A total of 52 percent of Czechs oppose the joint European-U.S.
project of missile defence. Yet 67 percent of Czechs would accept the planned U.S. radar base on Czech soil if it became integrated into the NATO defence system, according to the poll results, presented to reporters by STEM agency head Jan Hartl. The public reservations about the radar project are to a high extent connected with people's uncertain stance on cooperation with the United States, Hartl pointed out. Over 70 percent of Czechs have steadily expressed the opinion that European defence against long-range missiles must be secured, Hartl said, adding that Afghanistan Tops Agenda on Day Two of NATO Summit ...
Czech anti-missile base opponents support Polish protests ... Czechs are not much divided on this issue over their agreement or disagreement with the Czech Republic's NATO membership. According to the latest poll of the Median agency, carried out for the Questions of Vaclav Moravec discussion programme on public Czech Television (CT), almost two-thirds of Czechs do not agree with the building of a U.S. base in the Czech Republic. The March CVVM poll showed about the same share of radar opponents. The SC&C polling agency released the results of a poll, ordered by the senior ruling Civic Democratic Party (ODS), which clearly supports the U.S. radar project, in early May. The survey shows that 57 percent of Czechs do not wish a radar base on Czech soil. However, slightly over an absolute majority of respondents believe that the stationing of a U.S. missile defence shield in Europe would contribute to the protection of NATO member states from long-range missiles. Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek (ODS) said it proves that the number of radar opponents has been decreasing since the government information campaign was launched. The Czech centre-right government, comprising also the Christian Democrats (KDU-CSL) and the Greens (SZ), has been negotiating with the United States about the installation of the radar in the Brdy military district, some 90 km southwest of Prague, since last year. The radar and a base for ten interceptor missiles to be built in Poland are parts of the planned U.S. missile defence shield in Central Europe. The main Czech-U.S. treaty on the radar has been completed, while the talks on the the other, SOFA , treaty on the conditions of American soldiers' stay at the planned base still continue. Both treaties that must be approved by parliament to take effect may be signed in June or July, the government says. The Polish representatives are negotiating with the United States on the Polish military upgrading within the talks on the U.S. base that is supported by about one in three Poles.
(Ceske Noviny)
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