Czech Leader Looks to Wrap Up Missile Shield Talks

Czech Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek said he believes his government will wrap up negotiations on hosting a U.S. missile defense radar base before the Bush administration leaves office early next year, Agence France-Presse reported yesterday (see GSN, Dec. 12).

“At this stage there is no threat that the radar question will be postponed to a new American administration,” he told the Hospodarske Noviny business daily.  “We want to deal with this during this administrative term.”

Topolanek is scheduled to visit Washington at the end of February to help seal the agreement.  He hopes to coordinate efforts with Poland, which under U.S. plans would host 10 missile interceptors.  New Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, who has appeared more reserved about the proposal than his predecessor, is scheduled to visit the United States this month.

U.S. Assistant Secretary of State John Rood said last month that the “finish line (for a deal) is certainly within view,” AFP reported.  He did not offer a specific date (Agence France-Presse/Spacewar.com, Jan. 2).

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