Prague/Dublin - Czech leaders Wednesday sought to downplay Czech President Vaclav Klaus' meeting with Ireland's leading opponent of the Lisbon Treaty, which spurred a diplomatic row ahead of the Czech Republic's EU presidency.

"I find it legitimate when someone presents his opinion. And I respect it even if I have a completely different view," said Czech Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek, who supports the EU reform pact.

Czech Vice-Premier for European Affairs Alexandr Vondra said that "one dinner can't undermine the Czech presidency, which the government has responsibly prepared for two years."

Klaus Tuesday privately dined with Declan Ganley of the Libertas group, which successfully campaigned to sink the EU's reform treaty in Ireland's June referendum, the only one to be held.

Speaking to Irish state RTE Radio earlier Wednesday, Irish Foreign Minister Micheal Martin called the meeting "an inappropriate intervention."

Martin said that while Klaus was eligible to include private events to his state visit, his appearance before reporters with Ganley meant that a private dinner "turned out to be much more political."

Klaus, a vocal eurosceptic, slammed the pact aimed at simplifying decision-making in the enlarged 27-member union and said he supported Ganley, whom he described as a "dissident" like himself.

Ganley reiterated his aim of expanding Libertas Europe-wide to fight in upcoming elections to the European Parliament.

"If Mr Ganley wins the European elections, I will be the first one to congratulate him," the Czech president said.

Klaus' meeting with Ganley could embarrass Czech and Irish premiers as he backed Ireland's treaty opponent just weeks before the Czech Republic was set to take over at the EU helm on January 1, likely with a task of talking to the Irish about the accord's future.

Irish Prime Minister Brian Cowen said Monday after meeting Klaus that his government would look at Ireland's rejection of Lisbon next month "with a view to defining the elements of a solution and a common path to be followed."

Vice Premier Vondra offered cautious criticism of Klaus' actions. "If we are entering the Irish ground at this sensitive time, we should tread in slippers rather than in some hobnailed boots," he said.

He added that Ganley was no dissident but a rich businessman who entered the public debate. "He is not in any way ostracized as we once were in Czechoslovakia during Communist rule," Vondra said.

The Czech officials spoke to reporters at government's presentation of Czech presidency's logo and priorities, an event overshadowed by the fallout of Klaus' dinner meeting.

Premier Topolanek said the Czech Republic planned to focus on economy, energy and external relations during its six months at the bloc's helm.

The controversy in Ireland renewed questions which conservative Czech leader - eurosceptic Klaus or pragmatic Topolanek - would become EU's president-in-office during the country's presidency. Vondra failed to give a clear answer.

Irish Foreign Minister Martin downplayed Klaus' anti-Lisbon remarks earlier Wednesday, saying the Czech government was pro-treaty and would ratify it as soon as it clears the Czech Constitutional Court.

The court delayed a Monday public hearing on the constitutionality of the treaty as Klaus wanted to be present. The hearing is now set to take place in the city of Brno on November 25 with Klaus present.

Martin would not be drawn on whether the Irish would be asked to vote in a second referendum on the Lisbon Treaty to secure a Yes vote.

Ireland rejected Lisbon's predecessor, the Nice Treaty, in 2001, but approved it in a second referendum a year later. (dpa)