Czech PM says he "dreads" going to Mandela's funeral

PRAGUE Czech Prime Minister Jiri Rusnok and his ministers of defense and finance "took care of keeping the Czechs entertained," said news agencies in their reports. Rusok, unaware that the microphones were turned on, spoke to his ministers in parliament to complain about having to travel to South Africa for the funeral of Nelson Mandela, "also probably creating a minor diplomatic scandal," said Beta. Czech PM says he "dreads" going to Mandela's funeral "Dude, now Mandela has died on top of everything. I hope the president will travel. Dude, I'm dreading having to go there," Rusnok said to Defense Minister Vlastimil Picek. The national television aired the footage that was quickly picked up by the internet. Rusnok lamented that South Africa was "very far away," while he had lunch and dinner plans for Saturday. "Terrible. I hope (President) Milos (Zeman) is eager to travel somewhere. But, I'm sure the doctors will tell him not to," the prime minister was heard clutching at straws, hoping that Zeman, who had canceled all his trips abroad due to a knee injury, might attend the funeral of South Africa's former president and human rights icon. "Please, how do you imagine he will climb the stairs into the plane," Picek asked. At this point Minster of Finance Jan Fischer joined in the conversation by warning that Zeman "has trouble with staircases anyway." He was alluding to previous incidents when Zeman fell or tripped. His office said on those occasions this was due to the president suffering from "a virus," whereas the media thought he may have "suffered from his passion for a having a good drink, which he does not hide." "I apologize for those words. It was not right to use such terms in connection with the death of Nelson Mandela," Rusnok later said in a statement sent to the Associated Press. Jiri Rusnok (Beta/AP) Beta

Czech PM says he "dreads" going to Mandela's funeral

"Dude, now Mandela has died on top of everything. I hope the president will travel. Dude, I'm dreading having to go there," Rusnok said to Defense Minister Vlastimil Picek.

The national television aired the footage that was quickly picked up by the internet.

Rusnok lamented that South Africa was "very far away," while he had lunch and dinner plans for Saturday.

"Terrible. I hope (President) Miloš (Zeman) is eager to travel somewhere. But, I'm sure the doctors will tell him not to," the prime minister was heard clutching at straws, hoping that Zeman, who had canceled all his trips abroad due to a knee injury, might attend the funeral of South Africa's former president and human rights icon.

"Please, how do you imagine he will climb the stairs into the plane," Picek asked. At this point Minster of Finance Jan Fischer joined in the conversation by warning that Zeman "has trouble with staircases anyway."

He was alluding to previous incidents when Zeman fell or tripped. His office said on those occasions this was due to the president suffering from "a virus," whereas the media thought he may have "suffered from his passion for a having a good drink, which he does not hide."

"I apologize for those words. It was not right to use such terms in connection with the death of Nelson Mandela," Rusnok later said in a statement sent to the Associated Press.