Social Democrats to call a conference on US missile defense system

The opposition Social Democratic Party has said it would call an international conference on the possible impact of the US missile defense system on European security. Party leader Jiri Paroubek said on Tuesday the party would invite social democrats from Germany, Austria and Slovakia to take part. The party leadership has also requested detailed reports from three of its MPs who recently inspected the US radar station on the Marshall Islands. Their impressions are said to have been wholly positive, though this has not changed the party's official stand. The Social Democrats have said they would accept the US radar base on two conditions - if it were part of NATO's defense system and if it were approved in a public referendum.