Poll: Czechs fear missiles but reject anti-missile radar

A new poll conducted by the Factum Invenio agency suggests that three-fifths of Czechs are against the construction of a US defence radar on Czech territory, but almost the same number believe that the country should protect itself against possible missile attacks. The poll, commissioned by the Czech Foreign Ministry, has shown that 61 percent of Czechs are opposed to the radar project, while 30 percent support it. According to 56 percent of respondents, the Czech Republic should protect itself against a missile threat. Almost a half of Czechs want guarantees that the radar base would not threaten the environment. Official negotiations between the United States and the Czech Republic on the radar project were launched on Thursday and are to last for several months.