Czech lower house approved plans for 2010 foreign missions

The lower house of the Czech Parliament has approved plans for the country’s foreign missions in 2010. The document, which was approved by 122 of the 173 deputies present, now has to pass through the country’s Senate. According to the plan, some 550 Czech soldiers will be deployed in Kosovo in 2010, while 535 will be sent to serve in Afghanistan. The bill for the Czech Republic’s foreign missions next year is thought to amount to around 3 billion crowns (156 million USD). According to Defence Minister Martin Barták, the proposals were the result of a number of compromises. Only the Communist Party and four Social Democrat deputies voted against the proposals.