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Czech PM says won't force EU treaty vote

BRUSSELS
Fri Jun 20, 2008 8:21am EDT

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Czech Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek said on Friday he would not force Czech lawmakers to ratify the European Union's troubled reform treaty after Ireland voted "No" in a referendum.

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"I am not going to force members of parliament to back Lisbon and I would not bet 100 crowns (4 euros) on a Czech "Yes"," a Czech spokesman quoted him as telling an EU summit.

EU leaders acknowledged in their final summit statement that the Czech Republic could not ratify the text until the constitutional court had ruled on whether it is compatible with the Czech constitution. Then the Senate must vote on the text.

(reporting by Paul Taylor, editing by William Schomberg)
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