Russia Open to Dialogue with Czech Republic, Ambassador Says

Russian Ambassador to the Czech Republic Anna Ponomareva stated that Moscow remains open to dialogue with Prague despite the current state of bilateral relations. She made the remarks in an interview with RIA Novosti. Ponomareva noted that new initiatives capable of quickly changing the situation are difficult to envision at present, and interaction is possible only to the extent the Czech side is ready. She cited former Czech Foreign Minister Karel Schwarzenberg's comparison of state relations to human emotions, adding that diplomacy's task is to find solutions despite serious disagreements. The ambassador previously observed a decrease in anti-Russian rhetoric from the current Czech government, though Prague has continued restrictions on Russian diplomats, including notification requirements for border crossings and travel.