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Obama to visit Czech Republic in April
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-03-02 09:21

BRUSSELS -- US President Barack Obama will pay his first visit to the Czech Republic on April 5 and meet European Union leaders, Czech Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek announced here on Sunday.

The announcement was made by Topolanek, whose country holds the rotating presidency of the European Union, at a news conference following an emergency meeting of the EU leaders.

European Union leaders met here for a half-day emergency summit to deal with the economic crisis, which has jeopardized open trade within the 27-nation bloc and solidarity between its rich and poor members, the core of EU policies.

The summit, called by Topolanek, is meant to forge a united European position before the summit of leaders from the G-20 group of leading economies scheduled for April 2 in London, which Obama is scheduled to attend.

Obama is also expected to attend the NATO summit meeting scheduled to take place on 3-4 April 2009 in Baden-Baden and Kehl, Germany, and in Strasbourg, France.