Foreign minister says Czechs should decide freely on US missile system

Czech Foreign Minister Karel Schwarzenberg has defended the country's right to decide freely about hosting a US missile defense system on its territory. Mr. Schwarzenberg was responding to criticism from his French counterpart Phillipe Douste-Blazy who said at a meeting of European foreign ministers on Monday that as an EU member the Czech Republic should not partake in a US-defense project. The Czech foreign minister also dismissed claims that the US missile-defense system would pose a threat to Russia.

The United States on Monday confirmed its intention to begin formal talks with the Czech Republic and Poland on deploying a US missile-defense system in the two countries. The system, including ten interceptor missiles and a radar is aimed at warding off potential missile attacks from North Korea or Iran.