April ideal date for vote on US radar base, says Topolánek

The government hopes to ask MPs to vote in April on US plans to build a radar base in central Bohemia, the Czech prime minister, Mirek Topolánek, said after talks in Prague with his Polish counterpart, Donald Tusk. The vote would ideally take place following a NATO summit in Bucharest, said Mr Topolánek. However, he added that the cabinet would not set a concrete date, because the vote could be delayed by what he called external factors. Mr Tusk, in the Czech capital for a one-day official visit, said Poland and the Czech Republic had the same position on Washington’s plans. His country will play host to US rockets if the project goes ahead.