• An edited clip of Czech President Vaclav Klaus pocketing a pen at a press conference has gone viral with over 3.7 million hits as of posting time. The Youtube video has also sparked a humorous Facebook campaign to send pens to his office on May 2 since he "obviously has nothing to write with," reports the AFP.
The clip came from a report on Klaus' official visit to Chile. In the video uploaded on Youtube this week, Klaus is seen sitting next to Chilean President Sebastian Piñera who welcomes him to the country in full view of the press. Klaus examines a pen in front of him, hides his hands under the table, fixes his jacket, and then rests his empty hands on the table.
It was "standard to take a pen from an event," the AFP quoted Klaus, citing a report by news site Novinky.cz. He added that it was a ballpoint and not a golden pen. Presidential spokesman Radim Ochvat said Klaus had the right to take the pen, reports Reuters. "We at the Prague Castle always give such a pen to delegations, along with a notepad."
Meanwhile, a spokeswoman for Piñera said his guests were free to take the ceremonial pens, which are encrusted with Chilean lapis lazuli stones, reports the Guardian.
SOURCE: SPOT.ph (April 15, 2011)
