Obama reconfirms radar plans

The local dispute over plans to build a radar base on Czech soil resurfaced in the wake of U.S. President Barack Obama's inauguration.

On Jan. 20, Foreign Affairs Minister Karel Schwarzenberg told journalists in Brussels he would welcome Russia's involvement in the U.S. missile-defense project, which has long been opposed by Moscow officials. Schwarzenberg said he "would be happy if Russia joined the missile-defense plan in a meaningful way, instead of trying to prevent it."

Foreign Affairs Ministry officials said Schwarzenberg's remarks, which followed similar support for Russian involvement by German Chancellor Angela Merkel, were open to interpretation by foreign authorities. "It would be nice if the U.S. and Russia could cooperate, but it depends on them," said ministry spokeswoman Zuzana Opletalová.

In response to Schwarzenerg, Deputy Prime Minister Alexandr Vondra said he believed the administration would make "slight corrections" to the project, which would include a bigger emphasis on Russian cooperation. "Everything I know makes me believe they will continue the missile-defense project," Vondra said.

Washington supported Vondra's claims, refuting recent speculation that the new administration had plans to scrap or postpone the project due to the global financial crisis.

"[The Obama-Biden administration] is committed to addressing the threat of missile proliferation and to working with our European allies to do so," said Commander Bob Mehal, spokesman for the U.S. Department of Defense. "It would be inappropriate to speculate on how, or if, the future policy may or may not change."

Back home, where three-quarters of the population opposes radar construction, political obstruction remains widespread. On Jan. 20, Central Bohemian Governor David Rath proposed declaring part of the Brdy military base - the radar's intended location - a protected wildlife reserve in an effort to thwart its construction.

Defense Ministry officials said the governor lacked the necessary authority to launch such a proposal on military property. "Like any citizen, Rath has the right to initiative," said Defense Ministry spokesman Andrej Čírtek. "But, aside from the Environment Ministry, there is no Czech authority, including a regional administrator, with the power to make this type of proposal. It's an independent, self-governed area."

Curtis Wong can be reached at
cwong@praguepost.com