Czech Defense Minister to hold talks with US officials

The planned stationing of a US radar base in the Czech Republic and the abolition of U.S. visas for Czechs will be the main topics of Foreign Minister Karel Schwarzenberg's upcoming visit to the United States. Foreign Minster Schwarzenberg leaves for the US on Wednesday for four days of talks with US top officials. The Czech Republic recently complied with a US request to start talks on the possible stationing of a radar base on its territory. The base would be part of a US missile defense shield stationed jointly in the Czech Republic and Poland. No commitment has as yet been made and the talks are expected to last until the end of the year. The Czech political scene is divided on the issue and opinion polls suggest that the public is against it.

Critics say the US missile defense shield will not meet Europe's defense needs and Russia views the US missile base as a threat to its security. Washington has promised Moscow "detailed discussions" about the plan.