Defence Minister to draft compromise plan of foreign military missions

Defence Minister Vlasta Parkanová will draft a compromise plan on the deployment of Czech troops in foreign missions for next year. Speaking on a TV debate show on Sunday, she said the plan envisages reducing number of troops in NATO’s ISAF mission in Afghanistan to 500 and withdrawing the anti-terrorist unit. The government could debate the re-drafted plan at the beginning of January. The chief of staff of the Czech Army, Vlastimil Picek, has already informed the NATO and ISAF headquarters about the possible changes.

The lower house of Parliament on Friday rejected a proposal on the deployment of Czech troops in foreign missions in 2009. Although Prime Minister Topolánek offered a number of concessions, the opposition overturned the proposal with the aid of a number of independents. The government subsequently approved maintaining Czech forces abroad until the end of February.

Author: Ruth Fraňková