PM: failure to approve foreign missions breaches Czech NATO commitment

The failure to approve Czech participation in foreign missions in 2009 is a breach of the country’s commitment to NATO, Prime Minister Mirek Topolánek has said. Speaking to the journalists after a meeting of the board of the Civic Democrats, Mr Topolánek said that by giving up its fight against terrorism in Afghanistan, the Czech Republic threatens its safety. He also added that it was Jiří Paroubek, the leader of the opposition Social Democrats, who was personally responsible for endangering lives of Czech soldiers abroad.