Greens remain in government

The coalition Green Party decided to remain in the government but their leadership refused possible siting of a U.S. radar base in the Czech Republic. The Green Party’s national conference, held in Prague on Saturday, acknowledged the conclusions of the NATO summit in Bucharest according to which the planned American anti-missile defence shield in Europe was a contribution to the safety of all NATO countries. The conference however called on Green ministers, senators and MPs to vote against the Czech-U.S. treaty concerning the establishment of the American radar base on Czech soil. The national conference also voted that that the Green Party leader and Environment Minister Martin Bursík and Foreign Minister Karel Schwarzenberg should remain in the government. Mr Bursík said that the vote proved to be a “total fiasco” for the opposition within the Green Party.