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Czechs see EU as democratic but ineffective - poll ... main treaty on the radar, the Czechs would be responsible for damage arising from its conduct or ommission. In other cases, responsibility for the radar operation will rest with the Americans. Theoretically, the Czechs might be responsible for a mistake made by an air traffic ground controller who would, for instance, mistakenly navigate a plane to the no-fly zone and the plane's apparatuses broke down over the radar. The United States plans to build the radar base at the Brdy military district, some 90km southwest of Prague. It also wants to build a base for ten interceptor missiles in Poland. These Central European elements of anti-missile defence are to protect the United States and a large part of Europe against missiles that countries like Iran might launch. The Foreign Ministry says claims for and compensation of the damage are also to be treated by the SOFA bilateral treaty that the Defence Ministry is still negotiating about with the United States. SOFA defines the conditions of the U.S. soldiers' stay in the Czech Republic. The major treaty that sets conditions for the installation of the anti-missile radar has already been completed. The ministry has not provided the precise wording of the treaty because it is classified. U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is to arrive in Prague to sign the treaty in June or July. The two treaties are subject of ratification by Czech parliament. Only then can the base be built. The approval of the treaties is not clear, however, because the government coalition may not muster enough votes in support of the treaties. The reason is that the Czech political scene is split on the radar. More than two thirds of Czechs are also opposed to the radar. The U.S. Congress House of Representatives today recommended to cut spending on the anti-missile defence, saying it is necessary to wait for approval of the bases by the Czech Republic and Poland. The treaty on the radar base will gaurantee the Czechs' priority proection against a possible missile attack if, for instance, several enemy msissiles were launched at Europe at a time. If the United States implemented its plans, the European system, comprising the radar base and ten defence missiles in Poland could start functioning in about five years.
(Ceske Noviny)
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