US Requests Official Talks Over Czech Anti-Missile Installation

MISSILE DEFENSE

The town of Dobris is one of the areas being consider for an underground anti-missile complex.

Russian politician warns Czechs over US anti-missile site
Moscow (AFP) Jan 20 - A senior Russian politician warned the Czech Republic on Saturday of negative consequences if Prague agrees to a US request to site a controversial anti-missile system on Czech soil. "This decision, if taken by the Czechs, will not be without consequences," Andrei Kokoshin, the president of the parliamentary committee for the former Soviet states, was quoted by the Interfax news agency as saying.

He warned Prague that the Russian parliament, or Duma, could "recommend, in return, measures which will not necessarily be symmetrical and which will allow us to ensure the strategic stability and national security of Russia" and its allies. Such an anti-missile system could "threaten the interests of Russia and Belarus", Kokoshin said.

On Friday Czech Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek announced the United States has asked Prague to start talks on "the possible siting of an anti-ballistic missile defence system in our country. Concretely, this would be a radar station." The official US request came within minutes of Topolanek's centre-right government being confirmed in power. The government which backs Czech participation in the US defence system.

Washington wants to deploy 10 interceptor missiles and a radar in Europe to reinforce its defences against the perceived threat of a ballistic missile attack from North Korea or Iran. It has been eyeing the Czech Republic or Poland as the favoured home for the controversial new system but has also it could be split beween countries. Russia has fiercely attacked the plan, with Defence Minister Sergei Ivanov saying in November 2006 it wasa "destabilising" move to which Russia would respond.

by Staff Writers
Prague (AFP) Jan 20, 2007
The United States has asked to start talks on siting part of a controversial anti-missile system on Czech soil, Czech Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek said on Saturday. "Late last night we were informed that they would like to launch negotiations over the possible siting of an anti-ballistic missile defence system in our country. Concretely, this would be a radar station," Topolanek announced at a news conference.

The official US request came within minutes of Topolanek's centre-right government, which backs Czech participation in the US defence system, being confirmed in power. The confirmation came in a crucial parliamentary confidence vote which ended more than seven months of political deadlock.

Washington wants to deploy 10 interceptor missiles and a radar in Europe to reinforce its defences against the perceived threat of a ballistic missile attack from North Korea or Iran.

It has been eyeing the Czech Republic or Poland as the favoured home for the controversial new system but has also it could be split between countries.

Russia has fiercely attacked the plan, with Defence Minister Sergei Ivanov saying in November 2006 it was a "destabilising" move that Russia would respond to.

"This decision, if taken by the Czechs, will not be without consequences," Andrei Kokoshin, the chairman of the Russian parliament's committee for the former Soviet states, was quoted by the Interfax news agency as saying on Saturday.

Such an anti-missile system could "threaten the interests of Russia and Belarus", Kokoshin said.

Topolanek said negotiations with the US would take "several months" but that the facility could probably be up and running by 2011.

"The possible siting of the radar on our soil is in our interest and will increase the security of the Czech Republic and Europe," he said.

The choice of the Czech Republic as a possible site was to some extent an appreciation of the country's contribution to NATO since it joined the military alliance in 2004, he added.

The siting of a foreign base and personnel is a sensitive issue in the former Soviet Bloc state, which was invaded by Warsaw Pact troops in 1968 when it revolted against Soviet domination.

Both houses of the Czech parliament will have to approve such a move. Topolanek's three-way coalition only commands 100 votes in the 200-seat lower house and was only confirmed in power on Friday thanks to two rebel Social Democrats. The government has offered to resign if key pieces of legislation are blocked.

The main opposition Social Democrats have attacked the US base proposal, calling for a referendum on the issue. The Communists are resolutely opposed.

Czech Defence Minister Vlasta Parkanova appealed on Saturday for the issue to be debated seriously and not become an ideological football.

Siting a US base on Czech territory was "not a question for a referendum" Topolanek said on Saturday. "It is a specialist issue and a security question," he added.

Source: Agence France-Presse

MISSILE DEFENSE

China Encourages World-Wide Ballistic Missile Proliferation By Its Actions Says ABM Lobby

Alexandria VA (SPX) Jan 22, 2007
Riki Ellison, President of the Missile Defense Advocacy Alliance has gone on record with the membership by posting an alert on the MDAA web site detailing why the shoot-down by China of its satellite is cause for world concern in that the act is encouraging proliferation of ballistic missiles. His remarks to the 9,000 members are as follows:

SUPERPOWERS US Hawks Bolstered By China Weapons Test In Space Gates Returns Home After Road Testing New Strategy Citizen Bush EU Boosts Its Security Efforts	NUKEWARS US Envoy Says He Hopes North Korea Talks Resume Very Soon Iran Says Forces Ready For Any Threat Iranian Lawmakers Feared Social Upheaval From Sanctions Ex-US Defense Chief Suggests Military Action Against North Korea
MISSILE NEWS Javelin Joint Venture Earns Logistics Award For Supporting The Warfighter Pakistan Chooses Raytheon's Proven Air Defense Missiles To Secure Borders General Dynamics Awarded $425M For Missile Systems By Spanish Army Raytheon Receives Contracts For Standard Missile-1 Support Services	MISSILE DEFENSE US Requests Official Talks Over Czech Anti-Missile Installation China Encourages World-Wide Ballistic Missile Proliferation By Its Actions Says ABM Lobby Israel Facing Critical Decision On ABM Roadmap F-15s May Air Launch PAC-3s
AEROSPACE Time to test the Guardian Missile Defense System For Commercial Aircraft Operational Testing And Evaluation Of Guardian Commercial Airline Anti-Missile System Begins USGS Examines Environmental Impacts Of Aircraft De-Icers China Gives Rare Glimpse Of Homegrown Jet Fighter	UAV NEWS Athena Technologies Guidance and Navigation System Selected Watchkeeper UAV Program Enhanced Fire Scout Makes Flight Debut Israel Developing Massive New Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Boeing Provides ScanEagle UAV to Australian Army
IRAQ WARS Et Tu Maliki The Strategy Of Surge In Iraq Arab Nations Gave The US Carte Blanche In Iraq Looking Ahead In Iraq	MILTECH New Details Of First Major Urban Battle Emerge The Death Of US Air Power Pentagon Report Warns Canadian Coins Bugged Raytheon Wins Silent Knight Radar Development Contract

The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2006 - SpaceDaily.AFP and UPI Wire Stories are copyright Agence France-Presse and United Press International. ESA PortalReports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additionalcopyrights 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 SpaceDaily on any Web page published or hosted by SpaceDaily. Privacy Statement