Foreign Minister critical of Moscow on missile defense

Foreign Minister Karel Schwarzenberg has criticised Russian opposition to the US missile shield with a planned radar base in the Czech Republic: speaking on public broadcaster Czech TV on Sunday Mr Schwarzenberg suggested Moscow was trying to recoup Soviet-era influence, what he described as “part of a political game about influence in Europe”. From the start Moscow has been highly critical of US plans to deploy a radar base to the Czech Republic and ten interceptor missiles to Poland. Washington has stressed its system is needed to counter possible threats from so-called “rogue” states. Mr Schwarzenberg said on Sunday that Prague would probably not sign agreements with the US before a NATO summit in April. He stressed, in his view, that Prague would get the best possible deal with the US from the outgoing administration.

Author: Jan Velinger