 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Czech, US agree on conditions to site radar: official
Prague (AFP) Aug 26, 2008 The Czech Republic and the United States have reached agreement on the conditions to set up a controversial US anti-missile base in the country, a defence ministry spokesman said on Tuesday. "All major issues have been solved," spokesman Andrej Cirtek told AFP, adding that the centre-right Czech government could be expected to discuss the proposed Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) in September. A key follow-up agreement had been held up by a wrangle between Prague and Washington over the tax treatment of the proposed US radar. That issue has now been resolved, Cirtek said, but refused to give details. Final touches to the wording of the proposed text are being worked on in Czech and English, he added. Sealing the SOFA agreement would clear the way for Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek's fragile government to seek the required parliamentary approval for the US anti-missile package. "It appears that it could be dealt with during the September session of parliament," vice premier and Minister for European Affairs Alexandr Vondra told Tuesday's edition of the Hospodarske Noviny business daily. The main deal on the base, justified by Washington as a shield against attack from "rogue" states such as Iran but vigorously opposed by Moscow as a threat to its own security, was signed by US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Czech counterpart Karel Schwarzenberg in Prague last July. A few weeks later, Poland inked a deal with the US to host 10 interceptor missiles, its contribution to the missile defence shield, sparking anger and threats of retaliation from Russia. Topolanek's government is far from certain of winning a vote for the US base. Members of the junior coalition party, the Greens, have spoken out against it and the third coalition party, the Christian Democrats, are also cool to the idea. Related Links Learn about missile defense at SpaceWar.com Learn about nuclear weapons doctrine and defense at SpaceWar.com All about missiles at SpaceWar.com Learn about the Superpowers of the 21st Century at SpaceWar.com
Russia says Europe in new arms race
Moscow (AFP) Aug 20, 2008Russia warned Wednesday that the signing of a US-Poland missile defence deal will fuel a new new arms race in Europe and beyond and that it could impact beyond the diplomatic sphere. |
|
|
| The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright Space.TV Corporation. AFP and UPI Wire Stories are copyright Agence France-Presse and United Press International. ESA Portal Reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space.TV Corp on any Web page published or hosted by Space.TV Corp. Privacy Statement |
