Experts from the two countries have gathered in the Defense Ministry headquarters to discuss the status of U.S. troops, about 120 of the total 200 servicing the planned radar on the Czech territory.
The talks are expected to last for months ahead but the U.S. negotiators headed by Robert Loftis, a security adviser at the U.S. State Department, have made clear they would like to get a yes-or-no answer before yearend. The second round scheduled for May 22 will be held at the Czech Foreign Ministry and will focus on the radar's construction, maintenance, and security.
"Further negotiations will be held in the U.S.," said Zuzana Opletalova, the Czech Foreign Ministry spokesperson.
In early June, U.S. President George W. Bush will arrive in Prague to discuss the issue with the Czech authorities.
The construction of the missile shield will cost American taxpayers $260 million and the total cost of the deployment is estimated at $550 million, CTK said with reference to the U.S. Missile Defense Agency. Czech companies could also join the construction and servicing of the radar.
Modernization of the radar currently deployed in the Marshall Islands and its relocation to the Czech Republic at a cost of $125 million, including testing and start-up costs.
A survey conducted by the Czech pollster Ipsos-Tambor showed that 55.8% of Czech respondents oppose the deployment of the U.S. shield in the republic and 28.2% support the idea. A total of 52.1% of respondents said the republic could be a potential target. The Czech opposition in parliament has demanded a referendum on the issue but the government has so far opposed.
The U.S. announced plans in January to deploy interceptor missiles in Poland and a missile defense radar in the Czech Republic as part of its missile shield aimed to counter possible threats from the "rogue" states of Iran or North Korea.
Russia has repeatedly condemned the plan, claiming it could be a "destabilizing factor" and could threaten its national security and warning appropriate measures would be taken in response.
