To the attention of Mr. Richard Lambert

Editor of the Financial Times

Fax: 0044-171-873.59.38

Brussels, November 3, 1999

Sir,

On August 10, 1999 I read on your newspaper the article Eu set to criticise Czech Moves concerning, among other things, the declarations made by Mr. Ramiro Cibrian, the EU representative in Prague, on the issue of the reform of the electoral system currently underway in the Czech Republic.

According to this article, Mr. Cibrian had criticised the plan proposed by the two biggest Czech political parties (the governing Social democrats and the main opposition party, the Civic Democratic Party) which intends to replace the electoral system of proportional representation with first-past-the post.

Since I found such a behaviour of the EU representative at least strange if not unacceptable, and not being aware that the EU had ever decided to ban the majoritarian electoral system in favour of the proportional system I tabled a written question (see attached) to the European Commission asking for explanations.

At my surprise the answer (see annexe), given by the President of the Commission himself, Mr. Romano Prodi, denied any reliability to the report made by your journalist. Mr. Prodi answered that the EU representative had never pronounced what the FT reported.

Ive always thought and still think that the FT is one of the most reliable and serious source of information on almost every subject, and therefore I still wonder who is wrong in this history.

You can understand that I am quite curious to know the final word of the story.

Respectfully yours,

Olivier Dupuis

Tel 00322-284.51.98

Fax 00322-284.91.98