Czech premier postpones visits to Asia for health reasons

Prague, Apr 24, 2010 (BBC Monitoring via COMTEX) -- Czech Prime Minister Jan Fischer has postponed his visit official visit to Cambodia and Mongolia and the subsequent working visit to Armenia for health reasons, government spokesman Roman Prorok told CTK today.

Fischer was scheduled to leave along with a delegation of businessmen this evening.

"Fischer has made the decision following a recommendation by doctors who prescribed antibiotics and quiet on account of an acute respiration illness," Prorok said.

The alternative date of the visit to the states in question is being solved by diplomats, Prorok said.

In Cambodia, Fischer was to have talks with Prime Minister Hun Sen and other top politicians on 27 April.

Fischer was also to meet Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni who recently paid a visit to the Czech Republic. Sihamoni spent his childhood and youth in Czechoslovakia. He studied ballet in Prague.

In the 1960s former Czechoslovakia participated in the development of Cambodian infrastructure. Fischer's visit was an occasion to continue with the cooperation between the two countries.

Fischer was scheduled to meet his counterpart Sukhbaataryn Batbold in Mongolia where he was to take part in a ceremonial reception marking the 60th anniversary of the Czech-Mongolian diplomatic relations.

Economic cooperation between the Czech Republic and Mongolia may further develop especially in construction, mining of mineral resources and subsequent recultivation of mining areas.

The last stop of Fischer's Asian trip was to be Armenia where he was scheduled to stay from 30 April to 1 May.

Fischer was to meet Armenian Prime Minister Tigran Sargysan in Yerevan.

Czech scientists cooperate on safety programmes of Armenian nuclear power plants. Czech companies exported turbines to the country in the past, among others.

Source: CTK news agency, Prague, in English 1243 gmt 24 Apr 10

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