Growing public opposition to US radar base

There is growing public opposition to the deployment of a US radar base on Czech territory. According to the latest survey conducted by the CVVM agency 68 percent of Czechs say they are opposed to the idea, which is 7 percent more than in February of this year. Seventy-seven percent of respondents said they would welcome a referendum on the issue.

The United States has intensified its efforts to convince the Czech Republic and Poland to agree to the stationing of a US missile defence system in the two countries. On a one day working visit to Prague on Monday the head of the US missile defence agency, General Henry Obering, underlined the crucial role of the Czech Republic and Poland in Washington's defence plans against a possible missile attack by Iran. And it has been announced that US President George Bush is to visit the Czech Republic in June to discuss the matter with top officials. The Czech Republic has officially opened talks on the issue but has made no commitment as yet. Talks are expected to last until the end of the year. The government's decision would then have to be approved by both houses of Parliament.