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Most Czech Adults Oppose Missile Shield
(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Most people in the Czech Republic believe their country should not participate in a defence program with the United States, according to a poll by CVVM. 65 per cent of respondents oppose the construction of a U.S. missile defence shield base in Czech soil, and 72 per cent would hold a referendum to settle the issue.
In December 2002, then U.S. president George W. Bush announced plans for the development of initial defence capabilities, which include ground-based and sea-based missile interceptors, as well as sensors located in space. Washington has explained the project as a means to defend the U.S. and its European allies from a potential attack by Iran or North Korea.
In January 2007, the U.S. issued a formal request to place a radar base in the Czech Republic—in a military area southwest of Prague—as well as 10 interceptor missiles in Poland.
The Czech Republic—a member of both the European Union (EU) and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)—is currently negotiating with the U.S. the construction of the radar base. Some EU officials have asked the Czech Republic to include the continental group in these discussions, but the government of Czech prime minister Mirek Topolanek has so far declined to do so.
In July 2008, the main treaty on the radar base was signed by U.S. state secretary Condoleezza Rice and her Czech counterpart Karel Schwarzenberg. The deal has yet to be ratified by Czech legislators.
Some countries doubt that Iran could actually represent a danger for the U.S. and its allies in Europe and fear the missile defence shield could eventually become a threat to other nations instead—including Russia.
On Feb. 7, Czech European affairs minister Alexandr Vondra voiced support for the proposed plan, saying, "It is important to develop the future missile defence system, which would protect us against increasing threats of WMD proliferation in the Middle East."
Polling Data
Do you support or oppose the construction of a U.S. missile defence shield base in the Czech Republic?
|
Jan. 2009 |
Dec. 2008 |
Sept. 2008 |
|
|
Support |
29% |
28% |
28% |
|
Oppose |
65% |
65% |
67% |
Do you support or oppose holding a referendum to settle the issue?
|
|
Jan. 2009 |
Dec. 2008 |
Sept. 2008 |
|
Support |
72% |
70% |
68% |
|
Oppose |
23% |
22% |
25% |
Source: CVVM
Methodology: Interviews with 1,152 Czech adults, conducted from Jan. 12 to Jan. 19, 2009. Margin of error is 3 per cent.