Prague  - Czech Premier Mirek Topolanek said Tuesday that he would prefer to avoid a media fight with French President Nicolas Sarkozy over European Union automobile industry policies.

"There's no reason for this kind of public exchange of blows in the media," said Topolanek, who currently holds the EU presidency, in an online interview.

France infuriated the Czechs and the Slovaks last week by suggesting that French carmakers should relocate their factories in eastern Europe to France.

The move prompted calls of protectionism from the eastern European countries and turned into a dispute which garnered international coverage.

In the interview, Topolanek said Prague will continue to insist on adherence to EU policies "whether or not they affect Nicolas Sarkozy or others."

Topolanek said shuttering the plants in the Czech Republic would be "complicated." He added that he would lobby against protectionism at upcoming economic summits. dpa