Mirek Topolanek: Talks on US radar base proceeding without problems

Czech Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek said on Saturday evening that negotiations with US representatives on the construction of a proposed American radar base were proceeding without any major problems after holding talks with a delegation from the US Congress on the issue. He also said that a number of obstacles to the negotiations had been removed although he declined to elaborate.

The US delegation, headed by Democratic congresswoman Ellen Tauscher, also met with the deputy prime minister Alexander Vondra and the head of the opposition Social Democrats Jiri Paroubek. Earlier, Ms Tauscher had said that the proposed US missile defence system involving a radar base in the Czech Republic and an interceptor missile facility in Poland must be fully incorporated into NATO and it must protect both Europe and the United States.

The proposed US facilities are intended as part of a missile defence system aimed at countering possible attacks from so-called rogue states such as Iran. Polls show that a majority of Czechs are against the proposal even though it has the tentative support of the centre-right government. A final decision on the base is expected early next year.