Czech President Milos Zeman speaks during an interview with Reuters at Prague Castle on Jan. 9, 2014.DAVID W. CERNY/Reuters
Czech President Milos Zeman and the U.S. ambassador to Prague are in a rare public dispute over Zeman's decision to attend a Russian military parade, and Czech lawmakers are siding with the American.
In an interview with online publication Parlamentni Listy on Sunday, Zeman bristled at the envoy's implied criticism of his decision to attend Moscow's traditional May 9 military parade despite the crisis in Ukraine. Zeman said U.S. Ambassador Andrew Shapiro is no longer welcome in the Prague Castle, the seat of presidency.
Parliament's lower house speaker, Jan Hamacek, said he thought Zeman was overreacting; the deputy speaker of Parliament's upper house, Premysl Sobotka, said Monday Zeman proved a lack of "diplomatic thinking."
Jan Mlejnek, an analyst, said Zeman's rhetoric was unfortunate and will harm Czech-U.S. relations.
In an e-mailed statement from the U.S. embassy, Shapiro said "it would be unfortunate for President Zeman to be there as perhaps? the only EU head of state."
Zeman, whose is critical of European Union sanctions against Russia, said he wanted to honour Soviet soldiers who sacrificed their lives to liberate his country in the Second World War.
The Czech presidency is a largely ceremonial post and the government is in charge of foreign policy. Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka said he accepted Zeman's explanation for the trip.
Shapiro said he regretted that Zeman felt offended.
"I value a good working relationship with everyone, and I want him to know that my door will be open to him," Shapiro said. "I also want the Czech people to know that the United States government, and the people of America, value our relationship as partners and allies more than ever."