Travel to Olympics? No, thank you.

Going or not going to China? That is the question. At least for some politicians in Central Europe. Czech president Vaclav Klaus, outspoken Eurosceptic and refusenik of global warming, wrote at his webpage (www.klaus.cz), that he will not attend Olympic games. Reason? Nobody exactly knows, Mr. Klaus did not elaborate.
But debate in Europe is gaining momentum. French president Nicolas Sarkozy said that nothing is decided. Head of European parliament Hans-Gert Pöttering recommended to his colleagues not to go to China in August.
There are discussions in Poland, but not in Slovakia, whose premier Robert Fico is well known for his close ties to regimes like Chinese or recent Bielarussian one.
Czech Republic is modelling itself to role of defender of human rights in legacy of Vaclav Havel. President Klaus, who is thought to be close to his Serbian or Russian friends and partners, surprised by his decision not to go to China. Well, Czech Republic is not an IMPORTANT trade partner for Chinese, but Czech business is doing rather well in China and some business people certainly worry about official policy line (already Czech minister of education and sport Ondrej Liska (Green Party) decided not to attend official ceremonies in Beijing). Third and last invited Czech politician, premier Mirek Topolanek, has still to make up his mind.
Well, Central Europe is not just growingly important region for carmakers, but is also part of what Donald Rumsfeld called "New Europe" - closer to the United States, wary of Russia and with growing self-confidence and having important bunch of votes in European Union.
EU is not an entity well known for its clarity and rapid decision making. But New Europe could add something of this sort, based on experience of forty years of communist rule. And debate about travel to Olympic games to Beijing is example of such debate, where postcommunists could and should have different opinion than their Western colleagues.
Decision of Mr. Klaus is surprise, he was known more of being moderate on human rights issues. He does not explain, why he is not planning to go to Beijing. But definitely it is another proof that politics in New Europe is maturing and is able to make decisions for itself and not just wait for regulations either from Moscow or from Brussels.