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'EU sanctions against Austria must continue'

PARIS: European sanctions against Austria must continue against Joerg Haider's far-right Freedom party until it leaves the coalition government, Czech Prime Minister Milos Zeman said in a French newspaper on Monday.

"In our eyes its the only reasonable stance," said Zeman in an interview in the daily Liberation.

"This party's power-sharing role jeopardises the principles on which the European Union is formed," said the Czech Social Democrats chief.

"With the installation of the new team in Vienna, we have ceased all official cooperation with representatives of the Freedom Party," he added.

"The Czech Republic is the only one of the European Union candidate nations which whole-heartedly supports the actions of the European governments against Joerg Haider".

Zeman estimated that Austria could put the brakes on the Czech bid to join the European Union "as (it could) for the other central European candidates.

"The principal of unanimity is still in force in the European institutions, a block by Austria represents a real threat. If Haider acts true to form, he will increase the obstacles for us as for the other candidates," he said.

He said his country would be ready to join the European Union in 2001. Zeman on Monday began an official two-day trip to France. During his visit, which centres around trade and economic issues, he will meet French Prime Minister Lionel Jospin, and the heads of the two chambers of parliament. AFP