Czechs make Gaza a priority as they take EU helm

By Michael Winfrey

PRAGUE (Reuters) - The Czech Republic took the helm of the European Union on Thursday and tried to allay doubts over its ability to lead with a plan to seek a cease-fire to the deadliest violence in the Gaza Strip in decades.

The Czechs had raised concern among some EU states over how well they could follow France's initiative-filled tenure, in which President Nicolas Sarkozy tackled issues ranging from climate change to the Russia-Georgia conflict.

With Europe facing its possibly worst economic crisis since World War Two and an energy dispute between Russia and Ukraine, diplomats had wondered if the Czech Republic's small size and government resistant to deeper integration could meet the task.

As his first act, Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek announced an EU mission to work for a Gaza cease-fire. He said the plan was vital due to the absence of a major U.S. role as President-elect Barack Obama prepares to replace George W. Bush on January 20.

"The unpleasant thing is that we cannot count on the U.S. administration ... It is up to the European Union to take over the initiative," Topolanek told Czech TV.

"I think it's our main role in the coming days and weeks."

He hoped Obama would "not make the same mistake as Bush, meaning to push the Middle East problem aside." Israel has killed some 400 Palestinians in strikes it says are aimed at putting an end to Hamas rocket attacks.

Topolanek said the mission would comprise EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana, EU External Relations Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner and Czech, French and Swedish foreign ministers. It will overlap with a visit by Sarkozy to the region on January 5.