"Strengthening of cooperation with Russia corresponds directly to the interests of Czech Republic. But we are part of the European Union, and have to obey common solutions to a certain extent," Milan Mostyn told Sputnik Radio.
Mostyn added that most Czech businesses and a large part of the community are against sanctions, considering them inappropriate pressure on Russia.
Outside of the European Union, the Russian market is the most important for Prague, Mostyn stated, branding it "top-market" for the country's exporters.
According to Mostyn, many Czech enterprises in the Russian market do not want to stop working with the country. "They don't want to leave even in spite of the extremely negative financial situation in Russia, difficulties related to the anti-Russia sanctions," Mostyn said, adding that many want to increase cooperation.
On Thursday, European Union foreign ministers decided to keep sanctions against Russian individuals and entities in place until September.
Since March 2014, the Unites States, the European Union and a number of other countries have imposed several rounds of sanctions against Russia, accusing the country of interfering in the Ukrainian conflict, a claim Moscow has repeatedly denied.
