech agriculture.

"If the [Czech - TASS] politicians want to help our agriculture, they should insist that the sanctions be lifted," Zeman emphasized. He predicts the EU will lift its sanctions on Russia in a year from now - by the time the next agricultural exhibition takes place.