Posted on 08/28/2006 11:58:25 AM PDT by lizol
Americans want radar rather than missiles in CzechRep - Topolanek
Prague- The United States would probably build a technical background of a missile system and a radar in the Czech Republic rather than a defence missile site, prime minister-designate Mirek Topolanek (Civic Democrats, ODS) said today.
He said in the Questions of Vaclav Moravec programme on Czech Television (CT) that no referendum needs to be held on a radar. This is fully within the power of the government and parliament, Topolanek said.
Outgoing PM Jiri Paroubek (Social Democrats, CSSD) told Saturday's issue of daily Pravo that the Americans swill not build any base in the Czech Republic, but the Americans say that both the Czech republic and Poland still figure on the list of possible host countries.
"According to information available, the Czech Republic is not to be priority one country for the stationing of the missiles that would intercept ballistic missiles with conventional or nuclear warheads that can be launched by all the totalitarian regimes," Topolanek aid.
"A technical background has always been considered in the Czech Republic. For this we do not have to hold any referendum," he added.
It does not ensue from Paroubek's interview with Pravo whether he meant missiles or some other facility when he spoke about the base.
Outoging Foreign Minister Cyril Svoboda (Christian Democrats, KDU-CSL) just as the U.S. embassy in Prague said that no decision on the base has been made as yet.
Svoboda also spoke about a radar in the Czech Republic and he said that missiles could be placed elsewhere.
The United States wants to station in Europe by 2011 radars and 10 missiles that would intercept possible enemy missiles launched in risk countries among which the USA counts mainly North Korea and Iran.
According to public opinion polls, a majority of Czechs are opposed to the missile protection system to be stationed on Czech territory.
Several protest actions have been held in the Czech Republic and the Communists (KSCM) have drafted a constitutional bill on a referendum. A referendum is also supported by the CSSD.
U.S. military experts have already visited the Czech Republic over the base. The final report on their assessment of the technical parameters of the possible localities in the Czech Republic and Poland is to be ready by end-August and the decision is to be made in the autumn.
Czech diplomats went to the United States to discuss the site last week.
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