The Prague Post
July 4th, 2008
Reader's SurveyNEW     Endowment Fund     Book of Lists ONLINE      Reservations      Classifieds    Subscriptions
Prague accomodation

Home » Archives » Opinion

The connection no one wants to talk about


Postview | Search restaurants | Archives

January 31st, 2007 issue

Arguably the two most pressing foreign policy issues for the Czech Republic to surface in recent years — the proposed U.S. radar base and visa requirements for Czechs — are now moving ahead at seemingly breakneck speed.

Czech diplomats are in Washington, D.C., learning about what they can do to speed their country onto the U.S. visa-waiver list, which allows chosen nationalities visa-free entrance.
The United States has asked to build a radar station in the Czech Republic as part of the European arm of its missile-defense shield. While the Czech government weighs this request, a site has been chosen — Jince, central Bohemia — and a contractor, Boeing, is waiting in the wings to build the base.
In the Czech Republic, where nothing happens quickly, these developments are surprising enough. What is more surprising is the almost unanimous conceit on both sides that visas and radar are in no way connected.
A recent timeline suggests otherwise. On Jan. 11, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Daniel Fried is in Prague to meet with, among others, Prime Minister Mirek Topolánek. He follows his meetings with a press statement saying Czechs could gain visa-free status within two years. He also says the two discussed U.S. missile defense plans.
On Jan. 19, the United States formally asks the Czech Republic to host a radar base. On Jan 24, Paul Rosenzweig, a high level official at the U.S. Dept. of Homeland Security, travels to Prague and meets with representatives of 13 countries who want visa-free travel to the United States. A Czech delegation is the first to win an invitation to travel to Washington, D.C., Feb. 2 to discuss the matter further.
During the weekend of Jan. 27–28, U.S. Ambassador to the Czech Republic Richard Graber pays some public relations visits to mayors of communities that border the military zone where the United States wants to build its radar base.
It has been obvious to this newspaper for some time that the visa issue and the radar base are connected, if not related.
Czechs would be remiss if they didn’t take the radar request as an opportunity to push for change in U.S. visa policy. Washington can’t expect a radar base without giving something.
What is most worrying, beyond both sides’ willingness to deny the obvious, is that such a connection threatens to cut short — or worse, eliminate — serious, transparent debate on the issue that last week in this space we said truly deserves it: the radar station.
The base must be considered on its terms, its pros and cons weighed equally, regardless of any promises on the visa fronts.
Czech leaders would do well to consider that the visa issue never sent people into the streets. This week, hundreds rallied against the base. More surely will.


survey banner


Other articles in Opinion (31/01/2007):

Browse the Current Issue

If you enjoyed this article, why don't you subscribe to the print version!
We accept secure online transactions provided by PayPal and Moneybookers

Be the first to add a comment!


Full Name: *
City: *
E-mail: **
This comment can be published in the print version of The Prague Post
Enter the text on the right:
 visual captcha
Comment: *
* Required field. In order to be approved for display, comments must have a first and last name and a city.
** E-mails are required and will only be used for internal purposes.

Most visited in Book of Lists

Hotel booking
The Prague Post Online contains a selection of articles that have been printed in
The Prague Post, a weekly newspaper published in the Czech Republic.
To subscribe to the print paper, click here.
Unauthorized reproduction is strictly prohibited.