Social Democrats want to link vote on radar with vote on confidence

The opposition Social Democrats have called on the government to link the vote on the planned U.S. radar base with a vote on confidence. The Czech Republic and the United States reached agreement at the NATO summit in Bucharest concerning the siting of a U.S. tracking radar base in the Czech Republic as part of the American missile defence shield. The treaty between the two countries is expected to be signed at the beginning of May in Prague; both chambers of the Czech Parliament will then vote on the document. The demand by the opposition Social Democrats has been rejected by Deputy Prime Minister Petr Nečas who said the government would not listen to such extremist proposals.

In related news, Prime Minister Mirek Topolánek confirmed that next Tuesday the country’s National Security Council would discuss the Czech-U.S. Status of Forces agreement, defining the status of U.S. troops on Czech soil in connection with the planned radar base. A new round of bilateral talks between the US and the Czech Republic is then to continue on Wednesday, with a final agreement expected by April 11. Defence Minister Vlasta Parkánová said on Thursday that the Security Council should now decide whether to preserve the mandate of Czech negotiators or make modifications. Besides covering the legal status of US soldiers, the SOFA also deals with environmental and transport issues as well as other factors including controls by authorities over construction and taxation.