Vaclav Klaus, the President of the Czech Republic, has drawn attention for his outspoken skepticism regarding two of the most significant tenets of the Internationalists’ ideology: the danger of climate change, and the necessity of a welding all of Europe into a single state. As we have noted previously, Klaus is now the last president of a nation with membership in the European Union to hold out against signing the Lisbon Treaty. But pressure on Klaus to sign the treaty continues to increase. In the process of delaying signing the treaty, Klaus is reopening one of the chapters of World War II that many in Europe might have wished would have stay closed.

According to an article in the Washington Post,

Europe's latest step toward a more united future, which seemed at hand after long delays, has become bogged down over a forgotten chapter from the continent's bloody past: the expulsion of Germans from Czechoslovakia after World War II.

The unexpected hitch has provided a vivid reminder that the nations that gave birth to the European Union are only one generation away from the World War II and Cold War horrors during which the lives of millions were sacrificed to ideology or nationalism.

The man most responsible for tripping the memory switch on those stormy days is the president of what is now the Czech Republic, Vaclav Klaus, who is known as a Czech nationalist skeptical of giving the European Union supranational powers.

Although the Czech Parliament has voted favorably, Klaus has refused to sign off on ratification of the Lisbon Treaty, a two-year-old pact that would grant greater powers to the E.U. leadership in Brussels and create a European president for the first time.

Before he signs, Klaus said, he wants a special provision added to the Lisbon Treaty's Charter of Fundamental Rights. The last-minute add-on, officials said, would exempt the Czech Republic from paying reparations or returning land to the estimated 2.5 million ethnic Germans who were expelled from the Sudeten areas under the 1945 Benes decrees, named after the Czech president at the time.

The expulsions were among a number of ethnic cleansings carried out in Central Europe after World War II to undo -- and take revenge for -- what happened when the regions were occupied or annexed by Hitler's Third Reich. Although largely relegated to history books, the issue still has the power to arouse concern in the Czech Republic's western border areas where most of the expulsions took place.

Ah, it’s amazing how such pesky things as the actual history of the peoples of Europe, and events which occurred within living memory, can get in the way of the utopian sandcastle production in Brussels. Klaus’ maneuver is extremely insightful on several levels: first, raising the issue of an amendment to the Lisbon Treaty for the sake of the nation he was elected to serve undermines the power of those within Czech government who were maneuvering to force a presidential signature. Second, evoking the issue of the Sudetenland calls to mind the very real differences which have long divided the nations of Europe, and the fact that these nations are in part the product of a long and complicated history of division and struggle. Third, by calling for an amendment to the Lisbon Treaty, Klaus’ move may well necessitate re-ratification by those countries which had already ratified the unamended treaty. Although many may simply ‘rubber stamp’ such a ratification, it is possible that revisiting the ratification process may provide other Euroskeptics with an opportunity to question their previous decision to accept the treaty.

Klaus’ strategy may be working: despite having already ratified the treaty, Slovakia is now calling for an amendment to protect their nation’s interests in a same fashion as Klaus is seeking for the Czech Republic. It is hard to tell whether such maneuvers will buy weeks or months before ratification, or whether there is any realistic possibility that the whole union can be derailed. But at least someone is still trying.

As usual, the Internationalists are irritated that anyone might be dragging their feet on the way to the end of the nation state. As the Washington Post reports:

Klaus's stand has irritated European leaders, who thought after the Irish vote that they were at last on their way -- and were already angling to see who would be the E.U.'s first president and which countries would get how many slots in an enhanced European diplomatic service.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy, a strong unification advocate, called Klaus's refusal to sign "unacceptable" and warned that there would be "consequences" for the Czech Republic if he continued to hold out.

Slovakia's demand also annoyed European officials, particularly because it had fully ratified the treaty. Foreign Minister Carl Bildt of Sweden, which holds the E.U.'s rotating presidency, resorted to irony at Fico's announcement. "I was under the impression that Slovakia was finished with its ratification process," he cracked.

Yes, the men and women with aspirations to be the first president of Europe will have to wait a little longer before making any final decisions regarding the furniture and drapes for the new office. It has to be hard to delay your gratification when the power which draws you forward is so close... and yet so far.

Rt. Rev. James Heiser has served as Pastor of Salem Lutheran Church in Malone, Texas, while maintaining his responsibilities as publisher of Repristination Press, which he established in 1993 to publish academic and popular theological books to serve the Lutheran Church.  Heiser has also served since 2005 as the Dean of Missions for The Augustana Ministerium and in 2006 was called to serve as Bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Diocese of North America (ELDoNA). An advocate of manned space exploration, Heiser serves on the Steering Committee of the Mars Society. His publications include two books; The Office of the Ministry in N. Hunnius' Epitome Credendorum (1996) and A Shining City on a Higher Hill: Christianity and the Next New World (2006), as well as dozens of journal articles and book reviews.
 

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RP said:

... "Slovakia's demand also annoyed European officials, particularly because it had fully ratified the treaty." Funny, isn't it. When a country says "no" to some plot like the EU, the answer is never final. The issue will come up again and again, sometimes unchanged, sometimes repackaged. But the issues always reappear. When a country, in a moment of weakness, finally caves in and says "yes", the "yes" becomes final. It's like joining the Mafia. You can say "no" countless times, but once you're in, there is no way out. The Copenhagen treaty could very well be one of those one way streets. Once you start down the road, there is no turning back.

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October 26, 2009
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sinigagl said:

??? This article is funny. Czech government was at the table when the Lisbon Treaty was drafted and they didn't said anything about an opt-out that they coud have. Lisbon Treaty has been ratified by 27/27 parliament and signned by 26/27 heads of state: do you think that is fair if 1 man can bloc the decision of 26 states + the government of his state? That's ridicolous. Do you think that could be possible in any parliament to stop a bill only by 1 person? I don't think so: in these case you use the majority principle. In an agreement you can stay in or out you can agree or disagree. If Czech republic doesn't like the treaty why they don't stay out when the other 26 states wants to go on?

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October 26, 2009
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DDW said:

	It's coming nevertheless I was skeptical of this man. but perhpas he's genuine. That would be refreshing. Nevertheless, we must keep in mind that the Bible says there WILL be a world government and it will be EVIL 'til it is destroyed by the Lord Jesus Christ Himself. We may be able delay it, but it will come and it won't be pretty.
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October 26, 2009
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Nicholas said:

	So... WoshJ doesn't understand politics or theology? Yup. I looked at the author's background. I know Lutherans aren't what you're trying to paint them with here. Nice try at an ad hominem argument, though; it sure beats dealing with the substance of the article. Maybe if you stamp your feet some more it will all just go away?
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October 26, 2009
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