Poll: majority of Czechs remain opposed to radar base

A new poll conducted by Factum Invenio for the Foreign Ministry has suggested that a majority of Czechs - 64 percent - continue to be opposed to the possible construction of a US missile defence radar on Czech soil; one third support the project. The information was released on Thursday. According to the agency, the poll was held shortly after a visit by US President George W. Bush early in June, when Mr Bush met with President Vaclav Klaus, Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek, and others to boost support for the US project. The US would like to station its base in the Czech Republic as part of a broader missile defense system in Europe.

The poll also suggested that if the radar base were integrated within NATO, public opposition to the base would drop somewhat, to 55 percent.

Author: Jan Velinger