The political scientist, Vladimira Dvorakova, said the further fate of the radar base can also be influenced by this year's U.S.
elections. "Though the United States sticks to the continuity of governments,...it can happen that the matter will not be a priority of the (future) new head of state and that the sum to be spent on the project need not be as high as envisaged," Dvorakova said. U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and her Czech counterpart Karel Schwarzenberg signed in Prague today the main treaty on Czechs donate three more helicopters to Afghanistan ...
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Pakistan government to split ... the radar base the United States wants to build on Czech soil within its anti-missile shield. The signature of the treaty has not changed Czech politicians' stand on the controversial plan. The opposition Social Democrats (CSSD) and Communists (KSCM) continue to reject it, and a part of the junior government Green Party continues to have a reserved stand. KSCM chairman Vojtech Filip even said today is a day of national shame. Financial analysts say the radar base will have no important impact on the Czech economy. They say the radar base construction and related programmes may create new jobs and raise the Czech Republic's trustworthiness, on the other hand it can threaten the expansion of Czech firms to eastern markets. The CSSD says the Americans exaggerate the threats. "We are talking about Iranian threats, about threats that are not proved, in my opinion," CSSD shadow defence minister Petr Hulinsky said. Filip said the project may raise the Untied States's security, but it will alsays bring greater security and political risks to the host countries, including the Czech Republic. "The project will result in further arms races that are to be also spread to the outer space," Filip said. He said the KSCM will continue to insist on a referendum to be held on the radar base. Martin Bursik, chairman of the junior government Green Party, said he believes parliament will approve the treaty. He said, however, he would not oblige his deputy group to vote unanimously. He said he still considers it important that the radar become part of the NATO system. In the Senate, the upper house of parliament, the government coalition is sure of approval because the house is dominated by the Civic Democrats (ODS), the government senior party. "As long as there is a single U.S. soldier on our soil, it is a guarantee that the United States will not leave us if our security were threatened," ODS senator group chairman Jiri Stritesky said.
(Ceske Noviny)
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