Prague in talks with US over new Nato base
Friday 30 July 2010
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EmailThe Czech government has been negotiating with Washington to site a military installation in the east European state as part of reworked US missile defence plan, the prime minister has revealed.
Petr Necas said the US facility would detect missiles aimed at Nato territory, although he stressed that "It's not supposed to be a huge military installation." The centre would form part of a joint Nato missile defence shield, he revealed.
In September, the Obama administration scrapped Bush-era blueprints for basing long-range interceptors in Poland and a radar system in the Czech Republic as part of a system to shoot down long-range missiles.
It was strongly opposed by Russia and deeply unpopular among the Czech people, who turned out in droves for rallies against the proposed radar bases.
Czech activists are preparing to take to the streets again and the No Bases movement founder Jan Tamas said: "It's too serious to be silent."
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