Don't shy away from the Russians, Havel urges West

PraguePrague- Former Czech president Vaclav Havel Tuesday urged the West to speak up to Russia despite its economic interests.

Speaking at a conference on Asia-Pacific Security Challenges in Prague, Havel said economic interests should not make the West "shy away from speaking about what it does not like about Russia's politics".

Havel has earlier criticized "Russian aggression" in Georgia, backing Tbilisi in a brief war with Moscow last month over breakaway provinces of South Ossetia and Abkhazia.

"We all want to have the best relations with Russia," the communist-era dissident said. "Partners should speak about everything, including the matters that are unpleasant for the other side." (dpa)

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