The Swiss President, Ruth Dreifuss, and her Czech counterpart, Vaclav Havel, say they want to further the cause of human rights in the appropriate international organisations.

The Swiss President, Ruth Dreifuss, and her Czech counterpart, Vaclav Havel, say they want to further the cause of human rights in the appropriate international organisations.

Dreifuss met Havel in Prague on Monday during an official visit to the Czech republic.

A federal interior ministry spokesman in Berne said human rights and respect for minorities were at the centre of their discussions. They agreed that the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe and the forthcoming meeting of the Balkans stability pact would allow the two countries to make progress.

Dreifuss underlined the moral authority of President Havel in the process. As a former dissident, Havel is considered the standard-bearer of human rights, she said.

The two also spoke of the close ties between Switzerland and the Czech Republic. Havel recalled these went back to the “Prague Spring” of 1968 and he underlined the welcome given by the Swiss to the refugees who fled Soviet repression.

Havel said he also hoped Switzerland could give help in the reform process of Czech institutions and give advice about federalism.

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