PRAGUE, September 24 (RIA Novosti) - The former Prime Minister of the Czech Republic Petr Necas said during a press conference Wednesday that hostility toward Russia must come to an end, as it remains West's strategic partner, local Echo24 media outlet has reported.
"The sooner the escalation of hatred and hostility toward Russia ends, the better. I am confident that Russia is a strategic partner of the West in the short and long term," Echo24 cited Necas as saying.
The statement was made during a conference on European Security and Defense Policy in the Czech capital Prague.
According to the media outlet, Necas also considers it extremely difficult to fight global threats such as terrorism and conflicts in Africa without Russia.
From 2010-2013 Petr Necas headed a center-right cabinet in the Czech Republic and was the leader of the Civic Democratic Party, the country's leading right-wing party of the time. In 2013, he resigned from both positions and is currently engaged in teaching activities.
Russian relations with the West have deteriorated over the crisis in Ukraine. The European Union and the United States have been imposing sanctions on Russia over its alleged involvement in the crisis, which Moscow has repeatedly denied.
