Transcript
16.30 GMT-12:30 PM/EST
The U.S. is planning to establish a radar base in the Czech Republic and a missile shield in Poland, a deal which has now stalled in being finalized. Secretary of State Rice described the plan as: (SB) “Very limited missile defenses, that will protect the alliance and ourselves and, frankly, anyone who is concerned about the emerging threats of the 21st century; for instance, the threat of missile – the missile threat from Iran.” In the plan, the U.S. would establish a base with 10 missiles in Gorsko, Poland and a radar base in Brdy, Czech Republic.
However, conflicting reactions so far have slowed down the planned missile defense shield. In the Czech Republic, the government has shown its support for the project. Foreign Minister Karel Schwarzenberg has even said he would resign if the program does not pass the Czech parliament. But many Czechs want a national referendum, where recent polls show that 68% of the population is against the plan.
SB “Building of military bases of USA in Europe is direct endanger of peace in the world and it means decrease of Czech safety. These bases are not defensive, but they are part of the offensive attack system.”
As in the Czech Republic, the Polish government is ready to accept the deal. However close it may be to approval though, the Polish government is demanding $20 billion to upgrade its own defenses and army as a condition to implement the project. Polish television reports that 75% of Polish citizens want a referendum, with polls showing 49% against and 37% for the missile defense.
However, the International Herald Tribune reports that Lithuania has announced they will step in if the U.S. fails to reach an agreement with Poland. Bush (SB):
“We agree today that the United States and Russia want to create a system for responding to potential missile threats, in which Russia and the United States and Europe will participate as equal partners.”
The biggest challenge facing the US and its allies might be to convince Russia of the significance of the missile project and the US intentions.
(SB - Putin) “One of the most difficult issues was, and remains, the issue of missile defense in Europe. This is not about language…this is about the substance of the issue. I'd like to be very clear on this. Our fundamental attitude to the American plans have not changed.”
Despite these challenges, many still expect a deal to be reached by this fall. On June 13, a barbed wire fence was placed around the planned radar site in Brdy, a sign that the deal is near completion. Secretary Rice is due in Prague on July 8 to sign the agreement alongside the Czech government, thus putting the bill through the Czech parliament for voting.
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