Lower house rejects foreign missions’ plan

The lower house of Parliament has rejected outright a government proposal on the deployment of Czech troops in foreign missions in 2009. The proposal drafted by the Czech Defense Ministry envisaged reinforcing the country’s military presence in Afghanistan and maintaining 550 servicemen in Kosovo. Although Prime Minister Topolánek offered a number of concessions, such as cutting back on the number of Czech troops in the ISAF peacekeeping mission and withdrawing from operation Enduring Freedom by the end of 2009, the opposition overturned the proposal with the aid of a number of independents. The vote has put at stake Czech participation in all foreign missions and the government is planning to hold an emergency session on the matter. Under Czech law the government has the right to maintain Czech forces abroad for a period of two months.