Czech foreign minister: Russia should be involved in US missile defence project

The Czech foreign minister, Karel Schwarzenberg, says he would welcome Russian involvement in a planned US missile defence system that would be part based in the Czech Republic. Speaking in Brussels on Wednesday, he also said he did not think America would drop the plan because of the global financial crisis. On Tuesday German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Russia should be involved in the missile defence shield. Moscow has frequently voiced opposition to the project, which the new American president, Barrack Obama, has said will only be realised if it is proven to work and is cost-effective.

Prague has signed treaties with Washington on the building of a radar base in central Bohemia. They have been approved by the Czech Senate but are yet to go before the Chamber of Deputies. Opinion polls suggest around two thirds of Czechs are against the plan.

Author: Ian Willoughby