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March 19, 2009

Czech Government Forced to Drop Vote on US Missile System
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In the Czech Republic, overwhelming opposition has forced the Czech
government to drop attempts for parliamentary approval of a US missile
radar site. The Czech government had agreed with the Bush administration
on hosting part of the so-called “missile defense” system along with a
missile site in Poland. But on Wednesday, the government withdrew a
planned vote, fearing it would be defeated. Czech Prime Minister Mirek
Topolanek vowed to seek another vote.

Czech Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek: “The government decided in
tonight’s negotiations that it will take back the treaty instruments,
both of the treaties from the United States about the placement of radar
units in the territory of the Czech Republic. That doesn’t mean that
we’ve entirely resigned from the process of missile defense, because we
can return this back to parliament at any time.”

According to the anti-radar group Campaign for Peace and Democracy,
two-thirds of Czechs have consistently opposed the radar plans. Czech
peace activists have led calls for a national referendum and have been
credited with pressuring lawmakers to oppose the US missile program.



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