Minister: locals not to be compensated over Czech NATO radar

Defence Minister Martin Barták has said that municipalities in the vicinity of the NATO radar in Sokolnice, south Moravia, will not be compensated as the radar does not pose a health risk to the public. Speaking ahead of his meeting with local mayors on Friday, Mr Barták said the radar would not be put into operation if testing revealed any irregularities. The radar is meant to monitor the airspace over Moravia and along with another installation in east Bohemia it will be part of NATO's basic radar network. Chief-of-staff Vlastimil Picek said earlier this week that the radar would markedly improve the airspace protection and the security of the country.