U.S., Czech Republic Could Sign Radar Deal in May

The Czech Republic is likely to formally agree next month to house a U.S. missile defense radar, the Czech News Agency reported (see GSN, April 15).

The U.S. ambassador to Prague, Richard Graber, indicated yesterday that the signing could occur May 5 during a visit by U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.

Rice might also sign a related deal setting the terms for deployment of U.S. troops in the European nation, Graber said during a meeting in the Brdy area, where the radar would be installed (Czech News Agency, April 21).

The latest session of talks for that deal began today and could be completed this week, according to a Czech official.

“This should be the last (three-day) round of talks, but whether an agreement is reached we shall see on Thursday,” said Defense Ministry spokesman Vladimir Lukovsky (Associated Press/International Herald Tribune, April 22).

Graber noted that Czech lawmakers would still have to sign off on the radar base before it could be built.  He also dismissed reports in the Polish press that Washington might try to deploy missile interceptors in the Czech Republic if Poland will not take them.

It would be up to Czech leaders to decide if Russian officials would be allowed to inspect the radar, Graber said.  That has been one idea promoted by U.S. officials in hopes of overcoming Moscow’s opposition to the Bush administration’s missile defense plan for Europe (CTK, April 21).

Polish officials hope that hosting the U.S. missile interceptors would help strengthen their nation’s safety against a resurgent Russia, the International Herald Tribune reported yesterday.

“We have a reduced level of security,” said Defense Minister Bogdan Klich.  “The lack of the Polish feeling of security is provoked by the tendencies in Russia over the past few years.

Western Europe has the majority of NATO and European Union installations, leaving Poland feeling less secure, Klich said.

“It is necessary to host on our territory institutions either from the alliance, the EU or the United States.  These are the three pillars of our security,” he said.

Klich said talks on the missile shield could stretch past the end of the Bush administration in January 2009 to ensure that Warsaw receives the best possible deal.  It has sought support for military upgrades to help counter potential risks associated with becoming home to the U.S. installation (Judy Dempsey, International Herald Tribune, April 21).

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