President Klaus talks to George W. Bush on missile defence

President Vaclav Klaus and US President George W. Bush have discussed US plans to build a radar station in the Czech Republic as well as President Bush's upcoming visit to the country. The telephone conversation on Wednesday came as President Klaus prepared for a four-day state visit to Russia with relations strained by the Czech Republic's willingness to host part of an expanded US missile defence shield. Russian opposition to the US project to install a tracking radar in the Czech Republic and 10 interceptor missiles in neighbouring Poland is set to dominate the meeting between Mr Klaus and his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin.