Czech Republic, U.S. to sign cooperation treaty

The Czech Republic and the United States are set to sign a treaty on scientific and industrial cooperation, along with an agreement on positioning a U.S. radar base on Czech territory, the Czech news agency ČTK reported on Thursday. The treaty, which is similar to U.S. agreements signed with countries such as the United Kingdom, Australia and Japan, should open up new opportunities for Czech scientists and companies. Both agreements are expected to be signed in Prague next week by U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Czech Foreign Minister Karel Schwarzenberg.

In related news, Social Democrat shadow foreign minister Lubomír Zaorálek said on Wednesday that the planned Czech –U.S. agreement on positioning a tracking radar base in the Czech Republic as part of the American anti-missile defence shield contradicted the Lisbon Treaty. Mr Zaorálek said the planned agreement went against the idea of joint European security policy as defined by the stalled EU reform document. If the Lisbon Treaty were in force today, member states would have to consult their bilateral security treaties with other EU countries.

Author: Jan Richter