Czech Foreign Minister Says Austrian Counterpart’s Remarks on US Base “Wrong”
Text of report in English by Czech news agency CTK
Prague, 23 August: Austrian Defence Minister Norbert Darabos is wrong when he talks about a provocation in connection with the planned stationing of the US missile defence radar base in the Czech Republic, Czech Foreign Minister Karel Schwarzenberg said today.
According to the Austrian news agency APA, Darabos told the Austrian daily Die Presse that he did not understand the meaning of installing an anti-missile shield in Central Europe that is to be directed against possible threats from Iran.
Schwarzenberg said that the possible stationing of the missile defence shield in the Czech Republic and Poland was a necessary security measure.
“I consider it a fundamental mistake from the minister. It has never been a provocation, but a measure aimed at ensuring security of Europe and the allies in the future,” Schwarzenberg told journalists during a meeting of the Chamber of Deputies foreign committee today.
He said that the radar base in the Czech Republic should be a part of the NATO system.
“Unfortunately, and I regret it, armament continues in our vicinity and also in other countries,” Schwarzenberg said, alluding to the countries suspected of developing weapons of mass destruction.
Darabos has presented himself as a representative of a neutral country and a politician seeking to reduce his country’s defence spending, he said.
Darabos said there should be a different solution apart from the anti-missile shield.
“The United States has finally reached a compromise with North Korea. I consider it a provocation that it wants to build a missile defence system in the former eastern Europe,” Darabos said.
The Czech opposition Communist Party (KSCM) that rejects the radar installation, welcomed Darabos’s statements today.
“He is clearly opposed to the base,” KSCM deputy Vaclav Exner said, adding that the Czech government should take the position of the neighbouring countries into consideration.
Moscow also protests against the US plan. However, Russia also intends to protect itself against possible attacks, Schwarzenberg said.
The talks on the possible stationing of a radar base in the Czech Republic within the US missile defence shield were launched between the Czech government and US representatives in March and are expected to last until the year’s end.
The radar base may be built near Misov, west Bohemia, some 90 km southwest of Prague, on the Brdy military training grounds.
The USA would like the Czech Republic to make the final decision at the beginning of next year.
Originally published by CTK news agency, Prague, in English 1139 23 Aug 07.
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