Minister Vondra says no radar might mean compulsory military service

The Czech Republic might have to reintroduce compulsory military service if it refuses to host a controversial US tracking radar system, European Affairs Minister Alexandr Vondra warned in a televised debate on Sunday. Czech compulsory military service ended in 2005 partly because the country could rely on its NATO membership and support from allies for its defence in an emergency. But that support might not be so forthcoming if the Czech Republic refused to host the proposed radar system, Vondra warned.

Washington wants to site a radar base on Czech territory and interceptor missiles in neighbouring Poland, to counter a possible missile attack from Iran. The US proposal has angered Russia, created rifts within NATO and split Czech and Polish public opinion. Around two-thirds of Czechs oppose the radar, according to opinion polls. On Saturday close to two thousand people demonstrated against the radar in the streets of Prague. The demonstration came less than two weeks before U.S. President George Bush's scheduled visit to Prague intended to drum up support for the missile shield.