The Czech government has misled the public about the planned construction of a U.S. radar on Czech soil, Lubomir Zaoralek, Chamber of Deputies deputy chairman, said at a press conference on Thursday.
Zaoralek said the statement by Jiri Sedivy, who is to become NATO assistant secretary general in the autumn, that the possible base will never be fully under NATO control differs from the government's hitherto promises.
"It seems to me that the government mucks us about the U.S. radar base in the Czech Republic," Zaoralek said.
Sedivy, former Czech defense minister, said on Wednesday the planned radar base, to be built in the Brdy military district, some 70 km southwest of Prague within the U.S. missile shield, will never be fully under NATO control.
Sedivy's statement showed that the previous statements by Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek and Defense Minister Vlasta Parkanova at parliament are nothing but dreams and wishful thinking, Zaoralek added.
Zaoralek also criticized the government for not reacting to the development of the debate on the missile system in the U.S. Congress.
He said the Congress is likely to refuse to approve funding the interceptor missiles that are to be stationed in Poland.
The United States unveiled its plan in January to place a radar system in the Czech Republic and 10 interceptor missiles in Poland, as components of the missile defense shield.
According to a recent poll, more than two thirds of Czech citizens disagree with the installation of the base. The government parties are not united on the issue either.
Source: Xinhua
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