We quoted with regret the resolution of the Austrian Parliament on the final building approval of the Temelín Nuclear Power Plant. The partner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is the Austrian Government, therefore we will wait for the reaction of its Ministers.

Nevertheless, we reserve our right to examine to what extent this development afflicts the security dialogue between both countries. We are concerned about the fact that the resolution of the Austrian Parliament may restrain this dialogue. We will consider the possibility of continuing the dialogue until the situation is clarified.

The Czech Republic has always considered the so called Melk Process as a significant instrument for strenghtening mutual confidence and security dialogue between both countries.

In the framework of the so called Melk Process, we have provided an absolutely unprecedental amount of information on all aspects of the Temelín NPP, including security measures, to the Austrian side. We have completed provisions embodied in the Conclusions of the Melk Process and following provisions agreed in Brussels on 29th November 2001. The Austrian side dispose of all relevant information on the processing and the issuing of the final building approval.

16:00, 14.12.2006

Unofficial translation