US, Czech officials to talk missile defense

US Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security Ellen Tauscher is expected in Prague on Monday for talks focusing predominantly on anti-missile defense. Ms Tauscher is scheduled to meet with the Czech foreign minister, Jan Kohout, and the leaders of the two strongest parties in the country, the Civic and Social Democrats.

After scrapping Bush-era missile defense plans for Central Europe, the Obama administration has expressed interest in building a missile defense system that would be part of NATO defense structures. According to diplomatic sources Washington has already submitted specific proposals under which the Czech Republic might join the emerging project, but no details have been released.